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Residents and councilors raise enforcement questions after tree clearing at Anchor Storage site
Summary
Public commenters and councilors pressed staff about tree removal and potential code violations at the Anchor Storage development; staff said legal counsel review would be needed before further enforcement steps.
Public comment at the Depoe Bay meeting focused on alleged unauthorized clearing at the Anchor Storage site and whether the city can require remediation under its tree-retention and clearing/ grading rules.
Resident and commenter Eric Sherman and other councilors said large trees had been removed and that historical photos and maps indicate the site had been vegetated prior to the recent work. Eric urged the council to examine enforcement options under the city's tree-retention ordinance (referred to in the record as code section 152076) and said the city should require the developer to restore vegetation where clearing exceeded permitted limits.
Planning staff told the council the facts were not yet fully established in the city record and recommended consulting the city attorney to determine whether a violation can be proven and what remedies or fines apply. Staff said portions of the site have been the subject of stop-work actions in coordination with county authorities in other recent cases and noted that fines and stop-work orders are tools available when work proceeds without required permits.
Councilors requested that staff consult the city attorney, review historical aerial imagery and permitting records, and return with legal options and potential corrective actions. No enforcement order or new permit decision was made at the meeting; staff flagged the matter for attorney review and follow-up to the council.
