Clatsop County staff warn Warrenton subdivision plans could compromise Ridge Road berm, call for turn lane and design review

Clatsop County public works officials told the Board of Commissioners they have concerns about a large subdivision proposed in Warrenton and its potential effects on Ridge Road’s right-of-way, traffic safety and a dune/berm that county staff have relied on in emergency planning.

Public works director Terry Hendricks told the board the Fort Point (also referenced as 4 Point or Floyd Point) subdivision’s phase 1 extends roughly 2,000 feet from the KOA/Fort Stevens entrance and sits adjacent to a 160-foot county right-of-way on Ridge Road. “The center line of the right of way of Ridge Road is 80 feet each side of the center line,” Hendricks said, and the distance from the pavement edge to the utility poles is about 13 feet.

Hendricks said the preliminary design the developer submitted shows removal of vegetation east of the right-of-way, with backyard setbacks of about 15 feet. He warned that cutting the dune could change the sand’s angle of repose and increase exposed height above the road to “22 to 28 feet roughly,” requiring retaining walls or other stabilization. He also said the developer planned the city’s multi‑use path between the roadway and the…