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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2016)
September 23, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 7A Arch Cape committee still facing dissolution Planning Commission urges end to panel By Kyle Spurr EO Media Group Arch Cape residents who want to save their citizen advi- sory committee took a hit this week. The Clatsop County Plan- ning Commission sent a rec- ommendation Tuesday to the Board of Commissioners to dissolve the Arch Cape Design Review Committee. The Board of Commis- sioners originally discontin- ued Arch Cape’s committee in February, calling the group unnecessary, time-consuming, expensive and a potential legal liability. Former interim County Manager Rich Mays accused the committee of harassing a county employee about her disability. Despite her re- quests, Mays claims, the group voted to move its meetings to a building that is not a feder- al Americans with Disabilities Act-approved facility. Supporters of the commit- tee challenged the county’s de- cision with the state Land Use Board of Appeals, which sent the issue back to the county. The county still plans to discontinue the design re- Alternatives County Manager Cameron Moore advised that there is no point in staff spending time exploring options for retaining the (committee). Planning Commission staff report view committee, but this time through a process that includes public hearings before the committee, Planning Commis- sion and Board of Commis- sioners. “County Manager Camer- on Moore advised that there is no point in staff spending time exploring options for retaining the (committee),” according to a Planning Commission staff report. Moore pointed out the county is still liable for the committee’s actions and is re- quired to spend staff time en- suring the committee follows public records and meetings laws. The Arch Cape Design Re- view Committee, also known as the Southwest Coastal Cit- izens Advisory Committee, is one of a kind in Clatsop Coun- ty. Other county residents bring proposals directly to the planning staff, without input of a local committee. Supporters in Arch Cape say the local input is critical to maintaining the liv ability of the unincorporated town south of Cannon Beach. The county is concerned the committee re- quires an extra layer for peo- ple who want to build or sell homes in Arch Cape. In addition to dissolving the committee, the Planning Commission recommended alternatives to encourage citi- zen involvement. One idea is appli- cant-neighborhood meetings for certain applications, such as large subdivisions or rezon- ing requests. A meeting would be scheduled for the applicant to present their concept to neighbors. “Usually, it’s to the appli- cant’s benefi t,” Community Development Director Heath- er Hansen said. “They are hearing what people are con- cerned about before they turn in their application.” The Board of Commission- ers is expected to vote on the Planning Commission’s rec- ommendation later this month. Whale unlikely to move again Whale from Page 1A unable to access the whale Saturday. By their return the next day, the whale had washed back into the ocean. “Where it washed ashore at Arch Cape, it was on a cobble beach,” Cox said. “With no sand there to create that extra friction, it fl oated out to sea.” “When whales come to shore, they have often been dead for weeks,” said Jim Rice, Oregon State University Marine Mammal Stranding Network coordinator. “Natural mortality can be harder to determine when the carcass has been fl oating at sea for awhile.” Chandler noted the mammal had been dead for some time and its tis- sues likely rotting, which could make understanding its cause of death more diffi cult. A necropsy’s purpose is both to determine why the animal died and to gather tissues that can be used for future studies on the animal’s nutrition and other research topics, Rice said. Poten- tial reasons for whale deaths in general include lack of prey, diseases, biotoxins and trauma through fi shery gear entan- glement or collisions with vessels. Humpbacks are less common than gray whales, and occasionally wash up on the North Coast. Oregon State Parks and Recreation staff will be on Short Sand Beach Sat- urday and Sunday to present free inter- pretive talks, whether the whale washes back out or not. Staff will talk about the importance of whales in the marine en- vironment and the food source they pro- vide when they wash ashore, Cox said. Visitors are advised to park at North Short Sand Trailhead on U.S. Highway 101. Follow trail signs to Short Sand Beach, then walk north. According to the parks department, visitors should not take any pieces of the whale or touch it and pets should be kept away from the shore. Researchers with required federal permits can col- lect tissue from the mammal. FILE PHOTO Beach cleanup in Cannon Beach 2015. The tale of the whale The day it rained whale On Friday night, the approximately 38-foot humpback whale veered around Arch Cape toward the Falcon Cove community. As night fell Friday, the whale washed up on Cove Beach. On Saturday morning, the whale could be seen with its stomach inverted and distended. Experts feared the stomach could explode. Researchers were blocked by high tides as gas from the whale’s stomach was naturally released during the day. As researchers arrived to determine the cause of death, the whale washed back out to sea. Tuesday, the whale’s body returned to land, this time at Short Sand Beach in Oswald West State Park. In 1970, a large dead sperm whale washed ashore near Florence, Ore. Engineers from the Oregon Highway Division were tasked with removing the dead whale. Their plan? Half a ton of dynamite. All seemed to go well until chunks of whale parts and blubber started raining down from the sky, splattering TV news crewmen and onlookers as far as 800 feet away. One unfortunate bystander had a large chunk of blubber smash his car. In his commentary, TV reporter Paul Linnman said, “It might be concluded that should a whale ever was ashore in Lane County again, those in charge will not only remember what to do. They’ll certainly remember what not to do.” —Compiled by Corey Fisher Tolovana Wayside beach cleanup slated on Saturday Join SOLVE and Pacifi Corp for a beach cleanup at Tolova- na Wayside on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to never turn their backs on the ocean and to wear and bring appropriate gear for rain or shine. Bags and gloves will be provided. Recycling ser- vices are donated by Recology Western Oregon, and refresh- ments and setup at City Hall are provided by Pacifi c Alarm Systems. For more information and to register, go to solveoregon. org. Dining on the No touching! The twice-daily high tides predicted over the next few weeks are not ex- pected to be high enough to take it back out to sea, though it is still possible for it to wash out. Researchers have the required federal permits to collect tissue from dead whales. All other visitors are encouraged to come see the humpback, but are not allowed to take any pieces and are discour- aged from touching it. When visiting, keep pets away from the corpse, and keep an eye TARA ERBEN/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE on the ocean for safety’s sake. By late Saturday, neighbors reported the whale had defl ated signifi cantly. North Coast PIG ‘N PANCAKE 223 S Hemlock 503-436-2851 7AM - 3PM Daily 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. NORMA’S SEAFOOD & STEAK 20 N. Columbia, Seaside 503-738-4331 Since 1976 discriminating diners have sought out this Seaside landmark. 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