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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2019)
WEEK 8 OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL • SPORTS EXTRA • INSIDE 147TH YEAR, NO. 51 WEEKEND EDITION // SATuRdAY, OcTObER 26, 2019 $1.50 Fort George seeks tax break First use of enterprise zone By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian Ken Yuill holds an aerial photo of the Spur 104 neighborhood next to U.S. Highway 101 in Warrenton. Yuill has lived in the neighborhood since the 1960s and has watched the area develop. Warrenton wrestles with plans for Spur 104 neighborhood Commercial property, housing, improved streets proposed Fort George Brewery is seeking a 15-year property tax break worth an esti- mated $617,000 for an expansion at Asto- ria Warehousing. It would be the first tax incentive approved under the Clatsop Enterprise Zone and the first long-term reduction in rural Northwest Oregon. Enterprise zones provide companies property tax breaks on qualifying invest- ments. A standard enterprise zone offers tax relief for up to five years, requiring at least $50,000 in investment and the cre- ation of one job. Fort George wants a long-term rural enterprise zone offering up to 15 years of tax breaks in exchange for at least $12.5 million invested and the creation of 35 jobs. By the fifth year, each job cre- ated would have to earn, including ben- efits, 130% of Clatsop County’s average annual wage, currently around $37,000. Chris Nemlowill, the co-owner of Fort George, and local and state officials involved in enterprise zones met Thurs- day night with elected leaders to discuss the company’s plans. See Fort George, Page A8 By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian W ARRENTON — The 19-acre collection of sin- gle-family homes and gravel side streets wedged between U.S. Highway 101 and state Highway 104 presents an opportunity for central- ized development out of the tsunami inundation zone in Warrenton. But amid a lukewarm reception, the city is struggling on how to plan for the future of the neighborhood, avoid exacerbating surrounding traf- fic and appease neighbors chafing at potential new restrictions on their property. The City Commission previously voted to allow higher-density com- mercial mixed-use development to spur development. But with concerns about traffic issues in areas like the North Coast Retail Center, the com- mission required a master plan for the neighborhood, paid for with urban renewal funds. After a weeklong open house to gather feedback, Kevin Cronin, the city’s community development direc- tor, presented a master plan proposal to the Planning Commission that would set parameters under which the neighborhood would develop. The overlay zone envisioned a mix of commercial property, varying den- sities of housing, public spaces, trails and improved streets. Rather than See Spur 104, Page A8 Grocery Outlet appeals city’s design decision Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian The Spur 104 neighborhood sits just above the tsunami inundation zone between U.S. Alternate Highway 101 and U.S. Highway 101. Currently, a few short gravel roads separate the plots of land owned by 25 residents. Warrenton A conceptual master plan for a neighborhood along state Highway 104 envisions a mix of commercial property, varying densities of housing, public spaces, trails and improved streets. Developer wants a new review By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian The developer behind a proposed Grocery Outlet in Astoria is hoping the City Council will overturn a denial by the Design Review Commission and give them another chance to create an agreeable store layout. Main & Main Capital Group wants to build a 16,000-square-foot building on a triangle-shaped lot where Com- mercial Street runs into Marine Drive. The back of the store would face 23rd Street and the new Astoria Co+op slated to open in December in the Mill Pond neighborhood. The commission denied the new store earlier this month, citing issues with access off of Marine Drive and challenges it would pose for pedestri- ans as central to their concerns. But Michael Robinson, an attorney for the developer, argued the denial did not reasonably explain under what condi- tions the project could be approved. See Grocery Outlet, Page A8 Law enforcement leaders call for early education Investment in prekindergarten By NICOLE BALES The Astorian Local law enforcement lead- ers gathered Thursday in Astoria to urge the state to invest more in prekindergarten. Astoria Police Chief Geoff Spalding, Warrenton Police Chief Mathew Workman and District Attorney Ron Brown attended a press conference at Gray School joined by Martha Brooks, the state director for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Northwest Early Learning Hub director Dorothy Spence and Astoria School District Superin- tendent Craig Hoppes. Spalding, Workman and Brown are members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and they shared insights from the organi- zation’s new report, Oregon Kids Soar with Early Education Invest- ments. Following the press con- ference, they led a storytime for children from five prekindergar- ten centers. The law enforcement lead- ers recognized the recent state investment into prekindergarten through the Student Success Act, but stressed the need for more resources. “While we are extremely excited to have more investments in the community, we need to keep our eye on the ball and con- tinue to invest in pre-K, or spend millions on remedial education and public safety if the investment falls short,” Spalding said. The Student Success Act will increase funding for prekinder- garten statewide by $75 million over the next two years. That will allow 5,200 more eligible students to attend prekindergarten through Head Start, Oregon Pre-Kinder- garten and Preschool Promise. “Unfortunately that doesn’t come close to expanding access to more than 20,000 eligible children who don’t have the opportunity to attend,” Brown said. See Leaders, Page A8 Nicole bales/The Astorian District Attorney Ron Brown, left, Astoria Police Chief Geoff Spalding, center, and Warrenton Police Chief Mathew Workman led a storytime for children from five prekindergarten centers.