Florence City Council

Testimony re: October 2001 Comprehensive Plan

Councilors:

I would first like to thank you for many of the changes you have already made in the draft
Comprehensive Plan.  I think that many of those changes show an increased awareness of the
value this community places on “livability”.  And enhancing the livability of Florence is what
CFF is all about.

In general, CFF proposes:

     1.   City wells should be located on City owned land.

     2.   A wellhead protection plan should be adopted as soon as possible.  We have included
     DEQ’s sample wellhead protection ordinance in our comments.

     3.   A needs analysis and cost/benefit analysis should be done before expanding the
     Urban Growth Boundary.

     4.   We propose a new zone for the 17-acre parcel on Hwy 101 and Munsel Lake Road -
      mixed-use commercial and residential.

     5.   Oak Street should not be opened up next to Miller Park.

     6.   Oak Street in front of the schools should not be developed in a way that would
     encourage more traffic.  We think that developing Kingwood as the main alternative
     to traveling on Hwy 101 would work better.

     7.   A plan for dealing with the open sand dune behind Fred Meyer should be developed
     before opening up Oak Street back there.  We have proposed a solution to this
     problem which should be agreeable to all concerned.

      8.   CFF has two major priorities for the Cannery Dune behind Fred Meyer: (1)  The dune
        should be protected from encroaching development, and  (2) Private land should be
        protected from encroaching sand.  We have proposed  a Dune Transition Plan that can
        accomplish both of these seemingly opposing goals.

      9.   Other large industrial-type developments, like Viking Concrete, should  be allowed
        in the Kingwood Industrial area.

        10.  Empty Port and City industrial lots should be developed before we create
        more industrial land like the proposed Limited Industrial/Commercial zone north
        of Munsel Lake Road.

        11.  More emphasis needs to be placed on development and re-development of existing
        commercial and residential lots within the city limits, and off of Hwy 101.

        12.  The City should not annex more land until we have enough water to serve them.

        13.  We are proposing a new Neighborhood Node zoning for mixed use residential,
        with a small core neighborhood commercial area.

        14.  We are also proposing the City look at creation of a Living Wage Ordinance.
        We have included background material discussing this type of ordinance, and a list
        of questions which can assist the Council in formulating an ordinance that will work
        for Florence.

    I hope that you will take the time to carefully review our suggestions.

   Thank you.

   (signature)
   Zane Ziemer
   President

Specific Testimony
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