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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2018)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Seaside considers annexation plan Forty-five lots could be in play By R.J. MARX The Daily Astorian SEASIDE — Some property owners in unincorporated areas south of Seaside may have the option of annexation into the city. Property owners who are pay- ing up to double for water and other essential services may consider it to their advantage to join the city, which could provide more efficient public safety, Jon Rahl, the assis- tant city manager, said. Rural law enforcement and fire district taxes would also be eliminated. But those gains could be offset by other costs, including higher city taxes and rezoning. Annexation is required before land can be developed at urban density with city zoning, or to hook up to city water and other services. Property owners would be required to pay the cost of water and sewer extensions. The annexation plan, which covers properties on Avenue U to Avenue S, was established as one of the City Council’s goals for the next few years, Rahl said. Boundaries comprise 45 lots, with about two-thirds on the east side. In October, the city “reached out via snail mail to these 45 tax lots,” Rahl said. “Some are strongly for it, some are against it.” Annexation will be decided by the City Council, Rahl said, and does not require a majority vote by property owners. “The City Coun- cil and city want to hear from every property owner — and we are con- tinuing to work on that effort — but the decision whether to annex or not is one that will be made by the City Council at a later date,” he said after Monday’s City Council meeting. The city will await more responses from property owners before taking next steps, Rahl said. R.J. Marx/The Daily Astorian Some properties on both sides of Avenue S could be annexed into Seaside. Backers of Vancouver-Portland ferry looking for financial support An alternative to driving By MOLLY SOLOMON Oregon Public Broadcasting Backers of a new project are making a bold pitch to Portland metro drivers: Leave your car at home and consider a com- mute by ferry. The vision from the group Frog Ferry is for passenger fer- ries to run along the Columbia and Willamette rivers, carry- ing up to 149 passengers daily from Vancouver’s Terminal 1 to downtown Portland. “We are truly looking at new transportation options,” said Susan Bladholm, president and founder of the nonprofit Friends of Frog Ferry. Bladholm spoke to report- ers Tuesday morning in front of the Willamette River and the Tilikum Crossing bridge to drum up support for the project. The organization is looking for money from public agencies and private donors to begin a series of feasibility studies. Molly Solomon/Oregon Public Broadcasting Susan Bladholm is the founder and president of the non- profit Friends of Frog Ferry. The organization is proposing a passenger ferry service to run along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. “This is more than doable,” she said. “This is way past time.” The ferry project already has one notable backer: Port- land Mayor Ted Wheeler. His chief of staff, Michael Cox, announced the mayor’s full support in using city dollars to fund a portion of the study. “We know we’ll have to find funding,” Cox said. “The city is willing to step up and do our part and lead a conversa- tion with other jurisdictions to get all the money on the table.” It’s unclear how much the city of Portland would contrib- ute to the $650,000 feasibility study. The Frog Ferry project is still in the early stages and will need significant financial sup- port to progress. Bladholm says five feasibility studies and a financial plan are expected to cost $1.3 million. It’s unclear how much the ferry service would alleviate congestion for Clark County commuters, Washington, but organizers estimate a single ferry would take 500 cars off the Interstate 5 bridge. Accord- ing to the Southwest Washing- ton Regional Transportation Council, more than 135,000 cars cross the I-5 bridge daily. Bladholm says she has reached out to city officials and state agencies in south- west Washington and has put in funding requests to the city of Vancouver, the Port of Van- couver and CTRAN, the sec- ond largest transit system in the region. Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said she wasn’t invited to Tuesday’s event but has had at least one meeting with organizers from Frog Ferry. “The council does not have it in our strategic plan, it’s not in our transportation plan, and it’s not in our city budget,” McEnerny-Ogle told Oregon Public Broadcasting, explain- ing that Vancouver has made no financial commitments to the project. “But we look forward to seeing how it progresses in Portland and having that con- versation in the future.” Tuesday’s event did include one person from southwest Washington, Port of Vancouver economic development man- ager Jim Hagar. The port’s Terminal 1 prop- erty is currently undergoing its own transformation, alongside the city of Vancouver’s recently opened waterfront project. Port leaders plan to open a public market, a hotel and additional office and retail space. Orga- nizers say the river ferry service will b OPEN through the HOLIDAYS Moving a ft to a new er Januar y location Clatsop Post 12 Open Face Roast Beef Sandwhiches with Salad Friday th Nov. 30 4 pm until gone $ 00 8. 6PM “Karaoke Dave” WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 A e STORIA C OFFEE C OMPANY could also serve as an alterna- tive route for tourists visiting Vancouver’s new waterfront. But if the project does move forward, Hagar said there would need to be adjustments to the dock at Terminal 1 and more parking would need to be built. “We don’t know where this is going. but we’re supportive of the concept,” Hagar said. If the money can be found, organizers say ferry service could start as soon as 2022. ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION Clatsop Post 12 1132 Exchange Street 325-5771 COMMERCIAL STREET Antiques & COLLECTIBLES Retirement Sale! 50% off inventory in December Selected Items Marked Down 75% off! Lots of inventory to choose from! 5:30 AT 9 TO ON S u r h t S M TUE SUN and CLOSED • Fresh roasted coffee • Bulk loose leaf & Russian herbal teas • Bulk Guittard chocolates • Goonies memorabilia (hoodies, T-Shirts, pins, coffee mugs, shot glasses, post cards.) • And much more! “Come Find A Present From The Past In Historic Downtown Astoria” 959 Commercial St, Astoria, OR • 503-325-4388 Haystack Holiday Traditions Come celebrate with us Cannon Beach is offering can’t miss events to make your holiday season merry and bright! C ANNON B EACH C HORUS F RIDAY , N OVEMBER 30 TH | 7 PM Cannon Beach Community Church H OLIDAY T EA S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 1 ST | 1-4 PM Cannon Beach Library S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 1 ST | 4 PM Sandpiper Square Cannon Beach’s most loved holiday event! N OVEMBER 26 TH - D ECEMBER 14 TH Cannon Beach in Lights voting online & at the Chamber and ‘Name That Tune’ playing cards available at the Chamber through Dec. 14 th P ICTURES WITH S ANTA H OLIDAY W REATH M AKING A STORIA C OFFEE C OMPANY L AMP L IGHTING C EREMONY C ANNON B EACH IN L IGHTS & ‘N AME THAT T UNE ’ W INDOW D ISPLAY C ONTEST S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 1 ST | 11 AM -3 PM Cannon Beach Chamber Community Hall | Cost $ 22 S ATURDAY , D ECEMBER 8 TH | 1-4 PM Cannon Beach Chamber Community Hall. Come support the Cannon Beach Academy & get your picture with Santa. Presented by the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce For complete information visit 304 37 th Street, Astoria, OR 97103 • 503-325-7768 www.cannonbeach.org/explore/Holiday-Events-in-Cannon-Beach or Facebook @ HaystackHolidays 503.436.2623
