The INDEPENDENT, October 3, 2012
Planning Commission votes to change zones
The Vernonia Planning
Commission met on Septem-
ber 20 to hold a public hearing
on proposed zone changes.
The changes proposed in-
cluded adopting an Economic
Opportunity Analysis (EOA),
amending the City’s zone map
(1), rezoning some parcels
from Residential to Downtown
(2), rezoning one parcel on
California Avenue from Resi-
dential to Light Industrial (3),
adding the parcel where the
Welcome to Vernonia sign
(coming into town from the
south) is located to the Down-
town Zone, and changing the
zoning of the Alder St/Mist Dr.
substation to Institutional Pub-
lic.
The EOA is a 34 page docu-
ment. The conclusions at the
end of the document make the
recommendations noted as (1),
(2) and (3) in the prior para-
graph. (1) amends the map to
change the flood buyout prop-
erties from Residential to Insti-
tutional Public so they cannot
be built on in the future. (2)
changes the zoning on three
blocks of Rose Ave. (from Riv-
er St. to Maple St.), two blocks
on Weed Ave. (from Umatilla
St. to Maple St.) plus the block
being proposed for the Rose
Avenue Project (between Rose
Ave. and Weed Ave. from
Cougar St. to Umatilla St.). The
change is from Residential to
Downtown zone and would al-
low for use of the properties as
homes or businesses.
The zone changes from
Residential to Downtown have
been considered the most con-
tentious, though no one spoke
in favor or in opposition to this
part of the plan at the hearing.
See Zoning on page 14
Foreclosure settlement forms in the mail
From page 4
at 1-866-430-8358, or by email
to administrator@nationalmort
gagesettlement.com. The infor-
mation line is staffed Monday
through Friday from (7 a.m. to
7 p.m. Central).
Eligible borrowers do not
need to prove financial harm to
receive a payment, nor do they
give up their rights to pursue a
lawsuit against their mortgage
servicer or to participate in the
Independent Foreclosure Re-
view Process being conducted
by federal bank regulators.
More information about that
program is available at www.in-
dependentforclosurereview.co
m.
Eligible borrowers may get a
payment from this settlement
even if they participate in an-
other
foreclosure
claims
process. However, any pay-
ment received may reduce
payments borrowers may be
eligible to receive in any other
foreclosure claim process or le-
gal proceeding.
Borrowers who believe they
may qualify for a payment, but
did not receive a notice be-
cause they have moved,
should contact the settlement
administrator directly to provide
that information.
Borrowers do not need to
pay anyone to file their claim.
Rosenblum warns all home-
owners to be aware of settle-
ment-related scams. Do not
provide personal information or
pay money to anyone who calls
or emails you claiming that they
are providing settlement-relat-
ed assistance. If you believe
someone is conducting a set-
tlement-related scam, contact
the Oregon Department of Jus-
tice at 503-378-6002.
Vote for
Democrat Tammy Maygra
Columbia County
Commissioner, Position 3
She will work for the people,
not for corporations.
There will be no back room deals.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Tammy Maygra
Page 5
Two needed for Planning Comm.
The Vernonia Planning
Commission currently has two
open positions for community
members.
The Planning Commission
meets on the first and third
Thursday of each month at
6:00 p.m. at city hall.
To apply, complete a Volun-
teer Application for Appoint-
ment, available on the city web-
site or at city hall, and return it
to city hall. The website is
www.vernonia-or.gov at city
info, forms and documents. For
a copy of the ordinance on the
committee, contact Joann at
503-429-5291, ext. 106.