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THE ASTORIAN • TuESdAy, July 13, 2021
R.J. Marx/The Astorian
The proposed site of the 72-unit Cross Creek development
in Seaside.
Subdivision: The
complex would
use an existing,
shared driveway
Continued from Page A1
The site is zoned resi-
dential high density, which
allows the development,
according to the transporta-
tion impact study prepared
by property owners.
“During heavy traffic
hours, I think it’s a foregone
conclusion it’s going to have
traffic backed up basically to
their development,” Kevin
Cupples, the city’s planning
director, said.
According to the own-
ers’ traffic study, based on
a review of the most recent
five years of available crash
data, no significant trends or
crash patterns were identi-
fied at any of the study inter-
sections that indicated safety
concerns.
The complex would use
the existing, shared drive-
way serving the nearby com-
mercial spaces, according
to the study. The study also
says the site access and side-
walk configuration provides
efficient access and circula-
tion for anticipated pedestri-
ans, bicycles and vehicles.
“The Lancaster Mobley
traffic study has determined
the project will be well inte-
grated with the surround-
ing transportation facilities,”
Adam Dailey, of A.M. Engi-
neering, said on behalf of the
owners. “They have deter-
mined the additional traffic
generated by this develop-
ment will not require addi-
tional access or modification
to the existing access is not
necessary.”
In conjunction with the
conditional use permit, the
developers submitted a high-
way overlay zone request
and a preliminary subdivi-
sion plat that would create
a separate lot for each of the
housing units and common
ownership of the access and
off-street parking areas.
Discussion will con-
tinue at the Planning Com-
mission’s next meeting in
August as commissioners
sought a proposal for condi-
tional items and further dis-
cussion of a pedestrian and
bicycle safety plan.
“There are many drive-
way access points along
U.S. 101 through Seaside —
which the section is — in the
urban areas so there’s greater
likelihood of local peo-
ple biking,” Kleczek said.
“I think it’s super import-
ant, and it’s part of our job
as the Planning Commission
to start to set those standards
for developments to be built
for people moving, not just
cars moving.”
AstoriUS Day: ‘It’s a
good opportunity for
businesses to get creative’
Continued from Page A1
Over 20 businesses
will be hosting perfor-
mances, projects, sidewalk
sales, tastings and more.
Autumn Eve Montgomery
Hurd, a local illustrator, has
designed stickers to honor
the event and the many
businesses participating.
“It’s a good opportunity
for businesses to get cre-
ative,” said Shelby Meyers,
the downtown association’s
marketing and promotions
manager. “There’s also been
a lot of new businesses that
have opened up in Astoria
over the last year. We want
to give them the opportu-
nity to introduce themselves
to the community.”
A handful of businesses
are also using the event as
an opportunity to give back
by donating a portion of
their proceeds to local char-
ity organizations.
Visitors can expect musi-
cal performances from local
artists in the afternoon and
evening at RiverSea Gal-
lery, Foragers and Gulley’s
Butcher Shop, three busi-
nesses that aided in orga-
nizing the event with the
downtown association.
The majority of the event
will take place between 10th
and 14th streets, but will not
require any road closures,
Meyers said. Sidewalks will
also maintain their level of
accessibility, even as a few
businesses open up to out-
side spaces.
Additionally, some par-
ticipating businesses may
ask visitors to wear masks
or maintain social distancing
protocol as they ease back
into life from the pandemic.
The downtown asso-
ciation will be posting on
social media throughout the
week, highlighting a vari-
ety of businesses and orga-
nizations that helped orga-
nize the event and what they
hope to get out of it.
“With so many changes
over the past year, we
wanted to broaden an event
beyond just the sidewalk
sales,” Meyers said.
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
T. Paul’s Urban Cafe has temporarily closed.
Restaurants: ‘We’re all in the same boat’
Continued from Page A1
an all-time high of 13.2%
within the first two months
of the pandemic.
The state found that 48%
of those initial job losses
were in the leisure and hos-
pitality sector, such as hotels,
restaurants and bars, along
with other services like bar-
ber shops and hair salons and
private education.
‘It just wasn’t healthy
for them’
Despite the economic
blow of the pandemic, many
people have not immediately
returned to the workforce
as jobs become available.
While extended unemploy-
ment insurance has pro-
vided some cushion, workers
have cited difficulties with
child care, housing and fam-
ily obligations. Some also
used the time off to reeval-
uate whether they want to
go back to the same type of
work, especially lower-wage
jobs.
In July, the minimum
wage in Clatsop County
increased to $12.75 an hour
— up from $12. Many restau-
rants have raised hourly pay
and provided other incen-
tives to help fill jobs but are
still having trouble finding
staff.
At Bridgewater Bistro,
June was the busiest month
since the restaurant opened
in Uniontown in 2007, Ann
Kischner said. “It’s busy all
day and every day,” she said.
At that point, they began
to worry for the well-be-
ing of their employees. “I
Carter: Will attend University of Oregon
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“I said in my graduation
speech that he’s my hero,
and I really meant that,” Car-
ter said. He fondly recalls
riding around on his grandfa-
ther’s drivable lawn mower
as a child. The business, he
said, is a combination of his
interest in horticulture and
his admiration for his grand-
father’s work ethic.
As a sixth grader, Carter
carried his three-blade push
mower around the neigh-
borhood to clear up weed
patches for neighbors.
When he suffered a hip
injury, however, Carter
became frustrated with how
his brother was finding suc-
cess mowing lawns in his
absence. The small sibling
rivalry quickly became the
launching point for Carter’s
side hustle to turn into a full-
fledged business.
“One lawn became two,
two became three,” he said.
“Then at the start of last year
I had about 10 to 15 regular
clients.”
The mark of Local Lawn-
boy’s work, Carter said, is a
dedication to getting every
job perfect. He insists that if
it’s not what his clients like,
they need not pay him. “I
want to get it right. My go-to
line is, ‘My parents feed me
either way.’”
Carter — who was a
standout soccer player for
the Gulls — works seven
days a week and manages
five full-time employees.
Daniel Sturgell, the owner of
Warrenton-based 3D Land-
scape, helped Carter’s busi-
ness by lending him trucks
for mulch distribution and
other tasks.
“He’s really driven for
someone his age,” Sturgell
said. “What he’s doing, start-
ing with just a hand-mower
and working his way up, is
really great to see.”
Carter will attend the Uni-
versity of Oregon in the fall,
where he plans to study busi-
ness and finance. He knows
it’ll be tricky to maintain
the business from afar and
embark on his education at
the same time. But he said
he’s spent months training
his workers so that they’ll
be able to steer the ship once
he’s left for Eugene.
Carter also acknowl-
edges how many of his men-
tors and clients advise him to
take some time off and enjoy
his college experience.
“Making sure I have fun
along the way is something
I keep in mind,” he said,
chuckling. “But it’ll be a bal-
ancing act for sure.”
saw them and realized, ‘You
don’t even have time to visit
your mom,’” she said. “It just
wasn’t healthy for them.”
So Bridgewater decided
to make some schedule
adjustments. The restau-
rant closed Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. They also shut
down between 3 p.m. and
4 p.m. on other days to give
staff a chance to transition
between lunch and dinner.
Even though virus restric-
tions have been lifted, the
restaurant has kept seating at
50% capacity.
“Why add tables to stress
our employees out more?”
Tony Kischner said. “I’m
going to continue to pro-
tect my staff and keep
them from getting sick and
overwhelmed.”
In May, T. Paul’s Urban
Cafe announced they would
temporarily close down-
town. T. Paul’s Supper Club,
their other restaurant, also
juggled hours. According
to a sign out front on 12th
Street, the restaurant is hir-
ing for all positions, both full
and part time.
Geno’s Pizza and Burgers
announced during the spring
that they would be closed
on Tuesdays until they are
able to find more staff. They
shut down early and closed
entirely on numerous days
in June. A “help wanted”
sign sits in their window in
Uppertown.
Street 14 Cafe is closed
on Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays. They were
recruiting a new kitchen
manager and chef on social
media in June.
“We’re all in the same
boat,” Ann Kischner said.
“That’s comforting to know.”
‘People are
disappointed and even
occasionally angry’
The disruption has caused
some negative reaction from
customers who were eager
to have the virus restrictions
lifted.
“People are disappointed
and
even
occasionally
angry,” Ann Kischner said.
But she tries to be under-
standing as people readjust
to life.
“It’s just a stressful time
for everyone,” she said.
“People have a certain level
of tension in their life. We
all do. So we tell servers to
expect that and to be patient
with people.”
In the meantime, Bridge-
water Bistro will continue
looking for staff.
“When people want to
return to the workforce and
the restaurant industry, we
will be willing and able to
hire and pay those people,”
Tony Kischner said. “We
hope that conditions will
allow us to return back to
normal soon.”