THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015
NORTH COAST
3A
Cannon Beach dune grading denied
Planning Commission votes down two proposals
By ERICK BENGEL
EO Media Group
CANNON BEACH — The Can-
non Beach Planning Commission
denied two controversial proposals
Thursday night that carried over
from December’s meeting.
First, the commission denied, by a
4-2 vote, a proposal by the Breakers
Point Homeowners Association to
grade the sand dunes west and south
of its condominium complex. The
dune grading project would have in-
volved shifting almost 74,000 cubic
yards of sand onto the beach during
the next couple of years.
In response to negative feedback
at last month’s meeting, Breakers
Point modi¿ed its proposal, agree-
ing to deposit the sand above the
intertidal zone (and thereby reduce
the threat to clams on the shoreline),
keep sand out of the Ecola Creek Es-
tuary, stretch out the project to 2017
and provide monitoring reports on
the dune grading’s environmental
impact.
But some members of the com-
mission, including Vice Chairman
Hank Johnson and Lisa Kerr, felt
that Breakers Point had made so
many changes that they were essen-
tially voting on a different proposal
Port asks tenants to
call before they dig
By EDWARD
STRATTON
The Daily Astorian
“We’re a very old Port,
and we have a lot of old
infrastructure,” said Rob
Evert, the Port of Astoria’s
permit and project manager.
While the Port’s all right
with tenants making im-
provements to their prop-
erty outside the original
lease agreement, it unveiled
Tuesday a new tenant im-
provement permit to have
tenants report to the agency
beforehand.
The permit asks for in-
formation about the project,
the contractor, the location,
the zoning, all the needed
permits and the insurance.
“Ultimately, we’re the
property owner,” said Evert.
“We’re liable for that.”
The commitment to the
tenant, he said, is that the
Port will turn around the
permit within 10 days.
In other news:
• Mike Weston, the direc-
tor of business development
and operations, said the
Port is revamping its utility
invoices, which it is about
three months behind on. It’s
sending the redesigned in-
voices to the largest utility
users first. The Port sent out
a letter Jan. 14 apologizing
to tenants.
• The Port hired Jim Grey
as its permanent Finance
Manager. Grey has been the
pro-tem manager since No-
vember. He replaces Col-
leen Browne, who was fired
the same month. Grey has
been helping the Port comb
through its finances back
to July 2013 to ensure their
accuracy. He added that the
Port’s new staff accoun-
tant, Will Isom, will start
by the end of the month.
Weston said he’d be help-
ing with the utility invoice
issue.
• The Port was ap-
proached by students from
Knappa High School ask-
ing it to bid on some met-
al salmon sculptures. Port
staff and the commission
discussed whether it should
make donations as a public
agency. Knight said they
would need to budget mon-
ey for donations, then figure
out how to decide who gets
them. Commissioners com-
mented that it’s probably
too late for this year’s auc-
tion, although Knappa resi-
dent and Port Commissioner
Bill Hunsinger said he often
bids.
• Commissioners Ste-
phen Fulton asked for dis-
cussion on the activity at
Pier 3, where Astoria Forest
Products has been storing
logs near Lincoln Inn Best
Western at the foot of Pier 3.
Knight said the storage area
is temporary, as the compa-
ny prepares to load back-to-
back ships. Commissioners
discussed the increasing
lack of room on the central
waterfront, and Hunsinger
recommended putting up
construction signs to cut off
access on Gateway Avenue
to the Astoria Riverwalk
parking lot on Pier 3
• Commissioner John
Raichl began discussion of
a possible confidentiality
agreement, which he said
would be to keep propri-
etary information private
during the business devel-
opment phase. The Port’s
attorney Ronald Guerra said
there’s such an exemption
in Oregon’s public records
law, considered a manda-
tory exemption not affect-
ed by how the information
might advance the public
interest.
• Knight and Weston
will be on KMUN Coast
Community Radio at 9:30
a.m. Friday on the program
“Fridays with Jim.” Knight
said that host Jim Wilkins
wanted to ask him and
Weston about their opin-
ions of an appointed versus
elected Port Commission.
Knight said staff wouldn’t
be responding to those
questions.
altogether. They also argued, since
the public hadn’t prepared to weigh
in on the new version of the propos-
al, that it would be unfair to approve
it.
Opponents of the dune grading
project further objected, as they did
in December, that Breakers Point
was proposing to remove an amount
of sand far greater than is necessary,
and that the homeowners association
should scale down the scope of the
project.
A motion to deny the project
passed, with Johnson, Charles Ben-
nett, Joe Bernt and Lisa Kerr voting
yes, and members Ryan Dewey and
Chairman Bob Lundy voting no.
Member Janet Patrick recused her-
self.
Second, the commission denied,
by a 6-1 vote, a three-part propos-
al that would have recognized four
buildable lots on a North Laurel
Street property.
Because it is steeply sloped, the
city had consolidated the 0.57-acre
parcel into one large buildable lot
for development purposes. The prop-
erty owner, Jeff Nicholson, of Port-
land, challenged the consolidation
in hopes of building three additional
family-sized cottages on the acreage,
which, he said, would pay for an addi-
tional project: tearing down an exist-
ing historic cottage and reconstruct-
ing it with the original materials.
Local WDFW police featured on
Animal Planet’s ‘Rugged Justice’
LONG BEACH, Wash.
— Animal Planet’s new
documentary series “Rug-
ged Justice” follows coastal
Washington State Depart-
ment of Fish and Wildlife
police as they patrol moun-
tains, coasts and city streets,
protecting natural resources
and serving the people of
Washington. Filming in-
cluded places in Paci¿c
County.
The six-episode series pre-
miered Sunday on Animal
Planet and continues on forth-
coming Sundays.
“Our participation in the
series provides an opportunity
for WDFW’s Law Enforce-
ment Program to promote the
department and the dedicated
professionals that carry out our
mission of protecting our natu-
ral resources and the public we
serve,” said WDFW deputy
chief Mike Hobbs. “Policing
the outdoors presents unique
challenges, and this show helps
to inform the public about our
critical role in preserving, pro-
tecting and perpetuating ¿sh,
wildlife and ecosystems in
Washington.”
WDFW of¿cers enforce all
Chinook Observer File
WDFW officers will be featured in a TV program that airs Sunday.
state laws, including those re-
lated to ¿shing and hunting, li-
censing and protecting natural
habitat. Of¿cers also provide
¿rst response to incidents in-
volving potentially dangerous
wildlife, including bear and
cougar, and other public safety
issues.
minutes from the December
general meeting, volunteer
and committee chairman
sign-ups and assignments,
and selecting the 2015 theme
from the 10 that have been
proposed.
Regatta Association gen-
eral meetings are always
be held at 6 p.m. the fourth
Wednesday of each month at
CCC. The dates for the next
meetings are Feb. 25, March
SALEM — After 25 years of service,
the Oregon State Board’s titling and reg-
istration system reached the end of its
useful life and was retired.
The Marine Board made the transi-
tion to a web-based titling and registra-
tion system that has more functionality,
more security and brings more online
options for boaters. The new registration
system combines the old mainframe data
with boater education, Aquatic Invasive
Species (AIS) permits and the out¿tter/
guide/charter databases into one integrat-
ed system.
The customer interface, “RegLine,”
allows boaters to login and manage their
contact information, as well as apply
for boat title and registration and renew
or order replacement documents at any
25, April 22, May 27, June
24 and July 22. The 121st
Y oda
Mature Flame Point
Siamese -- still a
golden boy with a
demeanor of
refined gentility.
Sponsored by
Clatsop Animal
Assistance
time. The new system allows boaters
to order replacement boater education
cards, purchase AIS permits for paddlec-
raft. Coming next year, out¿tters, guides
and charters will be able to apply online.
The transition to the new system last
summer created backlogs for boaters
who were transferring titles and regis-
tering during the already busy summer
months. As a result of extensive transac-
tions sent through the mail, particularly
boats that have not been registered re-
cently or those coming from out of state,
staff are entering the data into the new
system manually. Staff and boaters have
also had to work through the technical
dif¿culties of a new system. This led to
an increased backlog of boat transac-
tions, which most boaters are not accus-
Astoria Regatta Festival is
held Aug. 5 to 9.
Astoria’s Premier Bed & Bath Store
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Port of Astoria Office Building (end of Portway St.)
10 Pier 1, Suite 209
1 BLOCK OFF BROADWAY • 1 BLOCK FROM BEACH
1315 SE 19th St., Warrenton • 861- PETS
20 N. COLUMBIA, SEASIDE • 503-738-4331
NormasSeaside.com
Noon to 4pm, Tues-Sat
tomed to experiencing from the agency,
which has the reputation of having a fast
turnaround time.
For quick turnaround on boat regis-
tration renewals, boaters are encouraged
to renew online. Online boat registra-
tion renewals are immediately processed
when payment is approved and printed
the same or next day for mailing. Boat-
ers should be aware that the new online
interface has additional safety measures
built in that can be confusing, so it is im-
portant to read and follow the directions
closely.
The Marine Board, working with ma-
rine law enforcement, will honor any
temporary permits that expired until the
agency is caught up with transaction
backlog.
1004 Commercial St.,
Astoria, OR 97103
503-325-4400
CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
www.dogsncats.org
of¿cers deployed statewide.
Of¿cers appearing in “Rug-
ged Justice” were not paid by
the show’s producers or Ani-
mal Planet for their participa-
tion.
For broadcast schedules,
interested viewers should visit
http://bit.ly/1Eax4La
DEL’S O.K.
www.dailyastorian.com
VOLUN
T E E R
PICK OF THE WEE K
“‘Rugged Justice’ provides
a window into the vital, var-
ied and sometimes harrowing
work of of¿cers as they protect
nature and people in Wash-
ington,” said Steve Crown,
WDFW enforcement chief.
The WDFW enforce-
ment program has 144
Boat registration moves online
The Regatta sets sail for 2015 festival
The Astoria Regatta As-
sociation’s kickoff meeting
for the 2015 Astoria Regat-
ta Festival takes place at 6
p.m. Wednesday at Clatsop
Community College, 1651
Lexington Ave., in Colum-
bia Hall, Room 219. All are
welcome.
The meeting includes
updating the membership
on what the board has been
working on, reviewing the
After the Planning Commission
originally denied his proposal and
the City Council upheld the decision
last fall, Nicholson appealed to the
State Land Use Board of Appeals.
He chose to put that appeal on hold,
however, while he tried again at the
local level, seeking a variance and a
planned unit development. He has
said that the LUBA appeal would be
a last resort if he doesn’t prevail with
the city.
Nicholson fears that, without the
three new dwellings bringing in in-
come, he will be unable to pay to
rebuild the 99-year-old cottage and,
instead, be forced to sell the entire
property to someone who will de-
molish the cottage and erect a “Mc-
Mansion” in its place.
ACBL Certified Bridge Teachers
Sandra 503-738-0782 Ann Marie 503-861-1133
gilandanngramson@charter.net
bakerss@q.com