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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2017)
6A • October 13, 2017 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Voters split over rental rules tion to lodging taxes and fees, short-term rental homeowners pay more than $300,000 per year in property taxes. “That is a total of a half-million dollars per year paid by 84 homeowners in the vacation rental program … all to local government.” The city budget for this fiscal year anticipates col- lections of about $360,000, Sweet said. Sharp divide over new regulations By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Just whose rights are at is- sue in Gearhart as voters con- sider repealing vacation rental rules in November? Supporters of Measure 4-188 want to repeal and re- place rules enacted last fall related to off-street parking, appearance, garbage service, septic inspections and cess- pool prohibitions. The measure would require home inspec- tions and make owners respon- sible for self-reporting issues. More than 200 voters signed a petition in support of the measure, short-term rental owner Jim Whittemore said. Meanwhile, Gearhart is heavily dotted with “Vote No” lawn signs in a campaign led by a coalition of residents, including Mayor Matt Brown and former Mayor Dianne Widdop. A “no” vote will continue a balanced and responsible cap on rental properties, Brown said, and safety inspections keep visitors safe. “I was elected to protect our citizens’ rights,” Brown said. “Our quality of life shouldn’t be compromised for the sake of profit.” Septic regulations will “protect neighbors from high commercial use,” he added. Both sides say property rights are at risk. COLIN MURPHEY/EO MEDIA GROUP Signs in regards to Measure 4-188 dot U.S. Highway 101 in Gearhart. Whittemore said the flaw in the current law “is that it takes away property rights from all homeowners.” Measure opponent Jeanne Mark said “common-sense” caps to short-term rentals and safety rules protect residential private property rights. Unintended consequences According to the ballot summary by David Townsend, Brian and Joy Sigler and County Commissioner Sarah Nebeker, the measure would repeal special regulations on vacation rentals not required of other residents. Nebeker, a Gearhart resi- dent, spoke in opposition to the city’s short-term rental ordinance in April, when she said the ordinance was too harsh and with modifications could be made more equitable. “Ordinances and laws are only as good as the ability to enforce them,” measure sup- porter Katherine Schroeder said in a letter to The Daily Astorian. The city has failed to regu- larly and consistently enforce ordinances which already reg- ulate garbage, septic, parking and appearance of properties, she said. According to Schroeder, an overly restrictive vacation rental ordinance will force rental homeowners under- ground. “A likely unintended con- sequence of the City Coun- cil’s ordinance is just this: unpermitted, uninspected and possibly unsafe homes,” she wrote. As of the end of Septem- ber, 81 vacation rental dwell- ing permits have been issued, 57 of which are complete and processed, six pending park- ing plans, 15 working on up- grades after inspection and three awaiting initial inspec- tion, City Administrator Chad Sweet said. Whittemore said in addi- Quality of life The November vote is the latest step in the conversation started in 2013 when members of the Planning Commission and City Council considered changes to the way short-term rental properties are taxed and regulated within the city. At the time, Gearhart had no ordinance requiring in- spections or occupancy limits for vacation rentals. Fourteen property owners filed an appeal with the state after adoption of regulations last fall. The state Land Use Board of Appeals upheld the city’s short-term rental rules in June. Meanwhile, supporters of repeal and replace gathered enough signatures to put the countermeasure on the ballot. Vacation rentals have al- ways been a part of Gearhart, Townsend said in a September letter to The Daily Astorian. “They are not a threat to our ‘quiet residential community,’ nor are they ‘high commercial use’ as the mayor claims.” Ballots will be mailed to voters Oct. 18. Election Day is Nov. 7. City Council decision clears the way for Seaside school campus rezoning Third reading of ordinance sends campus plan forward By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Before shovels can hit ground for a new high school campus, the city needed to re- zone two parcels, one 40 acres and the second 49 acres. With the third council read- ing of two ordinances, the council opened the door for development of the campus, designed to replace old and vulnerable buildings in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. “It’s one more step in the process of moving forward,” Seaside School District Su- perintendent Sheila Roley said after Monday’s Seaside City Council meeting. “The meet- ing tonight was really about clarification of wording and setting up clearly stated ordi- nances that reflect the urban growth boundary change.” The property, located at R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Consultant Greg Winterowd and Seaside School District Superintendent Sheila Roley after the third and final read- ing of an ordinance rezoning 89 acres for a high-school campus. 2000 Spruce Drive, includes the residential portion of the existing Seaside Heights El- ementary School site outside the wetlands zone. The new campus, approved by a $99.7 million bond vote in November, will be built on 89 acres, 49 of that designated as county forest and the other 40 zoned residential. Both these designations will be changed to institutional campus, or as a result of Monday’s approval, clearing the way for the cam- pus, with a total project budget of almost $113 million. In making their decision, city officials relied on testimo- ny and input from the school district, the comprehensive plan and planning commission decisions. Late changes and updates to the ordinance contained re- vised tax lot numbers and oth- er minor changes, consultant Greg Winterowd of Winterowd Planning said. “What the new ordinance does is make sure we are talking about the right proper- ties,” Winterowd said. Planning Director Kev- in Cupples delivered revised findings, along with a response sheet directed to public con- cerns. Findings determine the council’s adoption of the two ordinances comply with state planning goals as well as city and county review standards. During a public comment period, Seaside resident John Dunzer presented a summa- ry of an appeal he planned to submit to the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals. In previous meetings, Dun- zer said the city could find al- ternate sites within the urban growth boundary that did not require building a new campus. Mayor Jay Barber, council- or Tita Montero, Dana Phillips and Steve Wright voted for the rezoning and comprehensive plan change. Randy Frank, Tom Horning and Seth Mor- risey were absent. Architects Dull Olson Weekes anticipate the design phase to reach next June, when construction could begin. The campus is slated for opening in the fall of 2020. “We’re still in the de- sign-development phase and that’s a long complex process,” Roley said. “The City Council has been very helpful in guid- ing us through this process properly.” Approval is subject to the Clatsop County Board of Com- missioners and takes effect upon board approval. Gearhart councilors like green energy plan Support shown for Portland- based request By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Gearhart heard a request from Multnomah County and the city of Portland to consider support for a Pa- cific Power commitment to renewable energy. PacifiCorp, parent com- pany of Pacific Power, which delivers power to customers in Oregon, Idaho, Washing- ton and California, is work- ing on their 2017 integrated resource plan, a document to guide how that utility makes their investments over the next several years. “They are considering a considerable investment of $3.5 billion in renew- able energy resources, part of that new wind facilities, transmission capacities and upgrade technology to in- crease energy output,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said at the Oct. 4 City Coun- cil meeting. “They are ask- ing for support at the Public Utility Commission for this plan as they increase their renewable portfolio.” The request was made at the request of Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland and Multnomah County Com- missioner Jessica Vega Ped- erson based on the negative impacts of climate change. Multnomah County and Port- land jointly committed to transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Clatsop County became the first county in Oregon and the second nationwide to join the Environmental Protec- tion Agency’s Green Power Partnership. The designation recognizes the county gov- ernment’s commitment to purchase at least 10 percent of its annual electricity sup- ply from renewable sources for its operations. The Coun- ty Board of Commissioners voted in March to make the pledge. Councilors unani- mously endorsed the propos- al to support the request. “I would like to point out to our citizens, Clatsop Coun- ty will be the first county in Oregon and only the second nationwide to achieve the designation of ‘Green Pow- er Community,’” Councilor Dan Jesse said. “I’m proud of us as a community that we decided to step up.” DINING on the NORTH COAST Great Restaurants in: GEARHART SEASIDE CANNON BEACH MAZATLAN M E X I C A N R E S TA U R A N T Phone 503-738-9678 1445 S. Roosevelt Drive • Seaside NATIONALLY FAMOUS CLAM CHOWDER • FRESH OREGON SEAFOOD With Hood to Coast relay deal, ‘We all win’ R E STAU R A N T S Deal from Page 1A “This is a lot different than two years ago,” Floyd said after the meeting. “The sen- timent and the feeling has re- ally changed dramatically and in a very positive way.” “They’ve addressed situa- tions that in the past years that were negative and have turned them into positives,” Brian Owen, executive director of the Seaside Chamber of Com- merce said. “It’s a good, strong partnership. We all win.” Future meetings with Hood to Coast organizers will determine details about the 2018 race, including compensation and a poten- tial long-term deal, City Manager Mark Winstanley said. In the meantime, the coun- cil approved the one-year ex- tension. “I am fully confident that we will be working together for a long time,” Floyd said. The 2018 race is scheduled for Aug. 24 and Aug. 25. CANNON BEACH 503-436-1111 Ocean Front at Tolovana Park www.moschowder.com Excellence in family dining found from a family that has been serving the North Coast for the past 52 years Annual event seeks to raise earthquake awareness Shakeout from Page 1A American Shakeout,” Horn- ing said at the City Council meeting. “Thanks very much for that.” “It’s an event we should take very seriously,” Mayor Jay Barber said. “This is cer- tainly more relevant to us in the aftermath of Mexico City.” Great Great Great Homemade Breakfast, lunch and pasta, Clam but that’s dinner steaks & Chowder, Salads! not all... menu,too! seafood! Seaside • 323 Broadway • 738-7234 (Open 7 Days) Cannon Beach • 223 S. Hemlock 436-2851 (7am-3pm Daily) Astoria • 146 W. Bond • 325-3144 Expires 10/20/17 for at least two weeks. Pre- paredness lessens the strain on emergency responders who need to focus limited resourc- es on injured and other vulner- able populations immediately following a disaster. “Congratulations on the proclamation on the Great WANNA KNOW WHERE THE LOCALS GO? • Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN! • Lighter appetite menu • Junior Something for Everyone menu Fish ‘n Chips • Burgers • Seafood & Steak Friday & Saturday - Prime Rib Lounge Open Daily 9-Midnight All Oregon Lottery products available 1104 S Holladay • 503-738-9701 • Open Daily at 8am