3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017 Dollar General under city design scrutiny Eyeing east Astoria location By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian City staff have recom- mended denying an application to build a Dollar General store on property near NAPA Auto Parts in the Mill Pond neigh- borhood, saying the design does not meet Astoria’s criteria. “I generally try to avoid sending projects to (Design Review Committee) for denial, but your project does not quite meet criteria yet,” City Planner Nancy Ferber wrote in an email to Cross Development in June. The proposed retail store will be discussed at a Design Review Committee meeting Thursday. The committee could deny an application if it misses even Jennifer Dawn Hernandez David James Prahl Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian A new branch of the nation- al retailer Dollar General is being proposed near the Mill Pond neighborhood. one requirement; the Dollar General application missed more than 10, Ferber said on Tuesday. However, the devel- oper can continue to submit information up to and at the meeting Thursday. Ferber noted in her find- ings that the proposed build- ing does not complement the downtown area or “establish visual or physical linkages to the Columbia River riverfront area … The street frontage and Adam Wentworth Jennifer Kosala Kevin Cosmen design does not create a pedes- trian-friendly environment.” The orientation of the build- ing would also make for a roundabout pedestrian route. She also noted that the height, mass and scale of the building are “out of propor- tion with the other commercial structures.” “I assure you, we aim to provide you with an approv- able plan,” wrote developer Mike Stults in an e-mail as he submitted additional changes to the design plan. The new, 9,100-square-foot building would be located in “one of the first major commer- cial areas encountered when approaching the city from the east end of town,” Ferber wrote in the staff report. The property straddles two overlay zones: the Civic Green- way Overlay zone that extends from 16th Street to 41st Street and is intended to, among other Luanne Cleveland Wayne Brooks things, “protect views of and access to the Columbia River” and the Gateway Overlay zone, an “intensively developed, mixed-use area which comple- ments downtown Astoria and the community as a whole.” It is an area that, while home to busy facilities like the Astoria Aquatic Center, Columbia Memorial Hospital and Columbia River Maritime Museum, also contains several large stretches of vacant land ripe for redevelopment. Dollar General has more than 13,000 locations nation- wide. The Astoria location is expected to employ six to 10 people. The land is zoned local service development, which would allow — outright — uses such as retail stores like Dollar General. The Design Review Committee is the only city panel that will review an application from the busi- ness — since the property falls within the two overlay zones — however any decision could be appealed to the City Council. “While I’m not thrilled about the kind of business that wants to build, I would like HONORED to be a part of the communities we serve Seven arrested in Seaside meth bust Children and dogs were inside house By JACK HEFFERNAN The Daily Astorian Commission Vacancy Announcement Port of Astoria Seven people were arrested during a drug raid Saturday in Seaside. Multiple police agencies, with the help of a police dog, executed a search warrant at 1226 East Avenue. Authori- ties found methamphetamine, digital scales and packaging material. Jennifer Dawn Hernandez, 47, and David James Prahl, 55, were charged with deliv- ery of methamphetamine and first-degree child neglect. Two minor children and two dogs were inside the residence at the time of the raid. One of the children was transfered to Child Protec- tive Services, and the other was returned to his parent or guardian. The Clatsop County Animal Shelter is housing the dogs. Five other people — Kevin Cosmen, 47, Jennifer Kosala, 43, Wayne Brooks, 47, Luanne Cleveland, 48, and Adam Wentworth, 38 — were arrested and charged with fre- quenting a place where con- trolled substances are used. Further charges may fol- low as the investigation con- tinues and the evidence is ana- lyzed, according to the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office. Both Prahl and Hernandez have been convicted of past fel- onies. In late June, Hernandez was indicted on charges of pos- session methamphetamine and two counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants. Their arraignments for the most recent charges have been scheduled for next week. to encourage the city to min- imize the ‘strip mall’ appear- ance of their typical signage and building style and require something that blends in with the motif that is Astoria,” wrote Astoria resident Tom Leiner in response to the application. The Design Review Com- mittee could choose to approve the application despite staff’s recommendation, but would need to amend the findings of fact to support such a deci- sion. The committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. EO Media Group newspapers are proud to have won 18 first-place awards at this year’s Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Summer Convention We would like to thank the readers and businesses in each of the communities that we serve for their loyalty and support eo o eomediagroup.com • The East Oregonian won General Excellence for the sixth time in the past seven years • The Daily Astorian won Best Overall Website and placed second in General Excellence • Capital Press won the Sweepstakes award as best associate member publication group 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3  3 33 3  3 33 3 33 3 33 3 3 33­ 3 3 3  3  ­ 3 3 3 33  3 3 3 33 3 3  3  3 ­ Due to the recent announcement by Port Commissioner Robert Mushen of his immediate resignation from the Port Commission, the Commission is seeking candidates for Dr. Mushen’s position (Position 4). Position 4 remains active until June 30, 2019. Position 4 will be up for election in May of 2019. Th e Commission is seeking to appoint a new Commissioner to Position 4 at the August 22, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Commission in Open Session. (Note: this is a change from the Port’s Regular Meeting originally scheduled for August 15). Th e Commission will be interviewing candidates during the August 22 meeting. To be considered for the position, the Commission requests that interested candidates please forward a letter of interest expressing your desire for consideration. Please include your qualifi cations and stated desire as to why you should be considered. Also, please provide a brief biography or resume along with your letter of interest. All applications will be reviewed by all Commissioners prior to the August 22, 2017 Commission Meeting. Candidates must be registered voters of Clatsop County. Please mail or hand deliver your documents to the Port Offi ce in Astoria in sealed envelopes addressed to: Port of Astoria Commission Attention: Frank Spence, President #10 Pier One, Suite 308 Astoria, OR 97103 Applications must be received no later than 12:00 noon, August 16, 2017. For any questions please contact Frank Spence at: 503-325-2365