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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (July 31, 2015)
July 31, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 9A ‘Frankendunes’ need grading, homeowners say dents feel they have invested in and subsequently watched A fence would be placed disappear. around some of the vege- Susan Neuwirth said she tation to deter elk, though used to “laugh at the rich, Bruce Francis, property spoiled people at Breakers manager of the homeown- Point because they wanted ers association, said that as- their stupid view,” but then pect may be negotiable. she accepted a job as a sec- Breakers Point staff and retary for the development’s residents are calling the RI¿FH DQG VDZ WKH HIIHFW changes a restoration to ¿UVWKDQG “what once was.” The Eu- “It’s like being buried ropean grass was a man- alive,” Neuwirth, who does made problem, they say, not live in Breakers Point, caused by the planting of said. “It’s literally like being the non-native grass in the LQDFRI¿Q´ area. If the “frakendunes” had The Oregon Department been naturally caused, she of Fish and Wildlife Newport said, she wouldn’t feel the RI¿FHOHQWDOHWWHURIVXSSRUW same. for the project. Commissioner Joseph Community concerns The original proposal for Bernt asked how long the grading would last. Horning dune grading presented by Breakers Point homeowners answered eight to 10 years. Commission President ODVW \HDU IDFHG VLJQL¿FDQW Bob Lundy expressed con- opposition at previous Plan- cerns about sand blowing ning Commission and City onto neighboring properties, Council meetings. but was told it would go into After the council’s denial, the forest. the homeowners association Commissioner Lisa Kerr initiated a notice March 10 asked if the Breakers Point with the Oregon Land Use grading request would be Board of Appeals to appeal one of several over the next the decision. That appeal few years to eventually com- was dropped in May. plete the originally proposed While speakers were pre- 73,400 cubic yards. dominantly in favor of the If it works, Francis said, grading at Thursday’s meet- then Breakers Point would ing, three stood to object to likely come back with sub- any new dune grading plan. sequent requests to stop sand Cannon Beach resident inundation. Jan Siebert-Wahrmund said “I’m anticipating success she supports “all of us work- ... to be able to continue res- ing together with a new sand toration,” he said. management plan.” Kerr requested a time line Clay Newton, with to judge that success. Francis Friends of the Dunes, said said it would take about six he’s not sure Breakers Point months to a year. even has the right to grade with nearby state lands. Hours of testimony Newton said he “appre- 0DQ\ZKRVSRNHDWWKH¿YH ciates the idea” of returning hour meeting said they them- native species to the land, selves or loved ones are unable but added he’s skeptical of to traverse the dunes anymore the science behind the ex- because they’re so high. perimental project. Break- “What used to be a fairly ers Point should wait on the leisurely stroll along the dunes, FLW\WR¿QDOL]HLWVRZQGXQH and then a gentle descent to the grading plan, currently in beach, is no longer possible draft form, and then work for me,” Breakers Point resi- together, he said. dent Michael “Mick” French The scope of the city’s said. After recent knee surgery, dune grading plan includes that descent is now steep and an Oregon Department of GLI¿FXOWWRQDYLJDWHKHDGGHG Geology and Mineral Indus- Breakers Point attorney tries’ science background Dean Alterman said the grow- report that would provide ing dunes not only impact the research and data gathering development’s homeowners, from Cape Falcon to Til- but other Cannon Beach resi- lamook Head, addressing dents and visitors. dune growth, impacts of French said some in Can- grading and disposal prac- non Beach feel the develop- tices on beach contours, ment should never have been habitat, sand supply and built in the 1980s, but added more. that is an “old, invalid argu- After delivery of the plan, ment.” If taken seriously, he an implementation strategy said, much of the city never would then be drafted, fol- should have been developed. lowed by public hearings Because the city approved before adoption. City Plan- Breakers Point after a long ner Mark Barnes said that development process, Albert process would likely take a Thompson, a Breakers Point year. resident said, it now has a mor- Representatives of Break- al obligation to the residents. ers Point opposed the delay. If sand blew onto the “If the Friends do not believe streets, he added, city staff in the science that’s being would remove it. The same presented, I don’t know how safety measures should be in the world we’re going to implemented at the beach, as work together,” Francis said. well. He added that they’re Other residents talked trying to present the facts to about beach hazards, includ- make an informed decision, ing being unable to monitor and that he wishes “there their children at play and fears was some middle ground.” that a dune may one day bury The commission decided a child. to continue the discussion The spectacular views to the next meeting, keeping Breakers Point provides written and oral testimony were also mentioned numer- open until Aug. 27 as re- ous times, views some resi- quested. Seizing the prey Breakers from Page 1A REX AMOS PHOTO FOR CANNON BEACH GAZETTE A bald eagle stealing the other bald eagle’s prey, a murre, off the bird rocks. Legion craft s fest draws a crowd Bazaar from Page 1A The Legion hall is more centrally lo- cated and vendors, both local and from surrounding areas, keep coming back, Furchner said. “It’s a huge auxiliary effort,” she add- ed, noting the event is really made up of WKUHHSDUWVWKHYHQGRUVDTXLOWUDIÀHDQG a bake sale. The Johnstons hadn’t gone inside to check out the baked goods yet, but that too was on their list. The couple were among hundreds who attended this year’s bazaar. Bob and Odd- ny’s son got married on the beach here, and Bob’s sister and brother-in-law own a place in town. So each year, they come to enjoy what Cannon Beach has to offer. It was a family member who recom- mended they visit the bazaar. Bob noted it was a good suggestion. Bob and Oddny Johnston, of Seattle, walk arm-in-arm at American Legion Post 168 during the Craft Bazaar on Saturday. DANI PALMER/ CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Pelican Brewery coming New maps show potential fl ood risks scaped dune,” Rita Frailey with Cannon Beach Land- Walls on the brewery scape Services said. Design Review Board side will be designed to give visitors a peek at operations members objected to the as staff work a seven-barrel removal of the property’s brewing system, making cherry trees, however, not- about 600 barrels per year, ing they were unique to Pelican CEO Jim Prinzing the city, and negotiated the planting of three healthy said. He added that Cannon ones in a T-shaped zone in Beach’s location will be the parking lot. While the exterior design primarily utilized for re- search and development, is now complete, Prinzing collaborating with chefs and said they still have the inte- brewers from areas such as rior and brewery to work on. Portland. They’ll be “fun, He doesn’t have any cost es- timates yet for those. one-off type of beers.” He added that they’ll He noted that production of core brands, such as Ki- begin the hiring process in wanda Cream Ale, will re- December, and that Cannon Beach’s managers will like- main at Tillamook. Pelican has also acquired O\ VWDUW LQ 3DFL¿F &LW\ IRU the Sunset Inn that sits next training. During peak season, he door. Prinzing said there are ³QRGH¿QLWLYHSODQVIRUWKDW said they expect to have a property yet,” but that they staff of about 60 to 70 peo- are exploring the possibili- ple. In the off-season, there ty of making it a “Pelican’s will be 40 to 50 employees. Vonada said they’re Nest” with pelican-themed rooms and a “beer-centric ³FRXQWLQJRQDKHDY\WUDI¿F hotel experience” similar ÀRZ´ DQG WKDW KH H[SHFWV WRWKDWRIWKH'RJ¿VK,QQLQ the new brewpub to draw more people to midtown. Delaware. Schons noted they may Surrounded by pine trees, grasses and perenni- be “overly optimistic” about als, the building’s landscap- starting the brewpub con- ing has been designed to struction in September and make it look like a “land- opening March 1. Pelican from Page 1A LW\ÀRRGLQJWKDWFRXOGLP pact homes on the beach. Columbia River, near War- This could result in higher renton and Astoria. These insurance rates for home- concerns have stalled adop- owners and new regula- tion of all Federal Emergen- tions regarding construc- cy Management Agency tion or rebuilding. mapping work throughout “I think if we’re going Clatsop County, including to be helping a majority Cannon Beach. of our citizens, then we The map changes should do it,” Councilor wouldn’t be good news for George Vetter said of the all, though. map revision request. Councilwoman Melissa But he also sought more Cadwallader asked about information and numbers the impacts on those living RQWKRVHDIIHFWHG¿UVW along the waterfront. Barnes has requested Barnes is still waiting the new maps and plans to on that particular map, but bring them to the August answered it would like- work session for review. ly be a 50-50 split. Some “If I haven’t made that insurance rates for wa- clear, the map is going to terfront area homeown- be effective at some point ers would rise and others in the future, the only would lower or remain the question is whether we try same. to take measures to put it Oceanfront homes are into effect sooner rather most affected by velocity than later,” he said. ÀRRGLQJ FDXVHG E\ VWRUP 2I¿FLDOV DUH H[SORULQJ surges, as opposed to the possibility of sending GRZQWRZQÀRRGLQJZKLFK a map revision request to would come from over- FEMA to allow it to begin ÀRZVLQVWRUPGUDLQV XVLQJ WKH QHZ ÀRRG SODLQ The new maps show maps, possibly within 90 potential risks from veloc- days if approved. Maps from Page 1A Cannon Beach’s South Wind site also closed due to threat of fi re Ecola from Page 1A Also closed is Cannon Beach’s South Wind site, 58 acres reserved for “essential” city facilities east of Highway 101. Cannon Beach Fire Chief Mike Balzer said his department’s recom- mendation to close the reserve early this month was based on dry weather conditions and the influx of Fourth of July holiday visitors. Fireworks and dangers from campers or tran- sients building campfires in commercial timber ar- eas were also matters of concern, Kucera said. Typically, the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve closure occurs in August or September. “It’s been very dry, very early,” Kucera said. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” Lack of rain According to Clinton Rockey, a meteorologist with the National Weath- er Service in Portland, the Cannon Beach area has only received about .02 inches of rain this month, around .66 inches below normal. Rockey based his estimate on Astoria and Seaside data, and added that Astoria had .73 inches of rain in June, 1.82 inches below normal. All of Clat- sop County has been dry. “The light showers we have don’t really do anything,” Balzer said, adding it would take sig- nificant rain to reopen the reserve. “It could be awhile.” Last year, Ecola Creek closed for about three ‘In my opinion, we’re very lucky to not have had any forest fi res yet.’ City Manager Brant Kucera weeks, Public Works Director Dan Grassick said. Kucera said Cannon Beach would need at least half an inch of precipita- tion in one rain event to open Ecola Creek For- est Reserve back up this year. “There’s not much chance of that happening soon,” Rockey said. In the meantime, Kucera VDLG RI¿FLDOV ZDQW WR VDIH guard the public and pro- tect forestlands and wild- life. There’s also the issue of liability. ,I D ¿UH VWDUWHG LQ WKH city-owned Ecola Creek Forest Reserve and spread to commercial timber- lands, Cannon Beach could be held liable. The person ZKRVWDUWHGWKH¿UHHYHQLI accidentally, could also be KHOG DFFRXQWDEOH IRU ¿UH ¿JKWLQJFRVWV So any who pass that red sign and are discov- ered on the property will likely be fined for tres- passing, Kucera said. “In my opinion, we’re very lucky to not have had any forest fires yet,” he added.