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-
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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
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4-1 vote.
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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-
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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.”
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Commissioners
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“There were too many prob-
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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
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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,”
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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
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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
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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.
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