T he C olumbia P ress
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C latsop C ounty ’ s I ndependent W eekly n eWspaper
www.thecolumbiapress.com
January 11, 2019
Vol. 3, Issue 2
Pac. Seafood’s
plan for worker
dorms approved
B y C indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
Pacific Seafood’s plans to build
housing for its employees got a green
light Tuesday night.
Warrenton City Commissioners ap-
proved a development code amend-
ment that allows the company to
convert a metal fabrication building
it owns into bunkhouse-style housing
to meet the needs of seasonal employ-
ees working at the seafood processing
plant. Commissioner Mark Baldwin,
a contractor, abstained from the vote
because he has worked and may work
again for the company.
The proposal has been controver-
sial because it is next to longstanding
residential areas and the property is
in the city’s Industrial Water-Depen-
dent Shorelands zone, over which
the state has some jurisdiction. Some
residents have feared the transient
nature of the seafood workers could
mean increased crime.
The vote came after public hearings
held by both the Planning Commis-
sion and the City Commission, and a
town hall meeting that allowed resi-
dents an opportunity to talk about
their concerns and ask questions.
Residents also were given an oppor-
tunity to submit letters for the public
record.
“To have people living next door
that have no connection or involve-
ment with the community other than
to hold down an insufficient-paying
job, making it impossible for them to
properly support their families with
independent living choices is not ac-
ceptable,” wrote Roberta DeLemos,
who lives on Northwest 17th Place.
“Frank Dulcich (the company’s
See ‘Dorms’ on Page 4
Fresh ideas for a stale downtown
B y C indy y ingst
The Columbia Press
A coffee shop here. A bakery there.
Perhaps a brewpub on the corner.
These are the dreams and ideas be-
ing bandied about as a group of citi-
zens envisions a plan for downtown
Warrenton.
It is a downtown with great potential
and a recent history of falling short of
that potential.
“The idea is to … get positive change
in Warrenton through citizens just get-
ting together and putting their heads
together,” said Kelsey Balensifer, who
is volunteering with other citizens to
improve downtown. She works for the
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Com-
merce and is married to Mayor Henry
Balensifer.
Last spring, Warrenton applied for
and won a grant from Rural Develop-
ment Initiatives, a 27-year-old non-
profit organization devoted to helping
Oregon’s small communities improve
economic vitality.
RDI has worked with more than 80
Oregon communities through a pro-
gram called “Economic Vitality Road-
map Services.”
The organization is helping Warren-
ton leaders draft plans for downtown,
develop a new image, improve Ham-
mond’s commercial district and capi-
talize on the city’s two marinas.
Balensifer has participated in sev-
eral downtown walking tours, which
have helped the group visualize the
possibilities.
• The city is working with a land-
scape architect to landscape the
four-way stop and build a plaza/
community square in front of the
post office.
• The brown building at the cor-
ner of Main Avenue and First Street
presents a wealth of opportunities.
“I think it would bring life into
downtown for sure,” said Jennifer
Cahoon, assistant to building own-
er Russell Maize, who is out of state.
“It’s smack dab in the middle of
town.”
The top floor apartments are rent-
ed, but the ground floor has been
vacant since a thrift store moved out
a couple years ago. It could house
nearly any commercial venture, Ca-
hoon said.
City Commissioner Rick New-
ton recently had posters made of
old photos from Warrenton’s past.
They’re hanging in the windows to
remind residents of the once-thriv-
ing historical downtown and to give
them a reason to pause and linger.
• Arnie’s Café recently announced
plans to move into the vacant Napa
Auto building. With only a gravel lot
separating it from City Hall and a
block from several apartment proj-
ects, it promises to increase foot
traffic downtown when it opens later
this year.
• Sand Ridge Construction is
making improvements at the former
See ‘Downtown’ on Page 8