Astoria Planning Commission Meeting – January 27, 2026

The Astoria Planning Commission (APC) convened at 5:29 p.m. on January 27, 2026, in Council Chambers and via Zoom. The meeting began with the election of officers for 2026, followed by a work session on a proposed sign code amendment for the HC (Health Care) Zone requested by Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH), and a presentation on the Parks & Recreation Master Plan update. Commissioners also received a 2025 year‑in‑review report from the Community Development Director and an overview of upcoming projects. No public comment was offered on non‑agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• Election of Officers (2026): Commissioner Womack nominated Pat Corcoran for President (seconded by Commissioner Magie). Commissioner Womack nominated Brookley Henri for Vice President (seconded by Commissioner Magie). Commissioner Magie moved to nominate Tresa Abke as Secretary (seconded by Vice President Henri). All three were approved unanimously (7‑0).
• Minutes of December 23, 2025: Approved as presented by a 7‑0 vote (motion by Commissioner Magie, second by Vice President Henri).

Discussion Items

1. Work Session – Draft Sign Code Amendment for HC Zone (Columbia Memorial Hospital)

Community Development Director John Roberts introduced the item, which is a precursor to a formal amendment expected at the February 24, 2026 meeting. CMH CEO Erik Thorsen and consultant Jesse Winterowd (Winterbrook Planning) presented the proposed changes, which would remove maximum limits on total sign square footage and total number of signs within the HC zone, while retaining existing dimensional, height, and public safety standards. The current phase of the hospital expansion requires approximately 680 square feet of signage, compared to the 150 square feet allowed under existing code.

Commissioner comments and concerns:

• Commissioner Francis asked about monument sign placement along Exchange Street; Winterowd clarified it would depend on the number of campus access roads.
• Commissioner Womack questioned the implications of “unlimited” signs and whether the city would have any future oversight. Winterowd responded that dimensional limits still apply and that the changes are meant to avoid repeated variance applications.
• Commissioner Kroening asked about dimensional versus square footage limits; Winterowd explained that individual sign sizes remain capped but total on‑site square footage would be unlimited.
• Commissioner Haefker appreciated the scale of proposed signs.
• President Corcoran asked how the 680 sq. ft. figure was determined (answer: by professional sign firms ZGF and Knot Studio) and inquired about tsunami evacuation signage. Winterowd said he would follow up. Corcoran also expressed concern about clutter at the intersection, noting other nearby sign variances, but was satisfied that wayfinding signs were internal.
• Vice President Henri raised concerns about light pollution, asking about lumen limits and lighting temperature. Roberts acknowledged the city currently lacks good lighting regulations but is working on them. He noted that CMH would likely be exempt from future lighting code changes, which Henri argued should be addressed now to set a precedent. Winterowd agreed to review the “shielded from residential glare” language.
• Commissioner Francis recalled that Columbia River Maritime Museum had resisted the city’s preferred parking lot lighting plan; Roberts confirmed that parking lot lighting would fall under the same code but that enforcement is currently subjective.
• Commissioner Womack confirmed that design standards in the sign code still apply; Winterowd agreed they are not proposing changes to design standards.
• Commissioner Kroening asked about the possibility of CMH selling part of the campus to another entity. Planner Taylor stated city code evolves with change, and Roberts noted that significant deviations would trigger provisions in the amendment.

No formal vote was taken; the work session was intended to gather input for the February 24 hearing.

2. Presentation – Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update

Parks & Recreation Director Jonah Dart‑McLean and consultants Brian Varricchione and Ian Sisson (Mackenzie Inc.) presented the update. The $84,000 project (funded by a $50,000 state grant and $34,000 city match) has included two open houses (170 attendees in November, 70 in January) and online surveys (400 responses to the first, over 600 to the second). The plan prioritizes maintaining existing facilities, though an indoor recreation space (e.g., aquatic center expansion) emerged as a top new project. Other priorities include an off‑leash dog area, additional restrooms, completing riverwalk lighting east of 35th Street, and updating the Trails Master Plan. Commissioners asked about survey consistency (surveys change based on prior feedback), funding processes (grants and phased implementation), and integration with the Heritage Square project (which has an EPA grant for filling the pit). The plan is expected to return to the APC for adoption this spring, with two more open houses scheduled for March 7 and April 18.

Key Outcomes

• Officers for 2026 were re‑elected unanimously (President Pat Corcoran, Vice President Brookley Henri, Secretary Tresa Abke).
• The December 23, 2025 meeting minutes were approved.
• Commissioners directed staff and CMH to refine the sign code amendment, particularly regarding lighting standards and the potential for unlimited sign totals. A formal proposal will be presented at the February 24, 2026 APC meeting.
• The Parks & Recreation Master Plan update will continue community engagement; the APC will review the final draft later in 2026 before adoption into the Comprehensive Plan.
• Upcoming APC agenda items: two conditional use applications (Sam Peterson), the sign amendment for the HC zone, and the annual DLCD training on February 12 at 5:30 p.m. The next regular APC meeting is February 24, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.