Letter From Daily Astorian March 7, 2008 LTE's:
Geological hazardsProposed liquefied natural gas projects for Bradwood Landing and Skipanon Peninsula both have serious geologic hazards associated with them.
The proposals call for construction of large tanks on the order of 150 feet high in areas that are underlain by as much as 370 feet of weak sediments that have back-filled the Columbia River canyon over the past 18,000 years.
In contrast to strong bedrock in the hills above the valley, these sediments have low seismic velocities that will amplify ground motions from a large earthquake. Experience shows that this will produce ground waves and reinforced harmonic oscillations that match the natural frequency of shaking of large structures, such as LNG storage tanks.
With five to seven minutes of prolonged shaking, tall structures will sway and roll horizontally and vertically with greater and greater amplitude until they are damaged, sometimes to the point of collapse.
I am concerned that the engineering profession has not developed the experience and skills to adequately address these unique hazards.
Frequently, engineers learn from their mistakes, as with the space shuttles and World Trade Center. Their experiences to date have been with short, albeit powerful, jolts of shallow crustal quakes, rather than with long-duration subduction zone events.
I am concerned that the LNG project sites are too dangerous and will be at risk of catastrophic failure and fire should the next subduction zone earthquake strike while they are operating.
A loss of these energy facilities will interrupt the delivery of natural gas into the interstate pipeline system and disrupt supplies throughout the West Coast, causing indirect but significant economic consequences.
It might take more than a year to repair the damaged infrastructure.
Moreover, seismically induced liquefaction of sands in the Columbia River will cause walls of the dredged channel to slump all the way to Portland, bringing river traffic to a halt for many months, further hindering energy delivery.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should pay close attention to this in their site review.
LNG facilities should be sited away from the public and on firm bedrock.
The finest geotechnical consultants should investigate the sites, and their findings should be critically reviewed by equally qualified specialists who have been hired to represent the public interest.
Permits should be granted only after geologic investigations prove the sites are safe, not before.
Siting the LNG projects has been based on the availability of convenient lands along the river corridor, regardless of geologic hazards.
Public safety should be the primary criterion for choosing LNG sites.
A better site would be on solid basalt bedrock at the now-defunct Trojan power plant site at Rainier, notwithstanding the inconvenience of moving LNG tankers that far up the Columbia.
Decisions to permit dangerous projects should always place community safety above convenience, tax revenues and a few extra jobs.
Thomas S. Horning - Certified engineering geologist - Seaside
Friday, March 07, 2008
Grass Roots Straw Poll Results
Would You Approve A Financial And Performance Audit By Oregon Secretary Of State's Office On Clatsop County Government/Administration And Port Of Astoria?
Yes: 32 votes - 78%
No: 8 votes - 19%
Undecide: 1 vote - 2%
Could Care Less: o votes - 0%
Yes: 32 votes - 78%
No: 8 votes - 19%
Undecide: 1 vote - 2%
Could Care Less: o votes - 0%
Thursday, March 06, 2008
A Look Back: Wanta Be A Planning Commissioner?
In Clatsop County, it might be who you know, not what talents you have, that gets you selected
By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian
Former Warrenton mayor Paul Rodriguez, a veteran of the rough-and-tumble of small-town politics, wanted to get back into public service by joining the Clatsop County Planning Commission.
After he submitted his name, his interview earlier this year made him uncomfortable.
It wasn't having to go up in front of the Board of Commissioners - in public, with everyone watching and listening - because that didn't happen.
It was the circumstances of the "interview" - and what was discussed.
"I was interviewed at my business," said Rodriguez, who owns and operates the Iredale Inn.
"What made me uncomfortable was the commissioner's mind was already made up."He told The Daily Astorian that the Clatsop County Commissioner who visited him commented that the rules should not be adhered to; they were "fuzzy.
"Rodriguez won't say who contacted him at the Iredale Inn, except to say it was a man.
At that time, there were three men on the five-member Board of Commissioners.
Two of them - Jeff Hazen and Sam Patrick - told The Daily Astorian they've never gone alone to interview somebody at their business.
The third man on the board of commissioners at the time was the board's current chairman, Richard Lee.
Rodriguez is too much of a gentleman to confirm the identity of his visitor. But, he said, "I just had this feeling when he left, that I wasn't even going to get to do it, period.
"Lee hasn't been available for comment about that.
Discretion welcomed.
The incident, and subsequent Daily Astorian interviews with other recent applicants for vacant county Planning Commission positions, have focused attention on the process the county uses to fill these important chairs.
However, the former manager of Clatsop and Hood River counties, Jim Azumano, said in home-rule charter counties if the regulations concerning committees aren't tightly written, they are that way on purpose.
This allows commissioners an unusual amount of discretion in choosing members."It remains one of the areas for local government to just appoint people, ad hoc," Azumano said.
The selection process isn't written into the home rule charter. Instead, Clatsop County has policies for appointments and terms for appointments. All state, among other things, that such committee members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners and should represent all five geographical districts of the county, whenever possible.
New members chosen
Some observers, however, are wondering whether recent appointments pass the "sniff test."Planning commissioners for Clatsop County have over-ruled senior professional staff recommendations twice recently on land-use issues affecting the approval of the proposed NorthernStar Natural Gas Co.'s liquefied natural gas terminal, the biggest project on the community's horizon.
Long-serving public servant Helen Westbrook recalled that she was still a county commissioner when Lee introduced Cary Johnson, an Astoria building contractor and elected director of the Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation District, and made a motion to appoint him to the planning commission.Johnson was appointed that day.
Johnson, in turn, approached newcomers Christine Bridgens, a Warrenton floral designer, and Mike Autio, an Astoria attorney. Bridgens said she'd been interested in land use and property rights. She spoke to Johnson, and he gave her an application.That's three of the members who voted for approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG project.
Twice staff recommended denial of the project. Twice the Planning Commission recommended approval (though with conditions.)
Big projects, small projectsThe Planning Commission in recent weeks has almost made a habit of approving land-use changes, in spite of staff recommendations.
On Sept. 11, when many Americans' minds were on other matters, Lee's own business dealings and county government intersected.
Lee, in addition to being a county commissioner, is one of the largest private landowners in Clatsop County. The ruling that day - overshadowed in the headlines by a completely separate and rather smelly land-use battle in Warrenton - concerned a request for a 35-foot variance to the 60-foot setback requirement from an arterial street for his RV park, southeast of the Miles Crossing-Jeffers Gardens intersection.
The request, from Butch Parker, asked permission for the RVs - placed on land owned by Lee - to be set within 25 feet of the road. County planner Michael Weston recommended denial, saying the applicant is held to the same standard as other businesses. He felt there would be a safety risk to campers associated with the decreased setback.
"The inability to pack in a couple more RVs does not satisfy the criteria or definition of a hardship," said his report.The staff findings noted that Lee owns land that is zoned "exclusive farm use" and is currently developed ... as a golf course.
'The cookies were in'Other unsuccessful applicants to the Clatsop County Planning Commission now have publicly expressed concerns that have been previously only spoken about in hushed tones around the county courthouse for the past few years.
"I think the cookies were in," said George McCartin, of Astoria. He said county commissioners' minds were made up before he applied.McCartin said the county wanted someone with experience. His is considerable: he has served as a planning hearing officer for the federal government.
McCartin said he's been overlooked two times."I think they definitely wanted to pick people who were going to support LNG," he said.
Marc Auerbach, of Birkenfeld, who had served one term on the Planning Commission, was unceremoniously dumped, even though county staff considered him a well-prepared member of the commission. He re-applied for a second term, but was not asked back.
A newcomer, Robert Stang, of Astoria, a strong opponent of LNG, said he thought of himself as well qualified for the Planning Commission. If county commissioners were interested, he said, they would have offered him a position.
David Graves, of Astoria, applied, offering a fresh insight. He said he is retired and new to the area, so he "would have been a complete outsider coming in.
"Interviews in the old daysWhen he was appointed to the commission about 11 years ago, current Planning Commission Chairman Bruce Francis said a panel of commissioners and county employees interviewed about a dozen applicants.
The Warrenton resident said he thought there were a lot more people interested in being on the Commission at that time. "We had an interview process back in those days," he said.
Francis said the senior planner at the time said he made sense. "If you go to too many planners, and make too much sense, you get appointed," he said.
Bill Harris - a Warrenton resident serving his second term on the Planning Commission - said he wasn't interviewed, other than by phone by other planning commissioners. He said he found out about the opening through the newspaper."It's good to have new blood coming in," he said. "But there needs to be some continuity going forward."But he said he was surprised when Auerbach wasn't chosen to remain.
Auerbach attended all the meetings. "He came, he was well prepared, he was very good at seeking out information," Harris said.He is surprised to see how things turn out."When somebody wants to be involved and is cut out, I didn't think that was a very smart move," he said.
By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian
Former Warrenton mayor Paul Rodriguez, a veteran of the rough-and-tumble of small-town politics, wanted to get back into public service by joining the Clatsop County Planning Commission.
After he submitted his name, his interview earlier this year made him uncomfortable.
It wasn't having to go up in front of the Board of Commissioners - in public, with everyone watching and listening - because that didn't happen.
It was the circumstances of the "interview" - and what was discussed.
"I was interviewed at my business," said Rodriguez, who owns and operates the Iredale Inn.
"What made me uncomfortable was the commissioner's mind was already made up."He told The Daily Astorian that the Clatsop County Commissioner who visited him commented that the rules should not be adhered to; they were "fuzzy.
"Rodriguez won't say who contacted him at the Iredale Inn, except to say it was a man.
At that time, there were three men on the five-member Board of Commissioners.
Two of them - Jeff Hazen and Sam Patrick - told The Daily Astorian they've never gone alone to interview somebody at their business.
The third man on the board of commissioners at the time was the board's current chairman, Richard Lee.
Rodriguez is too much of a gentleman to confirm the identity of his visitor. But, he said, "I just had this feeling when he left, that I wasn't even going to get to do it, period.
"Lee hasn't been available for comment about that.
Discretion welcomed.
The incident, and subsequent Daily Astorian interviews with other recent applicants for vacant county Planning Commission positions, have focused attention on the process the county uses to fill these important chairs.
However, the former manager of Clatsop and Hood River counties, Jim Azumano, said in home-rule charter counties if the regulations concerning committees aren't tightly written, they are that way on purpose.
This allows commissioners an unusual amount of discretion in choosing members."It remains one of the areas for local government to just appoint people, ad hoc," Azumano said.
The selection process isn't written into the home rule charter. Instead, Clatsop County has policies for appointments and terms for appointments. All state, among other things, that such committee members serve at the pleasure of the Board of Commissioners and should represent all five geographical districts of the county, whenever possible.
New members chosen
Some observers, however, are wondering whether recent appointments pass the "sniff test."Planning commissioners for Clatsop County have over-ruled senior professional staff recommendations twice recently on land-use issues affecting the approval of the proposed NorthernStar Natural Gas Co.'s liquefied natural gas terminal, the biggest project on the community's horizon.
Long-serving public servant Helen Westbrook recalled that she was still a county commissioner when Lee introduced Cary Johnson, an Astoria building contractor and elected director of the Clatsop Soil and Water Conservation District, and made a motion to appoint him to the planning commission.Johnson was appointed that day.
Johnson, in turn, approached newcomers Christine Bridgens, a Warrenton floral designer, and Mike Autio, an Astoria attorney. Bridgens said she'd been interested in land use and property rights. She spoke to Johnson, and he gave her an application.That's three of the members who voted for approval of the Bradwood Landing LNG project.
Twice staff recommended denial of the project. Twice the Planning Commission recommended approval (though with conditions.)
Big projects, small projectsThe Planning Commission in recent weeks has almost made a habit of approving land-use changes, in spite of staff recommendations.
On Sept. 11, when many Americans' minds were on other matters, Lee's own business dealings and county government intersected.
Lee, in addition to being a county commissioner, is one of the largest private landowners in Clatsop County. The ruling that day - overshadowed in the headlines by a completely separate and rather smelly land-use battle in Warrenton - concerned a request for a 35-foot variance to the 60-foot setback requirement from an arterial street for his RV park, southeast of the Miles Crossing-Jeffers Gardens intersection.
The request, from Butch Parker, asked permission for the RVs - placed on land owned by Lee - to be set within 25 feet of the road. County planner Michael Weston recommended denial, saying the applicant is held to the same standard as other businesses. He felt there would be a safety risk to campers associated with the decreased setback.
"The inability to pack in a couple more RVs does not satisfy the criteria or definition of a hardship," said his report.The staff findings noted that Lee owns land that is zoned "exclusive farm use" and is currently developed ... as a golf course.
'The cookies were in'Other unsuccessful applicants to the Clatsop County Planning Commission now have publicly expressed concerns that have been previously only spoken about in hushed tones around the county courthouse for the past few years.
"I think the cookies were in," said George McCartin, of Astoria. He said county commissioners' minds were made up before he applied.McCartin said the county wanted someone with experience. His is considerable: he has served as a planning hearing officer for the federal government.
McCartin said he's been overlooked two times."I think they definitely wanted to pick people who were going to support LNG," he said.
Marc Auerbach, of Birkenfeld, who had served one term on the Planning Commission, was unceremoniously dumped, even though county staff considered him a well-prepared member of the commission. He re-applied for a second term, but was not asked back.
A newcomer, Robert Stang, of Astoria, a strong opponent of LNG, said he thought of himself as well qualified for the Planning Commission. If county commissioners were interested, he said, they would have offered him a position.
David Graves, of Astoria, applied, offering a fresh insight. He said he is retired and new to the area, so he "would have been a complete outsider coming in.
"Interviews in the old daysWhen he was appointed to the commission about 11 years ago, current Planning Commission Chairman Bruce Francis said a panel of commissioners and county employees interviewed about a dozen applicants.
The Warrenton resident said he thought there were a lot more people interested in being on the Commission at that time. "We had an interview process back in those days," he said.
Francis said the senior planner at the time said he made sense. "If you go to too many planners, and make too much sense, you get appointed," he said.
Bill Harris - a Warrenton resident serving his second term on the Planning Commission - said he wasn't interviewed, other than by phone by other planning commissioners. He said he found out about the opening through the newspaper."It's good to have new blood coming in," he said. "But there needs to be some continuity going forward."But he said he was surprised when Auerbach wasn't chosen to remain.
Auerbach attended all the meetings. "He came, he was well prepared, he was very good at seeking out information," Harris said.He is surprised to see how things turn out."When somebody wants to be involved and is cut out, I didn't think that was a very smart move," he said.
From KAST Cost Watch Blog: One OF 7 Planning Commissioners Speaks Out.
This person identifies themself as one of the 7 County Planning Commissioners by the name of "Chris"?
Could that be "Christine Bridgens" somehow related to Bob Bridgens, Lee's right hand back up spokesman/organizer for Lee's "Citizens For Elections Not Recalls" Group.
Is she speaking for The Planning Commision?
The reasons for recall given by the trio on your show Wednesday are nothing more than an attempt to distract voters into focusing on gossip and personal opinions of Mr. Lee.
Each of their accusations falls far short of being accurate.
As one of the 7 planning commissioners, I know for a fact that Commissioner Lee did not "hand pick" planning commissioners, nor does he manipulate decisions made by the PC's or the Board of Commissioners.
Your commissioners are strong, competent representatives for this county, and I know that they can be trusted to think for themselves.
I don't believe that Richard Lee would have known who I was if he had seen me somewhere before I was appointed, and he surely had no idea of my land use opinions.
So much for the ominous "connection" to Mr. Lee.
More disturbing than that was Ms. Westbrook's, Mr. Wirfs' and Mr. Rokka's statement that the recall had virtually nothing to do with LNG.
I have been closely involved in the LNG hearings (and voluminous study) for the past 10 months and this recall is absolutely about LNG, and the recall group would like very much to silence those who disagree with them.
They had some success with this at one of the hearings held at the Libery Theater when they stopped testimony of carpentry students by telling them that they didn't know enough about it to testify.
Shameful! I hope voters will look through the fog to the truth. It is unhealthy for our community to let this narrowly-focused, anti-development, smear & destroy group manipulate its way into power in Clatsop County.
Could that be "Christine Bridgens" somehow related to Bob Bridgens, Lee's right hand back up spokesman/organizer for Lee's "Citizens For Elections Not Recalls" Group.
Is she speaking for The Planning Commision?
The reasons for recall given by the trio on your show Wednesday are nothing more than an attempt to distract voters into focusing on gossip and personal opinions of Mr. Lee.
Each of their accusations falls far short of being accurate.
As one of the 7 planning commissioners, I know for a fact that Commissioner Lee did not "hand pick" planning commissioners, nor does he manipulate decisions made by the PC's or the Board of Commissioners.
Your commissioners are strong, competent representatives for this county, and I know that they can be trusted to think for themselves.
I don't believe that Richard Lee would have known who I was if he had seen me somewhere before I was appointed, and he surely had no idea of my land use opinions.
So much for the ominous "connection" to Mr. Lee.
More disturbing than that was Ms. Westbrook's, Mr. Wirfs' and Mr. Rokka's statement that the recall had virtually nothing to do with LNG.
I have been closely involved in the LNG hearings (and voluminous study) for the past 10 months and this recall is absolutely about LNG, and the recall group would like very much to silence those who disagree with them.
They had some success with this at one of the hearings held at the Libery Theater when they stopped testimony of carpentry students by telling them that they didn't know enough about it to testify.
Shameful! I hope voters will look through the fog to the truth. It is unhealthy for our community to let this narrowly-focused, anti-development, smear & destroy group manipulate its way into power in Clatsop County.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Betsy Johnson Investigation Brings New Details
Documents Detail State Sen. Johnson's Strong Talk .
"In his memo, Tammen wrote that Johnson said "she would do everything in her power to protect herself (from Williamson's accusations) and that anyone or any organization associated with (Williamson's) effort should be so warned." "
by Brent Walth, The Oregonian
Tuesday March 04, 2008, 9:50 PM
State Sen. Betsy Johnson last fall tried to get the private computer files of a longtime political foe and used a threat to pressure the maritime group he worked for to release them, interviews and newly released documents show.
She didn't succeed, but the incident sheds light on a portion of the investigation the FBI is now conducting into Johnson, D-Scappoose, a powerful member of the Oregon Legislature.
Click Link Below For Full Story
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/documents_detail_state_sen_joh.html
"In his memo, Tammen wrote that Johnson said "she would do everything in her power to protect herself (from Williamson's accusations) and that anyone or any organization associated with (Williamson's) effort should be so warned." "
by Brent Walth, The Oregonian
Tuesday March 04, 2008, 9:50 PM
State Sen. Betsy Johnson last fall tried to get the private computer files of a longtime political foe and used a threat to pressure the maritime group he worked for to release them, interviews and newly released documents show.
She didn't succeed, but the incident sheds light on a portion of the investigation the FBI is now conducting into Johnson, D-Scappoose, a powerful member of the Oregon Legislature.
Click Link Below For Full Story
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/documents_detail_state_sen_joh.html
The Daily Astorian Says Lee Breaks His Silence With Them!!!
Look for story in today's "Print Edition" and "Online Editions"
Richard Lee Developments: Current Un-Met Conditions From February 8, 2008
This information taken directly from a letter dated February 8, 2008 from Clatsop County regarding current conditions, met and un-met.
This is the current, as of that date, un-met conditions:
R.V. Park:
The conditions of approval from the January 31, 2005 Clatsop County Hearings Officer decision for the Lee RV Park Conditional Use Permit are listed below. The County's determination as to the adherence to each condition follows:
2. Development shall comply with all applicable state, federal and local laws.
Condition not met. See discussion under Condition No. 3 below.
3. Prior to construction, the applicant shall obtain a Clatsop County development permit and a county building permit. The construction of the RV Park, accessory uses to the park and associated commercial uses shall comply with all requirements of the ORegon State Specialty Code and OAR(9)18-650-0000 through (9)18-650-0080 entitled Recreation Parks and Organizational Camps.
Condition not met. The appliocant has not remitted RV Park design and construction plans to the Clatsop County Building Codes Division to satisfy the requirements of OAR(9)18-650-0000 through OAR(9)18-650-0080.
6. Applicant shall detail walkways within the park including access locations to open space (golf course) areas.
Condition not met. See Condition No. 3 above.
11. Two additional fire hydrants shall be provided on site as as required by the State Fire Marshall.
Condition not met. Contact State Fire Marshall ay (503) 325-5515 x-24 for more details.
Golf Course:
The conditions of approval from March 13, 2003 Clatsop County Hearings Officer decision for the Lee Golf Course Conditional Use Permit are listed below. The County's determination as to the applicants adherence to each condition follows:
1. A final design layout showing the golf course with 50-foot riparian setback noted, shall be provided to Community Development prior to development sign-off.
Condition not met. The CUP was approved 3/13/03. The applicant applied for a development permit (#20070797) for the golf course on 11/20/07. For reasons described in momoranda dated, 10/18/07, 10/25/07 and 1219/07, the Planning Department deemed the application incomplete on 11/21/07. The applicant submitted a final design layout plan for the golf course on 01/22/08. Development sign-off for the golf course is pending in the County's review of the final layout plan and documentation by the applicant that all outstanding issues contained in the aforementioned memoranda have been satisfied.
3. Land disturbing activities in conjunction with preparing the site for the golf course shall be conducted in conformance with the standards in, Section S2.500-2.504.
Condition Indeterminable. See discussuin under Condition No. 1. Since development permit for the golf course was not applied for nor issued prior to commencement of construction acitivities for the golf course, it is not known if land disturbing activities were done in accordance with Section S2.500-2.504.
6. Applicant shall comply with any requirements for a fill permit as it may relate to the parking lot and out buildings
Condition Indeterminable. See discussuin under Condition No. 1. Since development permit for the golf course was not applied for nor issued prior to commencement of construction acitivities for the golf course, it is not known if land fill activities occurred and if so, if these activities were done in accordance with applicable development standards.
7. The property owner shall obtain all required development and building permits and approvals prior to construction. A flood hazard permit shall be applied for and approved for the golf course out building.
Condition not met. See discussion under Condition No.1
Several divisions of land involving a portion of the golf course property occured between 1984 and 2001 without benefit of land use approval. Section 2.050(2) of the Clatsop County Land and Water Development and Use Ordinance reads, "The director shall not issue a development permit for the improvement or use of land that has been previously divided or otherwise developed in violation of this ordinance....". The applicant must rectify this situation (through use partitioning, property lines adjustments or other appropriate means) before additional permits may be issued for improvement or use of the golf course property.
To date, the applicant has not applied for a golf course out building. On two seperate occasions, the Community Development Dept. issued development permits(#20070226 and #20070651) for a golf course out building but the applicant voided one and changed the use classification to a residential (RV) storage building on the other.
8. All construction activities shall follow the Erosion Control Measures under Standards Section S4-304. The erosion control plan shall be submitted when applying for a development/building permit
Condition not met. See discussion under Conditions No.'s 1 and 3.
There were 21 items total to address. The preceeding is what is left.
March 3, 2008: Clatsop County Community Development confirms the following information: "Mr. Lee does not have all of the permits required to complete the RV park. The work that he is doing at this point is permitted. We have issued partial site work permits for utilities only for site "B" and utilities and park model set up permits for site "A". Plans for the remainder of the site, the overall site and the required bath houses have not been submitted, approved or permitted."
This is the current, as of that date, un-met conditions:
R.V. Park:
The conditions of approval from the January 31, 2005 Clatsop County Hearings Officer decision for the Lee RV Park Conditional Use Permit are listed below. The County's determination as to the adherence to each condition follows:
2. Development shall comply with all applicable state, federal and local laws.
Condition not met. See discussion under Condition No. 3 below.
3. Prior to construction, the applicant shall obtain a Clatsop County development permit and a county building permit. The construction of the RV Park, accessory uses to the park and associated commercial uses shall comply with all requirements of the ORegon State Specialty Code and OAR(9)18-650-0000 through (9)18-650-0080 entitled Recreation Parks and Organizational Camps.
Condition not met. The appliocant has not remitted RV Park design and construction plans to the Clatsop County Building Codes Division to satisfy the requirements of OAR(9)18-650-0000 through OAR(9)18-650-0080.
6. Applicant shall detail walkways within the park including access locations to open space (golf course) areas.
Condition not met. See Condition No. 3 above.
11. Two additional fire hydrants shall be provided on site as as required by the State Fire Marshall.
Condition not met. Contact State Fire Marshall ay (503) 325-5515 x-24 for more details.
Golf Course:
The conditions of approval from March 13, 2003 Clatsop County Hearings Officer decision for the Lee Golf Course Conditional Use Permit are listed below. The County's determination as to the applicants adherence to each condition follows:
1. A final design layout showing the golf course with 50-foot riparian setback noted, shall be provided to Community Development prior to development sign-off.
Condition not met. The CUP was approved 3/13/03. The applicant applied for a development permit (#20070797) for the golf course on 11/20/07. For reasons described in momoranda dated, 10/18/07, 10/25/07 and 1219/07, the Planning Department deemed the application incomplete on 11/21/07. The applicant submitted a final design layout plan for the golf course on 01/22/08. Development sign-off for the golf course is pending in the County's review of the final layout plan and documentation by the applicant that all outstanding issues contained in the aforementioned memoranda have been satisfied.
3. Land disturbing activities in conjunction with preparing the site for the golf course shall be conducted in conformance with the standards in, Section S2.500-2.504.
Condition Indeterminable. See discussuin under Condition No. 1. Since development permit for the golf course was not applied for nor issued prior to commencement of construction acitivities for the golf course, it is not known if land disturbing activities were done in accordance with Section S2.500-2.504.
6. Applicant shall comply with any requirements for a fill permit as it may relate to the parking lot and out buildings
Condition Indeterminable. See discussuin under Condition No. 1. Since development permit for the golf course was not applied for nor issued prior to commencement of construction acitivities for the golf course, it is not known if land fill activities occurred and if so, if these activities were done in accordance with applicable development standards.
7. The property owner shall obtain all required development and building permits and approvals prior to construction. A flood hazard permit shall be applied for and approved for the golf course out building.
Condition not met. See discussion under Condition No.1
Several divisions of land involving a portion of the golf course property occured between 1984 and 2001 without benefit of land use approval. Section 2.050(2) of the Clatsop County Land and Water Development and Use Ordinance reads, "The director shall not issue a development permit for the improvement or use of land that has been previously divided or otherwise developed in violation of this ordinance....". The applicant must rectify this situation (through use partitioning, property lines adjustments or other appropriate means) before additional permits may be issued for improvement or use of the golf course property.
To date, the applicant has not applied for a golf course out building. On two seperate occasions, the Community Development Dept. issued development permits(#20070226 and #20070651) for a golf course out building but the applicant voided one and changed the use classification to a residential (RV) storage building on the other.
8. All construction activities shall follow the Erosion Control Measures under Standards Section S4-304. The erosion control plan shall be submitted when applying for a development/building permit
Condition not met. See discussion under Conditions No.'s 1 and 3.
There were 21 items total to address. The preceeding is what is left.
March 3, 2008: Clatsop County Community Development confirms the following information: "Mr. Lee does not have all of the permits required to complete the RV park. The work that he is doing at this point is permitted. We have issued partial site work permits for utilities only for site "B" and utilities and park model set up permits for site "A". Plans for the remainder of the site, the overall site and the required bath houses have not been submitted, approved or permitted."
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
2/12/2008 Excerpt From The Daily Astorian
2/12/2008 10:37:00 AM
Criminal investigator probes Lee Attorneys say commissioner’s actions are 'adverse to county’
By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian
The Oregon Department of Justice is investigating Commissioner Richard Lee.
Though he would not give any details, Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin confirmed Monday the investigation has been going on for approximately two weeks.
Page McBeth, a criminal investigator in the Criminal Justice Division, is in charge of the investigation.
McBeth has interviewed a number of people inside and outside county government about Lee, Bergin said.
So, if the presumed fabricated article about an Oregon D.O.J. investigation of Richard Lee is indeed true, would that mean Sheriff Tom Bergin and D.O.J. Investigator McBeth would be in collusion with the Daily "A"as well?
Criminal investigator probes Lee Attorneys say commissioner’s actions are 'adverse to county’
By JOE GAMM - The Daily Astorian
The Oregon Department of Justice is investigating Commissioner Richard Lee.
Though he would not give any details, Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin confirmed Monday the investigation has been going on for approximately two weeks.
Page McBeth, a criminal investigator in the Criminal Justice Division, is in charge of the investigation.
McBeth has interviewed a number of people inside and outside county government about Lee, Bergin said.
So, if the presumed fabricated article about an Oregon D.O.J. investigation of Richard Lee is indeed true, would that mean Sheriff Tom Bergin and D.O.J. Investigator McBeth would be in collusion with the Daily "A"as well?
Richard Lee:RV Park/Golf Course Current Permit Status
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 - In response to a question by a KAST-AM listener to Mr. Lee as to whether all his permits were current on his projects to which Lee stated, in essence, to the best of his knowlege they were.
Clatsop County Community Development confirms the following information: "Mr. Lee does not have all of the permits required to complete the RV park. The work that he is doing at this point is permitted. We have issued partial site work permits for utilities only for site "B" and utilities and park model set up permits for site "A". Plans for the remainder of the site, the overall site and the required bath houses have not been submitted, approved or permitted."
Clatsop County Community Development confirms the following information: "Mr. Lee does not have all of the permits required to complete the RV park. The work that he is doing at this point is permitted. We have issued partial site work permits for utilities only for site "B" and utilities and park model set up permits for site "A". Plans for the remainder of the site, the overall site and the required bath houses have not been submitted, approved or permitted."
LNG:Bradwood/Northern Star NG And What Is Their "Commercial Client
From Northern Star Community Liason, Peter Hackett to my query as to exactly what is meant by the term.... "Commercial Client".
Strangely, no mention of the proposed Palomar Pipeline?
(Hackett says...We(You and Me) will have to call Palomar for the status of that project....?)
The pipeline has a tap to the GP mill in Wauna……………and another to all industries at the Port of St Helens as well.
Ethanol and NG fired power plants.
No contracts for sales of gas……………….that happens after permitting……….and contracts for supply.
Pipelines have open capacity……….........Bradwood is a Tolling Facility (This means that companies will sign long-term terminal use agreements that will give LNG sellers access to the US market, and US natural gas buyers access to the global supplies of LNG).…………we provide a service………..storage and regasification of LNG.
Natural Gas leaving Bradwood will go to Kelso and the Williams Pipeline……….NG currently in the WP will be eventually displaced by “price taking” , lower priced LNG that gets regasified at Bradwood.
Residential and Commercial natural gas customers that use Williams will be using NG from Bradwood, as contracts are negotiated for supply.
Natural Gas Utilities in the NW would be commercial clients…………………..GP could buy gas directly………….as well as the industries at the Port of SH
Strangely, no mention of the proposed Palomar Pipeline?
(Hackett says...We(You and Me) will have to call Palomar for the status of that project....?)
The pipeline has a tap to the GP mill in Wauna……………and another to all industries at the Port of St Helens as well.
Ethanol and NG fired power plants.
No contracts for sales of gas……………….that happens after permitting……….and contracts for supply.
Pipelines have open capacity……….........Bradwood is a Tolling Facility (This means that companies will sign long-term terminal use agreements that will give LNG sellers access to the US market, and US natural gas buyers access to the global supplies of LNG).…………we provide a service………..storage and regasification of LNG.
Natural Gas leaving Bradwood will go to Kelso and the Williams Pipeline……….NG currently in the WP will be eventually displaced by “price taking” , lower priced LNG that gets regasified at Bradwood.
Residential and Commercial natural gas customers that use Williams will be using NG from Bradwood, as contracts are negotiated for supply.
Natural Gas Utilities in the NW would be commercial clients…………………..GP could buy gas directly………….as well as the industries at the Port of SH
And These People Are Extreme Activists?
The following people have graciously agreed to publicly endorse CCFOG's Recall effort.
"Extreme Activists"?....So says Richard Lee's Website Of Lee Facts!
Roger Rocka
Jan Mitchell
Carol Ray
Charlie Ray
Shel Cantor
Marc Auerbach
Mark Stefanelli
Troy Horton
McLaren Innes
Erin Moore
Peter Huhtala
Burr Allegaert
Lawrence Taylor
Scott Reuter
Helen Westbrook
Jan Coughlin
Nancy Holmes
Lynnette S. Hubert
Gail Galen
Jim Scheller
Josie Peper
Mary Ann Brandon
Leon Jackson
Mary Jackson
Dan Crockett
Jo Pomeroy-Crocket
tRalph M. Wirfs
Jim Coughlin
RD Smith
Carolyn Eady
Deborah McEuen
Karen Kenyon
Joal Morris
Stan Guenther
Joyce Jones-Guenther
Teresa Epstein
Anne S. Phillips
Tina Bigelow
Carol Newman
Pam Birmingham
Jeffrey Birmingham
John Benson
Diana Schafer
Ann Goldeen
Lori Durheim
Margot Visher
Ian Boggs
Nelson Yaple
Lynne Cavin
Jim Brien
Deborah Jaques
Don West
Lon C. Mathis
"Extreme Activists"?....So says Richard Lee's Website Of Lee Facts!
Roger Rocka
Jan Mitchell
Carol Ray
Charlie Ray
Shel Cantor
Marc Auerbach
Mark Stefanelli
Troy Horton
McLaren Innes
Erin Moore
Peter Huhtala
Burr Allegaert
Lawrence Taylor
Scott Reuter
Helen Westbrook
Jan Coughlin
Nancy Holmes
Lynnette S. Hubert
Gail Galen
Jim Scheller
Josie Peper
Mary Ann Brandon
Leon Jackson
Mary Jackson
Dan Crockett
Jo Pomeroy-Crocket
tRalph M. Wirfs
Jim Coughlin
RD Smith
Carolyn Eady
Deborah McEuen
Karen Kenyon
Joal Morris
Stan Guenther
Joyce Jones-Guenther
Teresa Epstein
Anne S. Phillips
Tina Bigelow
Carol Newman
Pam Birmingham
Jeffrey Birmingham
John Benson
Diana Schafer
Ann Goldeen
Lori Durheim
Margot Visher
Ian Boggs
Nelson Yaple
Lynne Cavin
Jim Brien
Deborah Jaques
Don West
Lon C. Mathis
Monday, March 03, 2008
Lee Dubunks Accusations - Lee's Debunkment Debuncked
Anonymous said...
Richard Lee's well-financed political machine, complete with push polls is claiming that the accusations against him are not true. The following is taken exactly from his website; http://www.richardleefacts.com/
Richard Lee's well-financed political machine, complete with push polls is claiming that the accusations against him are not true. The following is taken exactly from his website; http://www.richardleefacts.com/
Accusation: Richard Lee has harmed the future of Clatsop County and its residents through the following actions:Accusation #1: Squandering public funds by choosing to hire planning and management consultants and expensive attorneys but disregarding their professional advice and findings.
LEE: The County Commissioner's hired manager is responsible for these decisions, not the County Commission. The legal and consultant conclusions are balanced against other facts and information presented to the commissioners.
FACT: Lee has been the Chair of the Commission and the chief boss of the County Manager from 2005-2007.The county has paid for studies of the Health Department which were ignored, workload studies of the DAs office which were ignored, and most recently disregarded the professional opinion of both the county planners and the specially hired consultants concerning zoning for an LNG terminal. There have rarely been actual discussions at Board meetings chaired by Lee. It's all decided in advance by avoiding public meetings law by meeting privately with the county manager and one other commissioner at a time._____________________
Accusation #2: Undermining common values, adopted plans, established policies, and regulations of the County.
LEE: These are tied to the responsibilities of the County Manager not an individual county commissioner. There is no substance here and there are no specifics.
FACT: The report issued by all four regular county lawyers and another lawyer hired just to deal with all the legal problems Lee has created say that "Commissioner Richard Lee is a land developer who has not complied with conditional use permits and letters from the Planning Department staff requesting compliance, and who has issues of non-compliance with the Building Codes Department. He is a resistant and non-compliant Planning Department customer. Commissioner Lee and his wife have been confrontational in private dealings with Planning Staff and Building Code Officials"_____________________
Accusation #3: Failing to be open and transparent in decision-making and development of policy, violating the spirit of the public meetings law.
LEE: An outright lie. These accusations are rooted in past political wars with the DA and environmental extremist who seem to be working in collusion to oust Lee.
FACT: Lee handpicked members of both the budget and planning committee to carry out personal and business agendas. He has hated the DA since he was prosecuted for game violations in the early 90's and later for running an unlicensed puppy mill and was prosecuted for refusing to pay the county dog license fees. Lee rarely says anything in Commission meetings, instead meeting with certain other commissioners in bars and behind closed doors with the county manager._____________________
Accusation #4: Ignoring and failing to respond to the advice and concerns of paid staff, volunteer committees, and the public.
LEE: The accusers are not willing to be specific and are using these kind of issues to paint a picture that is not true. Of course, Richard Lee isn't in agreement with everyone he comes into contact with, but he has always been honest and forthright.
FACT: Lee was barely re-elected, winning by only 37 votes. He makes it clear the other half of the voters don't count. His district voted FOR Measure 4-123 yet Lee has led the attack on the DA. The County Counsel's report also says:"In spite of Richard Lee's leadership role in County Government and in the community, rather than act in a matter which is above reproach and which reflects a higher standard, Richard and Lynda Lee by their words and conduct appear to seek special treatment and favors to which others would not be entitled. Richard Lee's history of dealings with the County and Lynda Lee's recent behavior has escalated the situation. Richard Lee has hired counsel to represent him on issues arising from any "hostile workplace" allegations. The Lee development remains out of compliance with the law, and at this time they have not indicated any willingness to correct the past areas of neglect or non-compliance. Several potential legal issues related to potential litigation involving the County are raised by the circumstances, including: Wrongful Discharge under Common Law. "____________________
Accusation #5: Manipulating the membership of the Planning Commission in order to control the Planning Commission's decisions and actions.
LEE: Making leadership decisions about Planning Committee members goes with the turf. There is no truth that any decisions related to replacing any Planning Commission member was done for any other reason than for the good of the County.
FACT: Lee went out of his way to remove two planning commissioners who were not in line with his plans for development. Lee frequently attends Planning Commission meetings even though the County Manager discourages County Commissioners from attending for risk of prejudicing the Planning Commission proceedings.__________________________
Accusation #6: Endangering the public and disregarding public safety by failing to require funding guarantees for emergency services and personnel from major industrial proposals.
LEE: An outrageous claim that is simply a lie. First of all, no single County Commissioner could ever be personally responsible for such actions since it takes a majority of the commission to ratify any policy. In addition, the management of county policies and administrative duties is the responsibility of the County Manager. Perioid.(sic)
FACT: Lee has made it clear he's out to "get" the DA who has been elected county-wide 4 times. He has not supported public safety issues and has attacked the Sheriff and the DA repeatedly. As Chair of the Commission he made sure that the first cuts in the county budget would come out of the DA's office. Lee campaigned for two other commissioners who regularly vote with him on virtually every issue.He voted to make the Clatsop DA the lowest paid DA in Oregon and personally bought thousands of dollars of advertising falsely claiming that Measure 4-123 (which passed in his district) would make the Clatsop DA the highest paid in the state. The truth was if 4-123 had passed the Clatsop DA would have been anywhere between the 10th and 17th highest paid DA out of 36.__________________________
Accusation #7: Creating a divisive environment that is acrimonious and counter-productive in doing the publics business.
LEE: These are a small group of extremist views. What is more divisive and harmful to community good will than a re-call petition which is put forward maliciously and without merit for political gain. The accusers have no facts or substantiation or fact to back their claim.
FACT: Extremist views? Anyone who doesn't go along with Lee's program is apparently an extremist. Under Lee so-called "leadership" the Clatsop County Commission has been called a joke by journalists and others outside of Clatsop County. The very fact that so many voters feel he's doing such a terrible job is evidence of how divisive Lee is. Lee has hired a lawyer to SUE the county he claims to serve.
Know What This Is?
The inside of just one of 5 tanks on an LNG tanker to be filled to the top with Liquefied Natural Gas artificially kept super refrigerated to -260 degrees F.
Have you read much about "Open Ocean Piracy" these days?
You should.
Google it up.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Now's The Time To Test The "Secret By-Pass"
We hear that some serious street work is going to be done downtown at 14th street and will involve disruption for a eek or so.
Now's the time to test Marine Drive from 8th to 16th as a two way street to see how conveniently it could circuit traffic anf trucks through the downtown core which seems to be our major bone of contention by our local truckers.
Give it a try, see how it works. Maybe it will show we don't need a By-Pass after all.
Of course that may put a kink in, prophesied, Wal-Mart's plans out in Miles Crossing and Warrenton Parkway wouldn't it?
Never mind.
Now's the time to test Marine Drive from 8th to 16th as a two way street to see how conveniently it could circuit traffic anf trucks through the downtown core which seems to be our major bone of contention by our local truckers.
Give it a try, see how it works. Maybe it will show we don't need a By-Pass after all.
Of course that may put a kink in, prophesied, Wal-Mart's plans out in Miles Crossing and Warrenton Parkway wouldn't it?
Never mind.
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