Oregon Coast Alliance Newsletter
Protecting Sand Dunes, Beaches and Waters
Bayocean Spit Rezone Hearing August 13th!
    
Bayocean Spit Looking North from Cape Meares    

  

Tillamook Board of Commissioners voted to have the County begin the process of rezoning Bayocean Spit to Recreation Natural, a more protective zone than the current zoning. 

The first hearing, before the County Planning Commission, will be:

Thursday, August 13
7:00 PM 
Tillamook County Courthouse

Please attend if you are a Tillamook County resident, and show your support for the rezone. Written testimony can be sent to Tillamook County Senior Planner Sarah Absher: [email protected]

This rezone would finally bring all the restrictions on the Spit in line with the actual zoning. The Spit is unbuildable because it is in the tsunami zone, has no public roads, no water or water infrastructure, and no sewer or septic infrastructure. It is, however, a heavily used recreation and wildlife area. It is also critical to Tillamook Bay, which it shields from the open ocean. Since the 1952 breach was repaired by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1956, the Spit has been slowly rebuilding itself. Maintaining the south jetty at the tip of Bayocean Spit, and its associated infrastructure such as Dike Road, is a first priority to Tillamook Bay communities. The rezone to Recreation Natural would ensure that continues undisturbed by development proposals.



Knapp Ranch Golf Proponents Get Port Orford Wastewater Permit Agreement
    
Cape Blanco Lighthouse Just North of Knapp Ranch    

  

The proponents of a golf course at Knapp Ranch just outside Port Orford succeeded in getting the Port Orford City Council, on a 4-2 vote, to authorize beginning the process to amend the City's wastewater permit to allow another outfall. The purpose? To ultimately provide effluent to the proposed golf course for irrigation. Whether or not this gamble will work is much too early to tell; the proposed modification will have to be applied for and analyzed in detail by the Department of Environmental Quality.

Though the golf course applicants have promised no cost to the City, there is nothing in writing to guarantee this: no contract, not even a Memorandum of Understanding. The ultimate cost of building a pipeline from the City wastewater plant to Knapp Ranch would be in the millions, if a pipeline would be the chosen methodMany issues would have to be solved, ranging from landowner concerns to groundwater contamination. There is a very long road before anyone can determine whether this is even a remotely feasible, environmentally wise and fiscally prudent idea ---    or not.



Cannon Beach Dune-Grading Hearing Continued Till August
 
Sand Dunes in Front of Breakers Point in Cannon Beach 

  

Breakers Point Homeowners Association returned to Cannon Beach with a new proposal for grading the state-owned dunes that are blocking their ocean views. The Cannon Beach Planning Commission heard testimony last week and continued the hearing to the August 29th meeting. 

Earlier this year Cannon Beach City Council turned down Breakers' Point's proposal to grade 75,000 cubic yards, after local residents expressed strong concerns about the massive proposal and its effects on the dunes. Dune-grading projects in the past have averaged about 7,000 cubic yards. The new BP proposal asks for a conditional use permit to grade 15,000 cubic yards ---    but failed to mention that this is the first of several grading proposals, which BP hopes to submit, probably annually. It seems likely that BP is still seeking to grade 75,000 cy, but spread the applications over the course of a few years.

Cannon Beach has realized ---    as many parties, including ORCA, pointed out ---    that the only Sand Management Plan dates from 1997, when Breakers Point prepared a sand study as part of their initial request to grade the dunes. Cannon Beach City Council feels it is definitely time to have a new sand study, and recently authorized the budget to pay for one. ORCA congratulates Cannon Beach for taking this step, so there will be current data to guide future decisions. The City is now refining a work plan and budget details; the sand study might begin as early as this fall. 

Council asked for a "gentleman's agreement" by those who would like to grade larger amounts, such as Breakers Point, that they hold off on requesting new permits until the study is completed. BP refused. But Breakers Point has failed spectacularly in the past to follow city requirements: between 2000 and 2012 the City required them to submit approximately 43 monitoring reports on the aftereffects of dune-grading. BP failed to submit 39 of the reports! This has led to a crucial data gap. Under the circumstances, BP could show its willingness to work with the Cannon Beach community by holding off on requesting permits during the sand study, and in future requesting minimal dune-grading. It is important to remember these are state-owned dunes; they belong to the public, their benefits to be enjoyed by all, residents and visitors alike.



Quick Links...

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Go to the ORCA website to make a donation or become a sustaining member. 

Contact Information
Contact Executive Director Cameron La Follette by email
or phone: 503-391-0210
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