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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2016)
6A • February 12, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com Study suggested for Ecola Park Road Traffic congestion, landslides are problems By Nancy McCarthy For Cannon Beach Gazette EO MEDIA GROUP/FILE PHOTO A home located on the 0.57-acre property owned by Jeff Nicholson. Cannon Beach nixes development again Commission votes project down, but expects reversal By Andrew Tonry For Cannon Beach Gazette “After dealing with this proj- ect for God knows how long, anybody around this, I don’t think anybody at this table, has a clue what it’s going to look like,” Cannon Beach Planning Commissioner Joe Bernt said. His comment drew the sec- ond-largest round of applause at the commission’s Jan. 28 meet- ing. The loudest came after the body voted 6-0 against recom- mending approval of property owner Jeff Nicholson’s pro- posed four-unit plan. Despite the decision, com- missioners anticipate their rec- ommendation will again be dis- regarded by the City Council. After the city’s Planning Commission denied Nichol- or deny Nicholson’s application on the basis it was incomplete. While speaking on behalf of the “Friends of Cannon Beach,” a group formed to pro- test the development, Cannon Beach resident Jeff Harrison asked those in opposition to stand. He counted 27 people. Challenges to plan Commissioners asked Nicholson seeks to convert Nicholson and his attorney for his half-acre North Laurel Street VSHFL¿FV LQFOXGLQJ ZKHQ DQG lot and 100-year-old cottage how the new houses would be built, what they would look into four family-sized homes. A fourth home on the prop- like, how trees would be pro- erty will be rebuilt with a con- tected, how the yard would be dition that the home’s wood, landscaped and shared, and beams and windows be sal- how nearby neighbors would be protected should construc- vaged. The property was purchased tion cause any collateral dam- age. in 2014 for $900,000. Nicholson said any resi- 1RZ LQ LWV WKLUG DQG ¿QDO phase, and after successfully dences erected on the property fending off the challenge in the would be subject to compli- Land Use Board of Appeals ance with Cannon Beach’s ex- court, the application was re- isting building codes. “I have the followed the opened by the Planning Com- mission in December. That rules to a T on this,” Nicholson hearing was carried over to said. “I kind of expect every- allow further public comment, one else to follow the rules to as the Planning Commission a T, so it’s disappointing to me claimed jurisdiction to approve when they don’t.” son’s application in December 2014, the Cannon Beach City Council reviewed the applica- tion and gave temporary ap- proval in February. In early March, councilors YRWHGWRDGRSWWKH¿QGLQJVE\D 4-1 vote. Dining on the North Coast PIG ‘N PANCAKE ◊ Council reversal likely Despite the commission’s decision, the project will move forward unless the City Coun- cil does an about-face. “Maybe the City Council will look at things a little more closely this time,” Commis- sioner Lisa Kerr said. “Maybe they will,” said Bernt. “Maybe they won’t.” The City Council is expect- HGWRFRQVLGHU¿QDODSSURYDODW their March meeting. “For the Planning Commis- sion to completely disregard the Land Use Board of Ap- peals and City Council deci- sions is just mind-boggling,” 1LFKROVRQVDLG³,¶PFRQ¿GHQW the City Council will judge the application for its merits.” BUSINESS DIRECTORY ◊ C ONSTRUCTION C ONSTRUCTION B OB M C E WAN C ONSTRUCTION , INC . E XCAVATION • U NDERGROUND U TIITIES R OAD W ORK • F ILL M ATERIAL S ITE P REPARATION • R OCK OWNED AND OPERATED BY 223 S Hemlock 503-436-2851 7AM - 3PM Daily Commissioners unani- mously voted against the pro- posal. “There were too many prob- lems with it,” Kerr said. “If you have 10 things that bother you, you just have no frame to even start with. There’s not HYHQDVNHOHWRQWRÀHVKRXW´ “Helping shape the character of Cannon Beach since 1973” M IKE AND C ELINE M C E WAN Residential • Commercial • Remodeling New Construction • Storm Damage Repair Full Service Custom Cabinet Shop 503-738-3569 From hashbrown potatoes ground fresh daily and award-winning sourdough pancakes to homemade soups and clam chowder, you’ll fi nd delicious family friendly dining at the Pig ‘N Pancake. Over 35 breakfast varieties and a complete lunch menu, too. Our dining area overlooks a beautiful wetland area and downtown Cannon Beach. A member of the Cannon Beach Public Works Committee is proposing that the committee embark on a long-range study to improve Ecola Park Road. Les Wierson, who lives near the road that leads to Ecola State Park, told the committee at its meeting ODVWZHHNWKDWWUDI¿FWRWKHSDUNLVLQFUHDVLQJHYHU\ year. The steep, narrow and winding road needs im- provements to handle the vehicles, pedestrians and bikers heading to and from the park, he said. “We need better information about how to handle Ecola Park Road between Fifth and Ninth streets,” :LHUVRQVDLG³7KHWUDI¿FKDVGRXEOHGRUWULSOHGLQ the last few years.” Included in the study could be the development of a pedestrian path to the park, Wierson said. “If we have some ideas for improvements, it would be a much more powerful tool to give to state parks,” he added. “I think the state should allocate money annually to maintain the road.” Committee Chair Jenee Pearce asked Wierson to PDNHVSHFL¿FUHFRPPHQGDWLRQVDERXWZKDWWKHSXE- lic works committee should study. Wierson said he would create a subcommittee that also would include Jan Siebert Wahrman, another public works commit- tee member who lives near Ecola Park Road. Public Works Director Dan Grassick said the hillside along Ecola Park Road is sliding between Seventh and Eighth streets, and pavement has been “torn” in some places. Because the “S” curves on Ecola Park Road are suffering similar drainage problems that caused land- slides on the “S” curves in midtown several years ago, the city will contact the contractor who repaired that problem, Grassick said. However, it could be at least two years before the repairs are made, he said, because funding for the project must be put into the city budget before work can begin. Meanwhile, the city will begin removing sever- al alder trees along a 300-foot-long stretch of Ecola Park Road. The trees are beginning to lean into the roadway; recent heavy rainfall has exacerbated the problem, Grassick said. The city also will remove the “heritage” spruce trees on Fifth and Larch streets on the north side of town, he added. Two arborists have told the city WKDWWKHWUHHVKDYH³VLJQL¿FDQWKHDOWKLVVXHV´DQGDUH URWWHGDWWKHEDVH1HDUE\UHVLGHQWVZLOOEHQRWL¿HG Grassick said. “I don’t expect we will take them out for a couple of PRQWKV´KHVDLG³7KHUHZLOOEHVLJQL¿FDQWFRPPHQW´ Grassick said he expected other trees will be plant- ed in their place, but they won’t be spruces. More tree trimming will be done on every street in Cannon Beach to make room for the Cannon Beach Ru- ral Fire District’s ladder truck, said Grassick. Limbs ex- tending longer than 14 feet will be cut back, but the trees will be pruned to balance them on every side, he said. 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. 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