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Astoria council initiates street‑vacation process to support Columbia Memorial Hospital campus plan
Summary
The council adopted a resolution of intent to vacate portions of Franklin Avenue, 20th Street and 22nd Street to enable Columbia Memorial Hospital to consolidate a campus; staff said about 65 parcels fall in a 400‑foot notice area and public hearings are scheduled in June.
The Astoria City Council voted May 4 to initiate the formal process to vacate portions of Franklin Avenue, 20th Street and 22nd Street that border Columbia Memorial Hospital, a first step that would allow the hospital to consolidate adjacent streets into a private campus.
City Manager Spence and staff described the proposed map and said the initiation follows state law procedures (ORS cited generically in the presentation) and will include notices mailed to roughly 65 affected parcels in a 400‑foot zone. Staff outlined the schedule: a public hearing on the first reading of the vacation ordinance is planned for June 4, a second reading on June 15, and any final decision would go into effect 30 days after the second reading (target mid‑July 2026 if approved). Eric Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, said the hospital supports the vacation, arguing it will improve campus safety, wayfinding and security. "The passage of this resolution will allow CMH to efficiently develop the campus to meet the evolving needs of the health and wellness of our community," Thorsen said.
Several nearby residents raised concerns during public comment about emergency access, traffic cut‑throughs and insufficient traffic studies; one resident requested a traffic impact analysis paid for by the applicant (CMH) before the council makes a final decision. Councilors and CMH representatives said the vacation initiation is the start of a process that will include additional hearings and more detailed traffic and circulation information.
Why it matters: the vacation would transfer ownership and maintenance responsibility for specified public rights‑of‑way to the hospital and could change traffic flow and emergency access patterns in a residential area near the hospital campus.
