Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
12A THE DAILY ASTORIAN WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016 LNG:&ROXPELD5LYHUNHHSHU¿OHGDVKRUWHUDSSHDO Continued from Page 1A Oregon LNG In Oregon LNG’s appeal, Mike Connors, the attorney representing the company, said that Kearns wrongly deter- mined the project doesn’t comply with, among other city provisions, the Warrenton development code’s shoreland and aquatic area development standards. He also argued that Kearns failed to properly weigh the City Commission’s compre- hensive plan amendments from 2006 that rezoned the East Skipanon Peninsula to allow for Oregon LNG-type marine industrial development. The City Commission decided a decade ago that the area where the company’s dredging would occur has minimal biological VLJQL¿FDQFHDQGWKDWWKHDUHD is uniquely suited for an LNG terminal, Connors said. ³7KHKHDULQJVRI¿FHUHUUHG in concluding that he was not bound by these City Commis- VLRQ¿QGLQJVDQGFRQFOXVLRQV and his conclusion renders the 2006 amendments meaning- less by making any marine industrial development virtu- ally impossible,” the appeal stated. In addition, Connors argued WKDW WKH KHDULQJV RI¿FHU JDYH unreasonable weight to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s comments and Columbia Riverkeeper’s two consultant reports while ignor- ing the company’s “substantial expert testimony and reports demonstrating that the terminal impacts have been adequately analyzed and will be mitigated to acceptable levels.” ³2UHJRQ /1* VSHFL¿- cally responded to and refuted ODFW’s letters and River- keeper’s consultant reports, ZKLFK WKH KHDULQJV RI¿FHU ignored in his decision,” Con- nors wrote. He points out that Urling and the city’s own expert con- sultants reviewed the compa- ny’s reports and agreed with Oregon LNG’s conclusions. What’s more, he said, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s draft environ- mental review of the proj- ect supports the company’s conclusions. Connors also said Kearns misconstrued the city’s devel- opment code and mistakenly determined that the termi- nal will “unreasonably inter- fere” with the public‘s abil- HUNHHSHU KDV ¿OHG DQ DSSHDO albeit a much shorter one. Though the appeal requests that the City Com- PLVVLRQ DI¿UP .HDUQV¶ UHMHF- tion of the terminal, Lauren Goldberg, the staff attorney representing the Hood Riv- er-based environmental Oregon LNG group, asked that the com- and Columbia mission amend the decision Riverkeeper to read that Oregon LNG has have appealed not demonstrated a “substan- a city ruling WLDOSXEOLFEHQH¿W´WRWKH/1* against a terminal as required by the terminal on Warrenton development code. the Skipanon She also argued, contrary Peninsula. The to Kearns, that Oregon LNG’s City Commis- development on the shore- sion will hear line would exclude the public the appeals in from shoreline access to areas early May. WUDGLWLRQDOO\ XVHG IRU ¿VKLQJ hunting and other activities, in violation of the city code. Finally, Goldberg said Joshua Bessex The Daily Astorian that Oregon LNG’s gas ÀDUH DV GHVLJQHG ZLOO QRW LW\WRDFFHVVWUDGLWLRQDO¿VKLQJ be enclosed in a building as grounds. required by the comprehen- ³7KH KHDULQJV RI¿FHU¶V sive plan. In his decision, interpretation of these code pro- Kearns said that this problem visions is erroneous,” Connors could be solved by making said, “and would impose sig- WKHHQFORVXUHRIWKHJDVÀDUH QL¿FDQW UHVWULFWLRQV RQ IXWXUH a condition of approving the marine development along the terminal; Goldberg said that Lower Columbia River.” Kearns was wrong to sug- gest that compliance could Columbia Riverkeeper be achieved by imposing this Meanwhile, Columbia Riv- condition. Theater: It hopes to sponsor an indie-folk concert series Continued from Page 1A Baker-Monaghan and Steve Forrester, the editor and pub- lisher of The Daily Astorian, who serves on the theater’s board, outlined the Liberty’s ¿QDQFLDOFKDOOHQJHVIRUWKH$VWR- ria City Council in December. The city, which put up an early $1.3 million toward the Liberty’s restoration through the Astor East Urban Renewal Dis- trict, could take ownership of the Liberty if the theater were to fail ¿QDQFLDOO\ Baker-Monaghan told the City Council that the estimated shortfall is about $60,000 a year, a gap driven by maintenance demands that eat into the abil- ity of the theater to invest in programming. New board members, including Jennifer Canessa, a retail relationship manager at Columbia Bank, Israel Nebeker, a musician in Blind Pilot, and Darren Orange, an artist, have brought some fresh ideas. The Liberty Theater wants to sponsor an indie-folk con- cert series aimed at attract- ing younger people, including millennials from Portland and Seattle. The theater applied for a $20,000 grant from the city’s arts and cultural fund, which is meant to help promote tourism. On Monday, an Astoria Bud- get Committee panel review- ing the grant applications rec- ommended $8,000 for the concert series. The subcommit- tee — made up of City Coun- cilors Cindy Price and Drew Herzig and Richard Hurley, a licensed tax consultant — praised the idea, but raised con- cern about the Liberty’s man- agement and whether it was appropriate for the theater to get such a large share of the $50,000 in grant money avail- able citywide. “We just feel like we don’t have enough data,” Price said about the Liberty’s overall ¿QDQFLDOSLFWXUHDQG³WKHUH¶VD certain amount of skepticism.” The historic Liberty Theater celebrated its 90th anniversary last year and the 10th year since a grand reopening after renovation. Edward Stratton The Daily Astorian EASTER BRUNCH Sunday, March 27 th • 11 AM - 3 PM Working for a strong Community We make a difference together Each year, CMH caregivers give more than 10,000 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars in donations to our commu- nity. CMH raises money each year for worthy community organizations, including United Way, American Cancer So- ciety and March of Dimes. Our caregivers are little league coaches, volunteer ireighters, board members and more. At home and at work, our caregivers are dedicated to serving our neighbors. hat is why CMH ofers many programs designed to help those who are uninsured or under-insured. We provide the healthcare you need, when you need it. People Centered, Quality Driven & Service Focused. &YDIBOHF4USFFU"TUPSJB0SFHPOt www.columbiamemorial.org Lemon Pepper Salmon with Poached Prawns Roasted Pork Loin with Mushroom Gravy Honey Glazed Ham Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Glazed Baby Carrots Scrambled Eggs & Fried Potatoes Bacon & Sausage Links Waffl es Biscuits & Gravy Assorted Salads & Rolls Homemade Desserts Adults $ 25 95 • Seniors $ 23 95 Children $ 12 95 (Five & under: Free) Milepost 18, Hwy 26, Elsie RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED 503-755-1818 • 800-874-1810 www.camp18restaurant.com Find us on Facebook