In early August, Oregon Coast Hosts (“OCH”), a group representing short-term rental companies, continued its effort to challenge the new STR ordinance by filing a Notice of Intent to Appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (“LUBA”). The Notice reflects OCH’s position that adopting the ordinance was, in effect, a “land use decision” that the County Commissioners enacted without following the notice procedures required by Oregon’s land use laws. For its part, the county rejects this characterization and considers the new rules to be an ordinary exercise of its governmental authority to regulate the licensing and operation of county businesses (in this case STRs). Meanwhile, the leaders of “Save Our Neighborhoods” are mobilizing a group of county residents and property owners to participate in the LUBA proceeding as intervenors. They intend to submit arguments opposing OCH’s position and supporting the STR ordinance. (Fair Disclosure: your friendly editor served on the county STR Advisory Committee and has signed on to join these “intervenors.”)
LUBA’s involvement may be short-lived, however. While it has legal authority (“jurisdiction”) to decide cases involving “land use decisions,” it has no jurisdiction over mere “business regulations.” Accordingly, LUBA must initially rule on the nature of the ordinance in order to determine whether it can proceed to hear the case at all. Observers expect the county to ask LUBA to dismiss the appeal on that basis, and the Intervenors will support it. The Oceansider will keep you up to date as events proceed.
Earlier this month, representatives of Fusion Lodging briefed local regulators on their conceptual plans for the new hotel proposed at the current site of Oceanside Cabins. Oceanside property owner Steve Ewoldt of Woodblock Architecture is the managing architect on the case and served as Fusion’s chief spokesman. In stark contrast to the controversial design floated two years ago, Ewoldt described a scaled-down project with a Village esthetic. The project is now conceived as a compound with a smaller capacity (17 rooms/suites versus the original 23 units) that will visually present as a series of two- to three-story, multi-colored cabin-like structures featuring individual entrances, peaked roofs and balconies. The project would include off-street parking at street level (avoiding major excavation) and would be broken up to allow for light and views between some of its elevations. (We’re working to get sketches!) The group also plans to preserve space for a restaurant, but questions remain about whether it could serve the general public or just hotel customers, depending on whether it would be required to have its own off-street parking.Based on this preliminary proposal, officials from county, state and local utilities districts provided Fusion with an overview of the regulatory requirements it would need to meet. Ewoldt stated that they would now work on design changes to incorporate those requirements and return to the county for further guidance. Meanwhile, Evold stated that Fusion is in talks with the Oceanside Neighborhood Association board to begin seeking community input on the proposal.
The venerable Oceanside Labor Day Weekend Art Show will take place at the Oceanside Community Hall this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, September 2 and 3. Show hours on both days are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local artists and artisans will display their work for viewing and for sale. Admission is free, and the Oceanside Protection Society community foundation is once again supporting the Show with a grant to cover liability insurance costs for the event.
The annual Labor Day Firefighters “Burnt Sausage and Pancake Breakfast” takes place this Saturday, September 2, from 8-11 a.m. at the Netarts Fire Hall, 1235 5th Street Loop. The event is a fundraiser for the Netarts-Oceanside Volunteer Firefighter’s Association. Adults $10. Kids $5. If you can’t make it in person, donations may be mailed directly to the Netarts-Oceanside Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, P.O. Box 219, Oceanside, OR 97143.
September 2 Annual “Burnt Sausage and Firefighters Breakfast”
Netarts Fire Hall, 8 – 11 a.m.
September 2-3 Oceanside Art Show
Oceanside Community Hall, 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
September 11 Oceanside Community Club Monthly Potluck
Oceanside Community Hall – 6 p.m.
And that’s the view from Oceanside!
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jerrykeene@oceansidernews.com