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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2020)
147TH YEAR, NO. 87 WEEKEND EDITION // SATuRdAY, JANuARY 18, 2020 $1.50 Astoria looks to limit chain stores, hotels Move to protect local businesses By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian The Astoria City Council has begun defining the types of chain restaurants and hotels it could restrict to protect independent businesses. A growing number of cities have been enacting prohibitions to pre- vent the spread of formula busi- nesses that can squeeze out smaller competitors and drive up rent. For- mula businesses include standard- ized services, merchandise, sig- nage, decor, architecture, uniforms and other aspects that make them similar to other locations. Mayor Bruce Jones, who broached the idea of restrictions, recounted a previous discussion where he mentioned that failure is easier to define than success. “‘Failure,’ I said, ‘Would be coming over the hill from (Astoria) Crest Motel and seeing a big Olive Garden sign, an Applebee’s sign,’” he said. “And then, you know, you’re not in Astoria anymore. You’re in any one of the thousand anonymous suburbs in America.” City Planner Barbara Fryer has been researching how different communities approach prohibitions. “They’re pretty much through- out the country — the Midwest not so much — but the rest of the coun- try, pretty much,” Fryer said. “A lot of California communities, espe- cially coastal communities, regulate these businesses.” Cannon Beach prohibits restau- rants with standardized arrange- ments, without a specified num- ber of locations. Bainbridge Island, Washington, prohibits formulaic fast food and takeout restaurants with disposable containers. Bristol, Rhode Island, bars formula restau- rants larger than 2,500 square feet from downtown. Port Townsend, Washington, restricts formula busi- nesses to a single highway commer- cial zone and to no more than 3,000 square feet. Astoria cannot prohibit busi- nesses based on ownership. City Manger Brett Estes brought up the issue of ownership groups like See Limit, Page A6 Grocery Outlet pitches shared driveway Potential solution to access concerns By EDWARD STRATTON The Astorian The developer of a proposed Grocery Outlet in Astoria hopes a shared drive- way with the Mini Mart on Marine Drive will help clear the way for a new store. The Design Review Commission in October denied a proposal by Tex- as-based Main & Main Capital Group to build a 16,000-square-foot building for the national discount grocer on a trian- gular lot where Commercial Street runs into Marine Drive. Central to their con- cerns was access off of Marine Drive and the potential challenges it could pose for pedestrians. Main & Main appealed the denial, arguing the commission did not reason- ably explain under what conditions the project could be approved. The devel- oper asked for and received approval from the City Council for a fresh public hearing that begins Tuesday. Main & Main began work last fall on a new 18,000-square-foot Grocery Out- let in Seaside after resolving concerns about a turn lane off busy U.S. Highway 101. In Astoria, access off Marine Drive, a state highway, has remained a conten- tious issue, with a perception of danger for pedestrians along the roadway and drivers entering and leaving through the bustling main artery. Main & Main’s revised application utilizes a shared driveway at the west end of the Mini Mart. Dan Dover, a manager with Main & Main, said traffic engineers hav- en’t raised any issues with access off of Marine Drive. City public works has not taken issue with access off of the high- way, but deferred judgment to the state. See Grocery Outlet, Page A6 Photos by Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian A photo of the Stiles family sits on a table at the vigil. ‘They were deeply, deeply, deeply, deeply loved’ Vigil held for family involved in tragedy off Falcon Cove By NICOLE BALES The Astorian M Claudia Johnson, from Nehalem, speaks about the deaths of two children in Falcon Cove and the impact it had on the community. ANZANITA — Nearly 100 people attended a vigil at the Hoffman Center for the Arts on Wednesday night for the two children washed into the ocean at Fal- con Cove over the weekend. Oregon State Police said Jeremy Stiles, 47, of Portland, was holding his children on the shore when they were caught by a wave that pulled them into the water. Stiles’ 7-year-old daughter, Lola, was pronounced dead at Providence Seaside Hospital and his 4-year-old son, William, is still missing. According to a GoFundMe page set up for the family, Stiles is recovering from hypothermia. In a Facebook message Wednes- day night, Jamie Stiles, the children’s mother, thanked people for “providing light to my dark days.” “Words cannot express how grate- ful I am for the outpouring of love and support to my family,” she wrote. “I am not OK right now but am in treat- ment and will reach my new normal someday soon. I have read every sin- gle comment and message sent our way and feel like each one adds a tiny drop of glue to my completely shat- tered heart. “I know Lola and William are surrounding us with their beautiful energy as we navigate a path to peace and healing.” Claudia Johnson, of Nehalem, spoke at the vigil prior to a moment of silence. See Vigil, Page A6 Jordan’s Hope for Recovery to dissolve Mom founded group after son’s overdose By NICOLE BALES The Astorian Jordan’s Hope for Recovery, a local nonprofit that provides support for peo- ple dealing with drug addiction, will dissolve by the end of January. Kerry Strickland started the orga- nization in 2016, after her son, Jor- dan, died from a heroin overdose in Los Angeles in 2015. The non- profit grew into a source of education and outreach in Clatsop County and ‘TOGETHER WE HAVE WORKED TO HELP THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES, PROVIDING LIFESAVING NALOXONE AND ENCOURAGING HOPE.’ Kerry Strickland received statewide recognition. “We want to thank the many vol- unteers, partners and donors who have helped us perform the important work we have done over the past four years,” Strickland said in a statement. “Together we have worked to help those who struggle with substance use disorders and their families, connecting people to resources, providing lifesav- ing naloxone and encouraging HOPE. “I personally want to thank the many wonderful people who worked dili- gently with me to honor the memory of my son Jordan by helping others. It has been an emotional and rewarding See Nonprofit, Page A6 danny Miller/The Astorian Dave and Kerry Strickland hold a photograph of their son, Jordan, in their home in Knappa. Jordan died in Los Angeles in 2015 from a heroin overdose.
