NEW 2 USED Second Hand Store 4192 Hwy 101 N Tillamook Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Tax Deductible Receipt for all Donations – Will Pick Up
503-842-6555 ext.2
The
Corner at the Flashing Light Pacific City, Oregon
Pacific City
SUN
34950 Brooten Road, Suite C P.O. Box 1085, Pacific City, OR 97135 503-801-5221 • Fax 503-965-4525 tim@pacificcitysun.com Tim Hirsch Editor & Publisher
Vicky Hirsch Calendar/Proofreading
Contributors: Dee Moore, Sally Rissel, Pat Gefre
The Pacific City Sun is distributed free from Tillamook to Newport, and mail subscriptions are available for $44 for one year, $22 for 6 months.
www.pacificcitysun.com The Pacific City Sun welcomes reader input. Please send Letters to the Editor via e-mail: tim@pacificcitysun.com
On Our Cover:
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Colliander
NESKOWIN VALLEY SCHOOL students have been getting real world experience during educational field trips made possible through local partnerships.
NEWS & COMMUNITY
Not On Our Ocean
Futures Council workshop elicits concern about proposed Pacific City-Neskowin ocean energy site By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
C
iting conflict with fishing opportunities and viewsheds that wave buoys supporting an ocean energy would bring, Tillamook County residents voiced their opposition to any such development in the Pacific City-Neskowin area during a Tillamook Futures Council hosted public meeting on Nov. 8. The meeting was held in response to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development’s decision not to hold one of its three public meetings in the county. The Futures Council forwarded the public input to DLCD in advance of TSPAC’s Nov. 8 meeting. Currently an 8.5 square mile site located between Pacific City and Neskowin is one of 10 sites still under consideration by the Territorial Sea Plan Advisory Committee for recommendation to the DLCD. As this paper goes to press, TSPAC is meeting in Newport with the goal of agreeing on a recommendation. The Ocean Policy Advisory Committee is also planning on submitting its own recommendation to DLCD following a Dec. 4 meeting. A final decision is expected on Jan. 4 by DLCD. TSPAC member at large and Pacific City resident Dave Yamamoto told the group that ocean energy on the Oregon Coast is attractive to developers because of its location on the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean — and its accompanying “tremendous energy potential.” A second benefit of development here is the presence of electrical grid connections, which greatly reduces the development cost. In response to the desire for companies to develop this new technology, DLCD started the processes of developing a Territorial Sea Plan four years ago that would guide development of the ocean. That process is nearing completion, but opposition is growing. “All (of the Pacific City Heights Neighborhood Association members) are adamantly opposed to this,” said Pacific City resident Larry Rouse. “Our position is that right off our shore line we have Haystack Rock, which is a national wildlife refuge that’s utilized by endangered species and you also have a state marine park that surrounds the coast of Cape Kiwanda. It is our feeling that these two things makes this area off limits for production of windmills and buoys. There are same places where we shouldn’t have development.” The threat of decreasing home
Photo by Sandy Weedman
The Pacific City Doryman’s Association is adamantly opposed to designating a 8.5 square mile stretch of ocean between Pacific City and Neskowin as a site open to ocean energy development. values was also raised. Realtor Barbara Taylor said that because views are such an important part of real estate values, she feared the siting of a ocean energy development could damage the housing industry here. Members of the Pacific City Doryman’s Association also voiced their strong opposition to including the area in a list of sites open to ocean energy development. “We will not tolerate the destruction of our fleet and our viewshed and one of the most popular world-famous places on the entire Oregon Coast,” said cochair of the Doryman’s Association Paul Hanneman. And fellow co-chair Craig Wenrick also raised concerns. “Anywhere these wave buoys are going in, they are going to displace fishing or recreation,” he said. “They’re taking up land. Anywhere they’re going to hurt. But when you take Pacific City, you are also adding a 100-year history of a small boat port. We have limited access; our boats are 22-feet long; we can only go so far (and) we have to come back that night. Where that (proposed ocean energy site) map is, it takes away our prime area. It takes away our access south of that area because we’re not big enough to go out and around and come back in. It’s a safety hazard. Right across from the Nestucca River we have the world famous salmon run (and) steelhead run. A half a volt difference in trolling wire will repel salmon. And now we’re going to put a bunch of extension cords across (from) a world-famous fishing river? “When you think about Pacific City, you think it’s a really nice tourist town. Yeah, but we’re really depressed. Sixty
percent of our kids are on reduced or free lunch program. We’re struggling down here. So what’s our draw in Pacific City? Do we say come to our casino? Come to our cheese factory? Come to our bowling alleys? Come to our movie theaters? Outlet malls? What do we have? We have view, and we have water. We have surfers; we have jet skiers; we have the dory fleet; we have recreational fishermen; we have commercial fishermen. We’re worldfamous for being an unspoiled area. This is the biggest boondoggle.” Despite the opposition, the Oregon Lottery funded Oregon Wave Energy Trust is eager to make Oregon into a world leader in the emerging industry. “It’s about jobs,” said Jason Busch, OWET executive director. He added that an economic study has estimated that a mature ocean energy industry would bring $2.4 billion to the Oregon economy. But Lincoln County Commissioner and TSPAC member Terry Thompson isn’t buying that pitch. “Yeah, there’s a lot of money in installation, but once that’s up and running, basically all you have left is a few maintenance jobs and you’ll have one or two people monitoring sub stations. Money is going to be made, but its going to be made in the (Willamette) valley.” “The fishing industry isn’t against good cheap renewable energy but they do have a problem with replacing renewable agriculture (with ocean energy), which (are serving) about 1,400 jobs related to fishing. It’s the fishing industry that’s going to be the loser.” For more information on the Territorial Sea Plan process, visit www.oregonocean.info.
Business AND Services Directory
ADVERTISING
Directory Listings Start at Just $12 an issue! The
Pacific City SUN
Call 503-801-5221 for info
CARPET
Ken Martin’s Carpet Co. Since 1981!
Or. Lic. #32206
Want References? Just Ask Your Neighbor!
3333 NW Hwy. 101 • Lincoln City • 541-994-4484
Page 4 • Pacific City Sun • November 16, 2012
Sea View Vacation Rentals Pacific City • Neskowin Tierra Del Mar
“Covering the Coast from Waldport to Pacific City” Bamboo • Laminate • Vinyl
LODGING
1-888-701-1023
6340 Pacific Ave. • Pacific City • 503-965-7888 www.seaview4u.com • rentals@seaview4u.com