July 29, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 7A Higgins bids Cottage embodies historic preservation farewell to city House from Page 1A By R.J. Marx Cannon Beach Gazette Wendy Higgins enjoyed her last Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Wednesday morning meet- ing, as she prepared to say farewell to the city where she has lived and worked. Higgins was Chamber of Commerce president before the business community encouraged her to run for ofice. Higgins was elect- ed to City Council in 2008; her term expires at the end of this year. As a 34-year area resident and The Ocean Lodge’s general manager for 14 years, she has balanced a full-time job with councilor duties. While she is moving next week, she will serve out her City Council term until the end of the year. “We have an amazing group down here,” Higgins said. “As a community, we have come so far, with our city government and our chamber. I’m ecstatic about where you guys are.” When Higgins irst be- came involved with the chamber, “there was no R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Wendy Higgins and George Vetter at the Can- non Beach Chamber of Commerce cofee meet- ing, the last before Hig- gins heads to a new job in Washington state. money here,” she said. “The city wasn’t supportive. Now we’re in a really good place.” Higgins will be going to Escape Lodging’s Lodge at Columbia Point, in Rich- ield, Washington, an 82- room resort hotel in the state’s wine country. “Cannon Beach has such an amazing reputation,” Higgins said. “Where we were and where we’re going is just amazing, I’m really proud to have been a part of that. I’ll always be a part of this community.” make room for developments like the Lloyd Center, the house has a unique collection of details, including marble loors, cast iron pieces, quirky stencils of seahorses and a window that curves out- side to resemble a captain’s window on a ship. Bathroom loor tiles include address numbers from former Portland houses, some arranged in the “pi” numerical se- quence, and a tower with stained-glass windows can be reached from attic-like stairs that fold down. Since Bosco’s death in 1987, Schein and her husband, Ed, have taken care of the home. But the upkeep and dis- tance became too dificult for the Se- attle-based couple, and they put the updated home on the market with local real estate agent Robin Risley, of Cas- cade Sotheby’s. The home will likely be featured in the upcoming Cannon Beach Cottage and Garden Tour. Bosco and the Architectural Heri- tage Center’s other founder, Ben Milli- gan, salvaged architectural pieces from demolished historic buildings in the Northwest. They collected a signiicant amount of architectural artifacts that are still on display and were advocates for historic preservation. The center in Portland offers exhib- its, education and walking tours of his- toric areas. Besides conserving architectural history, Bosco taught arts and ceramics classes in Portland. The home show- cases his sculpture work, including one blown-glass creation resembling a sea anemone. “Each person has different feel- ing about what’s really special here,” Schein said about the sculpture collec- tion. LYRA FONTAINE/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE A tower with stained glass windows is accessible from fold-down stairs on the second loor. Who would be the ideal buyer for the home? “Somebody who appreciates the un- usual, unique and artistic qualities - and the historic qualities,” Schein said. “All these pieces were from historic houses, even the shingles. I don’t want it torn down.” Community grants beneit 18 Clatsop Survey: 59 percent of residents want fewer STRs County groups Rentals from Page 1A Organizations have social impact By Lyra Fontaine Cannon Beach Gazette The North Coast Food Web’s fruit box program allows Astoria High School students to have access to fresh fruit when they visit the vice principal’s ofice. The city of Cannon Beach will help support this initia- tive and many more through its community grant pro- gram, now in its 28th year. The city will disburse $75,000 to 18 organiza- tions in the county that provide arts, educational, recreational, environmental, community or social ser- vices. The parks and com- munity services committee interviewed each group and recommended grant amounts. “We meet the people and see their passion and dedication,” parks commit- tee chair Barb Knop said in July to the City Council. “It’s a wonderful program. It speaks very highly of Cannon Beach.” New organizations re- ceiving grants are North Coast Food Web, South County Community Food Bank and Clatsop Commu- nity College Foundation, which will use funds to improve English literacy through its volunteer tutor- ing program. Cannon Beach Arts As- sociation and Tolovana Arts Colony will receive grants of more than $10,000 each to support their communi- ty programs. The Cannon Beach Chorus, Cannon Beach History Center and Coaster Theatre also re- ceived funding. Organizations outside of Cannon Beach receiving grants include Restoration House, the Wildlife Center, Clatsop Community Action, The Harbor, Healing Circle and Helping Hands. The council plans to adopt the recommendations on August 2. Grants will be disbursed shortly after. Each grant recipient undergoes an evaluation to measure whether the organization achieved its goals. Grant recipients will present at a September community pot- luck. “A few of these organiza- tions, although they are not in the city, obviously beneit our residents as people who live in Clatsop County,” City Manager Brant Kucera said. “They provide services you will ind nowhere else in the county.” “Cannon Beach has al- ready the most restrictive short-term rental rules on the coast,” resident Alaina Gigui- ere said. “This plan is work- ing, our neighborhoods are protected, our property man- agers here are wonderful and respectful.” “If anything, make it more lenient so the city can be en- joyed more and more,” said resident Steve Crane. Steve Fulkerson, homeown- er in the lottery program, said short-term rentals allow large groups affordable lodging. Due to city notices con- taining two different dates, the hearing continued July 28, after the Gazette went to print. If the Planning Commission made a recommendation, a City Council public hearing would be held in September. The council has the inal ac- tion. Transient rentals are part of the city’s short-term rental program, which also includes about 110 vacation home rent- als with a 14-day limit. Transient rentals, limited to 92 permits, include about 58 transient rentals grandfa- thered into the program, and 22 current lottery transient rentals that expire after ive years. The lottery sub-pro- gram is growing, Barnes said, with 142 names on the list. In 2014-15, short-term rentals generated $288,700 in transient room taxes, a number that has since increased, City Planner Mark Barnes said. Some opponents said lim- iting short-term rental regula- tions could negatively affect businesses and home values, and short-term rentals would continue regardless. “Cannon Beach is a resort town and there isn’t going to be any regulations we can have that will change that,” said Pat Sparks, a short-term rental owner. “I’ve never had a neighbor that’s complained about anyone.” Resident Jan Sie- bert-Wahrmund was the only speaker not opposing the changes. She said she sup- ports the council “relooking at this issue for the livability of our community.” Some objected to how the proposed amendments were brought to the Planning Com- NorthWest Senior & Disability Services: 503-304-3451 zaira.flores@nwsds.org Advocate for policies and legislation that affect our seniors Work on issues related to Medicaid, Medicare, long term services and supports, elder abuse, senior nutrition and health, and more Inspire change to programs that serve the aging community Network with other senior leaders and local and state government officials Th e Bridge Morning Show With Mark Evans 6 am to 10 am Spend Aft ernoons With Skye 2 pm to 8 pm www.949thebridge.com perception that there’s a rela- tionship there,” Barnes said. “Even if that’s not correct, I think it bears some looking at.” Petrina said he would never rent his home long-term be- cause he uses his house during the year. “I think the council is over- reacting thinking that short- term rentals are what’s the cause of not having long-term rentals,” Giguiere said. “One does not have anything to do with the other.” At an April work session, councilors discussed possible further limits on short-term rentals. In a May planning session, councilors and staff planned to examine short-term rental regulations. For 59 percent of citizen survey respondents, it is im- portant that the city reduce the number of short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. “The city inds that the rent- al of dwelling units for periods of 30 days or less has the po- tential to be incompatible with surrounding residential uses,” the staff report states. Experience Family Dining in a Relaxed & Friendly Environment Serving Seafood, Pizza, Sandwiches, Espressos, Beer, Wine, Ice Cream and our Homemade Desserts OREGON SENIORS NEED YOUR HELP! Become a Senior Advisory Council member today! mission without a decision or vote. The council directed the staff to bring the amendments to the commission, Barnes said, and an agreement is enough to start a process. “I think it’s dificult for staff to interpret what City Council sometimes is wanting to have done,” resident Herb Florer said. “I don’t know if there was ever a direction. I don’t think there should have been a direction since there is nothing in the record that shows any kind of decision.” “The direction to me was unmistakable, but there was no motion and vote,” Barnes said Tuesday. Short-term rental problems discussed by councilors and staff during public meetings included enforcement issues and regulations not relecting the changing, increasingly dig- ital industry. The council has also dis- cussed short-term rentals in the context of affording housing. “I think the relationship between the two is tenuous at best, but there’s at least the “TO-GO” Orders Welcome We have a fabulous patio where you can enjoy the weather and your meal. 156 N. 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