Evergreen's entitlement

It's funny how two people can read the same text and come away with different ideas about what it means.  Like code.  And if "vibrant" means crowded ... well, maybe Kessi is right ... if the construction doesn't kill off Lake View Village first.

Daily Journal of Commerce, October 14, 2014  By Shelby King

Controversial Lake Oswego development given OK

Kessi said that with the entitlement process complete, his firm would start applying for building permits. The plan is to break ground July 1, 2015.

The council found that the buildings’ sizes do not detract from a perceived “village character” called for in the Urban Design Plan.

“Having people around is what makes a village,” Kessi said. “It’s been studied and proven that having people in the downtown area is what makes a downtown vibrant.”

Kessi said his firm met with Lake Oswego residents and community leaders to learn what they would like to see on the 2.5-acre site. They took the best ideas and tried to incorporate them into the final design. The project calls for three buildings and underground parking.

“We heard from some people that the buildings were too big,” Kessi said. “But they’re well under the 60-foot height limit and there are 20-foot walkways between the buildings. That leaves 27 percent of the site as open space.”

Lake Oswego Mayor Kent Studebaker on Oct. 7 signed the final order. Notices were mailed Oct. 8.

Kessi said his firm planned to proceed with the development even if opponents chose to take the matter to the state Land Use Board of Appeals. At press time, LUBA had no new appeals from Lake Oswego.