OUR 112th Year
SEASIDESIGNAL.COM
City seeks
input
on three
sites for
fi rehouse
Park location
draws pushback
Governor Brown visits
Seaside High School
Career programs
are highlighted
at school tour
Jeff Ter Har/For Seaside Signal
Gearhart residents packed City Hall Tuesday night to consider a new fi rehouse
location.
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
D
riven by the need to replace a
crumbling fi re station located
in the tsunami inundation
zone, the city of Gearhart
ramped up its push for a new
fi rehouse and resiliency station.
After years of study and work by
the city’s volunteer fi re committee,
three sites went before the public at a
town hall Tuesday night.
Gearhart Park, Highpoint Station
and the current fi rehouse site at 670
Pacifi c Way were submitted as options
for consideration.
“As human beings we can survive,
we have areas that have high ground,”
Mayor Matt Brown said. “We want to
make sure we survive the most likely
event.”
That event would be a medium to
large tsunami, geologist Tom Horning
explained, due approximately every
330 years. The last tsunami hit our
region in 1700 — 319 years ago.
See Gearhart Fire, Page A6
Grocery Outlet ...
or no outlet?
City councilors remand appeal back to Planning Commission
Costs to the developer should be pro-
portionate to the increase in traffi c, attor-
ney David Phillips said on behalf of Main
& Main, the capital group working with
It’s back to the Planning Commission for Grocery Outlet. “Our only option was to
the developer of a Seaside property intended appeal and to get that particular condition
for construction of an 18,000-square-foot removed.”
The applicant’s consultant Mike Ard
Grocery Outlet at 325 Avenue N.
In previous sessions, the commission said projected volume of about 1,300
daily trips would rep-
told developers they
resent a traffi c increase
could go ahead with
of about 3 to 5 percent
plans to acquire a U.S.
‘WE’RE HERE
along U.S. Highway
Highway 101 property
TONIGHT TO TRY TO 101.
for a Grocery Outlet.
The cost of a turn
But fi rst they would
FIND A SOLUTION
lane, estimated at $2
need to install a left-
TO HELP THE
million to $3 million,
hand turning lane to
is “out of scale” with a
meet the increase in
CITY GET WHAT IT
projected building cost
traffi c, listed as one
of $1.5 to $2 million.
of eight conditions of
WANTS AND PAVE
“It really shocks the
approval.
THE WAY FOR
conscience to think
At Monday’s City
we’d have to spend
Council
meeting,
DEVELOPMENT.’
far more than for an
Main & Main’s Dan
improvement
exist-
Dover said conditions
ing public facility that
imposed by the com-
— Dan Dover, Main & Main
we were told would
mission were “insur-
be funded by ODOT
mountable,” leading to
when we started,” Ard
the decision to appeal.
“ODOT is on the record saying they will said. “What’s being asked is dispropor-
complete the turn lane project,” Dover said. tionate to the scale of what we’re doing.
“We feel this burden has been put unduly We’d sure like to see a left-turn lane. We
on us when it is a commitment by ODOT. just can’t pay the price tag associated with
We’re here tonight to try to fi nd a solution that project.”
to help the city get what it wants and pave
See Grocery Outlet, Page A6
the way for development.”
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
Students and staff wel-
comed a notable visitor
at Seaside High School
Thursday, Jan. 24.
Culinary teacher Chel-
sea Archibald presided
over cooking classes, as
students worked the stoves
and prep areas. Students
cued up for photos with
the Gov. Kate Brown as
she toured the school and
touted state educational
programs.
“Don’t governors come
to your school all the
time?” Brown asked.
The governor mingled
with kids as they prepared
green chile in enchilada
sauce, before rolling them
in tortillas.
The program, one of
three certifi ed technical
education programs at Sea-
side High School, received
a boost two years ago with
voter passage of Measure
98, the state’s career read-
iness act.
February 1, 2019
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
Gov. Kate Brown meets with the Seaside CYBORGS robotics
club.
Seaside Principal Jeff
Roberts said the measure
provides funds for certi-
fi ed technical education
programs.
Along with the culinary
program, the offers pro-
grams in business market-
ing, information technol-
ogy, and construction.
State dollars are indis-
pensable, Roberts said.
“We wouldn’t have a full-
time program without it.”
It’s a “huge deal,” added
superintendent
Sheila
Roley, enhanced with
donations from the com-
munity’s food industry.
Local
businesses
pitched in about $100,000
to transform a “traditional
home ec room” into a com-
mercial quality kitchen.
“This is how the pri-
vate sector can really make
a difference in career pro-
grams,”
Brown
said.
“Probably a small portion
of these students will go on
these careers, but they all
need to learn how to cook.”
Seaside Chamber celebrates South County businesses
By R.J. MARX
Seaside Signal
Seaside’s business community
came together at the Times The-
atre, Thursday, Jan. 14, to celebrate
accomplishments of businesses large
and small alike.
Brew 22 Coffee walked off with
“Business of the Year,” winning an
internet campaign judged by the
public.
The secret to their success?
Brian Owen, executive director of
the Seaside Chamber of Commerce,
which presented the business awards
event, said Brew 22 owner Jeff Dunn
has taken a one-off business and
turned it into an experience prized by
locals and visitors alike.
In delivering the award, emcee
Ken Heman of the Seaside Visitors
Bureau, celebrated the entrepreneur-
ial spirit and best customer service,
marketing and social media strategy,
“leads the way and sets an example
for the community.”
Westport Winery and Angelina’s
Pizzeria took runner-up honors.
Chamber board members offered
a special recognition award to Traci
Williams, who opened the Sweet
Shop in Gearhart two years ago. The
100-year-old retail space is “more
than just a store, it has become a gath-
ering place for all locals and traveling
public,” Owen said.
Westport Winery won the rising
star new business award, demonstrat-
ing a culture of risk-taking and trail-
blazing to achieve success.
Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
See Chamber, Page A6
Ruth Swenson is overcome with emotion after winning the “Retail Excellence
Award” at the Seaside Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards dinner.