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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2018)
2A • September 28, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com Former paving plant owners seek to fill a housing need Gearhart mulls zone change on Palmberg land By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal A proposed zone change for 29.5 acres at 498 Mc- Cormick Gardens Road went before the Gearhart Planning Commission on Sept. 13. The zone change, from Rural Agricultural to Resi- dential-2, could lead to the development of 10 lots, with single and multifamily hous- ing. Owner John Palmberg of Palmberg Paving Co. said a development would be “good for the community.” “We’d be happy to see something developed there, some nice housing, because Gearhart certainly needs it,” Palmberg said at the meeting. “We’d like to see something built there that we can be proud of.” But neighbors on Pacific Way and McCormick Gar- dens Road turned out to ex- press concerns over potential CHUCK OVERTON/WINDERMERE REALTY Lake on the Palmberg property in Gearhart. flooding, wildlife impacts, traffic and livability. Residential plan The process to develop the property started about 18 months ago, City Planner Car- ole Connell said at the commis- sion meeting. Owners are interested in a zone change to make the prop- erty marketable for sale, she said. Consultants provided details on impacts on traffic, wetlands and other resources, including the geology of the property and environmental impacts from the Department of Environ- mental Quality. If rezoned, OTAK consul- tant Li Alligood said on behalf of the owners, the property could offer 10 parcels. With rezoning, a flood plain and wetlands on the property would limit houses to about 7.5 acres or 20 percent of the site. With six units per acre, 42 units could be added. Concerns Neighbors in opposition to the plan pointed to traffic con- cerns, wildlife use and high wa- ter on the road in heavy rains. Kathy Hebert of McCor- mick Gardens Road said there are “already too many people back there using the road.” Residents chose to live nearby for the “freedom with nobody around us to do what we wanted to do.” Hebert said 1-acre zoning remained appropriate for the site, and at a potential $300,000 or more price per home — a number presented by owners — that the plan would fail to meet the need for affordable housing. Hebert asked that the prop- erty remain rural agricultural as it had been originally zoned. “I abide by the rules, others (should) abide by the rules,” Hebert said. Susan Lemas of Pacific Way said the site often flood- ed during rains, and she was concerned adding more houses “would make flooding worse.” Added traffic was also a concern. “The roads aren’t built for that,” Lemas said. Property owner Gloria Edler asked that the property retain its agricultural zoning. “We’re agricultural out here. We don’t need high density. It’s not made for that.” “I want it to stay the way it was when I moved there,” she added. “This is what we moved here for 50 years ago.” To be continued Criteria for a decision are based on the city’s comprehen- sive plan, neighborhood hous- ing types and cooperation with the county’s Regional Housing Authority to ensure affordable housing in the Gearhart area. The commission would re- fer a recommendation to the City Council, which could ap- prove or reject the zone change. If a development is pro- posed, it will again go before the commission for review. Future approvals will re- quire a look at roads, fire ac- cess approval and other per- mits, Connell said. “These issues will come later with a development proposal.” In a submission to the Plan- ning Commission, the Fair Housing Council said the plan will need a revision of the city’s buildable lands inventory or housing needs analysis, last updated in 1990. The Oregon Coast Alliance, in a letter from executive direc- tor Cameron La Follette, asked the commission to deny the rezone request and enter ne- gotiations with the owners for purchase of the entire 27 acres as a regional park. “That would protect the wetlands, prevent any further spread of contaminated soils, buffer the low-density zoning on county-zoned lands to the east, and protect Gearhart’s integrity by not allowing yet more unnecessary high-end housing at the edge of town,” La Follette wrote. The Planning Commission voted to continue the hearing until Oct. 11. ‘Sign the Surfboard’ comes to Seaside In Gearhart, beach Seaside Surf Shop, Oregon Surf Adventures make statement By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Members of Seaside’s surf- ing community let their voic- es be heard as they joined the Surfrider Foundation in a busi- ness alliance to oppose to off- shore oil drilling. On Monday, Sept. 17, Dennis Smith, co-owner and founder of Seaside Surf Shop and Lauren Ahlgren of Oregon Surf Adventures put their sig- natures on a surfboard signed by business owners throughout the Pacific Coast. The surfboard has traveled through coastal communities, with members of the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast signing the surf- board as it travels north. “This is our livelihood, and our lifestyle,” Smith said. ““Obviously our livelihood re- quires clean water. We would R.J. MARX Dennis Smith of Seaside Surf Shop signs a surfboard in oppo- sition to drilling on the Pacific Coast. never want to see anything that could potentially damage that.” The aim of the signature drive, Surfrider’s Jocelyn Enevoldsen said, is to show opposition to a federal admin- istration proposal to open 90 percent of U.S. waters, includ- ing the Pacific Coast, to new oil and gas drilling. “This is a petition from all of our West Coast communi- ties saying we don’t want drill- ing in our Pacific — not here, not now, no way, no how.” The proposal threatens both the health of the marine envi- ronment and the many coastal businesses and industries that depend upon it for survival, Enevoldsen said. No new oil leases have been offered off the Pacific coast since 1984, but the fed- eral proposal calls for seven from 2019 to 2024. The surfboard, donated by Firewire Surfboards, began its journey in San Diego in March. It’s headed up the entire West Coast and all along the way, local business owners are now accessible to all signing the surfboard, which is symbolic of them joining a coalition of more than 1,000 business owners who are op- posed to offshore drilling in the Pacific. In spring of 2019, the surf- board and its signatures head to Washington, D.C., and to Ryan Zinke who is head of the U.S. Department of the Interi- or. In Oregon, the cities of Port Orford, Newport, Lin- coln City, Toledo, Yachats, and Gold Beach have passed reso- lutions opposing the proposal. The Siletz Tribal Council and Ports of Toledo and Newport have also passed resolutions. How imminent is oil and natural gas drilling in the Pa- cific? “It’s hard to say,” Enev- oldsen said. “We’re living in some pretty wild times. It’s important for us to speak up and come together and speak up and represent our ocean values. The exploration phase hasn’t started and hopefully won’t, given the strong oppo- sition we’ve seen from West Coast business owners.” After donation, visitors may now borrow wheelchairs By R.J. Marx Seaside Signal Following Seaside’s lead, Gearhart accepted the donation of a beach wheel- chair from Randy Anderson. Early this summer, An- derson teamed with Sea- side’s Sunset Empire Park and Recreation to make wheelchairs available to vis- itors who otherwise might not be able to enjoy access closer to the water. In July, Anderson ap- pealed to the city of Gear- hart to make a similar ser- vice available, and the City Council unanimously en- dorsed the plan. With a donated wheel- chair and administration provided by Gearhart by the Sea, the only cost incurred to the city is a $13 per month insurance policy, according to City Administrator Chad Sweet. The first wheelchair is now available for visitors, managed Gearhart by the Sea and stored at their North Marion location in Mc- Menamins. The wheelchair will be stored in the lobby of the office, with a sign saying that it is available for rent- al, front desk manager Tami Gandy said. Users will sign a waiver and go directly to the beach via the 10th Street access road. While Gandy said she hadn’t had experience with this type of wheelchair, one was used at her sister’s wedding in South Carolina to assist a family member. “They were marvelous to work with,” she said. “We’re excited to have this program and we’re hopeful to have another one as soon as pos- sible.” POLICE LOG Sept. 9 Sept. 11 12:15 a.m., 300 block S. Wa- hanna: A person is arrested and charged with disorder- ly conduct in the second degree. 11:32 p.m., 800 block S. Holladay: Neighbors having a loud party agree to shut it down after being advised of a complaint. 1:15 a.m., N. Downing: A per- son is arrested and charged with driving while under the influence of intoxicants. 4:22 p.m., 1200 block S. Wa- hanna: The parents of a child accused of trying to light a car on fire are contacted. Parents and child are put in contact with another agency. Sept. 10 2:03 p.m., Police headquar- ters: A person came in to register as a sex offender. 10:09 p.m., 200 block N. Downing: A person is charged with assault in the fourth degree and harass- ment. Sept. 12 2:15 p.m., 2100 block Lewis and Clark: A person is arrested and charged with coercion and tampering with a witness. 5:45 p.m., 300 block S. Wahan- na: Rape in the third degree is reported. Sept. 13 8:20 a.m., 12th and Prom: Police are contacted to conduct a welfare check on a student who has not been to school. The family is transient and police were unable to locate the student or the family. Sept. 14 3:19 p.m., 700 block Avenue Q: A child reported missing was reunited with its family. with disorderly conduct and attempting to resist arrest. A person comes in to register as a sex offender. 9:41 p.m., Skate Park: A person is arrested and charged with harassment and coercion. 11:32 p.m., Hemlock: Caller re- ports a person standing in the middle of the street, scream- ing. Police contact the person and advise them to take their medication. 7:02 p.m., 3200 block Bayview Terrace: Telephone harassment is reported. Sept. 15 10:40 a.m., Broadway: Com- plainant reports three male teens leaving a restaurant after failing to pay their check for $54.10. They were described as wearing hoodies; one with an American flag on the chest and another an Adidas logo. As the incident had occurred two hours earlier, police were unable to locate. 3:04 p.m., Broadway: Com- plainant reports four individu- als walking out of a restaurant without paying their $49.55 bill. The restaurant is turning over video footage to police. 10:25 p.m., The Prom: A person is arrested and charged Sept. 16 11:45 p.m., 400 block S. Roosevelt: Property crimes are reported. Sept. 17 9:47 a.m., Broadway: Police respond to a report of a road struck dog; the body is taken to a veterinary clinic for disposal. 1:08 p.m., Police headquarters: Sept. 18 3:28 p.m., Avenue U and the Prom: Kidnapping and robbery are reported. Sept. 20 1:32 a.m., 1900 block S. Edge- wood: A bat reported inside a residence left of its own accord prior to police arrival. 2:52 a.m., 700 block S. Wah- anna: A person is arrested and charged with criminal trespass; harassment; and assaulting a public safety officer. 11:30 a.m., Quatat Park: A person is arrested on a warrant and subsequently charged with disorderly conduct. Sept. 19 6:43 a.m., Sewer Treatment Plant: A deceased person is reported. 11:39 p.m., 1500 block Lea Way: A person is arrested and charged with methamphet- amine; criminal trespass; and burglary. 12:03 p.m., 1000 block Holla- day Drive: A missing person is reported. 2:45 p.m., Hemlock: A missing person is reported. 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