Oregon State University-Cascades supporters and opponents squared off again Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10-11. This time, the civil battle took place in front of a Deschutes County Hearing Officer in the City Municipal Court Room. The cold, packed, 200-seat room heard remarks from the City of Bend, OSU-Cascades representatives, “OSU 4” advocates, and “Truth-In-Site” foes.
The hearing was overseen by an independent hearings officer in an effort to evaluate the OSU-Cascades site application for a 10-acre parcel adjacent to the Southwest Century Drive and Chandler Avenue roundabout. A determination on whether or not the plan meets the criteria set forth in Bend’s development code was the only order of the two-day hearing.
The meeting began with City of Bend Senior Planner Aaron Henson recommending the hearings officer approve the site, saying the city is satisfied with the plan. In explaining the broad nature of the management plan-based code governing the university’s parking system, Henson reiterated the city’s discretion in adhering to the broad government regulations regarding the university’s parking management plan. He also noted the city would like the ability to require OSU-Cascades to adjust its parking plan if on-site parking proves insufficient and neighborhood streets are significantly affected.
OSU-Cascades’ 45-minute staff report came next. Their land use attorney, Steve Janik, gave the opening remarks by speaking of the, “technical sense” needed to determine the correct amount of parking spaces needed. Next, Joe Bessman and Phillip Worth, of hired traffic engineering firm, Kittelson & Associates, thoroughly explained the university’s traffic study and parking management plan.
Bessman compared the current plan to the 10-acre parcel’s originally intended use of an 80,400-square-foot shopping center. He stated that the firm’s high university traffic estimate was far below what a commercial area would generate. Worth tackled the parking issue by citing studies showing the rising use of alternative transit methods and the campus’s capacity limit of 1000.
Speaking as proponents for the university’s plan were some Bend’s most well-known and respected community leaders. Each with three minutes to convey ideas, educational and industry leaders touched upon various arguments for the site. High Desert Education Service District Superintendent John Rexford spoke of a boost in college attendance rates while Brooks Resources CEO Mike Hollern spoke of benefits to the economy.
Former Mayor Oran Teater spoke directly to the opponents’ desire for a master plan that includes the potential full 56-acre plot, which includes a possible purchase of the adjacent 46-acre pumice mine.
“You can’t master plan something you don’t own,” offered Teater. In rebuttal, Truth-In-Site’s Portland-based land use attorney Jeffrey Kleinman and traffic engineer Rick Nys of Portland-area Greenlight Engineering highlighted perceived inadequacies in the master plan. Kleinman argued for the requirement of the complete master plan since the 10-acre site was just the beginning of a larger campus. Nys questioned the reliability of the traffic study and parking management plan. Other opponents questioned the cycling and walking idea by noting the lack of rental property and desirable weather.
The record will be open for written comments through June 25, with rebuttals from OSU-Cascades allowed until July 16.
Written testimony can be submitted by email to osucomments@bendoregon.gov or mailed to the City of Bend Planning Division, c/o Aaron Henson, 710 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon 97701.
