The appellate court affirmed a previous ruling by the state LandUse Board of Appeals in early June, which was an affirmation of thecity's 1998 decision. Appeals have gone before the City Council,LUBA and the Court of Appeals twice each since the plan was firstapproved. The only remaining appeal possible would be a petitionfor a review of the case by the state Supreme Court, which must befiled by Oct. 4.

At issue is a four-story, 156-room Hilton Garden Inn planned forthe corner of Southwest 26th Street and Western Boulevard byLarkspur Hospitality Co. The California-based developer has acontract with OSU to build the hotel. It would include twoconference rooms and a restaurant, and is intended to takeadvantage of university events that draw hundreds of visitors fromaround the nation and the world.

Opponents believe the proposal does not mesh with theuniversity's master land-use plan, but their may be personalbusiness interests as well. Leading the opponents is Rod Edel,owner of Salbasgeon Inn & Suites on Northwest Ninth Street.