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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2016)
COAST WEEKEND: FORAGING FOR WILD MUSHROOMS INSIDE 144TH YEAR, NO. 80 DailyAstorian.com // THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016 ONE DOLLAR EXPLOSION LEADS TO BLAZE AT WEST-END POT BUSINESS Two taken to hospital with burn injuries By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Fire and police responded to a blaze at inside marijuana-ex- traction company Higher Level Concentrates on the corner of Industry and Portway streets in Astoria Wednesday night. Two people suffered burn injuries Wednesday night after an explosion and ire at a marijuana-extraction company at the corner of Portway and Industry streets in Astoria. According to the Astoria Police Department, three people were working in a walkout basement at Higher Level Concentrates when an explosion occurred around 6:30 p.m. All three escaped. Two were transported to Columbia Memo- rial Hospital with burn injuries and later taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical PORT OF ASTORIA ASKS CITY TO SHORE UP TRACKS FOR FREIGHT TRAFFIC Center in Portland. Cody Smith, a crane operator for Berg- erson Construction Co., said he was work- ing on a well on Pier 3 when he saw smoke billowing from the direction of his employer’s ofices, which are across the Astoria Riverfront Trolley tracks from Higher Level Concentrates. He went back to see what was happening. See BLAZE, Page 9A City seeks balance between housing, tourism By ERICK BENGEL The Daily Astorian The irst train from Portland to Astoria came along the Columbia River Railroad in 1898. Throughout much of the 20th century, Astoria was a bustling industrial waterfront, with multiple rail spurs crossing the Port’s docks. Clatsop County Heritage Museum The Astoria Planning Commission, wary of producing more tourists rather than long- term housing options for residents, may prohibit the use of new accessory dwell- ing units for vacation lodging in certain neighborhoods. The commission is considering develop- ment code changes meant to encourage prop- erty owners to build and rent out accessory dwelling units on their lots, an effort aimed at increasing Astoria’s housing supply. These units would include detached struc- tures like tiny houses, or converted spaces like basements and garages. The City Council set a goal last year to promote housing that Astorians can afford. Community Develop- ment Director Kevin Cronin initiated the code amendments ear- lier this year. Last month, after a handful of work ses- sions, the Planning Commission held a public hearing, where residents expressed Kevin concern that intro- Cronin ducing more dwell- ing units would crowd neighborhoods while doing little to alleviate Astoria’s housing crunch. One common objection was that the amendments would enable property own- ers to use their accessory dwelling units for vacation, or “homestay,” lodging instead of permanent housing. Though the city forbids vacation rent- als in residential zones, it allows homestay lodging and bed-and-breakfasts under cer- tain conditions and in all zones, either condi- tionally or as outright permitted uses, Cronin reminded the commission during a Wednes- day work session. As outlined, Cronin’s proposed code changes would allow accessory dwelling units to be used for this type of short-term lodging. See RAIL, Page 7A The first train from Portland to Astoria came along the Columbia River Railroad in 1898. Throughout the 20th century, the tracks were busy. See BALANCE, Page 9A Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Bergerson Construction Co. employees work on repairs to the rail line on Eighth Street in Astoria Wednesday. Freight rail or trolley trail? By EDWARD STRATTON The Daily Astorian T he city of Astoria is struggling to maintain the aging tres- tles and street-end bridges along the waterfront enough to keep the Astoria Riverfront Trolley running. The Port of Astoria Commission on Tuesday put the city’s feet to the ire, passing a motion that the agency would like freight rail access maintained to the central waterfront in case freight trafic ever returns. “In the future, there could be a cargo that seeks our facil- ity and requires rail transport,” said Commissioner Stephen Fulton, who has called for the Port to take such a stance at multiple meetings. The state owns the right-of-way on the railroad from Wauna to Tongue Point. The city of Astoria took possession of the rail- road and right-of-way from Tongue Point to the central water- front in a 1996 railbanking agreement with the state and Burl- ington Northern Santa Fe LLC meant to preserve rail corridors. Last stop Vandals damage headstones at Ocean View Cemetery Thirteen grave markers were overturned By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Van- dals tipped over 13 head- stones at Ocean View Ceme- tery in what police are calling a senseless desecration. The damage was discov- ered Monday afternoon by the Astoria Parks and Rec- reation Department, which oversees the cemetery. The parks department is trying to notify the families of the dead about the vandalism. Warrenton Police are investigating the headstone tipping as criminal mischief. “This is a property crime that really upsets me,” Police Chief Mathew Workman said. “It’s senseless. Truly senseless.” Police and parks ofi- cials do not recall any simi- lar vandalism at Ocean View in recent years, but the cem- etery can be a magnet for pranksters. Considerable force is necessary to over- turn the headstones, which weighed from about 700 to 1,500 pounds. “It takes a lot of force. It doesn’t happen by accident by any means,” said Angela Cosby, the director of the parks department. The city has asked Astoria Granite Works to help restore the headstones, which are owned by the families. Russ Warr, who serves on the Asto- ria City Council and owns the granite shop, said sev- eral of the headstones were not damaged and could likely be placed upright for a neg- ligible cost. Four or ive of the headstones have serious damage, he said, although he is hopeful he can repair the markers. Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian See VANDALS, Page 7A Vandals tipped over 13 headstones at Ocean View Ceme- tery, seen here on Wednesday in Warrenton.