.png)
“Save our Wetlands” — Please Attend Tues., Sept. 9, Special Rockaway Beach City Council Meeting
Here’s a message to all supporters of North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection:
To anyone who has a connection to Rockaway Beach or the North Coast of Oregon, there will be a “special meeting” of the Rockaway Beach City Council on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall (276 S. Hwy 101) to consider the resubmittal of the application from the Nedonna Development LLC (Anna Song) to build 28 houses on wetlands in the Nedonna Beach neighborhood.
For the agenda, including the Zoom link, go to https://corb.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/City-Council-Special-Meeting-Agenda-2025-09-09.pdf
If you are concerned about saving and protecting the remaining wetlands in Rockaway Beach, it’s important to show up and speak up.
Those of us with NCCWP have been encouraged by the testimony against this project that many of you have already submitted, as well as by the support of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition https://oregonshores.org and their legal counsel, the Crag Law Center https://crag.org, We hope that your participation at the special hearing on September 9, either by providing oral testimony or just by showing up as a sign of solidarity and support, will provide the City with “just cause” to deny this application. Let’s set a precedent to protect Oregon’s irreplaceable coastal wetlands.
In addition to the information and ideas we shared with you about providing written testimony, the following updates may be helpful in providing oral testimony at the special hearing. First are the conclusions made in the City’s staff report, which are summarized below.
“STAFF CONCLUSION: LUBA ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR #1: Based on the facts listed above, Staff concludes that:
1. The Special Area Wetland (SA) is a base zone, which does not list residential development as either a permitted or conditional use.
2. The City believes use of the GIS tool is reasonable and appropriate to accurately determine the location of the SA zone on the property.
3. The proposed lots are located in areas mapped as the SA zone in the City’s GIS tool (Appendix E)
STAFF CONCLUSION: LUBA ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR #2: Based on the facts listed above, Staff concludes that:
1. Exhibit D applied Exhibit B: Final Plat condition 1 to Phase Two of the PUD.
2. The one-year period began when the city issued its approval for #2007-19 Modification of Tentative Plan and Final Plan Approval for a Two-Phase Development for the Nedonna Wave 28- Lot Planned Unit Development Subdivision and the application condition was not met by July 22, 2009.
3. Therefore, because the above condition of approval was not timely met, #2007-19 Modification of Tentative Plan and Final Plan Approval for a Two-Phase Development for the Nedonna Wave 28- Lot Planned Unit Development Subdivision is no longer valid.
CONCLUSION: Based on the findings and conclusions presented in this report, Staff support the conclusion to REVERSE the Planning Commission’s July 18, 2024 decision on application #PUD-24-1 and, in doing so, DENY application #PUD-24-1.”
The second significant bit of information is found in the Applicant’s packet which indicates the delineation and sampling of the wetlands was conducted by its consultant between June and August 2024, which could be considered as part of our “dry season.” The consultant has a disclaimer stating: “It should be considered Preliminary Jurisdictional Determinations of wetlands and other waters and used at your own risk unless it has been reviewed and approved in writing by Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) in accordance with OAR 141-090-0005 through 141-090-0055. (P028).” The DSL agreed with the application regarding wetland delineation, but again this was based on the information provided to the agency from a summertime evaluation.
The third concern, and more research is needed here, is that the City may already be over its maximum limit of Short Term Vacation Rentals, and any new residential development could exacerbate that problem.
Why it matters:
The proposed development sets on ecologically rich Special Area wetlands — critical habitat that filters pollution, prevents flooding, and supports native fish.
The land overlays Rockaway Beach’s backup drinking water aquifer — development here potentially puts the safety of the City’s drinking water supply at risk.
This land should never have been approved for residential development in the first place. Local zoning and state law clearly protect these wetlands — and this LUBA decision confirms it.
We’re urging City leaders to reverse their approval of this project and protect these sensitive wetlands for good.
Living in this fragile area near the ocean, wetlands, and forested areas, reminds us of the many ways having a healthy ecological system is crucial to our community’s health and wellbeing. Let us all become caring stewards of the wild that surrounds us. The beavers and other wild creatures who depend on the wetlands will thank you. We hope to see you at the special hearing on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m
NCCWP wants no more logging and pesticide use in drinking water sources regardless of who owns the land, and we want an end to pesticide
applications near where people live, work and recreate. Safe drinking water and clean air are part of the public trust that all people are entitled to have. www.healthywatershed.org | www.facebook.com/NCCWATERSHEDPROTECTION
For more information or to unsubscribe contact rockawaycitizen.water@gmail.com