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Cannon Beach food pantry seeks permanent home amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
Dan Beach Community Food Pantry leaders proposed a small permanent building sited in a neighborhood park; board president Tina Vincent said a fixed facility would improve services for hundreds of weekly clients, while residents and some council members raised concerns about trees, parking and tsunami‑zone risk.
Tina Vincent, board president of the Dan Beach Community Food Pantry, told the City Council the pantry needs a permanent, permanent location so it can consistently serve clients. "We fed 624 people last month," Vincent said, urging council to help secure a site that supports the pantry’s operating pattern and client needs.
Vincent and pantry representatives described a proposed 1,500–1,800 square‑foot building on the northwest corner of a small park, saying the site would use mostly unlined gravel parking spaces and would operate primarily on Wednesdays (3–5:15 p.m.), with deliveries on Mondays. The board said bids from local builders put construction at roughly $300 per square foot and emphasized the benefits of having on‑site water and electricity and not needing a temporary solution.
Several council members and residents pushed back on the park location. One resident raised safety and neighborhood impacts, saying the proposed building would remove hedges and parking and bring idling cars and noise closer to homes. Concerns included removal of trees and green space, proximity to a designated tsunami zone, and the cost and logistics of adding utilities and a lift station at the proposed site.
Council members asked staff and the pantry for more options. Several suggested identifying multiple potential locations (including higher ground near the public works yard or the temporary city‑hall site) and asking the consultant or public works to evaluate traffic flow, utility needs, archaeological constraints and insurance implications before council makes a policy decision. Council directed staff to (a) work with the ongoing design consultant to include the pantry site(s) in the scope or compare alternatives and (b) return with a recommended scope and list of potential permanent and temporary options so the pantry can continue operations without interruption.
The pantry board stressed the priority is continuous service to clients while staff and council explore alternatives and next steps.
