Armory project funding gets OK.

Byline: TIM CHRISTIE The Register-Guard

The U.S. Senate has earmarked $9 million for a controversial south Eugene armory project that opponents are fighting in state and federal appeals court.

Oregon's senators, Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Gordon Smith, jointly announced that the Senate had authorized funds for the Armed Forces Reserve Center Complex planned for 35 acres just north of East 30th Avenue and Lane Community College.

If built, the armory would cost $26.2 million, according to the state Military Department. Last year, Congress appropriated $8.3 million for the project, according to Smith and Wyden.

The $9 million authorization announced Friday still must be appropriated by congressional budget-writers this fall.

The 122,000-square-foot armory would replace the existing Eugene armory and two smaller armories. It would serve as a training and readiness center for the Army National Guard and Navy and Marine Corps Reserves. It also would serve as a central disaster response center for the region.

Most of the property is zoned for exclusive farm use. But thanks to a law passed specifically for the project by the 1993 Legislature, an armory is allowed in such a zone if located within a half-mile of a community college.

Neighbors of the proposed armory site have doggedly opposed the project. They argued that the armory - which would include classrooms, an assembly hall, indoor firing range, vehicle storage and a maintenance center - isn't specifically allowed at the site.

But Lane County Circuit Judge Lyle Velure ruled last December that the project complies with local land use law and can go forward.

The Russel Creek Neighbors Association appealed Velure's decision to the state Court of Appeals.

The parties have not yet submitted briefs in the case, and a decision from the court is likely a year away, said Dan Trotter, attorney for the neighbors.

In addition, the neighbors and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center in Portland have filed a complaint in federal court, alleging that the state Military Department "jumped the gun" by obtaining a state land use permit before it had a formal proposal or completed environmental review, Trotter said.

U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan dismissed the case, but neighbors and the environmental group appealed it to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trotter said just because the U.S. Senate earmarked funding for the project doesn't mean it's a done deal. In fact, he said the U.S. Department of Defense has not approved the project.

"The fact that money has been allocated does not mean anything if the project has not been approved," he said. "The Department of Defense hasn't made up its mind."

However, Lisa Raasch, spokeswoman for Wyden, said the Defense Department has approved the project. And Maj. Jason Schwabel, chief of military construction for the Oregon Military Department, said "the project in concept" has been approved by the National Guard.

Schwabel said the Military Department will issue a draft document examining environmental issues involved in the project in the next few weeks.

"Absolutely no federal funding will be spent until we're through that process," which could take three to four months, he said.