Thank you for your interest in reading The Astorian. Here are a few stories that you might have missed this week:

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Over the past several years, The Astorian has documented how the lack of options for drug treatment on the North Coast have created obstacles to recovery and contributed to a range of problems, from crime and crisis response to mental health and homelessness.

Following the state Legislature’s reversal of Oregon’s landmark drug decriminalization law, lawmakers have emphasized a desire to focus on treatment over jail time, but doubts remain about whether communities will have the resources necessary to do so or whether the same patterns will repeat.

See the story by Olivia Palmer by clicking here.

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The Clatsop County Historical Society has detailed plans to expand the Oregon Film Museum, an estimated $10.1 million project that would involve the construction of a new, two-story, 13,000-square-foot building.

The addition is proposed at Seventh and Duane streets on the site of the former Morris Glass building, a property the historical society acquired several years ago.

Plans for the new building include a 50-seat theater, a projection room, classroom space, an expanded gift shop and several new exhibits.

Read the story by Lissa Brewer by clicking here.

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The Astoria Planning Commission voted Tuesday to uphold the city’s denial of a grading and erosion control permit for the Owens II, an affordable housing project for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

The Northwest Oregon Housing Authority appealed the city’s denial of the permit for the project, which mirrors the Owens-Adair building at 15th and Exchange streets. The 50-unit apartment complex would involve a subgrade basement, an element that has drawn concern from the city due to the risk of landslides.

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the appeal in February, hearing from engineering and geotechnical experts on both sides who argued about whether excavation at the site — which, the city argues, sits at the toe of a historic landslide — would destabilize the hillside. Hundreds of pages of additional material were submitted to the city after the commission decided to continue deliberations for a month.

On Tuesday, planning commissioners agreed that the city engineer, Nathan Crater, acted reasonably in his interpretation of city code in denying the permit, despite the contradicting opinions from experts.

Take a look at the report by Rebecca Norden-Bright by clicking here.

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— Derrick DePledge