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The Oregon Coastal Futures Project is a project of
1000 Friends of Oregon, Oregon Downtown Development Association,
and
Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

1000 Friends of Oregon is grateful for the following foundations' support of the Coastal Futures Project:

• Meyer Memorial Trust

• Collins Foundation

• Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust

• Goodman Foundation

• Over the River and Through the Woods Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

December 1, 2005

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COASTAL FUTURES PROJECT

The Coastal Futures Project is changing tracks for a year due to what we hope will be an exciting statewide conversation about community planning for our future. It has been thirty years since SB100 passed and Oregon embarked on its pioneering use of planning tools to create better communities. The 2005 legislature passed SB 82, which sets up a Task Force on Land Use Planning to look at land use planning as we prepare for the next thirty years. The Task Force is to report to the legislature with a preliminary report in 2007 and final recommendations in 2009. This review, called the "Big Look," is an important opportunity for Oregonians to share their ideas of how Oregon should grow and handle a 40% population increase in the next few decades. Find more information on the Big Look here.

The Project's coastal forums in Seaside and Florence have given area residents a jumpstart in thinking about these questions. For the next year, the Coastal Futures Project will concentrate on working with coastal leaders, the Big Look Task Force and engaging citizens on the coast—an area cherished by all Oregonians. We will return to the forums and design opportunities in a year, once the Big Look is underway and we can integrate these efforts. Coastal Advocate Cameron LaFollette's work on the Project continues as part of our Big Look efforts for this coming year. Feel free to contact her at cameron@coastalfutures.org.

1000 Friends Sponsors Design Action Team in Garibaldi

1000 Friends of Oregon's Design Action Team worked with local leaders in Garibaldi on November 7 and 8 to help develop design concepts and an implementation strategy to improve pedestrian links among the waterfront, main street, the Old Mill Marina, civic buildings and future parks. The “Garibaldi Connection Project” also aims to encourage economic development in town and is sponsored locally by the City of Garibaldi, Economic Development Council of Tillamook County, and Port of Garibaldi. Team members included Mike Faha, Dave Leland, Paddy Tillet, and Anita Van Asperdt, all of whom worked on a volunteer basis. A report of the work will be published by January 2006 and lessons learned will be incorporated in the Coastal Futures Project Citizen’s Toolkit.

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COASTAL NEWS

On Monday, December 19, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is sponsoring a free, one-day training session about how to construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The instructor will be Michael Ronkin, manager of ODOT's Bicycle/Pedestrian Program. The class runs from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, with lunch on your own. While it is free, registration is required. Contact: Robin Larson at 503-325-4732, ext. 29.

Seaside Starts Again with Transportation Planning

In May, Seaside voters rejected a proposed highway expansion project through town. In the wake of that rejection, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) said that Seaside would have to create a Transportation Systems Plan (TSP) before becoming eligible for another project. The planning commission has been working to gather public input on highway alternatives, in order to make a recommendation to the City Council. The planning commission has heard many different views on whether a bypass, or widening the highway, would be helpful in dealing with the city’s long term traffic problems. There has also been much discussion of short-term projects that would help ease the immediate situation. The Council may decide to initiate a TSP, or perhaps pursue funding for a visioning process.

Cannon Beach Reviews Urban Growth Boundary: Open House December 14

Looking to the future, Cannon Beach’s population could grow to 1,946, an increase of 300 people, in the next twenty years. The Cannon Beach urban growth boundary (UGB) has not been changed since 1979, but this year the city annexed 28 acres from the UGB into the city. Planners are now considering adding 200 acres into the UGB. This would add an additional 343 potential buildable lots in eight different areas. Factors being considered include the impact of any expansion on the city’s water and sewer system, and the cost of extending utilities out to the new areas. There are currently an estimated 191 vacant lots inside the city limits suitable for single family residences. If the planning commission decides there is a need to expand the UGB, both the planning commission and City Council would hold public hearings to get feedback from local residents, and then amend the comprehensive plan and its maps after taking formal action in favor of the expansion. An open house will be held on December 14 at 7 pm at the council chambers in city hall.

Lincoln City Working on Oceanlake Rezoning

In 2003 the City of Lincoln City adopted the "Oceanlake Redevelopment Plan" under the aegis of the City's Urban Renewal program. Related infrastructure improvements in the Oceanlake district now are largely complete, and the City wants to put new zoning ordinance provisions in place to promote Oceanlake redevelopment. The Oceanlake concept plan envisions three different zones within the Oceanlake "village." These are the commercial core along Highway 101, "cottage commercial" along neighborhood collector streets connecting the highway with the oceanfront, and recreation commercial along the oceanfront. These three zones and their location on the ground are conceptual and it may be that an alternative approach would be preferable. The City is now seeking a consultant to draft regulations that will encourage mixed residential, restaurant, retail, office, entertainment, and recreation uses. The new regulations should stress a pedestrian orientation, mixed use (where appropriate), sustainability, and placemaking. In this Measure-37 world the City is looking for at least a measure of incentive-based provisions that will encourage developers to conform to the City's vision for Oceanlake. See the Lincoln City website.

Florence Reworks its Buildable Lands Analysis

The City of Florence recently re-examined its buildable lands analysis. The new study shows the city needs at least 108 acres more to meet future growth demands. The earlier analysis, completed in 1996 and updated in 2003, identified that same amount of acreage as surplus which the city would not need to meet future demand. The reason for the change appears to be that the old analysis computed all open space areas in new Planned unit developments (PUDs) as potentially buildable when in fact they are not. The new analysis re-examined every lot in the city, and many came up whose buildability was questionable. In addition, the older study assumed densities in Old Town redevelopment projects would be higher than they actually have been; also, the old study failed to include land necessary for parking. The new analysis has given more ammunition to those in Florence who wish the city to annex more land for new projects.

U.S. Government Returns Coos Head to Confederated Tribes

The U.S. Government has returned 43 acres of the Coos Head Air National Guard Station to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. The Coos Head base has been closed sine 1996, when the Air National Guard moved its base to Klamath Falls. The facility includes dormitories, dining halls, storage areas and other buildings. The tribes plan to use the facility as a new seat of government, centralizing the tribes’ court, police, administrative and health and education programs. The tribes must complete a substantial amount of the development in the next five years according to federal regulations.

Harbor Hills Annexation Debated in Brookings

The Brookings Planning Commission has held several hearings, and is still taking testimony and allowing rebuttals, on the proposal that a portion of the Harbor Hills property south of the city be annexed. In the 1990s, approximately 3,500 acres of land south of the Chetco River were added to Brookings’ Urban Growth Boundary. Of this, 607 acres are owned by Hank Westbrook. The Westbrook property is the farthest from the existing city limits of Brookings . Westbrook and his company, HW3, have applied to Brookings for annexation in a “cherry stem” annexation, which would require annexing 3.4 miles of road to provide the necessary contiguity. HW3 would then master plan the property for development, as required by Brookings City code.

Curry County’s stand is that a Master Plan for the entire 3,500 acres—not only the Westbrook property—should be completed before any annexations are considered. This would allow a comprehensive overview and plan of transportation and infrastructure needs, everything from roads to stormwater and sewer. The Brookings Planning Department is accepting additional information until Nov. 30. Final recommendation to City Council by the Planning Commission is slated for December 6, 2005. Read a news story:

New Video Available on Building in Coastal Hazards Zones

Oregon Sea Grant and the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) have jointly produced a new video to help coastal residents and property buyers understand the impact coastal storms and erosion on the land. “Living on the Edge: Buying and Building Property on the Oregon Coast” provides an overview of these natural processes, and suggestions on how best to deal with them. The video is intended for developers, lenders, buyers, builders and coastal homeowners. 25 minutes long, the video also provides information about wave, winds and rain on coastal beaches and bluffs. It is available for $9.95 from Sea Grant Communications, Oregon State University, 322 Kerr Administration, Corvallis, OR 97331. Include $2.00 for shipping and handling of the first DVD, and $1.00 each for additional copies. See the Oregon Sea Grant publications catalog.

NOAA’s Smart Growth Implementation Assistance for Coastal Communities

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting applications from Sea Grant programs who partner with coastal communities that want assistance with either policy analysis (e.g., reviewing state and local codes, school siting policies, etc.) or public participatory processes (e.g., visioning, alternatives analysis, build-out analysis etc.). NOAA will provide up to $17,000 in grant assistance (funding will go to the Sea Grant University partner who can choose to sub-allocate the funds) and EPA will provide up to a $17,000 match in contract support for each project.

Eligible entities: Sea Grant Programs partnering with tribal, local, regional, or state agencies, or with nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Coastal communities wishing to partner with Sea Grant on projects under this request can find contact information here. For more information contact: Amy Zimmerling at amy.zimmerling@noaa.gov or 301 713 2431 x187, or Jim Murray, NOAA, at jim.d.murray@noaa.gov, or at 301-713-2431 x 152.

Conservation Easement for Forest Property near Yachats

Cape Perpetua may be protected a little better thanks to Joanne and Norm Kittle who are donating an easement on over 16 acres of their property to protect the views, wildlife habitat and forest south of Yachats. The easement will be held by a local group, "View of the Future." Another eleven acres will also have some restrictions. Lincoln county staff and Lincoln Land Legacy helped the Kittels create the agreement. The Kittles also consulted with the Siletz Tribe about how to protect archaeological item that might be found on the property. The easement will be signed on December 3. Read the full story.

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Credits/Subscription Info

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Coastal Futures Update is edited by Cameron La Follette and Kate Kimball and brought to you by 1000 Friends of Oregon, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting Oregon's quality of life. To help support this work, including the distribution of Coastal Update, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

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