3A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017
RV park: ‘I don’t see how ODOT can make this safe for pedestrians’
not just me. This affects
everybody.”
Arch Cape resident and
environmental
advocate
Nadia Gardner, along with
many others at the fi re hall ,
was also concerned how the
project would affect the mar-
bled murrelet, a seabird that
can only live in increasingly
rare, old-growth coastal for-
ests. The state Department of
Forestry identifi ed the prop-
erty as adjacent to a marbled
murrelet management area in
2009.
Waggoner said many of
these drainage and envi-
ronmental concerns can be
addressed once more engineer-
ing surveys are completed.
Continued from Page 1A
already populated stretch of
U.S. Highway 101, threats to
water quality and the prop-
erty’s proximity to threat-
ened m arbled m urrelet habi-
tat all were echoed by multiple
residents.
The community’s desire to
protect the area’s old growth
forests, however, was the
room’s unifi ed plea.
“The Oregon Coast is like
one big backyard,” Netarts
resident Shelly Reeder-Lueth
said. “We believe it’s worth
fi ghting for the last 5 percent
of old growth forests. Other-
wise, what do you have left?”
The vision
deceleration and acceler-
ation lanes, which would
likely be required by the Ore-
gon Department of Transpor-
tation, will not solve traffi c
build up and blind spot issues
from drivers trying to turn
left into the park.
Waggoner said once the
development application is
fi led, ODOT would provide
any necessary mitigation
requirements for pedestrian
safety. But residents like John
Mersereau is not sure what-
ever is recommended would
be enough.
“Widening the highway
is not going to help the dan-
ger,” Mersereau said. “I don’t
see how ODOT can make this
safe for pedestrians.”
The environment
Others were concerned
with environmental issues,
such as the fact the project
would be squarely in Arch
Cape’s watershed. Sharon
Stern said residents would
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Problems with
procedure
Submitted Photo
A proposed RV park near Arcadia Beach has drawn traffic
and environmental concerns.
th
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be vulnerable to any septic
tank failures or other
waste contaminating the
groundwater .
Residents like Bob Turk,
who has secondary water
rights to a creek that runs
through both his property
and Smejkal’s, also worry
about what effect numerous
campers could have on the
neighborhood.
“I worry people will be
walking through that stream,
dumping things into that
stream,” Turk said. “It’s
Questions about whether
the developer has followed
county planning rules were
also raised.
The county issued a cease-
and-desist order in July after
the Department of Forestry
reported Smejkal was plan-
ning a logging operation
on parcels without county
approval, Caplinger said.
Waggoner and Smejkal
argue they were cutting under-
brush to allow surveyors to
assess the land adequately to
fulfi ll county requirements.
“All we’re trying to do is
try to look at the property,”
k th e L a b e
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raises concerns,” Caplinger
said. “The code is not clear
on brushing on recreational
management land. While it
is feasible, it would be diffi -
cult to fulfi ll our development
requirements without a full
survey. The question is if you
need to do that much clearing
to conduct these tests. At this
point we don’t know.”
Waggoner and Smejkal
still need to complete a vari-
ety of surveys before submit-
ting a development permit
application. After that, a pub-
lic hearing will be scheduled
for community input.
Waggoner said he was not
surprised by the public reac-
tion, and that they intend to
move forward with the proj-
ect as permitting allows.
However, Smejkal reiterated
that he was open to selling
the land, but had yet to see an
offer.
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The land was owned by
the Oregon Parks and Rec-
reation Department before
it was traded to Smejkal in
2002 in exchange for land he
owned in Columbia County.
In 2009, Smejkal attempted to
develop the property as hous-
ing, which was ultimately
denied by the county Planning
Commission.
Waggoner said people
should expect a small RV
park with about 35 spaces.
The preliminary plan is to add
walking trails around the site
and to preserve as many of the
large trees as possible to add
to the overall ambiance.
Before almost any detail
can be decided , Waggoner
said a variety of geohazard,
transportation and ecological
studies will need to be con-
ducted to complete a develop-
ment permit.
But some argued it doesn’t
take a study to recognize
how the narrowness of the
highway will impact pedes-
trian safety for people who
will want to leave the RV
park to visit Arcadia Beach.
Many echoed concerns how
Waggoner said. “We’re not
going in to pillage the land.”
Oregon Coast Alliance
president Mike Manzulli said
between the lack of regard
for the planning process and
questionable applications for
tree removal, there is reason
to question whether the devel-
oper can be trusted to build
the project responsibly .
“Why would we trust
you?” Manzulli said.
Caplinger said part of what
has made the property so
complicated is its zoning. In
most cases, private landown-
ers would not need a permit to
clear underbrush to conduct
land surveys. But because the
land is former park land and
zoned recreational manage-
ment, the number of accept-
able uses is minimal and
vague.
“Going from preserva-
tion to development always
S crooged
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For questions contact:
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PLAYERS NEEDED
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No previous experience required.
Attention Hunters
&
Forest Recreationists
The Lewis & Clark Timberlands managed by
GreenWood Resources in Clatsop County will again
open for motorized recreational access this fall.
Public access is allowed from one hour before sun-
rise until one hour after sunset. Camping, camp-
fires, off-road driving, ATVs and motorcycles are
prohibited. All access is subject to change.
Gates open from Sept. 30, through Nov. 24, 2017
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
L&C Camp Gate (71)
400 Line (72)
300 Line (73)
Klootchy Park (39)
Sugarloaf (24)
Charlie Cr. (26)
Clatsop Fir XO (25)
Tidewater (49)
Snow Point (54)
• Elk Mtn. W (98/99)
• L&C ML at Saddle
Mtn. Park Rd East/
West (56/57)
• Fisher ML (83)
• Twilight Gates
(110/113/114)
• Bear Cr. 300 (80)
• Elk Mtn. East (53)
Any gate that may be open but is not listed
above could be closed at any time, as unlisted
gates are open for active Lewis & Clark Timber-
lands operations only.
Please report any illegal or suspicious activity
to the Sheriff ’s Office at 503.325.2061 or the
Oregon State Police at 1.800.452.7888
TO REPORT A FIRE OR EMERGENCY
CALL 911 Road maps showing gate locations
are available at our New Gearhart office. Current
access information is available on the Recre-
ational Hotline at 503.738.6351, ext.2.