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
Coastal Futures Update
June 8, 2006
In this issue:
- Envision Oregon Builds Website, Continues Town Hall Forum
- Big Look Task Force to Meet in Lincoln City July 23-24
- New Condos Add Mix to Astoria's Housing
- Astoria to Inventory Buildable Lands and Streamline Historic Properties Ordinance
- Cannon Beach's Forest Preserve Provides Clean Drinking Water
- Affordable Housing at Issue for Tillamook County
- Nehalem Bay Crab Derby June 10-11
- Controversy in Nye Bay Area of Newport Over New Project
- Lincoln County Watersheds Receive State Grants for Restoration
- Curry County Commission Hears Proposal to Change Rural Residential Zoning
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Read previous issues of Coastal Futures Update.
Envision Oregon Builds Website and Continues Town Hall Forums
Envision Oregon is the effort by several groups, including 1000 Friends, to rebuild the interest in, and support for, our unique land use planning program by engaging the public to think again about our vision for Oregon’s future. The last time we did this in Oregon was 30 years ago, when the land use laws were passed. Part of the Envision Oregon effort is 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. Envision Oregon is also holding public forums around the state to engage people in thinking about their values and the vision they have for Oregon’s future. The next event will be June 22 in Hood River. This fall there will be events in Medford, Bend and other places. Keep up to date through the website!
Big Look Task Force to Meet in Lincoln City July 23-24
The Oregon Task Force on land Use Planning, known as the “Big Look” Task Force, will meet in Lincoln City on July 23-24, for a two-day retreat. This Task Force was appointed by Gov. Kulongoski under Senate Bill 82 to conduct a 30-year review of Oregon’s land use planning laws. Having adopted a work plan, the Task Force is now gearing up to hear public testimony and research specific issues. The July meeting will be held in Lincoln City, and is the best opportunity for concerned residents of the coast to address the Task Force. Tell them how important planning is to the future of your community, and discuss specific issues that you think need revision. The agenda and time for public comments have not yet been printed. For further information, and for the agenda once printed, see the Big Look website.
New Condos Add Mix to Astoria's Housing Market
Astoria has some new condominiums rising in its 39th St. business park: Cannery Lofts. This will be a 93-unit condo complex, which will also provide multi-family facilities. There will be industrial and commercial space as well. The first building is scheduled to be opened in the fall. Nearby business are excited about the project, and so is the City of Astoria. There are few live-work units in the Astoria area, but this facility will provide some. Astoria has been focusing on providing a good mix of housing opportunities, and this project is a key for that goal.
Astoria to Inventory Buildable Lands and Streamline Historic Properties Ordinance
The Astoria City Council has authorized city staff to apply for a $10,500 grant from the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). The grant will be used to hire a consultant who will update the city’s buildable lands inventory. The consultant will also prepare an assessment of the residential property in the city. The information is necessary for Astoria to decide whether it should expand its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) to accommodate future residential development. The City Council also approved a grant request to the State Historic Preservation Office so the city can develop a preservation plan and update the historic properties ordinance. Astoria has many historic properties; the goal of this work is to streamline the process for citizens.
Cannon Beach's Forest Reserve Provides Clean Drinking Water
Cannon Beach has some of the best drinking water around, which shows the results of making a city’s watershed high priority. Cannon Beach’s water comes primarily from springs in a 220-acre city-owned wooded reserve. Citizens of Cannon Beach worked with the city, and with Weyerhaeuser, to acquire the property. All the work has paid off in many ways, one of which is drinking water quality. The annual water quality report, which details results of test conducted at an independent lab, shows that Cannon Beach’s water surpasses standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Traces of barium, nitrate and uranium did not exceed safe EPA levels.
Affordable Housing at Issue for Tillamook County
In April the Tillamook County Housing Summit tried to focus attention on an increasing problem of housing affordability on the north coast. NeahCasa, the housing affordability advocacy group in the northern part of the county, the conference drew more than 80 participants. Many people expressed interest in attending future workshops, developing local housing trusts and creating more energy- efficient housing. The average annual salary in Tillamook County is $27,000. But the median price of a home in the county jumped from $170,750 in 2004 to $205,000 in 2005, thus putting home ownership out of reach of a family with two wage earners. The Tillamook County Economic Development Council is also worried about affordable housing, because lack of it makes it difficult to attract and retain workers. The affordable housing summit will hopefully kick off many innovative ideas for solving the problem in Tillamook County. Learn more.
Nehalem Bay Crab Derby June 10-11
The summer season has begun. One of its delights is the Nehalem Bay Crab Derby, which will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11. All proceeds will benefit the Rinehart Clinic, a nonprofit medical clinic in Wheeler, and the Wildlife Rehabilitation center of the North coast, a nonprofit that cares for injured animals. Tickets are a $10 donation. The Derby will take place at the jetty Fishery, which is just north of the City of Rockaway beach on Highway 101, at 27550 Highway 101.
Controversy in Nye Beach Area of Newport Over New Project
Nye Beach, an historic district in Newport, is filled with controversy over a proposed new project called Archway Place. Archway Place will involve two three-story buildings having retail on the bottom levels and and nine residential units on the upper floors. Because the two buildings together are larger than permitted, a conditional use permit was required. The Historic Nye Beach Design Review District has design guidelines for new projects, and community members are divided over whether the new project is more massive than appropriate to the community’s character. The planning commission approved Archway Place, and the City Council heard an appeal based only on the record, refusing to open the hearing to new testimony. The City Council also approved the project in a 4-1 vote.
Lincoln City Watersheds Receive State Grants for Restoration
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) granted money for three Lincoln County watersheds to improve water quality. One of the largest grants was for 1.5 million to the Westwind Stewardship Group to acquire a 508-acre parcel at the south side of the mouth of the Salmon River estuary north of Lincoln City. The drive for the purchase came from Camp Westwind, a well-known YWCA camp in the area. Westwind wanted to ensure that the property be protected for the future; it is highly scenic, often photographed, and can be seen from atop Cascade Head. The total cost is $3.8 million, and the group has about one million to go. The MidCoast Watershed Council also received two grants for habitat improvements in the Nashville and Devil’s Lake areas.
Curry County Commission Hears Proposal to Change Rural Residential Zoning
On June 7, the Curry County Commission heard a proposal to allow 2-acre lots in areas zoned Rural Residential with five or ten acre minimum lot size. The effect of this would be to increase the number of houses that could be built in many rural areas of the county. The county estimates that this change would affect about 8,100 acres of land, much of it in the Brookings area. If the ordinance is changed, a homeowner who qualified for the benefit would still have to file an exception to Goal 14, the goal that deals with requirements for urbanization. The change would apply only to lands zoned for rural land or rural exception areas. The Commission will hold another hearing on the matter July 17, 2006, in Gold Beach. Find out more information about this proposal.
Read previous issues of Coastal Futures Update.
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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.
For more information, please contact:
Coastal Advocate, 1000 Friends of Oregon
(503) 391-0210 | info@coastalfutures.org