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
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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
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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.
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surges, as opposed to the possibility of sending
GRZQWRZQÀRRGLQJZKLFK a map revision request to
would come from over- FEMA to allow it to begin
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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
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guard the public and pro-
tect forestlands and wild-
life. There’s also the issue
of liability.
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city-owned Ecola Creek
Forest Reserve and spread
to commercial timber-
lands, Cannon Beach could
be held liable. The person
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accidentally, could also be
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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.