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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2019)
OUR 112th Year December 13, 2019 SEASIDESIGNAL.COM $1.00 Parking amendment aims to ease city’s housing crunch Developers seek to enhance ‘downtown feel’ By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal To spur downtown and workforce housing, the Planning Commission con- sidered a new zoning amendment to reduce the required number of park- ing spaces for studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for downtown core areas of the city. In future meetings, they will also con- sider a reduction in parking regulations in all zones. “If you want to modify things or adjust things and be more specific about what this is applying to, then you’ve got latitude to do that,” Planning Director Kevin Cup- ples said at the Tuesday, Dec. 3, Planning Commission meeting. The current standard specifies two spots per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms. Commissioners con- sidered language to bring those numbers down, possibly to one parking spot for stu- dios and one-bedrooms and one-and-a- half spaces for two-bedroom units. Vacation rental dwellings, condomini- ums and townhomes would still require two parking spaces per unit. Members of the public and commis- sioners spoke on behalf of the proposed ordinance. See Parking, Page A6 Foundation raises nearly $200,000 at Festival of Trees Photos by R.J. Marx TOP The Rosenbauer fire truck has a ladder stretching 100 feet. BOTTOM Fire Chief Joey Daniels inspects the new truck. New fire truck comes to Seaside By KATHERINE LACAZE For Seaside Signal E ach year during the Seaside Fes- tival of Trees, families are invited to view the lavishly decorated trees and enjoy a variety of hol- iday-themed activities, such as decorating cookies and making orna- ments, without having to purchase a ticket to the gala that follows in the evening. “For us, it’s a gift to the commu- nity,” Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation Executive Director Kim- berly Ward, said. During the event Saturday, Dec. 7, about approximately 1,200 people fil- tered through the Seaside Civic and Convention Center to vote on their favorite of the 17 festive trees, visit with Santa Claus, and take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane. The doors upstairs were deco- rated with ribbons and bows, and each room featured a special activ- ity sponsored by a community part- ner. Inside the Star of Wonder room, sponsored by Inland Electric, fami- lies created a selection of ornaments to take home for the holidays. Bank of the Pacific sponsored Cookies with Santa’s Elves, where children slath- ered bright frosting on sugar cookies and topped them with rainbow-col- ored sprinkles. Susan Romersa, who helped attendees put together necklaces for the Jingle All the Way activity, had volunteered the previous year, as well. Her favorite part, she said, is “the kids, they’re happy,” as they participate in the various activities, from story time with Mrs. Claus to face-painting. See Festival of Trees, Page A6 In five-year process, new ladder truck pulls into station By R.J. MARX Seaside Signal R.J. Marx Auctioneer Mark Schenfeld of Stokes Auction Group at Saturday’s Safeway/ Providence Festival of Trees Gala. Katherine Lacaze Daniel Clark, of Astoria, helps his children Hazel, 5, and Fisher, 2, frost cookies during the 2019 Seaside Festival of Trees Community Open House at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center on Dec. 7. The fire truck is here. On Friday morning, Dec. 6, firefighters wel- comed delivery of the new Rosenbauer 100- foot ladder truck. The nearly $1.2 million firefighting appara- tus provides five functions: pump, water tank, fire hose, aerial device and ground ladders. “It will reach the top of WorldMark,” Div. Chief David Rankin said. The tractor-drawn aerial quint — a combi- nation fire truck and fire engine — “meets and exceeds our expectations,” Seaside Fire Chief Joey Daniels said as he inspected the vehicle. The truck delivers navigability down the city’s narrow one-way streets and more versa- tility for firefighters. At 60-feet long, the ladder truck is still “very maneuverable,” Daniels said, because of the steering capabilities of the rear tires. The truck seats six and can store four air packs. And the bell is “great for parades,” Rankin added. The new arrival comes after a five-year pro- cess, approved by the City Council in late 2017. The department’s 75-foot ladder truck remained in use while the new vehicle was built to specifications. “I want to thank the voters and our commit- tee for the five years it’s taken us to put this together, and make it the best utilization for the city of Seaside,” Daniels said. A formal debut will follow. “Our goal is to get it in service and trained on as soon as pos- sible,” Daniels said. We want all our people to feel comfortable on the ladder and driving around.” Making Christmas a little brighter to those behind bars By EVE MARX For Seaside Signal Did you know there are people serving time in prison who never get a visitor, never get a letter, or receive a Christmas card? Shirley Yates and her husband Carl are aware of this sad situation and, seven years ago, decided to do some- thing about it. “Daily, every inmate must stand for mail call whether they have mail or not,” Yates said. “Imagine how it feels to never get a letter? To feel, especially at Christmas, to feel so alone and forgotten?” It was a Wednesday night the first week of December and Yates and her hus- band and about thirty others were at Seaside Coffee on a Christmas card writing mission. “Recently I received a note from an inmate thanking us again for last year’s card. She wrote, ‘It was the only gift I got. I read and re-read it; I can’t thank you enough for remembering me.’” Shirley Yates See Inmates, Page A6 Volunteers Brooke Edgar, Sondra Gomez and Alicia Luna write Christmas cards to those behind bars.