People love Gearhart, but is that a mixed blessing?

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, July 25, 2013

GEARHART Longtime Gearhart resident Tom Thies is so worried about development in Gearhart that he went to some Gearhart City Council and Planning Commission meetings to express his concerns.

A lot of big companies like to come in when towns are small, he said. I want to make sure we have our codes set up so that doesnt happen.

While some communities may savor the national attention Gearhart has been receiving recently, Gearhart residents arent especially happy about it. A piece on CNNs Travel and Leisure website that talked about Gearhart being the fifth of 11 Great American Beach Towns was met with some consternation.

With its antiques shops and picturesque hiking trails, Gearhart just north of the renowned, more-bustling Cannon Beach is an in-the-know haven for Portland hipsters like Paige Powell and Gus Van Sant. In the evenings, people drive onto the hard-packed sand for wine and stargazing parties, the story said. It mentioned the Gearhart Ocean Inn and the Pacific Way Bakery & Cafe as places to check out.

A resident since 1982, Thies said he does not want the more residential Gearhart to turn into a more trafficked community like Seaside.

Once you start getting those (big box stores in), even if its on the outside of town, you get more people in, Thies said. Gearhart has never wanted to be a destination resort.

Gearhart City Manager Chad Sweet understands Thies worry.

He is just concerned and wants to make sure we keep that top of mind, Sweet said. Its a struggle to keep a small town small.

Thies said he plans to meet with Sweet to discuss the citys zoning regulations something Sweet offered to do with him at the meetings Thies attended.

Gearharts comprehensive plan and zoning regulations help the city maintain its character.

The code is written to limit development downtown to things residents want, Sweet said.

The city has two commercial development zones C1 and C2. The C1 zones make up the small downtown corridor and are especially limiting, according to Gearhart City Councilor Joy Sigler. The C2 zone, which makes up the commercial area along U.S. Highway 101, provides more opportunities for businesses.

Our commercial is commercial, and there is not a lot of it, said Gearhart Mayor Dianne Widdop.

Another big factor in the limitation of development is that the city does not have municipal sewer service every building is on a septic tank.

That in and of itself is going to intrinsically limit business development, Sigler said.

She pointed to that as a challenge for even existing businesses that deal in food service.

Quite honestly, were not a big metropolis here we dont have the people who would warrant (major commercial development), Widdop said. And we have the residents who would hate it and are very vocal about things like that. I dont particularly see anything like that.

Widdop said she has heard from Gearhart residents including Thies that they would rather not be getting accolades from national news outlets.

Do you know what the comment was? Widdop asked. Not How do we become No. 1? (They say) How do we get off of here? What do we have to do?

Its because its so residential that we are No. 5 that we are such a neat place to be, Widdop added. But we almost want to be the unknown destination.

Sweet said Gearhart plays a very particular role in the larger North Coast community.

Cannon Beach is beautiful and wonderful it has resorts and restaurants, he said. Seaside is great what a wonderful place to bring a family. Warrenton has industry. Astoria has history and food. Gearharts part in that is being residential.