Clatsop County staff presented several land-use and administrative items and the board acted on procedural motions while continuing most of the substantive land-use hearings to allow further review.

Planning Manager David Cook summarized Ordinance 25-08, a comprehensive-plan update that would repeal and replace Goal 16 (Estuarine Resources) and Goal 17 (Coastal Shorelines), digitize estuarine and shoreline maps, and modernize policy documents. Cook said staff had hosted technical and public outreach and recommended continuing the hearing to the Jan. 28 meeting to allow commissioners more time to review the lengthy materials.

Staff also presented Ordinance 25-16, an annual update to the Land and Water Development Code that implements 2025 state legislative changes (for example, easing some accessory-dwelling-unit fire-resistance requirements and making code changes to permit childcare centers in some existing community buildings). The board opened the public hearing and continued it to Jan. 28.

County surveyor Vance Swenson presented Ordinance 26-01 proposing to increase a recording fee from $10 to $30 after the state removed the statutory cap, explaining the increase would fund reinstatement of one full-time survey technician to perform statutorily required land-corner preservation work. The board opened the hearing and continued it to Jan. 28.

On administrative code changes, the board held a second reading of Ordinance 25-15 (amending the list of county departments) and voted to adopt that ordinance.

On short-term rentals, staff provided the required annual STR cap update (staff reported 20 new dwellings in cap areas and a net increase of three permitted STRs). One commissioner recused because they manage a short-term rental. The board closed the hearing and continued the STR-cap ordinance to Jan. 28; commissioners asked staff to consider including complaint or livability metrics in future annual updates.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment: Thomas Enk appointed to the 4-H and Extension district budget committee (term to June 2028); motion moved and seconded and carried.
- Motion: Adopted Ordinance 25-15 (administrative code department list) on second reading; motion carried.
- Motions: Multiple public hearings (Ordinances 25-08, 25-16, 26-01, 26-03) were opened and continued to the Jan. 28 meeting for second readings and final action.

Next steps: Several hearings will return Jan. 28 for continued consideration and final votes; staff will share materials to help commissioners prepare.