Highlights of Wednesday Sept. 12th Clatsop County Commissioners Meeting.

Design guidelines approved

The board approved a set of design guidelines for the county’s North Coast Business Park in Warrenton. The guidelines, developed from covenants, conditions and restrictions adopted by the board last December, cover the 190 acres of the park designated for industrial and office use and are aimed at maintaining visual identity and continuity through rules covering signage, landscaping, structural appearance, parking and other development features.

The board also appointed a Design Review Committee consisting of Board Chairman Peter Huhtala, Community Development Director Hiller West and Assistant County Manager Nicole Williams. The committee will eventually turn over its authority to an owners association when the parcels in the business park are sold.

Bridge project approved

The board approved a $108,965 contract with Bergerson Construction for repairs to Ziak Bridge on Ziak-Gnat Creek Road in Knappa. The project involves replacing decayed pilings and backwalls and constructing a new wingwall structure.

The project was originally less extensive, but the Road Division determined that the expanded work would be more cost-effective in the long run. To cover the added cost the division deferred another planned bridge repair project.

In coordination with the bridge project, the Road Division is working with PacifiCorp, CenturyLink and local landowners on a plan to install underground some overhead utility lines linked to a number of migratory bird deaths.

Transportation plan amended

The board approved an amendment to the county’s Transportation System Plan that adds the proposed construction of a new access road for the Wahkiakum Ferry landing in the community of Westport.

The county plans to pursue construction of a new road linking the ferry landing to Highway 30. The new road would be located to the west of the existing route, which runs past several residences. The county is currently pursuing state funding for the project.

Other Business

In other business the board:

-Approved a contract with the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment for a $130,000 grant to fund the implementation of recommendations from the recently completed Joint Land Use Study conducted by Clatsop County and the Oregon Military Department on development surrounding Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center. The grant will also cover the preparation of a sub-area plan covering the north Clatsop Plains area.

-Approved a Road Event Permit for the organizers of the Bridges to Breakers benefit cycling event. The event is expected to bring an estimated 150 bicycle riders through the county Sept. 23 along a route including Highway 202, Youngs River Road, Tucker Creek Road, Lewis and Clark Road and Highway 101 to the finish at Gearhart.

-Approved an application from the Campbell Group for a “similar use” designation zone to relocate its timber management and operations facility from its current site on Lewis and Clark Road east of Seaside to another location in the Forest 80 land-use zone.