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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2008)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, November 6, 2008 Airport residents cite wetlands and other concerns From page 1 camping facilities and busi- nesses (maybe even some new hangars) that would sup- port the existing airport. In addition, the Beros would like to phase in some industrial buildings that could supply jobs in the area. These buildings would be on Bero’s property, probably leased by other busi- ness owners, and the buildings themselves are envisioned to look barn-like with hangar-type doors. Qualified businesses would need to comply with the zoning change by being airport related. “My goal is to get jobs out here,” Tim Bero said. That’s one side of the story. On the other hand, the County denied the zoning request, at least partly because there is al- ready industrial-zoned land available, both at the airport and on Knott St., that isn’t be- ing used. State land use rules consider existing available land before allowing more land to be re-zoned. Additionally, industri- al land exists elsewhere, and there is an Airport Industrial zone at the Scappoose Airport. That’s not Vernonia, but may be close enough, based on state rules. Adjacent landowners, who could go from looking at open fields to looking at barnlike in- dustrial structures if the plan went through, say they are not against growth and that growth on already existing industrial land at the airport or in the city would benefit the city more than this development on pri- vate land. They have also ex- pressed concerns about avail- able water, the size and owner- ship of the existing road, and the impact of development on future flood events. What’s next? The Beros’ zoning change request now goes before the Columbia County Board of Commission- ers for consideration. That will happen at a meeting November 12, starting at 10:00 a.m. in room 308 at the Courthouse in St. Helens. The meeting is open to the public. Whether or not the zoning change is approved by the Board of Commissioners, the expectation on both sides of the debate is that the decision will be appealed to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). If LUBA should ap- prove the zone change, the next step require the Beros to provide detailed development plans to the County Planning Commission for approval for each stage of development. Such plans would have to detail how issues such as water, sew- er, roads, wetlands, flooding, etc., would be addressed in the development plans. For now, the Beros plans are in a holding pattern, awaiting the November 12 hearing be- fore the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. Format changed for Flood Town Hall The Flood Town Hall on Oc- tober 22, at Vernonia City Hall, was changed to an informal opportunity for attendees to identify information or ques- tions they would like to have answered at the next Town Hall. The format was changed after two presenters were un- able to attend. The questions asked at this meeting included: • how will we be notified in the event of another flood, • will FEMA housing remain for the length of time needed to repair, lift or replace homes? Other questions can be re- ferred to bill@vernoniaflood. com or call Bill Haack at 503- 429-4948, ext. 203. The above questions and more will be answered at the December 3 Town Hall. Infor- mation about the time and place of the next meeting will be included in the November 20 issue of The Independent . Planner is help to local board When Vernonia’s new Plan- ning Consultant, Carole Con- nell, started here in October, she was already somewhat fa- miliar with Vernonia, as she did consulting work for the city in 2005-2006. Connell is currently Planner for Gaston, North Plains, Sandy and Wood Village, and has been working with Columbia County on changes to the coun- ty dog kennel ordinance. She has a Bachelor’s degree in ge- ography and is certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). In 1995, Con- nell earned the Karen B. Smith Award from the American Plan- ners Association for producing “A Guide to Community Vision- ing”, which is still used by plan- ners nationally. Connell is also a founder of the Oregon Down- town Development Association (ODDA). Her strong planning Please see page 5 Community Calendar VERNONIA Alcoholics Anonymous Monday 6:30 p.m., 410 North Street American Legion Post #119 2nd Thursday 7:00 p.m., 627 Adams Avenue Arts & Crafts Society 2nd Thursday 2:00 p.m., City Library Booster Club 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., VHS Library Boy Scout Troop 201 Tuesdays 7:00 p.m., Scout Cabin Boy Scout Troop 860 Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., LDS Church Cemetery Beautification Comm. 2nd Thursday 6:30 p.m., City Hall CERT 4th Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-3018 Chamber of Commerce 2nd Wednesday For Info Call 503-429-6081 Community Coalition 2nd Monday 12:30 p.m. School District Ofc. Cub Scout Pack 201 Scout Cabin For Info Call 503-429-4250 Friends of the Library 1st Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Vernonia Library Girl Scouts, Neighborhood 4-2 For Info Call 503-819-0143 Hands On Art Committee 1st & 3rd Thursdays 4:00 p.m., City Hall Izaak Walton League 3rd Thursday For location call 503-429-7193 Lions Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 6:30 p.m., Buckhorn Restaurant Municipal Airport Committee 4th Thursday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Narcotics Anonymous Saturdays 7:00 p.m., 410 North Street Pioneer Museum For Info Call 503-429-3713 Public Works Committee 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Cares Directors For Info call 503-429-1414 Vernonia City Council 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Community PTA 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., WGS Library Vernonia Grange 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., Grange Hall Vernonia Health Center 2nd Monday 6:00 p.m., 510 Bridge St. Vernonia Learning Center 1st Wednesday 6:00 p.m., VLC Vernonia Parks Committee 3rd Wednesday 6:30 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Planning Comm. 1st & 3rd Thursdays 7:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Pride 3rd Thursday 1:00 p.m., City Hall Vernonia Ridge Riders Last Thursday 7:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia RFPD Board 2nd Tuesday 6:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia School Board 2nd Thursday 6:00 p.m., District Office Vernonia Sr. Center Board 2nd Friday 1:00 p.m., Senior Center Vernonia Transfer Station 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Behind VHS Vern. Volunteer Ambulance Assoc. 1st, 3rd & 4th Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fire Station WOEC Directors 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., WOEC MIST-BIRKENFELD M-BRFPD Board Business Mtg. 2nd Tuesday M-BRFPD Board Workshop 4th Tuesday M-B Ambulance Drill 1st & 2nd Thursdays M-B Fire Drill 1st & 2nd Wednesdays M-B Helping Circle 2nd Monday M-B SAR Drill 3rd Wednesday M-B Volunteer Assoc. 1st Tuesday Natal Grange 2nd Wednesday T.O.P.S. Mondays Upr Nehalem Watershed Council For date call 429-2401 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:30 p.m., Natal Grange Hall 6:00 p.m., Main Fire Station 7:00 p.m., Main Fire Station BANKS Alcoholics Anonymous Fridays 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church Alcoholics Anonymous Wednesdays 7:30 p.m., Methodist Church American Legion Post #90 2nd Tuesdays 7:30 p.m., Main Street Post Banks City Council 2nd Tuesday 7:30 p.m., City Hall Banks Fire District #13 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m., Station 13 Banks Library Commission 3rd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Library Banks Planning Commission Last Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Hall Banks School Board 2nd Monday 7:30 p.m., Jr. High Library Banks Youth Group Sundays, Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., UMC Youth Bldg. Chamber of Commerce 1st Thursday 12:30 p.m., Fire District Office CPO 14 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m., City Library Friends of the Library 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., City Library Lions Club 1st & 3rd Mondays 7:00 p.m., Brown Derby Sunset Park Assoc. 3rd Wednesday 8:00 p.m., Gun Club T.O.P.S. Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., Administration Bldg. COLUMBIA COUNTY (All meet in St. Helens unless otherwise noted.) Board of Commissioners Wednesdays 10 a.m., Courthouse Citizens for Senior Justice 2nd Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Sunset Park Church Columbia Soil & Water District 3rd Wednesday 7:30 p.m., NRCS , 2514 Sykes County Fair Board 2nd Monday 7:00 p.m., Fairgrounds 4-H Bldg. County Parks Commission 3rd Monday 6:00 p.m., 1054 Oregon St. Mental Health Advisory Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Comm. on Children & Families 3rd Thursday 5:30 p.m. OSU Ext., 505 N. Hwy. 30 Local Alcohol & Drug Plann. Comm. Quarterly For Info call 503-397-7211 Organizations and meeting dates not listed may be included by calling 429-9410 or by mail to The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge Street, Vernonia, OR 97064.
