Councilor backs citizen's challenge to street closure.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - A Springfield resident threatening legal action against the city apparently has a fan in city Councilor Anne Ballew.

Ballew told her fellow councilors Monday night that she shares Scott Olson's objection to closing a blocklong section of B Street to accommodate a parking lot for a public safety complex. Olson informed the council earlier this month that a vote to close the street would prompt him to file a complaint with the state Land Use Board of Appeals, asking that the city decision be overturned.

"A parking lot and a storage facility, in my mind, do not outweigh the benefit of (keeping open) a public street for connectivity purposes," said Ballew, who lives in the nearby Washburne neighborhood and regularly uses B Street.

Before listing additional reasons why she opposes the plan, Ballew stopped herself and mentioned the detailed written objections Olson has submitted to the city in recent months.

"Mr. Olson did a really good job," she said.

After the meeting, Ballew clarified that while she backs Olson on the issue, she does "not necessarily support other people suing the city."

Olson, a civil engineer who serves on the city's Justice Center Community Advisory Committee, did not attend the meeting. If his appeal is successful, city officials might be forced to develop an alternate design plan for the public safety complex.

Councilors took an informal 4-2 vote in support of closing B Street. Councilor Christine Lundberg joined Ballew in opposing the plan.

Lundberg's objection dates back to last year, when she became disappointed with the fact that project planners said the only way the complex could be built within budget was to close the street.

Final council approval of the plan is scheduled for Sept. 17. City planners said they preferred that councilors not take a formal vote on the issue Monday, but instead indicate the majority's preference.

The extra time gives planners an opportunity to piece together detailed information on the plan, expecting that Olson will indeed file an appeal with the state land use appeals board.

Olson's objection stems from his belief that the street closure proposal violates established local land use plans that support street connectivity and promote easy travel routes for bicyclists and pedestrians.

City planners and police officials say the street should be closed to make room for a secure parking lot for police vehicles and storage building.

The fenced-off area would sit adjacent to a voter-approved justice center that will include a new police station and 100-bed city jail.

Besides providing parking for officers, the secure area will give officials a place to hold prisoners temporarily in the event that the jail must be evacuated.

A building designed to store police evidence, records and equipment will be inside the fence.

Springfield voters in 2004 endorsed a $28.7 million construction bond measure to build the justice center complex.