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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2017)
OCTOBER 6, 2017 • VOL. 41, ISSUE 20 WWW.CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM COMPLIMENTARY COPY RV park plan rouses Arch Cape residents Concerns about traffi c, environment By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Site of a proposed RV park in Arch Cape. Dozens of disgruntled residents voiced their environmental and safety concerns Thursday, Sept. 28, about a developer’s plan to build an RV park across from Arcadia Beach in Arch Cape. James Smejkal, the owner and developer of the 17.6-acre parcel of forested land, sought temporary road access to the parcel earlier this year with the intent to build an upscale RV park — mostly because it is one of the only types of development allowed with the land’s zoning, he said. Chamber head Court Carrier steps down Smejkal’s consultant, Leonard Waggoner, conducted the n eighborhood meeting Thursday. Smejkal was required to invite everyone within 300 feet of the project to a public presentation before submitting a development permit appli- cation. “The idea is for the community to give feedback to the developers,” Clatsop County planner Will Caplinger said. But many outside of the 300-foot radius packed the Cannon Beach Fire Hall, some as far north as Astoria and south as Netarts. Organiza- tions such as the Audubon Society of Portland and the Haystack Rock Awareness P rogram came out to denounce the project. Concerns about adding traffi c to an already populated stretch of U.S. Highway 101, threats to water quality and the property’s proximity to threat- ened m arbled m urrelet habitat all were echoed by multiple residents. The community’s desire to protect the area’s old growth forests, however, was the room’s unifi ed plea. “The Oregon Coast is like one big back- yard,” Netarts resident Shelly Reeder-Lueth said. “We believe it’s worth fi ghting for the last 5 percent of old growth forests. Otherwise, what do you have left?” The vision The land was owned by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department before it was trad- ed to Smejkal in 2002 in exchange for land he owned in Columbia County. In 2009, Smejkal attempted to develop the property as housing, which was ultimately denied by the county Planning Commission. See RV Park, Page 6A Oswald West rides again Carrier resigns due to medical issues By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Court Carrier, the e xecutive d irector of the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce, will leave his position in November due to medical issues. Jim Paino, the chamber’s e xecutive a s- sistant and m embership c oordinator , will serve as the interim director as the cham- ber’s board searches for a replacement. Carrier started with the c hamber in 2014 after a 27-year tenure as the program direc- tor and instructor for the Mt. Hood Commu- nity College h ospi- tality and t ourism p rogram. Before then, he spent 20 years in the hospi- tality industry . “It has been a joy to work here,” Carrier said. “I’ve been blessed to live in this heav- R.J. MARX/EO MEDIA GROUP enly place and Court Carrier has make signifi cant resigned as exec- progress. I’m dis- utive director of appointed, but it’s the Cannon Beach what I need to do Chamber of Com- to take care of my- merce. self.” The decision came after the chamber board was already evaluating Carrier’s three-year contract. Chamber President Greg Swedenborg said Carrier didn’t feel he was in a position to extend the contract past the c hamber’s fi s- cal year because of “personal and extended family health reasons.” “Through discussions with Court, (the b oard) felt the timing was right to make the change rather than postpone the inevitable for a few quarters,” Swedenborg said in a statement. “Court graciously offered to stay on past his contract date, which will help in the execution of our succession plan.” Carrier will depart on Nov. 20. Carrier will be moving back to Portland with his wife to pursue his own medical treatment as well as help take care of other family members facing illness. Gov. Oswald West ‘returns’ to greet CoastWalkers Story and photo by Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette North Coast Land Conservancy, headquartered in Seaside and one of Oregon’s leading nonprofi t land trusts, hosted the second annual CoastWalk Oregon event from Sept. 22-24. The 75 people registered for the walk were greet- ed by a Gov. Oswald West re-enactor, Cannon Beach local Bob Wayne, dressed in 1900s attire with his horse on the beach. The purpose was to pay an hom- age to the horseback ride West took in 1911 from Ecola Creek to Neahkahnie Mountain that inspired the former governor to declare Oregon beaches as a public right-of-way, conservancy communication co- ordinator Bonnie Henderson said. Wayne, who has lived in the area for 40 years, saw this as a way helping an organization that helps pro- tects the land he has enjoyed for so many years. “I think the NCLC is fabulous, and I just wanted to support them,” Wayne said. “Also I like showing off my horse — look at him, he’s a beauty.” The group will walk from Ecola Creek in Cannon Beach through Arch Cape, Oswald West State Park and all the way to Nehalem Bay State Park. The walk originated as a way for Oregonians and visitors to the state to see some of Oregon’s natural wonders while also raising money for the North Coast Land Conservancy. At $350 a ticket, participants are helping support general operations, Henderson said. “Having our event sold out two years in a row I think mean people are willing to support conserva- tion and want an adventure,” Henderson said. PAID PERMIT NO. 97 ASTORIA, OR PRSRT STD US POSTAGE See Carrier, Page 6A B. Boutique opens in Cannon Beach After 14 years, women’s clothing store moves from Seaside By Brenna Visser Cannon Beach Gazette Dozens gathered to cel- ebrate the grand opening of the women’s clothing store B. Boutique Thursday, Sept. 21, at its new location in Can- non Beach at 232 N Spruce St. The store, which the owner Jenny Becker de- scribes as “fun and different styles for all women,” oper- ated in Seaside for 14 years before moving to Spruce Street . “When we opened in Sea- side, we wanted to be closer to the schools for our kids,” Becker said. “But now my kids are out of school, and it was time to come back home to Cannon Beach.” Becker, who has lived in Cannon Beach for the past 25 years, operates the store with her mother and daughter. It replaces Primary Elements Gallery, which closed earlier this year. “I’ve always loved this building and the fact it had a view of the park,” Becker said. “When I saw it come available, I didn’t hesitate.” BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Owner Jenny Becker celebrates the grand opening of her clothing store B. Boutique with a ribbon-cutting Th ursday, Sept. 21.