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.
AMAZING AWAITS.
Come visit our newest location at the corner of Sunset and
Hemlock in Cannon Beach. You can also find us at our orignal
Pacific City brewpub right on the beach or at our Tillamook
s es
les Seri
brewery and tap room to see where the magic happens.
ord ture
e C na
g
Fre ect Si
on
l
se
Call now for your free In-Home Consultation!
Oregon Coast 503-738-5242 • Lincoln City 541-994-9954
SW Washington 503-738-5242 • www.budgetblinds.com
P E L I C A N B R E W I N G .CO M
Blinds • Shutters • Shades Drapes • Home Automation
©2018 Budget Blinds, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds, LLC and a Home Franchise Concepts
Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated.
Family Friendly
Patio Seating
Brewery Tours
Fresh Beer on Tap
Growler Fills