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Residents urge planning commissioners to protect Johnson Creek boundary as Ocean Terrace rezone advances
Summary
Residents at a Bandon Planning Commission work session urged commissioners to retain a natural-resource boundary along Johnson Creek and oppose a requested rezone that they say would permit more homes and increase erosion, runoff and flood risk. Commissioners scheduled a site visit and public hearings will follow.
Dozens of residents told the Bandon Planning Commission they oppose a proposed rezone in the Ocean Terrace subdivision that would move a natural-resources boundary near Johnson Creek and allow additional housing. "Please protect the existing boundary," said Darcy Greheck, who identified herself as a long-time Bandon resident and described the bluff as unstable and prone to groundwater seepage and erosion.
Several speakers said the developer’s request — described in staff materials as a rezone of about 0.67 acres from Natural Resources to R‑1 within a roughly 6.62-acre project area and a top-of-bank area of about 2.31 acres — would increase impermeable surface and threaten water quality. "I walked the area zoned NR and I don't believe the designation was a mapping error," said Cammy Bewnis, who cited Oregon administrative rules tied to erosion and landslide buffers and urged commissioners to retain NR protections.
Speakers also raised procedural concerns. Bob Morrow said formal notice went only to property owners within 100 feet and argued the Council’s prior approval of additional lots set a troubling precedent; Christopher Snell said he filed an eight-page packet of photos and amateur surveying and warned the bluff area is "very, very fragile." Staff responded that tonight was a work session and that the evidentiary public hearing will provide the record for appeal and further evidence. Commissioners agreed to organize a joint site visit so the commission can observe slope and drainage conditions before the public hearing.
Next steps: staff told commissioners that a public hearing on the code amendment and rezone is scheduled and that staff will post a staff report ahead of that hearing. Interested residents were told to submit materials for the record at the public hearing if they want appeal rights.
