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Development in Lake Oswego of a proposed mixed-use project that drew opposition can move forward, according to City Council.

The $92 million Wizer project, at 140 A Ave., would include 207 residential units and 36,500 square feet of commercial space in three buildings.

The project is being developed by Eugene Wizer and Portland-based real estate development firm Evergreen Group LLC.

鈥淚t was a long and public process, which is good,鈥� said Patrick Kessi, a principal at Evergreen Group. 鈥淲e’re excited to move forward with building.鈥�

An opposition group, on its 鈥�Save Our Village鈥� , calls the project 鈥渙verdevelopment鈥� and claims that construction 鈥渨ill change the character of Lake Oswego forever.鈥�

鈥淲e are not 鈥榳orriers’ who fear change and oppose growth,鈥� the website says. 鈥淲e are opposed to the mass, height, scale and design of the modernistic and unauthentic designs of the Wizer proposal.鈥�

The city’s Development Review Commission in August denied a request for project approval, saying that it didn’t meet standards established by implementation of the Urban Design Plan in 1988. Evergreen Group and Wizer then appealed that decision to the Lake Oswego City Council, which heard several hours of public testimony both in support and opposition on Sept. 22, 23 and 24. The council made a tentative decision following the hearings to reverse the Development Review Commission’s decision and grant the development permit.

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 鈥渧illage character鈥� called for in the Urban Design Plan.

鈥淗aving people around is what makes a village,鈥� Kessi said. 鈥淚t’s been studied and proven that having people in the downtown area is what makes a downtown vibrant.鈥�

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.

鈥淲e heard from some people that the buildings were too big,鈥� Kessi said. 鈥淏ut 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.鈥�

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.