Friday, September 17, 2021 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3
Project: Planning Commission will continue deliberation at October meeting
Continued from Page A1
Three planning com-
missioners — Kathy Klec-
zek, Seth Morrisey and
Lou Neubecker — recused
themselves because they
have properties aff ected
by the outcome of the
development.
“This is not a true plan
for a development,” Kleczek
said. “It’s a plan for a clear-
ing. What will happen once
those trees are cleared is
frightening. We only have to
look so far as Astoria to see
what can happen when land
is cleared and left to sit with
Band-Aid measures taken.
“Considering the amount
of water in the drought that
we’re in, it only takes a big
rainstorm to wash all that
dirt away.”
Judy Madsen, a resident,
said there has been a huge
water problem ever since
she and her husband moved
to the Sunset Hills area in
1983.
In a wet winter, Mad-
sen said, she and her hus-
band pumped 2,000 gallons
of water in a 24-hour period
off their lot. “It’s just loaded
with springs everywhere up
there,” she said.
The whole area is “com-
pletely full of water when
Su Coddington, who serves on the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District Board, was among the residents who spoke at
the Planning Commission with concerns about the Vista Ridge project.
it’s in the wintertime,” Mer-
ilee Laurens, a resident,
said. “The water just rushes
down the street.”
Natural springs pour
down the street in the mid-
dle of springtime due to
other construction projects,
Greg Boat, a homeowner,
said. “Basically, we live on
a rock that has clay on top
of it,” he said. “I don’t see
how taking all of this foliage
off of the side of the hill and
then putting houses on there
with an area that already has
drainage issues is a smart or
safe idea.”
Neighbors Lief and Sani
Morin say portions of the
site may be considered
wetlands.
“The parcel fl ows into
the wetlands below, which
then fl ow into the Neawa-
nna estuary, the Necanicum
River, where both chum and
coho salmon thrive,” the
Morins wrote in a letter to
the Planning Commission.
The impact of construc-
tion traffi c, the need for
additional signage, side-
walks and the lack of access
routes for emergency vehi-
cles to the site also con-
cerned residents.
Su Coddington, who lives
in the Sunset Hills neigh-
borhood, shared concerns
that the area also serves
as a gathering place in the
event of a Cascadia Subduc-
tion Zone earthquake and
tsunami.
“I am concerned that
when this earthquake comes
— we’re not talking about
a size seven, we’re talking
about an eight or a nine —
that land in this proposed
development will slide and
it will take the rest of us with
it,” said Coddington, who
leads the city’s Community
Emergency Response Team
and serves on the Sunset
Empire Park and Recreation
District Board. “And our
assembly area will no longer
be of value to the residents
that can get to our assembly
area safely.”
In his geotechnical and
geohazard report, Mead
acknowledged a large earth-
quake in the magnitude of
6.0 or more could trigger
old deep-seated slides in this
area.
As mitigation, exposed
soil areas would be covered
with straw and seeded, and
steep slopes along the east-
ern boundary of the site that
go down to the creek bed
would not be built upon,
Mead said in the report. Rain
drains would be constructed
away from foundations.
The Planning Commis-
sion will continue deliber-
ation at a meeting in early
October.
PUBLIC SAFETY LOG
Continued from Page A2
Driving under infl uence
Jennifer Leann Lawler, 48 from
Seaside, was arrested Sept. 5 at
8:53 a.m. after she was stopped
by troopers at the junction of
U.S. Highways 101 and 26. Po-
lice observed multiple lane vio-
lations and arrested her for driv-
ing while under the infl uence
of intoxicants. No alcohol was
involved and a drug recognition
expert evaluated the driver. Her
Toyota was secured on scene
and Lawler was transported to
Seaside Providence Hospital
after the booking process by
another party.
Aug. 1
1:13 a.m., emergency medical
service, Old Bog, Warrenton.
GEARHART
FIRE DEPT.
10:57 p.m., emergency medical
service,Neacoxie, Surf Pines.
Task Force 49
Aug. 5
FIRE LOG
6:12 a.m., building fi re, Knappa.
3:07 p.m., emergency medical
service,Manion, Surf Pines.
5:00 a.m., motor vehicle
accident with injuries, U.S.
Highway 101, milepost 14,
Warrenton.
Aug. 6
11 a.m., alarm system sound-
ed due to malfunction, North
Marion.
8:11 a.m., detector activation,
no fi re, unintentional, Neacoxie.
Aug. 2
Seaside Fire
8:11 a.m., Public service assis-
tance, 10th Street.
Clatsop County Task Force 49 left last Wednesday afternoon to Lakeview to fi ght the Cougar Peak fi re.
3:26 p.m., emergency medical
service, U.S. Highway 101.
cal service, East Kershul.
Aug. 3
1:33 a.m., emergency medical
service, U.S. Highway 101.
12:08 p.m., emergency medi-
4:15 p.m., alarm system sounded
due to malfunction, North Marion.
5:12 p.m., motor vehicle/pedes-
trian accident, U.S. Highway 101
and Hillila.
6:01 p.m., emergency medical
service, U.S. Highway 101, War-
renton.
7:38 p.m., gas leak, Manion, Surf
Pines.
Aug. 4
12:24 a.m., emergency medical
service, U.S. Highway 101.
3:07 a.m., emergency medical
service, Neacoxie, Surf Pines.
9 a.m., public service assistance,
Lewis and Clark, Seaside.
2:43 p.m., alarm system sounded
due to malfunction, North
Marion.
2:45 p.m., alarm system sounded
due to malfunction, North
Marion.
Aug. 7
3:23 p.m., emergency medical
service, East Kershul.
CLATSOP CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
RAFFLE BENEFIT A SUCCESS
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are
ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They
volunteer their time to advocate for the best interests
of children who have suffered neglect or abuse and
are now in foster care. The Clatsop CASA Program
currently supports 40 volunteers who give of
themselves to improve the lives of children.
We fundraise money for advocacy services for
children and youth in foster care. Clatsop CASA
Program relies on community support to recruit,
train, and supervise volunteers. We could not do this
important work without the support of our community,
generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers! Thanks to
you all, the CASA raffle was a success!
The following businesses gave of their time, services,
and support. Thank you for believing in our mission
and in our community!
Allure Spa & Wellness
Arnie’s Café
A-Town Coffee
Bridgewater Bistro
Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa
Chocolate Café
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Forager’s
Fort George Brewery
Kit’s Apothecary
Mo’s Seafood And Chowder
Nw Style Loft
Ocd Performance Dba Seaside Muffler & Offroad
Pacific Nw Automotive
Riki Leona Brows
Salon Boheme
Seaside Aquarium
Seaside Carousel Mall
Trails End Recovery
Umbrella Engraving
Vegabond 3-d Innovation Lab
Worker’s Tavern