Clatsop County is now formalizing its proposal to amend the housing ordinances to (theoretically) increase housing availability in the county, especially in the unincorporated rural communities. The first hearing on Ordinance 24-14, before the Clatsop County planning commission, will be held Tuesday, October 8 at 10:00 AM. The hearing packet with all the proposed amendments is here (third item on the agenda).

As ORCA has noted several times already, these proposals are going to make large changes in the county’s rural communities of Westport, Miles Crossing, Arch Cape, Cove Beach and others. Two of the biggest changes will be reducing lot sizes for single family homes to 5,000 square feet, and increasing the number of applications that will be processed as Type I applications with no notice, no opportunity for public comment and no appeal. Reducing lot sizes as proposed will really impact the livability of communities over time, as well as add stress to small, local rural water and sanitary districts. Click here to submit testimony if you cannot attend the hearing in person or via zoom.

The proposed Keiser golf course at New River in Coos County, south of Bandon, is having a hearing before the Coos County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday October 23 at 1:30 PM. ORCA appealed the planning commission approval of the project, and will be providing testimony. There are multiple issues with this proposal, ranging from road and traffic problems to interference with neighboring farm operations. There are also major questions relating to high value farmland, on which golf courses are not allowed at all. 

One very large, looming problem concerns water availability in this already water-challenged area. Keiser is proposing some water transfers from rights he already owns in the area, plus a new water right, which he has not yet submitted to the Water Resources Department. The proposed water transfers are very problematic, as ORCA commented to WRD. A new water right is very unlikely to gain approval, given the longstanding water constraints in this watershed. For all these reasons among others, ORCA strongly opposes this golf course proposal.

Click here to submit testimony. All the documents are here.