Issues of Interest Oak Street Bypass
	Our Goal: To improve the livability of Florence through public education and community involvement.

The City wants  to re-zone some property north of town to commercial.  In order to do that, one of the things they have to do is turn Oak Street into a bypass for Hwy. 101. (Also see: Register Guard Article 1/27/01)
 

The problem: The Oregon Department of Transportation wants us to encourage local traffic to use local roads, and keep the state highway (Hwy. 101) for tourist and through traffic.  Their concept is that a state highway, built with state tax dollars,  should not be used for a  city’s “main street”.  ODOT’s policies are meant to encourage cities to build their commercial areas away from the state highway, and into areas which would better serve the whole community - not just tourists.

The City’s solution: The City of Florence is planning to turn Oak Street into a bypass.  Plans contained in the 2001 draft of the Florence Comprehensive Plan provide for extending Oak Street from Heceta Beach Road south, all the way past Miller Park and all the way to 10th Street.   That means increased traffic right in front of our schools and main city park.  The first step is to extend Oak Street north from 35th to the south entrance to the Fred Meyer Complex . The next steps would be opening up Oak Street from 46th north all the way out to Heceta Beach Road, and south from 21st, through the walking path next to Miller Park, all the way into 10th Street in town. Link to: Map

 

There is a better solution: Rezone the industrial land along Kingwood to commercial.  The map on the back of this flyer shows a better  alternative for getting local traffic off of Hwy. 101 - and a better alternative for the continued growth and prosperity of our community.  This plan would accomplish many of our community goals. Link to Proposed Alternative Map.

provide more commercial land for future growth provide an incentive for the sale of all that city-owned land on Kingwood reduce our tax burden through the sale of the city-owned land eliminate the need to extend Oak Street (estimated at $3.57 million for just a portion) eliminate the need to pay for new storm sewer system on Oak Street to serve the north Florence area protect our children from increased traffic in front of their schools allow locals to shop locally, without having to fight tourist traffic on Hwy 101 enhance the livability of Florence

 

What you can do:   Call or write our Mayor and City Councilors and let them know you do not want more traffic in front of our kids’ schools.    Let them know that the Kingwood area is a much better location for commercial development than what they are proposing.    Tell them that we want our city to be designed and planned for US, not for big-box tourist traps.

Mail letters to:

Mayor Alan Burns
City of Florence
250 Hwy. 101
Florence, Oregon 97439