Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013
Clatsop County’s Community Development Department is moving forward to implement a land-use study of the Clatsop Plains/Camp Rilea area.
On Wednesday the county board of commissioners approved a contract with a consultant, MIG Inc., to facilitate the development of the North Clatsop Plains Sub-Area Plan. The plan, an addition to the county’s comprehensive land-use plan, will enact recommendations from the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS), a comprehensive project completed last year that examined current and potential compatibility issues between the Camp Rilea military training facility and surrounding residents.
The Sub-Area plan, funded by a $130,000 Department of Defense grant, is due for completion in June 2014. An advisory committee, appointed by the board of commissioners Wednesday, will lead the development of the plan, which will include opportunities for public input.
Clatsop County is seeking two additional members for the advisory panel, specifically from among residents of the study area, which stretches from the south Warrenton city limits to Cullaby Lake. To apply, go to the county website, www.co.clatsop.or.us.
The JLUS study, also DOD-funded, looked at issues of land-use, communications, safety, noise and other areas of possible conflict between Camp Rilea’s military training activities and nearby residential areas. Among recommendations from the study are allowing no increase in density in residential-zoned land, requiring appropriate noise-control measures for new construction, and development of a beach management plan for the shoreline adjacent to Camp Rilea.
The Sub-Area plan will also examine several water-related issues affecting the study area, including water and sewer service and water quality in local lakes.
Camp Rilea was established as a National Guard training site in 1927, and annually hosts as many as 200,000 personnel from U.S. and international military units and state and federal law enforcement agencies for small arms, explosives and urban combat training. The facilities are also made available to public users.
Released by: Tom Bennett
Community Relations Coordinator
(503) 338-3622
