He and other city officials outlined the plan at an informational meeting that included many of the affected property owners. A typical assessment, Lanfear said, might be in the range of $18 a front-foot, which he said is very small for a project of such magnitude.

The proposed extension would take Oak Street from its present dead end just north of 37th Street more than a half-mile  farther north to 46th Street near the Fred Meyer Store. The proposal calls for formation of a local improvement district to  initiate the project.

Lanfear said he plans to ask the City Council to hold a public hearing Sept. 4 on the formation of the improvement district. Work could begin this winter and be completed by Nov. 30, 2002.

Normally, adjacent property owners would be required to foot almost the entire bill of such a project. But the city has a commitment for a $936,000 state grant to apply toward the project, which Lanfear said should cover almost all of the actual construction. Acquisition of right of way, an estimated $453,000, represents the biggest share of the remaining cost.

Lanfear proposes that abutting property owners donate rather than sell an easement for the new section of street. Normally, right of way is purchased and that cost is included in the amount assessed against property owners. It would be to the advantage of property owners to donate the right of way,
Lanfear said, because the donations would reduce their per-front-foot assessments.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Lanfear said, "it's going to come very close to being a break-even proposition for the property owners." Donating of the right of way easements might also help the property owners avoid some capital gains taxes they might face if they were paid for the right of way, Lanfear said.

Tuesday night's meeting was largely devoted to the details of the project. Some questioned whether the low proposed speed limit - 25 to 30 miles per hour - will deter drivers from using the street.  But Newport resident Len Derbin, who owns property along the proposed route, said Highway 101 congestion through Newport has sold him on the ideas of alternative routes for local residents.  "I guarantee people will learn to use it."

City Planner Sandra Young explained that the extension is actually part of a long-range plan to extend the street next to Munsel Lake Road, and eventually to Heceta Beach Road.

Zane Ziemer, president of the Citizens for Florence watchdog group, raised questions about whether providing new access to developed properties might lead to vandalism problems and increased policing costs. Lanfear said a proposed route is already in the process of modification with consideration given to taking as little right of way as possible from fully developed property, and minimizing drifting sand problems from big dunes at the north end. He expects to meet with property owners within the next two weeks to discuss right of way needs.  He encouraged the owners and others to convey their concerns to him at City Hall so he can present them to the City Council before the public hearing.  "It's up to the City Council whether this is a go," he said.

He said Florence is one of just a few communities in the state to be awarded grants under an experimental program aimed at developing local routes to take the pressure off state highways. The grant presents a golden opportunity to extend the street at little local expense, he said. As proposed, the project will require acquisition of 15 parcels of right-of-way from 14 different owners. Lanfear said he expects that a majority of the owners will support the work.  "There will also probably be one or two adamantly opposed, and a couple that don't particularly care for it," Lanfear said. Source: The Register-Guard, by Larry Bacon.  Map - \The Register-Guard.