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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 10, 2018)
DailyAstorian.com // WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018 145TH YEAR, NO. 137 ONE DOLLAR Kevin Willett A close-up photograph taken in 2014 shows damage to a septic tank near Kevin Willett’s property in Gearhart. DOUBLE TROUBLE Gearhart neighbors spar over septic system By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Mayor Arline LaMear will not run for re-election. LaMear will not seek re-election as Astoria mayor Renewal of the Astoria Library was one of LaMear’s priorities and under her watch the council settled on a compromise to renovate the existing 50-year-old building By KATIE instead of breaking ground FRANKOWICZ on a new library. Plans are The Daily Astorian also moving forward to turn the historic Waldorf Hotel Astoria Mayor Arline next door — neglected and LaMear, who has guided the empty for years — into city with an understated con- affordable housing. On Tues- fidence since her election in day, LaMear and Interim 2014, will not seek another Police Chief Geoff Spalding led the second meeting of a term in November. The mayor cited personal new task force intended to reasons for choosing not to address issues surrounding homelessness. run again. A former librarian, “I really enjoy knowing how the city works and fig- LaMear was elected to uring out ways to the City Coun- cil in 2008. When make it work better,” Willis Van Dusen LaMear said of her announced his retire- role. “I love it.” ment after 24 years Her four-year as mayor, LaMear term ends in Decem- ber, as do the City felt the council Council terms of needed someone Zetty Nemlowill and familiar with the Cindy Cindy Price. The trio city. She defeated Price formed the city’s Larry Taylor to win the job, the sec- first council with a ond woman — after majority of women. Edith Hennings- While Nemlow- ill said she is not yet gaard — to lead the city. sure if she will seek “We will have a re-election, Price is new city manager, a positive she will run Zetty new council person, again and is con- Nemlowill templating a bid for a new finance direc- tor,” she told The mayor. “I certainly plan to be Daily Astorian at the time. on the ballot in November,” “And I think we need some- Price said. “Whether that’s one to be there who can pro- as city councilor or mayor I vide continuity. I can provide continuity.” don’t know yet.” LaMear had also served LaMear and the two councilors still have an entire five years on the Planning year ahead of them regard- Commission. She had served less, and there remains plenty on the Astoria Library Board to keep them busy — from and the Clatsop County the city budget and vacation Commission on Children and rentals to homelessness and See LaMEAR, Page 7A affordable housing. The former librarian was chosen in 2014 G EARHART — Duplex owner Kevin Lee Willett says his neighbor Richard Derby’s fail- ing septic system is contaminating his prop- erty, and the city needs to take immediate action to stop it. The smell from the leaking system is hurting his property’s value and impacting his quality of life. “When we get a good rain, we’ll get a smell,” Wil- lett said. “But the biggest concern is raw sewage going into the ground that the city of Gearhart has chosen to turn a blind eye to.” Environmental Health Specialist Nancy Men- doza of the Clatsop County Public Health Department examined the system twice in September and delivered a notice and order to correct the violation to Derby in early October. “The on-site sewage system is creating a public health and safety hazard for the residents of the home and for the public,” Mendoza wrote. R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian See SEPTIC SYSTEM, Page 7A Kevin Lee Willett presents a photo he said shows cracking in a neighbor’s septic system. Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian A septic tank at the duplex photographed here on Fifer Heights Road in Gearhart is the source of controversy. Astoria OKs plans to turn historic Waldorf into apartments Hope for a long-vacant property near City Hall By KATIE FRANKOWICZ The Daily Astorian For the past 30 years, depending on the day and the developer, the historic Waldorf Hotel downtown has been something people want to reopen, rebuild or demolish. At a meeting Tuesday night, the Astoria Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Innovative Housing, Inc. to turn the Waldorf into 40 workforce hous- ing units with retail space on the bottom floor, putting the vacant and neglected hotel firmly on the path to renovation. Parking was the one sticking point — though ultimately not a strong one — for some com- missioners, given the perceived parking prob- lems downtown and the Waldorf’s location next to City Hall. But they agreed with Commis- sioner Joan Herman, who said, “We’d be really short-sighted if we were to let parking get in the way of having this building not only restored but also provide more affordable housing.” As a condition of approval, Innovative Housing will work with the owners of down- town leased parking areas to reserve several off-street parking spaces. These spaces will be made available to tenants to lease when the building opens. “This decision allows us to apply for state funding,” said Julie Garver, director of housing development for Innovative Housing, which has a purchase and sale agreement with the build- ing’s owners, Groat Brothers, Inc. “This was critical and very much appreciated. … This was the most critical step of the entire year.” Jeff Daly See WALDORF, Page 7A The view in the reception area of the Waldorf Hotel.