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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 18, 2020)
SATURDAY EDITION | JULY 18, 2020 | $1.00 THESIUSLAWNEWS.COM RN L ANE E T S E W AMBULANCE $65 Join LifeMed Today! WesternLaneAmbulance.com or Call 541-997-9614 SIUSLAW NEWS: A LOOK B ACK AT 130 Y EARS INSIDE — A7 Improving homes and lives City modifies parking in Old Town Regional Home Improvement Program grants are helping make homes and lives better Siuslaw News NEWS & VIEWS THAT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY VOL. 130, NO. 57 F LORENCE , O REGON Changes will allow restaurants to expand seating to parking lots and lanes. WEATHER By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News The implementation of new COVID-related protocols in Florence continues with a change in the parking regula- tions governing Bay Street. The new policy for parking in Old Town is still being fi- nalized, but the framework for modified parking restrictions is in place and the next step is set to begin as early as next week. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, city staff announced the new Old Town parking plan, which included the rational for the change and the next step business need to take in order to legally partici- pate in the program. There is also a plan for eating establishments which are not located next to public roads, al- lowing them to expand seating into private parking spaces con- nected to their restaurant. “The City of Florence is ex- panding the outdoor seating allowances for local restaurants to seat more people outside to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19. Restaurants with parking lots will be allowed to expand into their parking spac- es, and restaurants that do not have parking spaces will be al- lowed to expand into the park- ing lane,” the City’s statement explained. The City has two different forms available for restaurants, depending on their location and specific circumstances. Once the restaurant’s form is deemed complete by the City of Florence, restaurants can ex- pand their outdoor seating See Partly cloudy and windy with a high of 66 and a low of 61. Full forecast on A3 COMMUNITY PHOTO BY LENA FELT/SIUSLAW NEWS Yvette Wiesner and her family are hoping for the final improvements on their home to be completed by the end of summer By Lena Felt Siuslaw News Intern Y vette Wiesner and her husband had just closed on their first home to- gether when they realized they would need to fork out several thousand dollars more on new flooring. The urgency of the situation became apparent after Wiesner’s husband fell through the floor of their hallway. “When we bought the house, we immediately put almost $10,000 into the flooring itself,” said Wiesner. “We replaced the subfloor, put down overlays throughout the house and fi- nally the actual flooring. After that, we were good for a while.” Things started looking up after the flooring was finished. But soon, the roof began to leak in several places, causing severe damage to the ceilings. “We knew there was work that need- ed to be done, but we didn’t re- alize the extent of it,” Wiesner said. The issues seemed to keep piling on top of each other the longer they lived there. Wiesner and her family See RHRP 6A The Planning Commission hearing on a new development has been postponed By Mark Brennan Siuslaw News This week’s scheduled Plan- ning Commission meeting had been the subject of considerable interest among property own- ers and neighbors of a proposed multi-unit housing develop- ment (PUD) on the corner of Rhododendron Drive and Fifth Street. The proposal seeks approv- al for a 126-unit multi-family complex, combining attached and detached dwellings along with several separate homes. Neighbors have expressed concerns with the proposal for a number of reasons but primar- ily regarding traffic congestion at the corner of Rhododendron Drive and fifth Street and neg- ative impact on groundwater tables that could lead to runoff issues. All Commissioners were present during the tele-confer- enced meeting. The agenda for the meeting was approved and consideration of Resolution PC 20-07 PUD 01 began. Chair- person John Murphy next in- formed the committee that the applicant, represented by Mer- cedes Serra, Senior Urban De- signer from 3J Consulting, had requested an extension in hold- ing the public hearing sched- uled for the meeting. See MEETINGS 6A Dunes City Council looked at finding a balance between owner and resident concerns RECORDS Obituaries & emergency response logs Inside — A2 SIDE SHOW Activities and comics every Saturday Inside — B4 behind us,” one speaker said, de- scribing issues with trespassing on property, parking issues and trash. “What we’re looking for is ideas,” he said. “[Dunes City Administrator Jamie Mills] has received different short term rental operating licenses and agreements from various places, so we’re trying to put together something that allows for short- term rentals to exist within Dunes City, but to do it to where we are not adversely affect- ing the neighborhood and the neighbors of those businesses.” One of the largest problems that residents shared with cur- rent rentals is the inability to contact homeowners or manag- ers if there is a problem. “For example, last night we had a vocational rental, for the third day in a row, shooting off aerial fireworks,” one resident See DUNES CITY 7A Listings and public notices Inside — B5 FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST NEWS : /S IUSLAW N EWS @S IUSLAW N EWS T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM S IUSLAW N EWS 2 S ECTIONS | 16 P AGES C OPYRIGHT 2020 ing we’re looking for input on the subject because we’ve had a few problems over the last year,” Dunes City Mayor Robert For- sythe said as he began the meet- ing, pointing out that it was not the intention of the city to abol- ish short-term rentals all togeth- er. “We’re not opposed to short- term rentals, or Airbnb use on a property, but we find ourselves in a pretty intrusive, unique situation with a property that’s Local recyclers offering COVID-safe pick-up INSIDE — B1 CLASSIFIEDS Dunes City discusses options with short-term rental issues Dunes City held an online town hall Wednesday night to discuss ideas and concerns re- garding short-term rental prop- erties in the city, such as Airbnb. The discussion was the first in what could be many as the city looks to create a specific ordi- nance regarding regulations on short-term rentals in the city. “I’d like to preface it by say- OUTDOOR Port, Planning commissions hold brief meetings PARKING 6A By Jared Anderson Siuslaw News Residents team up to clear Scotch Broom INSIDE — A3 Getting rid of 'Huh?' for over 20 years HEARING ASSOCIATES Call today to schedule an appointment. of Florence 541.991.4475 FLORENCE • 1901 Hwy 101, Ste A Florence's ONLY Doctors of Audiology Scott C. Anderson, Au.D. • Steven G. Anderson, Au.D. HearingAssociatesofFlorence.com FREE TV Adapter with the purchase of every set of level 7 or 9 hearing aids.