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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2007)
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid Vernonia, OR 97064 Permit No. 37 Vol. 22, No. 2 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley” Winter Beauty County denies request for increased operations at Apple Valley Airport By Susan Cackler The INDEPENDENT Frigid temperatures create a shelf of decorative icicles along the Nehalem River across from Anderson Park. Bridge work gets started on Hwy 47 Work has started on the Bat- tle Creek Bridge, 2.5 miles south of Mist on Hwy. 47. This is a bridge replacement project that will result in traffic being reduced to one lane 24 hours a day until the project is com- plete. A traffic signal has been installed to control traffic in both directions. The full project also includes replacement of the Lyons and Ford Creek Bridges on Hwy. 202. The project is expected to be completed by the end of No- vember, 2007. Photo at right: Snow is helping provide a brand new experience for this youngster, with a very first ride on a sled. January 18, 2007 An application by Mike and Jennie Applebee for expansion of operations to provide flight instruction and scenic flight tours at Apple Valley Airport, in Buxton, was denied in a De- cember 20 decision by Dale Hermann, Hearings Officer for the Washington County De- partment of Land Use and Transportation. The application requested a review of the exist- ing level of uses in 1996, in- cluding a 10 year review of conditions, and for expansion of existing uses beyond the lev- els in 1996. Hermann ruled that “the op- erational level of the Apple Val- ley Airport in 1996 consisted solely of flights of fixed wing aircraft by the owner and occa- sional invited guest, personal maintenance of the owner’s air- craft and the storage of a neighbor’s fixed wing aircraft.” He did not find that the appli- cants had provided sufficient evidence that commercial flight and instruction, aircraft sales and maintenance or sightsee- ing flights had taken place in 1996. The decision also noted that the applicants had not made a request for “new uses” so addi- tional uses such as flight in- struction, scenic tours and fire- fighting would have to be ad- dressed in a new application. The conditional review of the airport found several land use Meeting canceled The Vernonia Council meeting scheduled for Jan- uary 16 was canceled be- cause of weather. violations, requiring the appli- cant to remove a fourth wall from the agricultural building within 90 days from the date of Hermann’s decision, and 30 days to remove stored chemi- cals and petroleum. The Apple- bees were also given 90 days to either remove walls from un- der the dwelling or to apply for a flood plain alteration to allow the walls to remain. Additionally, all aircraft based at the site must belong to the owner of the airport. An- other review of conditions will be required within two years. On January 4, the Apple- bees filed their intent to appeal the decision to the State Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). If LUBA decides to hear the ap- peal, it will be made to a three person board. Dave Bratton, co-leader of Neighbors Against Apple Valley Expansion, said that the group is continuing to raise funds and share information about the de- cision process. He said they were thrilled with the ruling, but are waiting to see what hap- pens with the appeals process. Weather delays some pick-up of garbage Waste Management was unable to complete their Ver- nonia route on Tuesday, Janu- ary 16, due to snowy, slippery conditions. They will be back for more pick-ups, weather permitting, on Friday, January 19. According to Waste Man- agement, if your garbage has still not been picked-up by the next regular collection day on Tuesday, January 23, there will be no charge for extra bags left out for that collection.