WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020
BAKER CITY HERALD — 3A
L OCAL B RIEFING
Eagles Past Presidents Club dinner Friday
Baker City couple drop effort to get
permission to build home in Union
By Sabrina Thompson
The (La Grande) Observer
UNION — Jane and Frank
Wentzel of Baker City in
August 2018 bought land in
Union they hoped to build a
home on.
The property at 103 N.
Bellwood St. is near Cath-
erine Creek and close to their
daughter. The Wentzels, both
in their 70s, saw it as an ideal
spot.
What happened with trying
to build there was far from
ideal. After fi ghting for more
than a year to live on the
land, the Wentzels ended the
effort.
“The most maddening part
was we wanted to use that
land and live there, right by
the riverfront,” Jane Wentzel
said. “But we came to a dead
end.”
Union City Administra-
tor Doug Wiggins said the
Wentzels purchased the land
knowing they would have to
get a conditional-use permit
in order to build a home there.
The city zoned the 2.2 acres
the Wentzels purchased as
commercial property in 2015
after completing a nearly
$30,000 study to develop a
zoning map of the city.
Jane Wentzel said she
thought getting the permit
would be a “no-brainer” be-
cause two houses were estab-
lished nearby. The Wentzels
submitted an application for
the permit on Oct. 10, 2018.
The city’s planning commis-
sion considered the matter
a week later at a public
hearing.
Prior to and during the
hearing, locals spoke for and
against the permit. Busi-
ness owners who shared the
road with the property were
concerned about their ability
to grow their businesses and
stood in opposition. Other lo-
cals were concerned it would
take away land from new
businesses that might revital-
ize the community.
“You will add another nail
in Union’s coffi n if this is
approved,” Dick Middleton, a
longtime Union resident, told
the commission.
The commission decided in
a 3-1 vote to deny the permit.
According to the letter the
city sent the Wentzels, the de-
nial was because allowing the
land to be used for a residence
would contradict the master
plan for the city.
“We felt like it was a gut
punch after the planning
commission meeting,” Jane
Wentzel said.
Wiggins supported the
decision.
“We don’t have a lot of
commercial ground in town,”
he said.
As a compromise, the
couple decided to split the
land into three lots, and
the planning commission
unanimously approved. With
two new lots for potential
businesses and buyers, the
Wentzels looked to change
the zoning on the third lot to
residential.
FINDLEY
fraction of 1,000 (more than
500).
Continued from Page 1A
Baker County, which has
“I am looking forward to
slightly fewer than 12,000
the opportunity to serve the registered voters, had a total
people of Senate District
of 12 votes, meaning each of
30,” Findley said in a press
the three commissioners —
release issued Monday
Bill Harvey, Mark Bennett
afternoon. “I have worked
and Bruce Nichols — had four
hard to represent the voices votes each.
of Eastern Oregonians since
The vote breakdown by
I have been in the House of
county: Baker, 12; Deschutes,
Representatives and there is 17; Grant, 5; Harney, 5; Jeffer-
much more work to be done. son, 15; Lake, 1; Malheur, 16;
It has been an honor to serve Wasco, 16; Wheeler, 1. Neither
the people of House District Clackamas nor Marion county
60 and I am looking forward had votes because the parts of
to this new challenge.”
those counties within District
Although party commit-
30 are mainly in the Cascade
tee members nominate
Mountains, and neither has
candidates, the fi nal choice
more than 500 registered
is made by commissioners
voters.
from the counties in District
Baker County Commission-
30. That district, the larg-
er Mark Bennett said the vote
est geographically in the
tally was 60.33 for Findley;
Oregon Senate, includes all
15.99 for Runyon; and 11.34
of Baker, Grant, Harney, Jef- for Wattenburg.
ferson, Malheur and Wheeler
Bentz resigned Jan. 2 so he
counties, as well as parts
could focus his attention on
of Deschutes, Lake, Wasco,
running for Congress. Bentz
Clackamas and Marion
hopes to replace Greg Walden
counties.
as representative for Oregon’s
Each county is allocated
2nd Congressional District.
one vote for every 1,000
Walden announced last fall
registered voters or major
that he won’t seek re-election.
They fi led for a zone
change in April in addition
to suggesting a zone swap
for a residential property on
Medical Springs Highway
owned by Coy Wilde. Under
that scheme, the Wentzels
fi gured the city would not lose
any residential or commercial
property.
However, the city denied
the Wentzels’ proposal. The
city in a letter cited the
rejection was due to Wilde’s
noncompliance with zoning
conditions and out of con-
cerns Wilde would not follow
through on using his property
for a business.
The Wentzels presented
their proposal during a June
19 public hearing before the
planning commission. The
fi nal decision regarding the
matter went to the city coun-
cil Aug. 12. During both public
hearings, the Wentzels at-
tempted to address concerns
that opponents raised to the
zone change.
Some, such as Dennis
Clark, who owns a workshop
near the Wentzels’ property,
said having people living in
the commercial zone could
lead to the city getting noise
complaints. And Union resi-
dent David Orcutt said, “I can
see problems in the future
with mixing and matching
commercial and residential
properties.”
Not everyone disapproved.
Gary Koegler of Union said
he was in favor of the zone
change because it would en-
This is the second time
lican nomination for House
Findley, a Republican from
District 60 in the May 2020
Vale, has been appointed to
primary.
replace Bentz in the Oregon
Legislature.
In January 2018, when Ted
Ferrioli, the Republican who
represented Senate District
30, was appointed to the
Northwest Power and Conser-
vation Council, commissioners
from the counties in District
30 picked Bentz, then a state
representative, as Ferrioli’s
replacement.
Bentz’s appointment in
turn left his House seat open,
and commissioners chose
Findley to replace Bentz.
Findley was then elected to
a two-year term in November
2018, running unopposed.
Findley’s appointment to
replace Bentz in the state
Senate leaves Findley’s seat
in House District 60 vacant.
The same process to fi ll
that vacancy should start
soon.
The Oregon Legislature
convenes for its abbreviated
2020 session on Feb. 3.
Mark Owens, a Harney
County commissioner, has
already fi led for the Repub-
Baker County has vacancies for volunteers to serve
on the following:
• Economic Development Council
• Transient Lodging Tax Marketing Committee
• Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Advisory Com-
mittee
• Parks and Recreation Board
Volunteer forms are available at www.bakercounty.
org/commissioners.
OTEC seeks board candidates
Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is seeking candi-
dates for a board of director seat for Baker County.
The incumbent is Aletha Bonebrake.
OTEC members interested in running for the seat
should call 541-524-2831 or go to otec.coop/annual-
meetingboard-elections
A nominating committee will pick candidates, and
members can also submit petitions, which are due by
March 3.
The board elections will take place in May.
Conservation Districts dinner Jan. 17
The Baker County Association of Conservation
Districts will have its annual dinner meeting Jan. 17
at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. A no-host
social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at
6:30 p.m.
The Association will recognize local landowners and
partners and showcase their contributions to conserv-
ing natural resources in Baker County.
There are four districts in the county: Baker Valley,
Burnt River, Eagle Valley and Keating. The Association
staff helps landowners employ conservation projects
through grants and U.S. Department of Agriculture
programs.
Cost for the dinner is $15 per person, payable at the
Association offi ce at 3990 Midway Drive in Baker City
(near Saint Alphonsus Medical Center). Due to limited
seating, RSVPs are required by visiting the offi ce or
calling 541-523-7121, extension 100 or 109.
‘Bag It’ movie to be shown Jan. 15
The documentary “Bag It,” which follows a man
who’s trying to reduce his use of plastic, will be shown
for free on Jan. 15 at the Baker County Library, 2400
Resort St. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the fi lm starting
at 6:30 p.m. The showing is sponsored by Baker City
Trash Talk and the Baker Food Co-op.
Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Please bring
drink and food containers if possible. Baker Food Co-op
will have door prizes, and there will be a conversation
about reducing the use of plastic products.
Wheel Products & Services
Baker County families a huge thanks and recogni- families and assists with
ready to help kids
tion for taking on a task most gift giving, from Community
of us wouldn’t even consider.
Every year Baker County
comes together to do just
that. Due to the generosity of
the community, each foster
child’s Christmas wishes
are fulfi lled, and foster and
relative care families are sup-
ported during a time that can
be stressful for any parent no
matter the circumstances. To
all of the anonymous indi-
viduals who donated gifts,
thank you! Your generosity is
amazing.
Our community of foster
and relative caregivers also
receive tremendous support
from the staff of Powder River
Correctional Facility who
host their very own giving
tree program, from CASA of
Eastern Oregon who partners
with Child Welfare each year
to host events for our foster
County needs volunteers for boards
IT’S TIME FOR A
DRAMATIC NEW LOOK
H EART TO H EART
Innumerable stories about
the foster care system can be
found in today’s headlines.
I’d like to highlight a few
positives and acknowledge
that having a successful
foster care system depends on
having a supportive commu-
nity. Although Baker County
may be small, our need for
foster homes remains high.
Every day there are families
who are answering this need
by either providing general
foster care or relative care.
These families open their
homes, their hearts, and
invest tireless hours meeting
children’s needs while helping
them through heartaches and
navigating a system that is
sometimes diffi cult to say the
least.
These families and those
who support them all deserve
courage more people to move
to town.
The council again voted 3-1
against the zone change. The
planning commission and city
council both cited the 2015
study in their decisions.
That was enough for the
Wentzels.
“We made the decision to
stop digging in a hole that
has no bottom,” Jane Wentzel
said.
She said they anticipate
closing soon on a deal to sell
two lots for $34,000 total,
which will go toward paying
off their debt incurred from
purchasing the property.
“The thing that kills me is
they are just going to park
equipment on the land,” she
said. “I hope the city is happy
with their decision. They
could have had three new
families.”
But that was not the city’s
intention for the land.
“The city is not holding
out for anything other than
recognizing that it was zoned
commercially and wishes to
maintain that zone for com-
mercial use,” Wiggins said.
“The property was originally
a fl our mill until it was torn
down in the mid-1990s. It has
always been commercial prop-
erty, and the city continues to
maintain it in that fashion.”
Jane Wentzel said she and
her husband plan to keep
the remaining lot at 103 N.
Bellwood St. as an area to
spend time with family and
will keep horses there.
The Eagles Past Presidents Club will have a dinner
Friday, Jan. 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Eagles
Club in Baker City, 2935 H St. The menu is lasagna,
salad, garlic bread and dessert for $8. Members and
their guests are welcome.
Connection, who for the last
three years has offered a
terrifi c space to celebrate our
foster parents through events
tailored to them, and from
Lew Bros. Les Schwab, which
does a toy drive every year!
Additionally, the ladies of the
Baker City Quilt Club take it
upon themselves to sew beau-
tiful quilts for each child new
to foster care. The generosity
that blossoms during the holi-
day season in this community
is awe-inspiring!
In closing, thank you to all
who helped support our foster
children and families either
directly or indirectly. Your
support no matter the season
is invaluable and essential
to raising healthy, happy
children.
Brooke Myers
Baker City
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