Lessons From the Lot
If you’d have told me when we moved here fulltime in 2020 that I’d be supporting Heron’s Rest, a planned unit development on the 3rd Street lot that neighbors and I opposed in 2017, I would’ve wondered what you were smoking.
In the four years since I started writing these posts, I’ve learned something about Oregon land use goals and laws, city and county ordinances, and the rules and processes of municipal government. As I’ve learned, my perspective has changed as perspectives will do when wishful thinking runs into reality.
What I’ve learned is that the rules are the rules and if we don’t like how they work, we can change them but it’s going to take more people than just us and it’s going to take time—a lot of time—to get it done. And because we live in communities with other people it’s also going to take discussions with folks who hold different opinions and have different perspectives, ideas, and agendas. Some of those discussions will be difficult but ultimately worthwhile. None of us are going to get everything we want and that’s where compromise comes in.
In the summer of 2020, I discovered the new owner of the 3rd Street lot, Nate Palmer, had an application for a wetland delineation with the Department of State Lands. The first iteration of a plan for development had been denied in 2017. Neighbors who were in opposition to that plan (including my husband and I) believed that since it was denied, it was over, but when people buy property they have a right to use that property for whatever is allowed in the zone where it’s located, as long as they follow the ordinances.
I was angry about the clearcutting that happened back in December of 2016 before the lot was sold. It was designated Open Space land. There were supposed to be permits, an arborists report, a tree replanting plan and a wetland delineation before the previous owner could clearcut but none of those documents existed because none of those things happened. Nothing is easier to blame than the government or developers when you’re mad and what was supposed to happen just didn’t.
Scott Imholt, the builder for the 3rd Street project, responded to a misguided post I’d written. I replied. We met up at the lot on a freezing cold day and he listened to my frustrations, my conspiracy theories and how genuinely sad I was. I listened to him explain the stuff I didn’t understand about land use and ordinances.
What I remember from that first conversation was him saying, things change and change is hard.
Of course, I know the truth of that but like most people I don’t want what I love to end. I loved that piece of forest in the center of town. It felt like someone I loved died.
My first conversation with Scott led to more conversations about the lot and their proposed development and how to make it not suck for me and my neighbors.
Well, it doesn’t suck.
Scott and Nate met with us more than once and have communicated with us throughout the process. We’ve seen numerous iterations of their plan as they worked through the design to get to where it is now. They’ve been responsive to our concerns. They’ve addressed stuff like blowing sand in the summer and standing water in the winter. Their development has changed shape and their architect, Jim Fanjoy has designed a development with treed green space and wildlife pass throughs in the fencing. All the houses are small at 650 square feet with one or two bedrooms. Only 11 of them are two-level garage units. Fifteen of the units are single level with shared parking which will attract people who want to be in walking distance to town and the beach. The single level homes will back the existing single level homes, so my neighbors will maintain their privacy. A one way punch through from 3rd to Hallie will contain the parking within the development. They’ve listened and responded to us. And they’ve followed the ordinances we have to a T.
People buying these homes will be choosing a small home with shared parking in a walkable neighborhood. Maybe, like Classic Cottages more fulltime people will choose to relocate here. The traffic study that was done over the summer supports fewer parking spaces which will allow more trees, more permeable surface area and more green space. The homes will fit in with the existing surrounding neighborhood. We’ll still see Neahkahnie and not a skyline of big houses looming over Laneda.
We’re all responsible for the world we’ve created. The “government” that we seem to love to hate are just a bunch of regular people doing the jobs that keep things running. If we want to change things, we’re going to have to follow the rules we have and collaborate and compromise with other people to do it.
And developers? They’re the people who create jobs and build homes and businesses in communities. Palmer and Imholt have developed work force housing in Bay City, and now they want to build a neighborhood of small homes in the center of Manzanita. I believe they love this place and want to make something good happen.
It’s easy to blame other people when things don’t go the way I want them to. It’s easy to have an agenda when I’m angry about something and holding on tight to that anger. And creating a conspiracy when I don’t know all the facts about something or don’t want to accept them is crazy easy.
In a recent email to me, Nate wrote, “Great things happen when people from different backgrounds work together with good intentions!”
Yes, they can, and they do!
To see the application and materials check out the Planning Commission webpage.
ci.manzanita.or.us/240001-s-3rd-hallie-ln/
To submit a written comment as part of the public record please reference application number 24001 Heron’s Rest.
ci.manzanita.or.us/planning-commission/
Kim Rosenberg loretta.kim.rosenberg@gmail.com
