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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2020)
A2 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2020 IN BRIEF Cache program launched in Gearhart GEARHART — “You bring them. You pack them. We store them.” So read the fl yers available at City Hall as Gear- hart offers residents the opportunity to store personal belongings in a cache storage area near the city’s water tank on Salminen Road. Residents will have the option to purchase and house cache containers, to be stored in a large conex bin. The contents are determined by residents and meant to provide emergency supplies. “People will buy the drums and then rent the space,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said. Suggested storage items include tents or tarps, sleeping bags, water storage containers, warm cloth- ing, fi rst-aid kit, sanitation supplies, batteries and cookware. “We’d like this to be a supplement to your 72-hour bag,” Sweet said. “At home, nearby or in your car, everyone should have a pack that gets you through the next three days.” A 30-gallon plastic drum with lid will be stored at a cost $40 per year. Barrels are available for purchase between $60 and $80. — The Astorian Memorial service to honor lost Coast Guardsmen ILWACO, Wash. — The U.S. Coast Guard is sched- uled to host a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Satur- day at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Ilwaco in tribute to Coast Guardsmen and mariners who lost their lives during seven separate tragic incidents that occurred along the Washington state and Oregon coasts. “Memorials provide an important link to the past, and it is important to honor those who made the ulti- mate sacrifi ce,” said Capt. Jeremy Smith, the com- mander of Coast Guard Sector Columbia River. “These memorials allow us to remember the bravery and courage of those who have come before us, while also reminding us of the risks and dangers of our cho- sen profession.” — Chinook Observer High court upholds state denial of sublease for Longview coal dock The Washington Supreme Court has upheld a state agency’s denial of a sublease to Millennium Bulk Terminals, dealing yet another potentially fatal blow to the proposed Longview coal export dock. Millennium had asked for a sublease on state aquatic lands at the old Reynolds Metals Co./ Northwest Alloys dock on the Columbia River. The state Department of Natural Resources’ refusal to grant the sublease in 2017 has been subject to court battles. “The decision to not allow this coal terminal on our public lands was the right decision for Washing- ton, and I applaud the Supreme Court for recogniz- ing that,” state Commissioner of Public Lands Hil- ary Franz said in a prepared statement. “I work every day to make sure Washington’s public lands make our state stronger and healthier, now and for future generations. Allowing a com- pany to use our waters without a full, transparent accounting of the environmental and fi scal impacts would jeopardize that mission,” Franz said. Representatives for Millennium could not imme- diately be reached for comment. The state high court denied a petition from North- west Alloys to review a Court of Appeals opinion upholding the decision to deny the sublease. — The Daily News DEATHS Jan. 9, 2020 In DUNZER, Brief Katherine Elaine, 83, of Seaside, died in Seaside. Caldwell’s Funeral & Cremation Arrange- ment Center in Seaside is in charge of the arrangements. PUBLIC MEETINGS MONDAY Cannon Beach Rural Fire Department Board, 6 p.m., Fire-Rescue Main Station, 188 Sunset Ave. Youngs River Lewis & Clark Water District Board, 6 p.m., 34583 U.S. Highway 101 Business. Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., 989 Broadway. TUESDAY Clatsop County Planning Commission, 10 a.m., Judge Guy Boyington Building, 857 Commercial St., Astoria. Astoria Historic Landmarks Commission, 5:15 p.m., City Hall, 1095 Duane St. Warrenton City Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 225 S. Main Ave. Lewis & Clark Fire Department Board, 6 p.m., main fi re station, 34571 U.S. Highway 101 Business. Established July 1, 1873 (USPS 035-000) Published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by EO Media Group, 949 Exchange St., PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103 Telephone 503-325-3211, 800-781-3211 or Fax 503-325-6573. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Astorian, PO Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103-0210 DailyAstorian.com Circulation phone number: 503-325-3211 Periodicals postage paid at Astoria, OR ADVERTISING OWNERSHIP All advertising copy and illustrations prepared by The Astorian become the property of The Astorian and may not be reproduced for any use without explicit prior approval. COPYRIGHT © Entire contents © Copyright, 2020 by The Astorian. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMBER CERTIFIED AUDIT OF CIRCULATIONS, INC. Printed on recycled paper Subscription rates Eff ective May 1, 2019 MAIL (IN COUNTY) EZpay (per month) ...............................................................................................................$11.25 13 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$37.00 26 weeks in advance ...........................................................................................................$71.00 52 weeks in advance ........................................................................................................ $135.00 Out of County Rates available at 800-781-3214 DIGITAL EZpay (per month) .................................................................................................................$8.00 Warrenton planners approve jail design without sidewalks Warrenton Fiber wanted sidewalks By NICOLE BALES The Astorian WARRENTON — The Planning Commission voted Thursday to approve the design for the new county jail at the former North Coast Youth Correctional Facility. The c ommission had extended the public hear- ing on the design in Decem- ber after Stephen Fulton, who works on land devel- opment and wetland mit- igation issues for Warren- ton Fiber, asked the city to require a sidewalk in front of the new j ail near the compa- ny’s housing development. He said he was concerned about pedestrian safety on 19th Street and suggested the county has the money to pay for a sidewalk. He also claimed Warrenton Fiber has a sidewalk “going to nowhere.” Clatsop C ounty addressed Fulton’s comments on Thurs- day, along with details on the process of creating a multi- use pathway. Fulton was not present at the meeting. The P lanning C ommis- sion voted 4-1 to approve the jail design with the condi- tion the county add refl ective paint on both sides of 19th Street for extra pedestrian safety. Commissioner Chris- tine Bridgens was adamantly in favor of the county build- ing sidewalks on 19th Street and voted against the design. Terry Hendryx, the coun- ty’s assistant public works director, said the county ini- tiated conversations with the city in 2018 for bike lanes and sidewalks on 19th Street to improve pedestrian safety. He said Kevin Cronin, the city’s community devel- opment director , approved the county’s construction of bike lanes on both sides of the road in lieu of sidewalks, due to wetland mitigation issues. He said the project is and has always been separate from the jail project. Hendryx said when they met with the city last August to discuss the jail project, Cronin suggested calling the bike path a multi use path- way so the development of the jail would not require sidewalks. He said they completed the multiuse pathway in Sep- tember and met the condi- tions for approval. Monica Steele, the assistant county manager, said a sidewalk like Ful- ton requested would add $135,000 to the $250,000 the county has already spent to put in a multiuse path- way. She said that does not include the potential cost of wetland mitigation, which could be up to $85,000. “While Mr. Fulton stated in the previous meeting that the county has the funds in our budget to do this, what the county has are limited, dedicated and discretionary resources that are budgeted to provide various services throughout the county, and we do so in our best fi scally prudent manner,” Steele told commissioners. “To spend potentially another $220,000 for 910 feet of sidewalk would post- pone other projects that we have planned until the resources are available in the future,” she said. Based on the recommen- dation from the city, the county added striping and will also be putting multi- use path templates along the entire stretch of S.E. 19th Street. “Mr. Fulton also said Warrenton Fiber is being required to ‘build a sidewalk to nowhere,’” Steele said. “The portion of Bugle Road that Warrenton Fiber is con- structing will be connecting to the portion of Bugle Road that the county is develop- ing, which will include side- walks on both sides of the road as well as lighting.” Seaside commission moves to lift downtown parking requirements By R.J. MARX The Astorian SEASIDE — The city could take a step toward a more urban lifestyle if the City Council adopts an amendment to elim- inate or reduce parking requirements . The amendment, a prod- uct of Planning Commission work sessions, aims to elim- inate parking requirements for above-ground apart- ments over commercial uses within the downtown core , and to relax requirements for one bedroom or studio apartments within all zones. The aim, Planning Com- mission Chairman Chris Hoth said at Tuesday’s meeting, is to make work- force housing more eco- nomical for developers and provide more affordable housing for tenants. According to Planning Director Kevin Cupples, the current standard specifi es two spots per dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms or where they are located. The requirements place “a signifi cant impact” on the amount of backup land necessary to develop smaller apartments or mul- tifamily dwellings, which in turn drives up the land cost to develop smaller rental Gearhart land use application fees to jump By R.J. MARX The Astorian GEARHART — First on the City Council agenda for 2020: a bump in land use application fees . The intent is to bring Gearhart’s fees in line with other cities, and to meet the cost of processing appli- cation fees and planning department resources. Developers seeking conditional use permits, street vacations and vari- ances could pay fees up to 10 times higher in order to meet the cost of staff reports, maps, legal notices, map searches and appeals, among other tasks. “This is a project that’s been worked on for some time,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said. “We’re going to talk about building fees and basic permit fees, because we haven’t made changes in 20 years.” Sweet said fees failed to cover planning costs, lead- ing to a burden made up by taxpayers. “We want to make sure costs are covered for the city,” he said. In a staff report, City Planner Carole Connell estimated costs associated with conditional use fees at $2,483 — far greater than the current fee of $250, put in place in 2005. Other cit- ies, according to her report, list conditional use fees in a range from $400 to almost $7,000. Similar increases would be seen across the board for all land use applications. Street vacation fi lings could rise from $750 to more than $3,000. Subdivisions, with a current fee of $500 plus $10 per lot, could increase to more than $3,300, more in line with fees of other cities . “When you look at other cities’ fees are, you think, ‘Whoa, we should have looked at this a while ago,’” Mayor Matt Brown said. “I think there’s really no downside to adjusting those fees.” Discussion of restruc- turing building fees was delayed, but like the land use fees, will allow the city to become comparable with other cities in Clatsop County . As for the land use fees, “We’re going to clarify a few of these things and bring it back next month,” Sweet said after Wednes- day’s meeting. Please ADOPT A PET! KENT 8.5yr old Pit Terrier One part personal valet, two parts wing man, altogether a classic sidekick. housing. Public Works Director Dale McDowell warned at a previous meeting that an unintended side effect may be parked cars blocking periodic street cleaning. Signage could notify the public of street-clean- ing dates, Cupples said. “I’m confi dent that if there’s additional signage that needs to be done to restrict parking to have adequate street sweeping, the public works director is going to get it done, ” he said. “What we’re voting on tonight is sending this to the City Council,” Hoth said. “They can decide Seaside Visitors Bureau Seaside could adjust parking rules downtown. if it’s strict or not strict enough. We’re sending it as a recommendation.” The motion to send the amendment to the coun- cil for consideration passed unanimously. Sullivan selected new chairwoman of county commission County.” Sullivan, Commissioner Mark Kujala and Com- The c ounty Board of missioner Lianne Thomp- Commissioners selected son nominated themselves Commissioner Kath- Wednesday to be the board’s leen Sullivan on Wednes- next leader . They all voted day as the board’s new for themselves. Nebeker and chairwoman . Commissioner Pamela Wev voted for Sullivan. Sullivan, who Following the served as vice chair selection of Sullivan , last year, was elected Nebeker, Kujala and in 2016 and rep- Thompson nomi- resents eastern Asto- nated themselves for ria to Westport. vice chair. Wev and She replaces Com- Sullivan voted for missioner Sarah Kathleen Nebeker, making her Nebeker. Sullivan the board’s new vice She is up for chair. reelection this year, Nebeker is also up for and although she has not publicly announced whether reelection this year. Her d is- she will campaign for trict covers Gearhart and another four-year term, she Clatsop Plains and portions is expected to run. Courtney of Seaside and Warrenton. “As chair, my goal is to Bangs, a Knappa teacher, will run for Sullivan’s post further teamwork among the board members and staff, in the May election. “It is an honor to be to maintain accountability selected as board chair of to the public by being open the Clatsop County c ommis- and transparent in our work sioners,” Sullivan said in an as a board, to basically tell email. “I appreciate the wide our story so that folks know range of talents and expe- what their county govern- riences of my fellow com- ment does every day, and missioners and our staff and very well,” Sullivan said. She hopes to increase know that together, we will continue to provide excel- public involvement in all lent leadership for Clatsop levels of local government. “The county government not only provides necessary services to the residents and OREGON CAPITAL visitors of Clatsop County, it is one of the largest employ- ers in the area,” Sullivan Get the inside said. “It is important that we scoop on state all work together to be the government and politics! best we can be.” By NICOLE BALES The Astorian INSIDER See more on Petfinder.com CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS 1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm www.dogsncats.org THIS SPACE SPONSORED BY BAY BREEZE BOARDING WANTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500
