Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2016)
10A • January 1, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com Winners of holiday light displays Lights from Page 1A “My maintenance staff worked diligently for days to put it together,” Blanken- ship said of the displays, both inside and outside the resort. “They did all the hard work.” Blankenship highlight- ed the contributions of two employees: maintenance manager Art Stockenberg and executive housekeeper Iolanda Salome. “They real- ly have to have the credit for putting everything togeth- er,” Blankenship added. The award for best business window went to Bruce’s Candy Kitchen. The top residential lighting display was at 216 E. Mon- roe. The votes were collect- ed online and announced by the Cannon Beach Chamber ANDREW TONRY PHOTO/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Lights at Hallmark in Cannon Beach. of Commerce. Each winner received a plaque. “I’m really excited about the participation that we seem to have in Cannon Beach,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Di- rector Courtland Carrier. “We get comments from people all the time about how good the town looks.” And while the chamber promotes the event, they neither require participation nor facilitate lights for busi- nesses who would rather ab- stain — all participation is voluntary. For Carrier, along with a number of Cannon Beach citizens and visitors, the lights are quite welcome — perhaps even beyond the end of December. “Having a lighting that might be up on a more per- manent basis is something residents have told me they’d like to see,” Carrier said. “And I’m interested in perusing that.” After all, Carrier too has felt the deep, darkness of the winter skies. On the night of Dec. 22, the shortest day of the year, Carrier and his wife celebrated with marti- nis. “It can only get brighter from here,” he said. Comment period open for Nicholson subdivision Nicholson from Page 1A “As a builder, the build- ing inspector made us get a geotechnical report,” Cap- per said. “The geotechnical report came back and said a standard foundation isn’t go- ing to work. They dug some test holes and all they found was sand. This guy [Nichol- son] says he’s not going to drive pilings.” “Most of the people here live in the neighborhood and they don’t like the idea of a subdivision,” Capper added. “I don’t live anywhere near there. I just felt that nobody knew what my experience was. We put two houses where he’s going to try to put four, with a common road. And maybe you can do that, but nobody has signed off and said, ‘Yeah, there’s no problem, I’ll take responsi- bility if there’s any failure.’ That’s my big concern. I’d like to see him adhere to the same standards I do.” “I’m not against building there,” Capper said. “But there’s a procedure that you have to go through and he hasn’t done it.” Rasmussen, Nicholson’s lawyer, contended that at this juncture their development plans — and geotechnical consultation — do not call for pile-driving to secure the foundation, though he would not rule out a change. The meeting also includ- ed a lengthy debate over the Planning Commission’s ju- risdiction to even approve or deny Nicholson’s application on the basis it was incom- plete. The objection, however, was mostly moot as Nichol- son’s application was legally approved the moment City Planner Mark Barnes set a return letter accepting the ap- plication. “The only way to stop that is for me to say it’s in- complete and say why it’s incomplete,” said Barnes. “I couldn’t in this case. There was nothing I could point out and say, ‘this is clearly miss- ing.’” Barnes also said he consulted with the city’s at- torney, and that the attorney VXSSRUWHGKLV¿QGLQJ Nonetheless, Cannon Beach resident Cleve Roop- er addressed the audience in regards to Barnes. “Your planner has ac- cepted this application even though it wasn’t complete,” said Rooper. “It doesn’t re- ÀHFW ZHOO RQ WKH SODQQHU Maybe it shows his bias to- wards the developer, I don’t know.” Rooper looked at Barnes and added: “Shame on you, Mark, for letting that hap- pen.” Barnes had no further comment. Everyone at the meeting was afforded the opportunity to speak. Those who couldn’t attend were asked before- hand to submit written com- ments to the public record. There were no comments in support of the project. As the two-hour mark neared, the Planning Com- mission voted to keep debate open. “The date of this hearing has precluded a lot for peo- ple from being here,” Com- missioner Lisa Kerr said. “I want everyone to get to say what they want to say. It’s re- ally important.” The vote in favor of a continuance passed, 6-to-1, with Planning Commission- er Joseph Bernt the lone vote against. “I didn’t see that there was much point in continu- ing,” said Bernt. “I think we have all the basic objections and assertions in front of us now.” “Frankly I saw [the con- tinuance] as kind of a fear of the wrath that’s going to hit the City Council now, sooner or later,” Bernt said. “A lot of people were really angry about what they did. I just thought we’d be able to set- tle it tonight. We’ve spent so much time on this thing.” Nicholson himself shared a similar sentiment. “It’s tiring,” Nicholson said. “It’s been over a year. It’s been a year and a half.” Oregon Coast Alliance says foredune planning must be collaborative With El Niño this year, there is a chance the sand Follette said it should be will move on its own, she updated more often. added. Littorial (or sed- The city considered iment) cells constantly prohibiting foredune move. grading after the Planning Patrick and other Commission approved a homeowners say the Eu- 13,700-cubic-yard Break- ropean dune grass has ac- ers Point Homeowners cumulated over 2 million Association dune grading cubic yards of sand over project in August. Coun- the last 15 years and needs cilors expressed concern to be removed along with over effects to the littoral the European dune grass. FHOO ZLWKRXW D ¿QLVKHG La Follette countered sand management plan that the Breakers Point on hand, but ultimately Homeowners Associa- decided to table the topic tion revegetation plan until further notice. approved by the Planning Commission raises its Other developments own concerns. La Follette said home- “It’s generally a good owners should be more thing to eliminate inva- thoughtful about the sive species, but Amer- foredune grading’s im- ican dune grass doesn’t pact on other properties. hold as well as European At Planning Commission grass. The dunes move meetings, Chapman Point much more without it,” homeowners stated the she said. “The grass stabi- last dune-grading proj- lizes it. European grass is ect completed at Break- in a category of its own.” ers Point increased the Much of the area amount of sand coming homeowners want to their way. grade doesn’t even belong “It should give pause,” to them or the city, she La Follette said. “It’s nec- added. La Follette said the essary to work collabo- land belongs to the state. ratively. What you do af- The views homeown- fects your neighbors.” HUVDUH¿JKWLQJIRUDUHIRU She called foredunes everyone, she said, add- WKH ³¿UVW OLQH RI GHIHQVH ing many like the dunes. in storm surges.” If the They’re characteristic of GXQHV DUH ÀDWWHQHG WKH Cannon Beach to some. area could become a safe- But homeowners say ty concern in case of a changes in dune patterns surge or tsunami, she add- have made beach access ed. a nightmare in some loca- When the Breakers tions, especially for those Point Homeowners Asso- with disabilities. ciation proposal to grade La Follette said she is was approved, Property not aware of any major Manager Bruce Francis public access issues, and said the tsunami of 1964 added there is no guaran- showed the dunes provid- tee to views or access for ed little protection. beachfront property own- La Follette said the ers. dunes are based on ocean Frank Patrick said the cycles. In the 1990s, resi- Breakers Point homeown- dents worried about dune ers will likely regroup at erosion about rather than the beginning of the year an abundance of sand. to plan their next step. Dunes from Page 1A When it’s broken, we can fi x it. For orthopedic care including sports medicine, come to Providence. Brooke Benz, M.D., is here to help you get back in action. If you’ve been sidelined by an injury or pain is stopping you from doing what you love, Dr. Benz gives you personalized care backed by decades of experience in sports medicine and knee, hip and shoulder joint replacement. Board certifi ed in orthopedic surgery with a subspecialty in treating sports injuries, Dr. Benz can help you get moving again. Brooke Benz, M.D. Orthopedic surgery To make an appointment or get more information about our orthopedic services, call 503-717-7060 or visit www.providence.org/northcoast. 725 S. Wahanna Road Seaside, OR 97138
