Public hearing on short‑term rental rules for coastal residential zones continued to July 23 after Cove Beach residents urged keeping a seven‑night turnover cap

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on Ordinance 25‑10, which would move short‑term rental operating standards for coastal residential zones back to the standards in section 5.12 (reversing an unimplemented 2022 change). After public comment, the board continued the hearing and scheduled a second reading and further consideration for the July 23 regular meeting.

Gail Henriksen, Community Development Director, told the board that the amendment would remove four words from chapter 5.24 so that short‑term rentals in coastal residential areas would “by default then go back to section 5.12 where they originally resided and were governed,” and explained the practical difference: under Arch Cape rules an operator could restrict rentals to one booking per seven‑day period, while section 5.12 would allow more frequent turnover.

Several Cove Beach residents spoke during the remote public comment period. Scott Harn (79238 Ray Brown Road) testified in support of Ordinance 25‑10 and told the board that reversing the 2022 change “demonstrates good governance” because the 2022 standards were not implemented with a public hearing. Jeff (Denise) Davis (79432 Ray Brown Road) said Cove Beach has narrow gravel roads and high STR concentration and asked the board to preserve the seven‑night turnover limitation for Cove Beach to reduce road wear and protect emergency access. Nancy Chase (79089 Tide Road) told the board she supported the ordinance as written and said enforcing the seven‑night limit was important for livability and code enforcement consistency.

Following public comment, a commissioner moved and seconded to continue the public hearing to the board’s July 23 regular meeting and to conduct the second reading at that time; the motion carried on an affirmative voice vote.