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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 2016)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL January 13, 2016 Chamber to honor local citizens, businesses at annual banquet In this map, dark areas without out- lines denote portions of the City of Cottage Grove's 100- year fl oodplain. Those inter- ested in seeing if their property is located in the fl oodplain can contact the City's Community Development Department. BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel T courtesy graphic City updating fl oodplain development code, seeking public comments BY JON STINNETT The Cottage Grove Sentinel C 3A ottage Grove’s Community Development Department wants to know what the public thinks of efforts to update its code with re- gard to development within the des- ignated 100-year fl oodplain. City Planner Amanda Ferguson said the department sent about 400 letters to those residing or owning properties within 200 feet of the Row and Coast Fork of the Willa- mette River within Cottage Grove’s City Limits, including to those liv- ing near Silk and Bennett Creeks, regarding the new draft of the City’s development code. Ferguson wrote in a recent press release that the City is undertaking this code revision to bring the cur- rent code up to date with new fed- eral laws, case law and executive orders on fl oodplain development, adding that the new code also re- fl ects changes in nation-wide fl ood insurance requirements. Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy have helped illus- trate the need for new federal laws regarding fl oodplain development. Ferguson said the primary purpos- es of the code are to protect human life and health, minimize damages to public facilities and utilities, help maintain a stable tax base by provid- ing for sound use and development of fl ood prone areas, minimize the need for rescue and emergency ser- vices and minimize prolonged dis- ruptions to the community during times of fl ood. Despite the number of notices sent, Ferguson said that only about 80 properties in Cottage Grove are located within the fl oodplain. Much of the fl oodplain is located either outside the City Limits, she said, or in the wetland areas around the Row River, 80 percent of which are owned by the City of Cottage Grove itself. “That City ownership was inten- tional,” she said. “There was a lot of land bought in the Eighties along the Coast Fork and the Row to stop development in those hazardous ar- eas.” With regard to the Coast Fork, Ferguson said the fl oodplain can be equated to the riverbank itself in many areas, since the river in town was channeled out to serve as a log fl ume by lumber companies some years ago. Ferguson said that many differenc- es exist between the very defi nition of development with regard to the 100-year fl oodplain, which has only reportedly been reached by high wa- ter once in recent history, in fl ooding that occurred here in 1964. One pro- posed change in the code concerns the City’s recommendation that no development occur in the “fl ood- way,” a much more narrow stretch of the riparian areas around local rivers. Currently, such development is allowed if the property owner can demonstrate that the development has no negative downstream impact: “Important changes include: reor- ganization of priorities; new defi ni- tion of ‘development’; clarifi cation of permit process and substantial damage/substantial improvement re- quirements; prohibition against de- velopment in the regulatory Flood- way; increased freeboard standard; and added protections for essential facilities.” Ferguson said the City hopes to adopt the new code in the summer of 2016. In the meantime, the City is sponsoring an open house on Tues- day, Feb. 2 from 4-6 p.m. at City Hall to answer questions about the proposed changes. Related com- ments are due to the City by Friday, Feb. 19. Those interested in seeing if their property is impacted by changes in the proposed development code can contact the Community Develop- ment Department 541-942-3340 or visit City Hall to review current fl oodplain maps. s t a r g n o C o our s! t ner n i W he Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce will honor outstanding local citizens and businesses at its an- nual banquet this weekend. The banquet, scheduled to take place Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Em- erald Valley Golf Club and Resort in Creswell, will honor the Teacher of the Year and Classifi ed Employee of the Year award recipients from South Lane School District, in addition to Cottage Grove’s Junior First Citizen, First Citi- zen, Distinguished Service Award recip- ient and Business of the Year Award. Chamber Executive Director Travis Palmer told the Sentinel Monday that some of the award winners had already been announced. This year’s Distin- courtesy photo guished Service Award winner, selected South Lane Superintendent Krista annually by representatives from area Parent with co-Teacher of the Year service clubs, is Joe Raade. Raade vol- Peggy Lintula. unteers with the Bohemia Sunrisers Ki- for families and children,” said the news- wanis group and has recently served on letter. the South Lane School Board. Teixiera assists students during class- Just before winter break, South Lane room instruction, schedules the Individ- School District honored its classifi ed ualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings employee and teachers of the year for for the high school and does paperwork 2015. Bohemia Elementary third-grade for the Special Education Department. teacher Debbie Taie and A Primary Con- “Diana is calm and patient with stu- nection founder Peggy Lintula were an- dents and staff, is highly organized and nounced as co-Teachers of the Year, and a great communicator,” said the newslet- Diana Teixeira, an educational assistant ter. “She will regularly stay after class at Cottage Grove High School who has or school to assist students with their been working in the school district for schoolwork.” 11 years, was named Classifi ed Employ- Scholarships for Cottage Grove’s Ju- ee of the Year. nior First Citizen award were presented According to SLSD’s “What’s Right” to winner Eve Cornelius in the amount newsletter, Taie has been teaching at Bo- of $1000 and to runner-up Kale’a Gal- hemia for 29 years. breath in the amount of $750. Palmer “Debbie is described by her peers as said there were 13 applicants for the someone who doesn’t give up on any scholarships. students, has a level of patience and un- Nominees for the First Citizen award derstanding that allows for her students were Darby Valley, George Devine and to fl ourish and is a leader in the school Paul Tocco. Palmer explained that the who is nurturing to students and staff. winners were chosen from the results of She is positive, warm, and is always a “detailed nomination sheet," adding there for staff to listen and share,” the that voting in this case was extremely newsletter said. close. Meanwhile, Lintula has been work- “Both the First Citizen and Business ing in South Lane School District for 35 of the Year awards were too close to call years and founded A Primary Connec- until the last few votes,” he said. “And of tion 25 years ago. course, everybody is deserving.” “Peggy demonstrates respect for ev- Carousel House Bed and Breakfast and eryone, and teaches that level of respect Catering was nominated for Business of to everyone both professionally and per- the Year, as were South Lane Wheels and sonally. She is relentless in her advocacy Cascade Home Center. E R O T S R E WINTER HOURS: T HURSDAY , F RIDAY & S ATURDAY 10 AM -4 PM For Drop-off appointments, after hours, call the offi ce We need volunteers for the ReStore ~ a few hours each month! Will you help? Fall 2015 $1,000 Shopping Spree Winner Darrell & Joann Kirkruff (541) 942-1301 6RXWKWK&RWWDJH*URYH & & Equipment Rental (541) 895-4166 6RXWK0LOO6W&UHVZHOO 0RQ6DWDPSP6XQGD\DPSP Habitat Offi ce and Warehouse 2155 Getty Circle ~ Unit #1 in the Cottage Grove Industrial Park South on Hwy 99 past the High School S N O I T DONA S AL WAY ! ME O C L E W Call 541.767.0358 for more information Email info@habitatcg.org
