The city of Gearhart’s plan to amend their urban growth boundary to allow the construction of a new fire station and subdivision on the Highlands site raises a red flag. The Clatsop County zone designation of rural agriculture-2 acre lot minimum size cannot be changed. Oregon’s land-use laws protect agricultural and forest lands.

For starters, an urban growth boundary amendment is a very lengthy process, involving a study to determine the city’s future development needs. Only residential and industrial land are considered buildable, whereas agricultural land is not.

The County Comprehensive Plan states that rural agricultural lands are to be preserved. Residential, commercial and industrial development shall be directed away from these areas designated forest lands, rural agricultural lands, conservation and natural. The plan prohibits increases in residential densities through zone changes and density transfers.

The land swap idea discussed in Gearhart is another violation of land-use laws. Rule 660-024-0070, urban growth boundary adjustments specifies the same residential uses and at the same housing density as the land removed from the urban growth boundary. Agricultural land is not covered under this rule.

The more I studied the fire station $14.5 million bond measure, it was apparent that our Gearhart city officials do not know what they are doing. Please vote no.

Deanna Mancill

Gearhart