OSU-Cascades Breaks Ground On Bend Campus

By Amanda Peacher (OPB)
Bend, Oregon July 2, 2015 2:15 a.m.
OSU-Cascades is planning an initial 10-acre campus in West Bend. The plan for the site is being challenged by a group called Truth In Site.

OSU-Cascades is planning an initial 10-acre campus in West Bend. The plan for the site is being challenged by a group called Truth In Site.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Oregon State University broke ground this week on a campus in Bend. The university is moving forward with construction of the four-year OSU-Cascades campus, despite legal appeals from a local citizens group, Truth In Site.

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On a dusty ten-acre plot covered with ponderosa and sagebrush, a couple of dozers push dirt around. This is the site for the initial and controversial plan for OSU-Cascades.

"We broke ground without a lot of fanfare but it's a very significant step for Central Oregon," said Christine Coffin, spokeswoman for OSU-Cascades.

Bend City Code allows applicants to move forward with project construction after final approval from the city, while an appeal is pending, at their own risk.

Truth In Sight has said that OSU-Cascades has not sufficiently planned for parking, traffic, and other siting concerns with the westside campus. The group will appeal a decision last month that favored the city of Bend and OSU-Cascades. The case now moves to the state Court of Appeals.

Truth In Site was not immediately available for comment. But in a previous interview, spokesman Scott Morgan said, "We've made it clear from the beginning that we're going to go all the way to the state Supreme Court if necessary. "

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