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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2018)
6A • July 6, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Seaside considers water, forest protections Balancing forestlands and water projection By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal “Third in a series” is how Public Works Director Dale McDowell called the Source Water Protection Plan and Timber Management Plan, in process of public input. The purpose of the report is to guide the city in making deci- sions around increased forest management while protecting the quality of water flowing out of its timberlands. The plan follow the Source Water Assessment, completed in 2016 and the Water Man- agement and Conservation Plan, delivered in April 2017. With the water protection plan’s first update since 1983, officials are developing rules for protecting and managing about 1,100 acres of city- owned forestland within the Necanicum Watershed. The entire Necanicum watershed consists of 49,000 acres; of that, the South Fork portion amounts to 5,192 acres or 18 percent. The city of Seaside owns 1,100 acres in the South Fork; the rest is split nearly evenly by timber operators Lewis & Clark and Weyerhae- user. In 2015, Katie Voelke, ex- ecutive director of the North CITY OF SEASIDE Potential income from logging using various cutting scenarios. Coast Land Conservancy, and Melyssa Graeper, coordinator for the watershed council at the time, had asked the city to temporarily halt timber harvesting until they could offer harvesting alternatives. City staff members later dis- covered after searching the archives, that the city had a timber management plan that hadn’t been updated for more than two decades. Instead of clear-cutting and replanting trees that eventually become uniform in size, the management plan would be more selective in the trees harvested, leaving room for smaller trees to grow and protect stream banks, Voelke said at the time. The city and the Neca- nicum Watershed Council applied for and received a $30,000 grant from Infra- structure Financing Authority to develop a new plan, subse- quently prepared by Mason, Bruce and Girard of Portland. Resource management The Necanicum River Drinking Water Resource area serves more than 6,700 Seaside residents. Water flows from the moun- tains to the ocean, McDowell said, via an intake system and through steel pipes with exte- rior coating, McDowell said at Monday’s City Council meet- ing, “We don’t want any dirt, sediment, pesticides or herbi- cides used around it. We want to keep it as pristine as possi- ble.” The timber management plan, delivered in conjunction with the source water plan, will set rules for logging operations, which if approved, would be set out to bid for subcontractors. The plan describes the nature of Watershed area owned by the city. timberland property and stan- dards and guidelines to protect water resource during harvest activities. For logging operations, the city must show how they log and where they log, and how the water source is protected, McDowell said. Logging rev- enues typically go to mainte- nance on roads, bridges and to buy additional land. One of the advantages of Seaside’s water source is the lack of development, agriculture or septic systems around it. “It’s Mother Nature at her best,” he said. Neighboring landowners Lewis & Clark and Weyerhae- user have “stringent rules for their own property,” he said. “Everybody is working togeth- er to protect the city.” According to the city’s new report, much of the forest is in the mature age classes from 55 to 65 years, with most stands prop- New rules for accessory homes ADUs from Page 1A An additional paved off- street parking space must be provided in addition to two spaces for the single-family dwelling. Unlike a guest house, an accessory dwelling unit must include a kitchen and function as an independent dwelling unit. A unit must be set back a minimum of 5 feet from the main home. The units are not subject to residential zoning density, but are only allowed on lots that meet the minimum lot size in the zone. Provisions restrict short- term or vacation rental of ei- ther the single-family dwell- ing or the accessory building, enforceable by the building official. “Violators could be hit by the building official’s $5,000 fine, a business license fine, and a transient room tax fine,” Cupples said. “They can be hit with some pretty expen- sive numbers.” How big? The Planning Commission considered the amendments at two June public hearings before providing their recom- mendations to the City Coun- cil. R.J. MARX A proposed amendment aims to comply with new state rules regulating accessory dwelling units. At those meetings, com- missioners wrestled with pro- posed sizes of accessory units, recommending 525-square foot maximum. “I won’t say it’s a magi- cal number, but they felt that would allow you to put in a relatively decent-sized acces- sory unit,” Cupples said Mon- day. The Planning Commission also provided an “out” for change of circumstance, Cup- CITY OF SEASIDE ples added, approving a con- ditional use permit process to allow for larger accessory dwelling units. Council members asked for a cap on the potential size of the accessory unit. While current law limits accesso- ry structures to 1,000 square feet, the proposed amendment presented no maximum. Developer Max Ritchie, an owner of Seaside’s 15-acre Blue Heron Pointe subdivi- sion, said the 525-square-foot limit could force crowding and limit financial incentive for homeowners. He recom- mended a 750-square-foot limit without the need for a conditional use permit. Councilors stuck with the 525-square-foot limit but set the maximum size of a unit, if permitted by the Planning Commission after a review process, at 800 square feet. “I’d like to see how it af- fects affordable housing,” Councilor Randy Frank said. “It would be nice to see how it impacts the city and the people. As Kevin (Cupples) said, we can address it further later.” Councilors and Mayor Jay Barber approved the first reading of the amendment by a 6-1 vote, with Tom Horning voting in opposition. A second reading will be delivered at the council’s July 9 meeting. erly stocked and ready for final harvest. The updated manage- ment plan identifies the manage- ment activities that could impact water quality, and makes recom- mendations to mitigate negative consequences. The report offers three potential harvest schedules. Depending on the type of logging — clear-cutting with ground logging or cable log- ging, or thinning with ground logging, the city could see net revenue of approximately $4,000 to $14,000 per acre. Logging revenues typically go to maintenance on roads, bridges and to buy additional land, McDowell said. The city is in talks now with neighboring timber companies to purchase recently logged land. “The time to purchase the next property is after they clear- cut it,” McDowell said. “That’s the cheapest time to buy it. There’s no harvest.” During City Council com- ment, Councilor Tom Horning and Joyce Hunt of the Necan- icum Watershed Council both urged longer times between har- vests, or potentially foregoing harvest of trees on city-owned land. Each cited the value of older trees in retaining water, preventing drought and reduc- ing climate warming. “You can get 50 percent more water flow from an old forest than a young forest,” Horning said. “In future, as the climate the planet warms and the pop increases the city’s going to have need to have a reliable source of water that flows at a larger feet per second than it does under present conditions. It would be nice to see the options that ad- dress this more than the current plan does. The public comment period remains open, McDowell said, with a goal of submitting the plan by Oct. 1. Barber says he’ll be on ballot Barber affirms second-term bid By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Seaside’s Mayor Jay Bar- ber affirmed his intention to run for Seaside mayor, the second candidate to do so. Radio station owner John Chapman did so earlier this month, in his first city elec- tion bid. Barber said his petitions are circulating and he in- tends to file as soon as he has acquired the signatures required. A retired college pres- ident, foundation director and ordained minister, Bar- ber was appointed mayor in January 2017 after the death of Don Larson the previous month. Barber and his wife, Jan, have lived full time in Seaside since 2006. He was selected in 2009 to fill the unexpired council term of Gary Diebolt and won elec- tion for Ward 1 in 2010 and again in 2014. At the time of his ap- pointment in 2017, Barber said he did not intend to run for a new term. Barber said his wife challenged him about two weeks later. “She said, ‘How can you know Jay Barber what you’re going to do two years out?’” He rethought it and re- considered, he said, en- couraged by the number of people who asked him to continue. “They challenged me to act early,” he said. He initially announced his decision in March but has yet to officially file. Barber said the an- nouncement of Chapman’s run further “motivated” his decision. Chapman was among candidates seeking to fill Barber’s unexpired council term in early 2017, filled by Steve Wright. “I like John, but he has no experience in this kind of position,” Barber said Mon- day. Councilors Wright, Tita Montero and Dana Phillips also face expired terms at the end of December. Candidates have until Aug. 28 to file. Longer hours needed, pot stores say Market is open for business Closing from Page 1A The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District is hosting its Sixth Farmers Market runs through Sept. 19 at the Broadway Mid- dle School parking lot, 1120 Broadway. The event supports fami- lies and businesses and pro- vides fresh, healthy food to the community. This year the market will feature more than 50 vendors over the market season, as well as activities like face painting, kids craft opportunities and live music. Angi Wildt is in her sec- ond year as manager. The Seaside Farmers Mar- think it puts us at an unfair disadvantage as a business,” Kulp said. “I don’t think it’s a risk to the public,” Kulp said. “I don’t think it’s a risk to the city image. I think it’s benefi- cial and safer for everyone.” Geiger spoke on the same subject. “A lot of people work late, and it’s forcing people to go out of town,” he said. Funds go to local schools and public safety, Geiger said. “And right now our stores are sitting closed while our com- petitors are open. It doesn’t make sense. I hope it’s some- thing you can change.” City Councilor Dana Phil- lips asked for a discussion of the hours to be put on the agenda. “If Cannon Beach and Astoria can be open until 10 p.m., why can’t Seaside?” If an ordinance change is approved at subsequent coun- cil meetings, hours would change within 30 days of its final passage. “I think they had an open mind, which is great,” Kulp said after the meeting. “I R.J. MARX Highway 420 owner Steve Geiger at the Seaside City Coun- cil meeting. Geiger sought additional evening hours for pot shops. can’t see a reason why we have to close at 8 p.m. We’re at no risk to anyone.” Local hours Seaside’s pot shops are required to close at 8 p.m. Here are some hours from neighboring communities: Astoria Five Zero Trees, 9 p.m. Sweet Relief, 9:45 p.m. Hashtoria, 10 p.m. Hi Casual, 9 p.m. Hi Cascade, 10 p.m. The Farmacy, 9 p.m. Cannon Beach Five Zero Trees, 9:45 pm. Manzanita Oregon Coast Cannabis, 9 p.m. ket offers a SNAP match pro- gram that will match SNAP purchases dollar for dollar up to $10, allowing low income families to have easier access to healthy foods. In addi- tion, patrons can spend Farm Direct Nutrition Program checks on fresh foods. Summer hours for the market are 3 to 7 p.m.; Sep- tember hours are 4 to 7 p.m. R.J. MARX/SEASIDE SIGNAL Grace Lee of Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District and Angi Wildt, manager of the Seaside Farmers Market. powered by Ask us Rewards CheckJngJ 503-738-8341 Ban�fthe f:oic R music fi rst