The state Land Use Board of Appeals has given the go-ahead to a controversial downtown Lake Oswego project that stirred up controversy and heated debate last summer.

In an opinion issued today, LUBA sided with developer Patrick Kessi and his team at Evergreen Group LLC, finding that the project, a 290,000-square-foot, three-building development on the well-known Wizer Block property, met the required standard of review to move forward.

In the opinion, LUBA board members said they agreed with the Lake Oswego City Council's interpretation of the Community Development Code, which opponents of the development had disputed.

Before filing with LUBA last fall, opponents had disagreed with the City Council's overruling of a decision made by the Lake Oswego Development Review Commission. That decision rejected Evergreen Group's project for size and scale reasons. In September, however, the council stepped in and gave Evergreen the go-ahead for the project, which will add 201 apartments to the heart of downtown Lake Oswego along with ground-level retail.

Three groups opposed the project: LO 138 LLC, Save Our Village and the Evergreen Neighborhood Association.

The opinion clears the way for Evergreen to continue with the project, which Kessi has said he hopes to break ground on later this year.

Opponents could continue their case with the Oregon Court of Appeals, though nothing has been decided yet.

This story is developing. Check back for details.

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