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About The Columbia press. (Astoria, Or.) 1949-current | View Entire Issue (March 26, 2021)
The Columbia Press 1 Clatsop County’s Independent Weekly www.thecolumbiapress.com County continues mulling right-of- way restrictions Vol. 5, Issue 13 March 26, 2021 Chelsea Gardens ready for development But is the city ready? By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press ay 10 t H Al hw 10 Hig 1 wy Chelsea Gardens n Ensig See ‘Rights of way’ on Page 6 1 By Cindy Yingst The Columbia Press Flower stands, vegetable booths and those selling firewood in the public right of way along county-owned roads could soon find new restrictions. An addition to county rules could re- strict booths where financial transac- tions occur. The new ordinance went through a second hearing before Clatsop Coun- ty commissioners Wednesday evening and was continued to their April 14 meeting as members preferred allow- ing some traditional activities. “We are a real community and a lot of people identify with these stands and appreciate seeing them,” Com- missioner Courtney Bangs said. “We were all favorable to allowing flower stands and stands that could be open without a safety concern,” Chair- man Mark Kujala said. “State high- ways are not subject to this at all. State highways don’t allow for anything in the right of way. A lot of people think this is something that applies county- wide and it doesn’t. It’s just on county right of way.” In September, county commission- ers placed a moratorium on activities that encroach on county-maintained rights of way, including Ridge Road in Warrenton, where several people sell firewood from stands. The problem is not with firewood or flower stands that sit on private prop- erty. It became a touchy subject during the fall election. One of the firewood stand operators, Allen Berry, was run- ning for a seat on the Warrenton City Commission and he complained he was being unfairly targeted. Since then, the county has held three 50 ¢ Developing a cohesive master-planned community in an area with 22 property owners – each with their own interests -- is a challenge, city officials are finding. Three years ago, the city rezoned the 20- acre Chelsea Gardens – formerly known as Spur 104 – from residential and indus- trial zoning to commercial mixed-use. The city’s former community development di- rector organized an elaborate “charrette” over several days that brought planners, property owners and other stakeholders See ‘Chelsea’ on Page 4 Above: The Chelsea Gar- dens concept plan for a mix of housing and commercial. Left: Planning Commis- sioner Mike Moha and City Commissioner Rick Newton look over proposals during a charrette in May 2019. Right: A proposal for Trillium House, complete with com- munity gardens and play- ground. Special districts election to bring little excitement The Columbia Press There are few contested races in Clatsop County’s May 18 special dis- tricts election. With the March 18 candidate filing deadline closed, dozens of seats on school boards, health districts and water, sewer and fire agency boards will go unchallenged or remain un- filled. Just four of the county’s 35 special districts have contested seats – the Clatsop Community College Board, Knappa School Board, the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Board in Seaside, and Falcon-Cove Beach Water District Board in Arch Cape. • Warrenton-Hammond School Board had four seats open. Incum- bents Len Mossman, Neal Bond, Dar- lene Warren, and Dan Jackson have filed to retain their seats and there are no challengers. • Port of Astoria Commission had three seats open. Incumbents James Campbell, Dirk Rohne and Frank Spence all signed up to run again and face no challengers. • Sunset Empire Transportation District had four seats open. Incum- bents Rebecca Read, Charles With- ers, Pamela Alegria, and Diana Nino all have filed to run again and have no challengers. • Warrenton Rural Fire Protection District had three open seats. Incum- bents Nancy Ledgerwood and Mi- chael Brandon will retain their spots and no one filed for the third seat. Contested races • Clatsop Community College Board: Four seats will be decided in the election. Zone 2, Position 2: Patrick Preston of Astoria, retired; and Sara Meyer of Astoria, incumbent, retired former See ‘Election’ on Page 4
