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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 2002)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, June 20, 2002 Business Notes County looks at rules for siting homes in forest and farm zones Before a residence can be placed on land zoned for Forest Use (FA-19 and PF-76) in Co lumbia County, a conditional use permit must be obtained. A major change in the siting of new dwellings in forest and farm zones in Oregon was adopted by the State Legisla ture and became state law in 1993. Additional changes to state law have been made in subsequent legislative ses sions. Counties must apply at feast minimum state standards governing these dwellings, but may also adopt local rules that are more restrictive than State law. Columbia County has not yet amended its code to reflect the changes in state law since 1993, so the Board of Commis sioners has initiated the formal process for amending the county’s current regulations governing placement of forest and farm dwellings with two pri mary objectives in mind: 1. Amend the Columbia County Zoning Ordinance, as necessary, to bring forest/farm dwelling rules into compliance with current state minimum standards. Amendments are being drafted to meet this re quirement. 2. Consider possible justifi cation and options for more re strictive county forest-farm dwelling policies and rules. The county is researching and eval- Shawna Sykes joins state force as Workforce Specialist/Economist Jerry Graham in his Banks outdoor store. Outdoor store now open in Banks If fishing is your pastime, J & S Outdoor is the equivalent of your toy store. Jerry and Sherri Graham maintain long hours - 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday - to accommodate patrons who want an early start as well as those who prefer af ter work sports. With a major emphasis on fishing, they stock gear that is appropriate for a full range of fishing enjoyment, in cluding children’s angling sets, baits, flies and lures. You’ll also find a good choice of camping equipment and sup plies at J & S Outdoor, and the hunting gear is being built up. The Grahams are well- known in the area, having been born and raised in Vernonia and now living in Banks. Stop in to say hello and look over J & S Outdoor. The store is located at 165 N. Main Street in Banks. The phone number is 503-324-1113. ARE YOU M ISSIN G TH E NEWS? You can have T h e IN D E P E N D E N T delivered to your mailbox! Call today to start your subscription: 503-429-9410 Shawna Sykes has recently joined the staff of the Oregon Employment Department as a Workforce Analyst/Economist for Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties. Sykes is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. She for merly served as the St. Helens- Scappoose Chamber of Com merce Executive Director, and has been a participant in the Northwest Regional Leadership Program. “I’m thrilled to be serving lo cal area businesses and com munity leaders in this new role and am looking forward to get ting more familiar with county leaders,” Sykes said. Sykes is available to provide statistical information to busi nesses in Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook Counties. She will assist businesses with in formation on wages, income, recruitment and retention, skill set analysis, employment/un- employment statistics, regional economic information, and oth- Handbook on issues for farmers may be obtained from ODA A handbook for farmers cov ering employment, worker health and safety issues, tax considerations, water issues and land use, plus license and certification requirements for livestock and crop production, is available from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. To order, send $5.00 to ODA, 635 Capitol Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-2532 or call 503-986- 4550. Shawna Sykes er labor-related data. She is based out of the St. Helens office of the state Em ployment Department, but also holds regular office hours in the Astoria and Tillamook offices. She may be called at (503) 397-4995 ext. 32, or by e-mail: Shawna.L.Sykes@state.or.us. uating options which would make its forest-farm regulations more restrictive than minimum State law. Prior to drafting any amend ments to forest-farm dwelling regulations which may be more restrictive than State law, the county would like to hear from those who would be affected by any such new regulations. In particular, the county is seeking comment on the adequacy of current state rules for forest- farm dwellings and any per ceived deficiencies which may justify adoption of more restric tive forest-farm dwelling rules, and what form such regulations should take. The County Board of Com missioners is hosting an infor mal public workshop to hear from affected citizens. Every one with an interest in this sub ject, including those who own property in forest and farm zoned areas, those involved in commercial forestry operations, and all other interested parties, are invited to attend and offer their comments on forest-farm dwelling rules in Columbia County. The workshop will also focus on amendments to clarify and modify the County Com prehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance provisions regarding the role of the County’s Big Game Habitat protection rules in the siting of new dwellings in forest and farm zones. The workshop will be held June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Co lumbia County Courthouse, 130 Strand, 3rd Floor Court room 351, in St. Helens.
