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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2017)
6A • December 15, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com Councilors concerned about high maintenance costs projects by the board and the committee and talk more clearly about what we need in terms of cash flow and rates,” St. Denis said. Water from Page 1A homeowner’s water bill from about $50 a month to about $70. The increase would be phased in over five years and generate $2.1 million and $1.6 million for water and wastewater projects. But many of the council- ors questioned a rate increase that would only partially fi- nance projects. Some worried without full funding from rates, the system would not be maintained and would eventu- ally depreciate. Others raised questions about whether com- mercial outfits were paying enough under the current rate structure. “We have this need — it is well-established — and we are only going to get half of it funded? That doesn’t make sense to me,” City Councilor Mike Benefield said. “If we don’t have the funds, we’re going to be back to square one when our water system isn’t paying for itself.” The city plans to hold a public hearing in February before implementing any changes. But for now, the city is considering approving just A different approach BRENNA VISSER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Public Works Director Jim Arndt and Matt Wadlington of Civil West Engineering Services discuss rate increases at a work session Tuesday. the first year of rate increases proposed in the five-year plan, which would increase the cu- mulative water, wastewater and stormwater base rate by 16 percent from this year to next — about an $8 difference for the average residential ratepayer. City Manager Bruce St. Denis and Public Works Di- rector Jim Arndt recommend- ed revisiting the issue after designing a five-year capital project schedule. The plan would impact rates annually by accelerating or slowing increases depending on what projects are planned for each fiscal year. “Instead of locking into a rate schedule, let’s vet the Approving the plans and the rate increase to fund it stalled earlier this year after committee members raised concerns about how projects were prioritized and discrep- ancies within the rate study completed by Civil West En- gineering Services. Since May, the committee worked with Arndt to eval- uate the benefits and draw- backs of funding the whole master plan versus just a per- centage, different rate struc- tures and payment phase-in options. The committee opted to recommend financing only the water and wastewater master plans partially in an effort to lessen the overall impact to ratepayers and in- centivize the city to find alter- native funding through grants and bonds. The committee also thought funding only half the plan would encourage the city to prioritize financing the most urgent projects. “The (public works com- mittee) has reservations about the priorities and the reasoning and explanations for some of the projects,” the committee wrote in a letter to the City Council. “We are recommending you adopt the plans because they are a good starting point for evaluating our water and wastewater systems.” But Arndt cautioned coun- cilors that while the city al- ways seeks out grants to fund projects when applicable, funding less than 100 percent would likely not keep up with depreciation of the system over the 20-year life of the plan. “After 10 years of no in- creases, we’re just catching up,” Arndt said. Benefield and Councilor George Vetter said they felt the increase was relatively nominal in comparison with what could be accomplished with the revenue if the plans were funded fully. “If this is what it costs to have water, then this is what it costs. Why pull from other Nancy Benson, opera- tions manager of PPC Hold- ings, confirmed Bell’s with- drawal. In Design Review Board hearings earlier this year, Bell had requested approval for major modification to an existing commercial build- ing for the purpose of open- ing a high-end retail canna- bis dispensary. In August, Bell provided plans for exterior building and landscaping upgrades, but the board asked for a more detailed plan for the property, owned by Limnes Investments LLC. Bell was granted a con- tinuance and asked to re- turn in October with revised plans. When he failed to ap- pear or submit revisions, his application was rejected. Bell owns and operates dispensaries in Lincoln, Coos and Tillamook coun- ties. In 2016, he attempted to open a retail marijuana shop in a condominium complex near Pier 39 in Astoria. The store did not open, however, after the Astoria City Coun- cil decided the Planning Commission had not proper- ly considered the residential nature of the site. Two separate applications for retail cannabis dispen- saries remain active in Can- non Beach, Oregrown at 215 S. Hemlock and Five Zero Trees at 140 S. Hemlock. NEW LISTING NEW LISTING NEW LISTING ELEGANT AND COZY 132 E Surfcrest #D-1, Cannon Beach LODGES AT CANNON BEACH 132 E Surfcrest #D-2, Cannon Beach THE FINEST COLLABORATION 3063 S Hemock, Cannon Beach Craftsman style townhouse, fully furnished with gourmet kitchen, 2 fireplaces, close to the beach, restaurant, bakery & markets. Looking for an investment? The Lodges allows nightly rentals with excellent management by the Inn at Cannon Beach. Fully furnished. CMLS#17-1685 $679,000 Karen Meili 503-440-5806 Steve Crane 503-440-6310 CMLS#17-1686 $629,000 Karen Meili 503-440-5806 Steve Crane 503-440-6310 Architect Jay Raskin & builder Scott Rekate have pulled out all the stops with Alaskan yellow cedar ceilings & eaves, Brazilian cherry floors, you must see this home! Chris Hess works at the Five Zero Trees store in Cannon Beach in October. Cannon Beach Gazette COLIN MURPHEY/ EO MEDIA GROUP ity of life would be enhanced without them,” Kabeiseman said. “The plan says, ‘the fun- damental principle of the plan is to foster a community with a strong sense of place which provides its residents the qual- ity of life that they desire.’ The plan requires city councilors to consider what quality of life means to the city. The vote of the people is one way they can see it, and Cannon Beach voted to not prohibit marijuana facilities.” There were other points Frei had made about the plan the attorney did not address in the memo. The fact Five Zero Trees operates multiple stores across Oregon, Frei argues, conflicts with the plan’s guide- line to promote “small-scale, family-owned” businesses and the plan’s goal to “encourage the provision of permanent housing in downtown by pro- viding zoning incentives for mixed-use structures which incorporate housing.” Kabeiseman said in the interest of time he narrowed down some of Frei’s points in an effort to “capture the es- sence” of his concerns about quality of life and character. But Frei disagrees with Kabeiseman’s interpretation. He still asserts issues with the application process that led to the eviction of three residents should be enough for the city to deny Five Zero Trees a busi- ness license. “When (the plan) was writ- ten, they weren’t thinking of marijuana stores yet,” Frei said. Other than a sign permit, Five Zero Trees has all the appropriate permits to oper- ate, City Planner Mark Barnes said. City Councilor George Vet- ter said because retail marijua- na legalization has been voted on twice — once statewide and again locally — that the out- come of the elections should be respected as what the peo- ple want. “This is a democracy, even if the vote was won by 13 votes, the community has de- cided,” Vetter said. While city councilors reached a consensus to not move forward with any chang- Experience Family Dining in a Relaxed & Friendly Environment Serving Seafood, Pizza, Sandwiches, Espressos, Beer, Wine, Ice Cream and our Homemade Desserts We have a fabulous patio where you can enjoy the weather and your meal. es to the comprehensive plan, Mayor Sam Steidel said the exercise led him to believe the city should consider re-evalu- ating the comprehensive plan in its entirety as part of next year’s strategic planning — and to think about marijuana retailers as they do it. 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This condo allows nightly rentals and comes com- pletely furnished, and just one block to the beach! Nestled above midtown, you will enjoy Cannon Beach without the crowds in this desirable community, with 2.07 view acres. CMLS#17-739 $225,000 Karen Meili 503-440-5806 Lovely one level condo east of Haystack Rock & Highway 101 within walking distance to downtown, or east for miles of forest hiking. CMLS#16-1149 $215,000 Tina Chapman 503-440-9957 NEW PRICE “TO-GO” Orders Welcome 156 N. Hemlock • Cannon Beach 503.436.9551 Owned and Operated by the Cleary Family CMLS#16-1644 $291,500 Dana Weston 503-738-2838 Craig Weston 503-738-2839 Cannon Beach’s Best Selection of Oregon and Washington Wine! UPCOMING TASTINGS Shack Hours Sunday - Th ursday 11am to 5pm Friday & Saturday 11am to 5:30pm Tasting Room Hours Saturdays • 1 to 5pm While agreeing with the needs of the system, Mayor Sam Steidel was wary of any more increases that could im- pact ratepayers, and suggested exploring ways for the city to use lodging tax revenue to help fund projects. “The number of day-trip- pers we have is an abuse on the system,” Steidel said. Councilor Nancy McCar- thy also questioned whether a different type of rate structure could be explored to make sure commercial customers were “paying their fair share.” Bob Reid, a member of the Public Works Committee, agreed with McCarthy’s in- quiry, arguing the commercial outfits that attract thousands each year play a role in the degradation of the water and sewer system. “If you charge commercial businesses, they pass it onto the tourists, which are largely the reason why we have to support a system built to support 10,000 people for a town with only 1,700 residents,” Reid said. Pot from Page 1A By Brenna Visser After months of controver- sy, Cannon Beach found there are no conflicts between the comprehensive plan and retail marijuana shops. The city’s land use attorney, Bill Kabeiseman, gave a report to the City Council Tuesday, Dec. 5, that asserts having marijuana shops downtown is fully consistent with the plan, which acts as the city’s consti- tution for development. A discussion about the comprehensive plan and how it relates to marijuana retailers was prompted by David Frei, the acting spokesman of the Ecola Square Homeowners Association, who for months has objected to the marijuana retailer Five Zero Trees mov- ing in across the street at 140 S. Hemlock. At previous City Coun- cil meetings, Frei has argued allowing Five Zero Trees so close to a residential area would be detrimental to “the unique character of down- town” and out of step with the plan’s goal to provide its residents “the quality of life that they desire.” He also claimed the crime he believes is associated with marijuana retailers would be in conflict with plan’s goal to preserve “a sense of safety.” But according to Kabeise- man, the statement of policy in the comprehensive plan is gen- eral, and does not identify any particular uses that are pro- hibited. None of the identified provisions mention or discuss marijuana in any way. The or- dinance that spells out where and how marijuana shops can operate does not violate the plan just because it allows for marijuana facilities to exist, he said. “What I think would im- prove quality of life and what you think would improve quality of life is not necessar- ily going to mesh. I love sea- food restaurants, but if you are allergic to seafood, your qual- Restructuring Bell withdraws application for Hemlock Street location Pot shops get green light in Cannon Beach Attorney finds no conflicts with comprehensive plan sources other than rates?” Vet- ter said. Dec 16 • Holiday Favorites Dec 23 • Wine Shack Favorites Dec 25 • Christmas Day Wine Tasting! Jan 6 • Wines for the New Year Jan 13 • Walla Walla Wines Jan 18 • Wine Women & Wealth - Money Talk Jan 20 • Wine Shack Favorites “Best Wine Shop” - 2016 Reader’s Choice Award 124 N. 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