CANNON BEACH — In a decision that will likely be appealed to the City Council, the Design Review Board on Oct. 19 denied an application by the city to transform the former elementary school and NeCus’ Park site into a destination honoring tribal heritage.

After two dozen public meetings and several months of working with a design architect, the city developed a $12 million design plan to redevelop the property into an interpretive, educational and cultural events facility that honors the history of the Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes.

The Design Review Board held a public hearing on the plan in September, which continued to give the city and its Portland-based design architect, CIDA Inc., time to review some of the concerns and questions raised and amend some aspects of the plan.

The board, which denied the landscape design, architectural design and site plan, echoed similar concerns by some in the community about the cost and scope of landscaping, traffic and pedestrian access and the overall design being out of step with Cannon Beach’s small, village character.

Anita Dueber, a board member and owner of Bistro, said she is concerned that a “welcoming woman” statue planned for the site’s entrance and a green metal roof would be the first thing visitors would see coming into Cannon Beach.

“It just seems really extravagant by design — beautiful — but whether it really fits the character of Cannon Beach is something that I’m struggling with,” she said. “Is that becoming the new icon of Cannon Beach? It won’t be Haystack Rock. It’s going to be the big green metal roof of the building when you drive into town.”

Dueber said that overall, the design “just feels very, very urbanized and large for our little town.”

Project leaders indicated that the decision would be appealed to the City Council.

In July, the City Council approved a lodging tax increase from 8% to 9.5%, which is expected to help generate about $1 million annually. The revenue is expected to help close the funding gap on the redevelopment project, as well as the construction of a new City Hall and police station.

The elementary school property has three buildings, including a 7,000-square-foot gymnasium, a 4,500-square-foot, one-story building with classrooms and a 3,300-square-foot building used by the Cannon Beach Food Pantry. The gymnasium and classroom buildings have been vacant since 2013 — when the school closed due to tsunami fears — and are in poor condition.

The food pantry is expected to be incorporated into the project.

The gymnasium, lobby and classrooms could be used for events, festivals, meetings, private events and recreation.

The landscape plan includes an interpretive trail, native plant garden and public spaces.

Dustin Johnson, the principal architect with CIDA, noted that the design was created with the input of the community.

“This is what they wanted,” he said. “I’m not saying this is what everybody wants. But this was a design influenced by many, many of the public.

“We’re proud of it. We understand it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. But I am confident having been giving those surveys and talking to many of your fellow Cannon Beach residents and business owners, this is going to be a popular place. It’s going to be beloved.”