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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

April 19, 2006

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COASTAL FUTURES PROJECT

Share Your Vision for Oregon’s Future!

Join other Oregonians in Corvallis on Saturday, April 29 in a town hall discussion of values, vision for Oregon, and how to plug in to make it happen. Featuring presentations by Jack McGowan, Jefferson Smith, and Bob Stacey, the forum is co-sponsored by 1000 Friends of Oregon, SOLV, Bus Project, Oregon Business Association, League of Women Voters of Oregon, and Coalition for a Livable Future. If you can’t make it to Corvallis, visit the new Envision Oregon website! There you can share your Oregon Story, read guest columns about ideas to make Oregon a better place, or contact the state’s “Big Look” task force.

1000 Friends Co-Sponsors Big Look Event May 10 in Newport

Please join 1000 friends of Oregon, Marys Peak Group Sierra Club and Oregon Shores on Wednesday, May 10, from 7-9 PM at the Hatfield Marine Science Center auditorium for a program to discuss Oregon’s future. With measure 37 and the 30-year land use review (the “Big Look”) both happening, Oregon is at a crossroads in its future. How will we protect scenic areas and farmland? What future do we want for Oregon? How will we get there? Moderating will be Barry Wulff of the Sierra Club. Cameron La Follette, Coastal Advocate for 1000 Friends, will speak about the Big Look. Carol Doty, former Jackson County Commissioner, Jo Ann Barton, a Board member of Friends of Yaquina Bay (the citizens’ group that stopped the ship-breaking industry from coming to Newport) and Sid Friedman of 1000 Friends, will talk about effective citizen advocacy and Measure 37.

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COASTAL NEWS

Clatsop County Parks Master Plan Describes Parks and Problems

The new Clatsop County master plan for county parks has an ambitious program facility improvements and funding strategies; but most important is letting people know the county has a park system. The new master plan--the first comprehensive document for the parks since 1992—also targets some parks for new campgrounds and other facilities. The first priority is the Westport boat launch site, which the county is negotiating to acquire from Georgia Pacific. The master plan recommends selling a 72-acre oceanfront parcel at Ft. Stevens State Park to the state. But the county wants to make an official county park out of a 164-acre parcel it owns at Delaura Beach. Unfortunately, as the plan describes, the county parks system has been at the mercy of budget cuts until there is no general fund support at all, so a prime focus of the new master plan is maintaining steady funding.

North Tillamook County to Inventory Buildable Lands

Tillamook County’s Department of Community Development is doing a Buildable Lands Inventory for the northern Tillamook County region, including the cities of Nehalem, Wheeler and Manzanita, and some unincorporated areas, such as Neahkahnie. Since small cities are exempt from producing a buildable lands inventory, this kind of cooperative effort is one way the cities can coordinate in their region to discover how much land is available for housing, employment and other identified needs. The City of Nehalem has already agreed to participate. The inventory will look at housing needs, including affordable housing, public facilities and employment needs. Tillamook County and all the cities that agree to participate will submit a grant application to the Department of land Conservation and Development (DLCD) for funds to undertake the study.

Lincoln City and Surrounding Areas Debate Annexation Costs

The City of Lincoln City filed a lawsuit against Roads End Sanitary District and some individuals last October. The city hoped to have the court validate its authority to require owners of undeveloped property outside the city limits (but inside the UGB) to give the city right to annex as a condition of receiving city water services. Lincoln City also wants the authority to terminate water services to areas outside city limits where that would be in the city’s best interests—unless the owners consent to annexation. The problems have been simmering for years, with several individuals refusing the consent to annexation or stating that their consent is not voluntary. Currently the parties are negotiating about amending the complaint or possible motions to dismiss.

Coastal Streams Near Waldport to Receive Protection

Coastal streams above Ona Beach State Park north of Waldport will receive protection as a result of purchase of former timberlands in the Beaver Creek watershed, surrounding Elkhorn Creek. 166 acres of private timberland were purchased through use of Land and Water Conservation Fund monies. Two miles of coastal streams used by native fish will be protected. The Siuslaw National Forest plans to conduct restoration work for salmon spawning and summer rearing habitat in the area, with an eye to increasing salmonid production in the whole watershed.

Residents near Florence Uneasy About Annexation

The City of Florence is interested in possibly annexing some areas to the north of the city, including the Fawn Ridge subdivision proposal. These areas are inside the UGB. To that end, the city sent out a questionnaire and has held public meetings asking nearby residents about annexation. Interested property owners would need to form a contiguous link with the city. Much of the early reaction to possible annexation has been negative. Annexed properties would have the benefit of city police and access to services such as storm drainage and a voice in city government. However, newly-annexed residents would also have to share the city’s tax burden and pay for the change from septic to city sewer, which can be expensive. The City of Florence is interested in the annexations in order to require that all development in the UGB have the capacity to hook up to city services when needed.

Curry County Troubled About Affordable Housing Needs

Many areas in Curry County are in dire need of affordable housing, including Gold Beach and Brookings. The problem of affordable housing is nationwide, but even small towns such as Gold Beach are affected. Less than a third of Freeman Marine’s employees in Gold Beach can afford to live in traditional single family homes in Gold Beach. Curry County’s population is aging—the median age is 48.8, and its retirement income is twice the state average. But the personal income is below the state average, while housing continues to appreciate more than 20% a year. Affordable housing is key to the region’s economic future, because home-owners create a more stable workforce. It is difficult to recruit and keep good employees, even for county government, if employees cannot afford to buy a house. The county is studying the problem from many different angles in the hopes of finding some workable solutions.

Harbor Hills Annexation Withdrawn in Brookings

The Brookings Planning Commission held several hearings 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, applied to Brookings for annexation in a “cherry stem” annexation, which would require annexing 3.4 miles of road to provide the necessary contiguity. The Brookings City Council approved the annexation with conditions, including severe building limitations on the steep slopes of the hills. Unwilling to meet those conditions, Westbrook withdrew his application for annexation from the City. He now will be able to develop in a less-dense manner according to Curry County standards.

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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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