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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2019)
T he C olumbia P ress April 26, 2019 Mayor’s Message by Henry Balensifer III A chance to design your city Spur 104 is a state-owned highway, but more recently it’s been used to define a sec- tion of land between Ocean Crest Chevrolet, Home De- pot, Highway 101 and Cash and Carry. It’s approximately 19 acres of high ground, and was recently subject to a zone change as requested and paid for by the Warrenton Urban Renewal Agency. The new zone is CMU-Com- mercial Mixed Use. There is a lot of freedom within a CMU zone, but it’s not total carte blanche. For example, the city re- cently changed the develop- ment code to prohibit drive- throughs within a CMU zone. Part of this was to stop any further high-traffic flow de- velopments until the city can better define and devel- op concepts for how to en- able smart growth within the CMU. If there is a great example of what not to do, the recent drive-through established in the Highlands Center (where Staples is located) comes to mind. That’s not the business’s fault and, while the city failed to foresee the issues that would come from siting a drive-through there when it approved the development plat decades ago, it’s up to us, your current leaders, to own this issue and get creative about trying to mitigate the problem of traffic flow. The drive-through sited there was planned for devel- opment over a decade ago, when the original develop- ment was planned out and submitted to the city. I don’t mention that to pass the buck, but to point out that a change is needed and the commission is committed to that. Warrenton’s growth, if it is ever to be smart or sustain- able, needs to be better man- aged. This is a daunting task, and no doubt may be painful for some. But the Commis- sion has committed to it as a goal this year and as a goal in general. We cannot afford to allow development to sell out livability for the sake of a dol- lar or time. Development has far out- paced both staffing (which has actually shrunk in the build- ing and planning department since the early 2000s) and the city’s ability to manage it in a smart and orderly man- ner through zoning and stan- dards. So, for Spur 104, we are do- ing just that and need your help. We’ve placed conditions on the zone change to require the development of a char- rette, which is a type of mas- ter development plan that addresses particular issues. In this case, traffic is by and large the issue on everyone’s minds. Come participate in this novel master planning pro- cess and provide your ideas. The charrette sessions will occur in the Fenton Grocery Building (the empty brown two-story building across from El Compadre and next to North Coast Shooters Supply with all the historic photos in the windows) from 4 to 6 p.m. on May 7 and 8, and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. May 9, with a final review between 5:30 and 6. I encourage all residents to bring their ideas about what they’d like to see there or how to better lay out that develop- ment to address traffic issues. 3 Grants will fund slot cars, rockets and science projects Local students will get robot- ics equipment, rockets and slot cars through a series of grants announced this week by the Northwest STEM Hub. The hub is a science, technolo- gy, engineering and mathemat- ics program developed by the Northwest Regional Education Service District, which oversees 20 school districts in Clatsop, Tillamook and Columbia coun- ties. The $34,000 in grants were funded through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Commu- nity Foundation. All programs receiving grants work with on behalf of children from preschool to community college age. The projects were required to embrace equity, eco- nomic prosperity, innovation and partnership. Early Learning Center will ren- ovate their outdoor learning en- vironment to incorporate STEM principles. • Vernonia School District’s Loggerbots First Robotics Club will expand access at its metal shop to design and learn metal- working skills. • Tillamook Early Learning Center will provide scholarships for 10 students to attend a sum- mer program on oceans, bays, and watersheds. • Scappoose Library will create learning kits focused on biology, electronics, art and math. Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival Presenting Sponsor Celebrate the delicious bounty of the Oregon Coast t he winners • Clatsop County AERO Aero- space and Electricity 4-H Club, which will purchase electronics, rockets and slot car kits for club members. The club’s mission is to use the science and technolo- gy of aerospace engineering and electricity to excite and engage children in Clatsop County. • Warrenton Grade School’s Robotics, Coding and Simple Machines for ALL, which will purchase robotics, technical equipment and materials. The items will be used to teach mid- dle schoolers how to program simple robots. The students will then take their skills to spe- cial education students in low- er grade levels. Students with limited language skills, limited mobility and/or developmental delays will have the opportunity to learn how to control robotic devices. •Warrenton-Hammond School District’s Project-Based Learning program, which will provide professional develop- ment and hands-on supplies for teachers who want to integrate project-based learning into their classrooms. • Neah-kah-nie Middle and High schools will purchase lap- tops for their Lego Robotics club. • Tillamook Head Start and • Nestucca High School will collaborate with Tillamook Bay Community College to develop a shared STEM curriculum. • Tillamook Bay Community College will develop a program for drone, or remote pilot, licens- es and purchase drones through the college’s Career Technical Education department. • The Tillamook Future Farm- ers of America Chapter at Til- lamook High School will sup- plement the purchase of a CNC Plasma Cutter System for cut- ting sheet metal into precise and replicable parts. April 26, 27 & 28 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds! Friday: 4 - 9pm · $15/Adult Saturday: 10am - 8pm · $15/Adult Sunday: 11am - 4pm · $10/Adult AstoriaCrabFest.com Live music on two stages! Entertainment Sponsor Visit website for more pricing info, shuttle routes, list of vendors, volunteer sign-up and more.
