Change in store for Westport, ferry dock

A variety of improvements to the Westport area between Highway 30 and the ferry landing will be presented at a public meeting tonight (Thursday).

Public input on the projects Lower Columbia Engineering, LLC, of St. Helens has developed for Clatsop County and the Clatsop Economic Development Resources using funds from a tax penalty from Georgia-Pacific will be taken from 7:30 until 9 p.m. on January 20 at the Westport Community Church (the Old Grade School) on Highway 30.

Projects under consideration include new access off Highway 30 to Westport Ferry/Industrial Park, Plympton Creek Restoration between Ferry Landing and the Boat Ramp, Boat Landing Improvements with transit stop at Ferry or Boat Landing and pedestrian safety and aesthetic improvements along Highway 30.

Projects have been developed with input from Westport community, business owners and county representatives. Andrew Niemi of Lower Columbia Engineering declined to provide further detail on the proposals in the feasibility study to be discussed at the meeting.

Clatsop County received a tax penalty payment of $480,000 in 2007 from the Georgia-Pacific Corporation after it failed to create the number of new jobs that were a condition of tax breaks the company received for placing a new machine in an Enterprise Zone, according to Clatsop County Tidings, the county’s publication. Oregon state law requires that money be used for the benefit of residents of the enterprise zone.

The county has already spent or dedicated some of the money as match for repairs to the Westport sewer facilities, dredging of Plympton Creek, improvements to the Westport and Wauna water districts – leaving approximately $241,000 available for further investment.

The county has dedicated the balance of the funds to an internship program for Westport students and the Westport Corridor study described above.

Phase I of the Westport Corridor and Community Plan culminated in the feasibility study that will be presented to the public at the upcoming meeting on January 20th. Phase II, which must be completed by April, 2011, will explore funding and permitting, Niemi said.