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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 10, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015 Sunset Lake RV Park request denied Owner wanted to change ratio of mobile homes, permanent RVs By KYLE SPURR The Daily Astorian As part of a settlement with Clatsop County, the owner of an overcrowded Warrenton RV park agreed in December to reduce the number of per- manent dwellings from more than 60 to 43 — the number stipulated in a 2012 compli- ance order. Ken Hick, owner of the Sunset Lake Resort and RV Park, recently submitted an application to the Clatsop County Planning Commission to change the ratio of the 43 units. He requested the ratio of 18 mobile homes and 25 per- manent RVs be changed to 21 and 22, respectively. The Planning Commission denied his request Tuesday with a vote of 6-1, after con- sidering public comment from Hick’s attorney and multiple neighbors against the change. Dozens of neighbors held a community meeting last week at the Astoria Golf and Country Club with repre- sentatives from the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Of¿ce and Warrenton Fire Department to discuss ongoing concerns with the park. Ken Ellsworth, a neigh- bor, said Tuesday neighbors are frustrated that Hick nev- er complied with previous orders and still has not com- plied with the December set- tlement. More than 50 perma- nent dwellings appear to still be on the property, he said. “His actions speak louder than his attorney’s words,” Ellsworth said. The county began enforce- ment action against the park in 2009 in response to com- plaints from neighbors. At the time, county staff found about 90 units at the park, with more than 60 connected to an over- burdened septic system. Gray water was also being released into the lake from some sites, according to a citation. The overcrowding also appeared to increase criminal incidents, according to the county. A hearings of¿cer issued an order in September 2012 to set the maximum number of permanent mobile homes at 18 and RVs at 25. Hick failed to meet the order. After several inspections and continued non-compli- ance, Clatsop County sued Hick in late 2013 to enforce its order. The December set- tlement dropped the lawsuit and ended the lengthy stand- off over the multiple code violations. Hick had to pay $5,000 to offset the county’s costs. Ken and Joyce Carrell, who live near the park, said no matter what the ratio, 43 per- manent units is still too many for the park. “I have trouble believing (Hick) is going to be in good faith, when he has not histor- ically shown he has been in good faith,” Ken Carrell said. Blair Henningsgaard, le- gal counsel for the Planning Commission, said Hick has a constitutional right to his property and the county can- not lower the number of spac- es. In addition, Hick has the right to request a changed ra- tio, Henningsgaard said, and that right was agreed upon in the settlement. “The county can’t say that is the wrong number of spac- es because as the years went by the county didn’t take any action,” Henningsgaard said. Robert Stricklin, the Plan- ning Commission member who cast the lone vote in fa- vor of the ratio change, said he made the vote because the county already agreed to let Hick change the ratio. Under the settlement agree- ment, Hick, owner of Resourc- es Northwest Inc., had to apply to the county to modify the use or ratio of his park. It is then up to the county to approve his application. Stricklin suspects Hick’s lawyer — Kevin Luby — will appeal the Planning Commission’s decision. County staff recommend- ed approving Hick’s request, claiming the ratio change would not expand or impact the square footage threshold at the park. “Staff was not able to iden- tify any adverse impacts that would result from just the change in the ratio,” Senior Planner Jennifer Bunch said. NORTH COAST 3A Warrenton City Commission backs water, sewer hikes By DERRICK DePLEDGE The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — Wa- ter and sewer rates are go- ing up. The Warrenton City Commission voted unan- imously Tuesday night to move forward with sig- nificant water and sewer rate increases necessary to sustain the city’s infra- structure. Water rates will in- crease by 15 percent, sew- er rates will climb by 2.5 percent, and a storm sewer surcharge will double to 20 percent, up from 10 percent. City staff estimates the water rate increase will bring in an addition- al $300,000, the sewer rate bump will generate $42,500, and the storm ‘It’s a hard pill to swallow but it’s something that we’re going to have to do.’ — Mark Kujala Warrenton mayor sewer surcharge hike will produce $178,500. For households that consume 4,000 gallons a month, the combined rate increases would raise the bill to $115.28, up from $104.86, a $10.42 jump. The rate increases will take effect in the new fis- cal year that starts in July. “It’s a hard pill to swal- low but it’s something that we’re going to have to do,” Mayor Mark Kujala said. Warrenton has resist- ed recommendations for steep rate increases in the past, but has regular- ly raised rates to keep up with infrastructure. The storm sewer surcharge, however, has not been in- creased since it was first imposed in 1992. The city will order new water and sewer rate stud- ies that could help guide future rate structures. The rate studies, City Manager Kurt Fritsch said, will help “folks know that we’re not sim- ply doing this by the seat of our pants. This is a very serious concern of ours.” One of the issues influ- encing rate pressures is the loss of the Pacific Coast Seafoods processing plant to fire in 2013. The city has estimated the process- ing plant consumed about $250,000 worth of water annually. Kujala said the loss of revenue “really demon- strates the need to get Pacific Seafoods back to Warrenton.” A city budget commit- tee had recommended the water and sewer rate in- creases in May. The City Commission is expected to take final votes on the rate increas- es at a meeting later this month, when the commis- sion will also likely ap- prove the budget for next fiscal year. Astoria names new community development director The Daily Astorian Kevin Cronin, a senior project manager and busi- ness development coordina- tor for the Portland Devel- opment Commission, has been named the new com- munity development direc- tor in Astoria. Cronin will help guide the city’s development vi- sion and oversee planning. The city has waited to hire a new planner until a commu- nity development director is in place. Brett Estes, the city man- ager, was the city’s former community development director and has been han- dling both roles since last year. Cronin, according to the city, is a former planning manager in Sherwood and city planner in Talent. He has worked with the Port- land Development Commis- sion since 2007. “I am so excited to start another chapter in my pub- lic service career,” Cronin said in a statement. “Asto- ria is a stunning city and a great community for me and my family. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.” GO ONLINE www.dailyastorian.com W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 June 10th, 1956-June 10th, 2015 59 Years I never would have made it without you I love you, Murt LeRoy Dunn How to identify a possible gas leak. If you smell ROTTEN EGGS it could be a gas leak. And the best thing to do is leave your home and call NW Natural. We’ll be out to make sure everything is safe. Unsure of what to do? Just take a look at our tips to the right. Smell. Go. Let Us Know. 800-882-3377 If you smell a rotten egg or sulfur odor, you hear a blowing or hissing sound, or you see blowing dirt, it could be a gas leak. What to do. Leave your home and the area immediately. Don’t use any electrical device such as a light switch, telephone, appliance or garage door opener. And don’t try to fi nd the leak yourself. Who to call. 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