Narcan use on the rise
Mi Corazon Mexican Cuisine
Commercial Crab Season Opens Feb. 1 From Cape Falcon North
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VOL. 47, ISSUE 2
FREE
CANNONBEACHGAZETTE.COM
January 20, 2023
Affordable housing development proposed for Arch Cape area T
Bob Atiyeh
For the Gazette
he chronic shortage of affordable housing has been plaguing Clatsop County employers, workers and residents for years, with the problem only growing worse as real estate prices and rents continue to climb. The shortage of affordable housing is especially acute in popular tourist destinations like Astoria, Seaside and Cannon Beach; along with hundreds of other small tourist-oriented towns scattered throughout the country. Some have found solutions, while many others have not. In recent years, Tillamook and Lincoln counties have taken steps to build affordable workforce housing. A non-profit Clatsop County group called North Coast Housing Solutions is proposing to build up to 50 affordable workforce homes on 12 acres of surplus Clatsop County property, NE of Shingle Mill Lane off Highway 101 in the community of Arch Cape. The two-phase proposal is for a total of 25 two-story cottages, with 530 square feet on each floor. This would be a low density development, with a large portion of the forested land preserved for community open space. These dwellings would be deed-restricted in perpetuity for longterm affordable housing, which prevents them from being converted to short-term rentals in the future. Clatsop County Commissioners have the authority to donate surplus County acreage to local cities, special districts, local social service non-profits, or non-profit housing developers who submit a plan to construct affordable housing. Otherwise, this Arch Cape property will be auctioned off this spring, and could end up being purchased by a developer who would likely maximize their
New City Hall project hits major snag Cannon Beach residents crowd a North Coast Housing solutions meeting to listen to the plan. Gazette photo by Bob Atiyeh investment by building for the second-home and short-term rental markets, resulting in higher density development and the removal of many more trees on this forested property. The Arch Cape property meets the State requirements for any new construction of affordable housing to be built outside of a flood plain or geologic slide zone. In an emailed statement, Chet Moritz, Board President of North Coast Housing Solutions, said that “North Coast Housing Solutions is committed to the people who work in our community, and ensuring that everyone has a place to live. We are particularly excited about Clatsop County’s generous offer of this surplus land because we have a vision for housing the working members of the north coast community while having minimal impact on the forests.” Arch Cape resident Kate Merrell says that “the acute need for affordable workforce homes affects every employer who struggles to find enough employees for their business; the workers
who make your coffee, bake your bread, the folks who work in the hotels and restaurants and grocery stores, along with the firefighters and police officers who can’t find a place to live in the communities they serve.” Merrell adds that she is heavily invested in and cares passionately about her Arch Cape community, and wouldn’t mind this development in her backyard. Merrell says “the elephant in the room is that many folks are worried that something like this will devalue their property. Our housing stock is very non-homogenous, which is why our home values are not determined by our neighbor’s property. A great example of this is the workforce housing SeaLark development on Larch Street in Cannon Beach; neighboring homes are worth over $2 million.” The City of Cannon Beach currently has 3 affordable housing clusters within city limits. A recent article in the The Atlantic by Jerusalem Demsas about the nationwide housing crisis stated that “housing markets have
been broken by a policy agenda that seeks to reap the benefits of a thriving regional economy while failing to build the infrastructure housing - necessary to support the people who make that economy go.” North Coast Housing Solutions is engaging with the Arch Cape community through a series of public meetings to answer questions, hear concerns, and get ideas from residents. The heavily-attended first public meeting was held at the Arch Cape fire station on Sunday afternoon, January 15th. For more information about North Coast Housing Solutions, visit NorthCoastHousing.org. Comments can be emailed to info@northcoasthousing.org To express your opinion to Clatsop County Commissioners on the proposed Arch Cape housing project before their February 1st meeting, send comments before January 25th to: clatsopcounty.gov/county/page/ public-comment
Go wild and get hooked at Ecola Seafood Restaurant and Market T
Deb Atiyeh Reporter
here is a local treasure for seafood lovers in downtown Cannon Beach that sells high quality seafood fresh from the ocean. Jay and Cindy Beckman, owners of Ecola Seafood, serve up wild, local seafood sourced fresh from their very own boats, along with other local fisherman. They use “line and hook” to catch fish (no nets) Ecola Seafood sells in-season halibut, salmon, crab, steamer clams, oysters, scallops, and prawns. It is the freshest you can find it. Jay and Cindy first met in the summer of 1978. While Jay was attending Beaverton High School, at the age of 15 he and his friend John purchased a dory and began commercial fishing off the beach at Gearhart. They had no idea what they were doing, but followed a group of local fishermen as they launched into the surf. After living in other states, Cindy’s love of the north Oregon coast led her back to this area. They were married in 1991, with their first child Ashley born in 1994. Another daughter Shawna followed in 1996, and a son CJ in 1999. Thus, the beginning of a family and a future family-owned business. Their three children grew up in the seafood market, and Cindy loved the help she received from the community, with locals often stopping in to help care for their young children. In 1993 they were selling their catch to various businesses,
including Ecola Seafood in Ecola Square Mall on Hemlock Street. The owners were tired and ready to call it quits. Jay and Cindy became the new owners of the small Ecola Seafood fish market and restaurant. Jay and Cindy were the perfect match; Jay would catch the fish, and Cindy would sell it and cook it for customers. In 1996 they purchased the vacant property at their current location at 2nd and Spruce and built a new restaurant. Jay continues to fish using his own boat, expanding his operation to include other species while fishing the waters of Washington, Oregon, and California. 45 years after Jay and Cindy met, their children are grown, with children of their own. The adult children now help run the business, and have come up with many great new ideas. They have had to grow and adapt to the changes in the seafood industry, but with the focus always remaining the same: bringing fresh, high quality, wild seafood from their boats to your table. You will find the Beckman children and their spouses preparing your fresh, hot fish and chips, and they will advise you on the catch of the day for you to prepare at home. They also sell ready-made CJ Beckman and Heaven Barrett display some of the fresh crab cakes and pre-breaded razor caught bounty in their market. Courtesy photo. clams for you to cook at home. Daughter-in-law Heaven manages to them. They love the Cannon dining area, with a partial ocean the front counter, and like her Beach community and the safe, view from the upper deck, and name, she is a heavenly presence. village-like character that remains. gas fire tables to keep you warm The family has a love for their They have been a family-run while you dine outside. They also customers and they take pride in business for 30 years and intend to serving the best and healthiest sea- keep it that way. food. They love their employees n See SEAFOOD, Page 3 Check out their new outdoor and they have become like family
Project has to conform with higher tsunami safety standards Will Chappell
P
Gazette Reporter
lanning progress for Cannon Beach’s new city hall appears to have a major new obstacle, the city council learned at a January 12 meeting. Structural Engineer Curtis Gagner from CIDA, the firm leading the project, told councilors that a November 2022 code update will require the new police station meet higher tsunami safety standards, complicating plans to reuse the current city hall’s location. The November code update added a new requirement that certain emergency service facilities, including police stations, be built to withstand a maximum tsunami inundation event. Previously, the code had requirements for seismic, fire, storm and other emergent events, but the extent of tsunami preparation was left to the discretion of local leaders. Preliminary plans for the new city hall included the police department and would have placed the entire facility at a second story level, above parking. After years of debate, the city council seemed set to approve building the new city hall on the same site as the current one in midtown. That site sits 33 feet above sea level and, even before the news about the code updates, tsunami danger was a major point of community contention surrounding the site selection. The projected maximum water level rise from a major Cascadia Zone subduction event in Cannon Beach is 59 feet. The requirement that the new police station be situated above that level would require a 26-foot floor, meaning the site would need to stand at least three stories. City Councilors and City Manager Bruce St. Denis immediately noted that this would pose a huge hurdle for the project. St. Denis, who is also acting as project manager for the new city hall, said that the height increase would lead to a sizeable bump in the projected $17.5 million budget. Councilors noted that it would require a zoning variance, as the maximum allowable height for buildings in the city is 28.5 feet. They also said that the height provision would give them serious reservations about the new city hall fitting in with Cannon Beach’s “village character.” Maintaining that character is a priority according to public feedback on the proposed project gathered by CIDA in fall 2022. St. Denis said that he was skeptical that the code would be so stringent. He repeatedly noted that he was more concerned about seismic events than tsunamis and wanted to know if there was latitude to reflect that assessment in the plans.
n See CITY, Page 2