FARM II gets a green light
By Terry Murry on Friday, April 14th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Pendleton Planning Commission voted to recommend that the city council approve a zoning change to central mixed use for 19 individual lots of land that will be combined to build Blue Mountain Community College’s FARM II with its indoor rodeo arena. The land is to the west of the Pendleton Convention Center.
The commission also approved the conditional use permit that clears the way for the construction of the 45,000 square foot structure. The dirt-ground arena will be used for equine rodeo training, rodeo school, and public events. The arena will feature classrooms on the east, stalls, and outbuildings. It could be available for leased events.
State funding for FARM II was delayed due to lottery funds not being available during the pandemic. Funding has been realized, but with increasing construction costs the original plan is smaller, according to BMCC President Mark Browning.
The project has been supported by various entities including the city of Pendleton, Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon, and Umatilla County. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin after the 2023 Pendleton Round-Up.
The rendering of FARM II shown here is from earlier visions. It is being updated since the building will be smaller than originally proposed.
