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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 2016)
August 5, 2016 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 3A With variances, Pearl of Seaside motel project moves forward By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal SUBMITTED PHOTO Regional ireighters worked quickly to bring a two-alarm apartment ire under control July 29 in Seaside. Apartment ire leaves ten homeless A two-alarm ire at a small apartment complex at 381 S. Edgewood in Sea- side on July 29 was quick- ly brought under control by ireighters. When crews arrived smoke was coming from the back of the six-unit structure. Occupants present at the time of the ire escaped unharmed, though six cats were reported to have died while 20 additional cats were rescued and treated for smoke inhalation. The ire, which occurred at approximately 4:39 p.m. on Friday, affected nine adults and one child. Re- sponding to the needs of those displaced, the Amer- ican Red Cross Cascades Region helped address the immediate basic needs of those affected with tempo- rary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits, and other ser- vices. Seaside Fire and Rescue was supported by crews from Cannon Beach Fire and Rescue, Gearhart Vol- unteer Fire Department and Warrenton Fire Department. Additional Clatsop County resources were utilized for coverage during the ire. The cause of the blaze is current- ly under investigation. One motel will come down and another will go up as the Seaside Planning Com- mission approved variances for the Pearl of Seaside, a 48- room motel on the Prom. The property is being de- veloped by Antoine and Rocio Simmons of Haystack Lodg- ings, a management company that owns and operates bou- tique motels, including Sea- side’s Gilbert Inn, which the couple purchased in 2014. “I don’t want it to be a square box,” Antoine Sim- mons said of the Pearl. “I want it to be something that is architecturally designed, that has some character. I want it to be something people dis- cover, that’s unique, one-of- a-kind.” Approval and indings, which include a height vari- ance and setback adjustments to meet city parking standards, were presented Tuesday, July 19, by Planning Director Kev- in Cupples. The Pearl will replace the Inn at the Prom, which Sim- mons purchased in 2011 when it was the Edgewater. The property was built in 1920 as a home and “is in generally R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL The Pearl of Seaside will be built upon this vacant lot, pending a sale. SUBMITTED DRAWING Rendering of The Pearl. Note adjacent parcels under separate ownership. poor condition and in need of replacement,” according to planning documents. Part of the Pearl will be built on a va- cant property next door, now under contract with Simmons, which he described as “a seri- ous eyesore to everyone.” Plans for the new hotel include a two-level parking garage on Beach Avenue with 41 inside spaces. An addition- al 10 outdoor spaces will be available on Avenue A. Only one level of the Beach Avenue garage will be visible from the street, he said. A variance was required to bring parking spaces to code. Rooms are proposed for three loors, while a penthouse loor drawing shows ive rooms capped by a tower roof. Because of street grade differences on the property, the couple requested a 7-foot height variance to exceed the building height limit of 45 feet. “We’re at 52 feet, next door, they’re 51,” Simmons said of the neighboring Promenade hotel. “We’re pretty much mir- rored. We’re going to be side by side, same height.” NEWS IN BRIEF Clatsop ire season restrictions announced The Oregon Department of Forestry and Clat- sop County Fire Defense Board announce ire season restrictions. Fire season was declared July 21, and the following guidelines have been ad- opted. Open debris burning is prohibited, with cer- tain conditions. Burn barrels are allowed; some permits may be required. Recreational ires are allowed at designated campsites, personal residents and beaches. They must be no closer than 50 feet from dune grass and 15 feet from any structure. No ires are al- lowed in drift wood. Maximum ire size is 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. Fires must be attended at all times, and com- pletely extinguished when leaving. Fires may not be allowed during periods of extreme ire condi- tions, such as high winds, low humidity, extended periods without moisture. Permits are required for permanent or tempo- rary recreational ires. For more information contact Seaside Fire and Rescue, 503-738-5420. Trail’s End Art Association presents a show by Linda Gebhart opening Aug. 6. The reception and opportunity to meet the artist are a part of the Gearhart Art Walk from 2-5 p.m. at 656 A Street in Gearhart; 503-717-9458. ‘Meet the Artist’ at Gearhart ArtWalk North Coast Land Conservancy has opened registration for its inaugural CoastWalk Oregon, scheduled for Sept. 23-25. Participation is limited to the irst 50 registrants. The walk will follow the route of the Oregon Coast Trail, beginning at the Columbia River’s south jetty and ending in Cannon Beach.For de- tails or to register, visit CoastWalkOregon.org. Gearhart ArtWalk takes place Saturday, Aug. 6, from 2 to 5 p.m. A Great Gallery features pet portrait artist Deanne Johnson; 576 Paciic Way, 503-709-2840. Seaside gives green light to dog park near middle school By Dave Fisher Seaside Signal A new dog park is coming to Seaside. The Seaside’s Parks and Recreation Committee re- quest for the conditional ap- proval of the city’s irst dog park was granted July 25 at the City Council meeting. The park will be located in an “un- derutilized area” at the north end of the Broadway Middle School parking lot. “It will dress up that part of town,” said Public Works Director Dale McDowell in his summary of the project to council members. The Planning Commis- sion conditionally approved the plans at a meeting in ear- ly July. In their decision, it okayed a park to provide a central located fenced-off area where the public can exercise their dogs on and off leash. Utilizing mostly recycled materials, such as chain link fencing and even a nonfunc- tional ire hydrant as a deco- rative addition, the cost to the city was kept to a minimum; $780, according to McDowell. The proposed dog park will provide a centrally lo- cated facility that can be used by residents and visitors with parking and ADA accessibili- ty in place. “It’s amazing that you can do this for $780,” said Coun- cilor Randy Frank. “Once again, Seaside has set the standard.” Oregon Coast Trail hike coming in September While public comment was closed, neighbors have an opportunity to appeal to Seaside City Council, but the deadline for ap- peal, Aug. 4, has passed. Simmons said he plans to de- velop construction and me- chanical designs, followed by room layout and design. Variance approval expires in one year from the decision date unless the permit is used or a time extension approved. “We’re very excited about the project,” Simmons said. “We think it will be a beau- tiful addition to downtown. We’re hoping to be some- thing unique.” Fort Clatsop Road closed through Aug. 31 The Fort Clatsop Rd. arch cul- vert repair at milepost 2.44 has necessitated the complete closure of Fort Clatsop Rd. to all trafic during construction now through Aug. 31. Please use Lewis and Clark Rd. as a detour route For any questions and/or con- cerns, please contact Ted Mc- Lean at work, 503-325-8631, or cell phone, 503-791-2907. top brands. factory-direct Prices. free coupon book at wine & beer haus or online, www.seasideoutlets.com SUBMITTED PHOTO City map indicates area of proposed dog park. book warehouse • bruce’s candy kitchen • carter’s • christoPher & banks • claire’s • daisy may’s sandwich shoP • dress barn & dress barn women • eddie bauer • famous footwear outlet • gnc • helly hansen • kitchen collection • l’eggs hans bali Playtex exPress • nike factory store • osh kosh b’gosh • Pendleton • Perfect look • rack room shoes • rue 21 • seaside shiPPing center • the wine & beer haus • tokyo teriyaki • tOyS “r” US• Van heusen • ZumieZ - Open - Monday-Saturday 10-8 Sunday 10-6 12 th Ave. & hwy. 101 SeASide, Or 503.717.1603