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.