Duane Bauley, the owner of Three Arch Inn (formerly The Anchor Tavern), will withdraw his application to replace the retail and food service space on the Inn’s ground floor with transient lodging units.
The Planning Commission hearing scheduled for September 14 (this Tuesday) is cancelled.
In an interview with The Oceansider, Community Development Director Sarah Absher attributed this development in major part to information provided by the Boards of the Oceanside Neighborhood Association (ONA) and Oceanside Protection Society community foundation (OPS) in the joint Statement in Opposition they filed with the county late last week. That Statement revealed evidence of a 2004 settlement agreement between a previous owner and community members under which the Inn was allowed to operate without off-street parking if
it agreed to operate only five lodging units. (The Inn currently operates six units – something Absher says her department will investigate further.) The ONA/OPS Statement also documented how three additional lodging rooms would worsen the traffic and parking problems that already plague the Inn’s neighbors. In addition, it emphasized the adverse effects Oceanside would suffer if the Inn’s vibrant storefront on Pacific Avenue were replaced by hotel units with privacy-screened windows and a card-lock security door. The Association Boards’ concerns were echoed by numerous Oceansiders who submitted written comments to the Planning Commission opposing the proposal.
Director Absher indicated that neither she nor the Inn owners had been aware of the 2004 settlement agreement negotiated with the community. She expressed her “sincere gratitude” to the ONA and OPS leaders for their work in pulling the information together and submitting it well before the hearing. This enabled her to do supplemental research and confer with the Inn’s owners about the ramifications of the new information, after which they decided to withdraw their application. Finally, Absher thanked the community for bringing current problems on Tillamook Avenue to her attention and assured them she is already exploring ways to address them. More on that as events warrant.
ONA Emergency Team Announces Grant for Hand Radios
The
Netarts-Oceanside Volunteer Firefighters Association has approved a request by the
ONA Emergency Preparedness Team for $830 to purchase 15 hand-held radio communicators. Team co-chairs
Rob Hoeper and
John Prather submitted the funding request after researching devices used by volunteer associations in neighboring communities and confirming an offer by the Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay (EVCNB) communications director to train Oceanside’s volunteers in their use. Hoeper explained that obtaining the radios is a key step in the Team’s evolving plan to set up a volunteer communications network throughout Oceanside. The network will help serve as “eyes and ears on the ground” to help Fire Department emergency responders identify where they are needed when disaster events disrupt other communications. Chief Tim Carpenter readily endorsed both the plan and the request for financial assistance. Hoeper has completed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training offered by the EVCNB and is exploring options to offer the training to other Oceansiders. He and Prather have also been attending county-led meetings currently focused on community participation in a statewide earthquake training drill (
The Great Oregon Shake Out) scheduled for
October 19. More about this as the plan progresses.
First Community Club Potluck of the Season
is Monday (Tomorrow!)
The Oceanside Community Club has asked The Oceansider to remind everyone that their monthly potlucks resume Monday evening (tomorrow!). The social hour begins at 6:00 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Bring an appetizer, main dish, salad or dessert. Drinks are provided. Guests are welcome! The guest speaker is Retta Welch, Director of the Tillamook Air Museum. (Your friendly editor reminds you that the OCC does not ask for dues, but they welcome voluntary donations of $10 a year per person to help with expenses. This first meeting of the year is a good time to make that happen!)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
September 11 Oceanside Community Club Potluck
Oceanside Community Hall – 6:00 p.m.
September 14 Planning Commission Hearing on
Three Arch Inn Expansion – CANCELLED
And that’s the view from Oceanside!
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jerrykeene@oceansidernews.com
