Clatsop County public works officials told the Board of Commissioners they have concerns about a large subdivision proposed in Warrenton and its potential effects on Ridge Road’s right-of-way, traffic safety and a dune/berm that county staff have relied on in emergency planning.

Public works director Terry Hendricks told the board the Fort Point (also referenced as 4 Point or Floyd Point) subdivision’s phase 1 extends roughly 2,000 feet from the KOA/Fort Stevens entrance and sits adjacent to a 160-foot county right-of-way on Ridge Road. “The center line of the right of way of Ridge Road is 80 feet each side of the center line,” Hendricks said, and the distance from the pavement edge to the utility poles is about 13 feet.

Hendricks said the preliminary design the developer submitted shows removal of vegetation east of the right-of-way, with backyard setbacks of about 15 feet. He warned that cutting the dune could change the sand’s angle of repose and increase exposed height above the road to “22 to 28 feet roughly,” requiring retaining walls or other stabilization. He also said the developer planned the city’s multi‑use path between the roadway and the right-of-way, a location that would be constrained if the county builds a center turn lane.

Why it matters: county staff and several commissioners said the berm along Ridge Road currently serves as an island of refuge used in emergency planning, including tsunami response, and that losing vegetation or destabilizing the slope could remove that function.

Board members pressed for traffic controls. Commissioners questioned how a proposed build of 450 housing units would affect summer congestion near Fort Stevens and the KOA entrance. Hendricks said the county has performed a seven-day speed and volume study; the 80th‑percentile speeds recorded at two locations were roughly 60 mph and 58 mph, and he noted ODOT and the state traffic manual require speed-zone decisions be set within 5 mph of the 80th percentile. “So, actually, if we can keep it at 45 miles an hour, we’re lucky,” Hendricks said. The City of Warrenton has requested 35 mph; commissioners discussed appealing ODOT results if needed and signaled support for a 45 mph target and for pursuing a crosswalk and other pedestrian safety measures at the KOA/Fort Stevens intersection.

Hendricks recommended a phased county project to add a center turn lane starting at the northern Battery Russell entrance through the KOA/Fort Stevens intersection. Commissioners supported requiring the developer to produce intersection and turn-lane designs for county review. “That center turn lane is gonna be essential,” Commissioner Thompson said, adding that traffic concerns must be addressed for the subdivision to be viable.

Trail placement was another point of disagreement. The city’s notice of decision shows the multi‑use path between the road and the county right‑of‑way; Hendricks said adding a center turn lane would leave little or no room to place the trail on the east side, and recommended instead accommodating a wider bike lane (roughly a 10‑foot clear width) if a separate trail cannot be accommodated. Several commissioners supported retaining the dune and vegetation to preserve a natural buffer between road and development.

Hendricks cautioned that state traffic rules affect crosswalk devices. He said the notice of decision includes a developer requirement to install a crosswalk at the KOA/Fort Stevens intersection, but that the state traffic manual restricts certain crosswalk devices at speeds above 35 mph, which could complicate installation if ODOT sets a higher speed limit.

What happens next: the board directed county staff to require submission of intersection and turn-lane designs for county review, to continue coordination with the City of Warrenton and the developer, and to pursue discussions with ODOT regarding the speed-zone study’s outcome and pedestrian-safety treatments. No formal vote or new county ordinance occurred during the work session.

Quotes (selected)

“Tthe center line of the right of way of Ridge Road is 80 feet each side of the center line,” — Terry Hendricks, public works director.

“So, actually, if we can keep it at 45 miles an hour, we’re lucky,” — Terry Hendricks, public works director.

“That center turn lane is gonna be essential,” — Commissioner Thompson.

Ending

County staff and commissioners said they want to balance housing goals with traffic and public‑safety protections. Staff will seek design submittals from the developer, continue coordination with the City of Warrenton, and engage ODOT on the speed-zone decision and pedestrian treatments before moving forward with approvals or county-led right-of-way projects.