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Council upholds planning commission denial of geotechnical borings at South Jetty lot
Summary
The Bandon City Council unanimously upheld the planning commission's denial of an application to perform limited geotechnical borings on a South Jetty lot, citing the site's active foredune and failure to meet site-suitability criteria.
The Bandon City Council on Aug. 3 voted unanimously to uphold the planning commission's denial of a conditional use permit (planning file 26-010 CUP) that would have allowed limited geotechnical borings at a lot in the South Jetty Beaches and Dunes Overlay Zone.
Henry Hurley, associate planner with the Lane Council of Governments, told the council the planning commission based its denial on the applicant's failure to meet subsection (e) of the code's site-suitability standards, specifically citing the property's active foredune and existing vegetation. Hurley recommended the council hear the appeal de novo and noted that, if the council were to overturn the denial, it should add conditions addressing the active-foredune map.
Mike Golden, representing Cascadia Geo Services and reading on behalf of applicant Thomas McIntosh, argued the proposed work was investigative and temporary. "The proposed borings are not construction of a residence, permanent grading, or an attempt to bypass future land use review," Golden said. He described the plan as two small-diameter borings completed in a single day, backfilled and restored, and asked the council to approve the limited investigation with enforceable conditions.
Multiple neighbors testified in opposition, citing dune erosion, proximity to the beach and the unimproved status of the 5th Avenue right-of-way. John Dietrich, a nearby resident, urged the council to uphold the planning commission decision, calling borings "premature" until access and right-of-way issues are resolved.
After discussion of the Goal 18 exception that applies to the parcel, council members said the site's natural features and recent evidence of dune degradation weighed heavily in their deliberations. A motion to uphold the planning commission's denial passed unanimously. Council directed staff to prepare final findings affirming the decision and return them for review and signature, with the mayor permitted to sign if timing requires.
