WALDPORT – The Waldport Planning Commission has given Lincoln County the green light to proceed with design and construction of its new animal control shelter at Waldport Industrial Park.
The commission unanimously approved Monday a conditional use permit for the county to locate the shelter on two acres it bought on Southwest Dahl Avenue next to the Ideal Storage property.
The county needed a conditional use permit because the land is zoned for industrial use.
The county hopes to break ground on the shelter next summer, according to the application, and includes a 5,000 square foot main building, parking for 22 vehicles, and two storage containers. The building is planned to accommodate five full-time employees, five volunteers at a time, and have a capacity for 24 dogs and up to 60 cats, according to the application.
Depending on the time of day, day of the week and the season, the shelter is expected to generate 20-50 vehicle trips a day from staff, volunteers and the public.
The current temporary shelter in Newport is open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but the county said it intends to expand those hours in Waldport with the help of volunteers.
It is the first of two phases, the county said, although the size and function of the second phase still has to be determined.
Replaces temporary shelter
The county purchased the two acres in May after struggling to find a place to locate a new shelter after its longtime facility in Newport was forced to close in 2019 because of toxic levels of mold. It is now operating out of a small manufactured home and converted storage containers near the fairgrounds.
The county has access to up to $6 million to pay for the land, architects, engineering, prepare the site and build the first phase, officials said in May.
A year ago the county backed off locating the shelter at the Newport Airport after animal advocacy groups argued the site was too noisy and potentially dangerous. It formed a team of county staff, shelter volunteers and representatives of two animal groups to search for and evaluate potential sites.
They looked at more than 20 properties in Lincoln City, Newport, Toledo, South Beach and Waldport, ran 18 through its evaluation process and agreed the site in Waldport’s largely undeveloped industrial park off Crestline Drive was the best choice.
One of the criteria was that the shelter be located out of the tsunami zone – which limited choices finding suitable land and willing sellers.
In its conditional use application, the county said the proposed facility, once fully designed, will have the following characteristics:
- A public reception area allowing for sales of initial, basic pet care needs for adopted animals;
- An animal receiving area that allows for examination and grooming functions;
- A specialized access point that allows staff to safely accept animals;
- Kennels for housing, quarantine, and routine observation;
- Clinic space for animal care and emergencies;
- Outdoor exercise areas;
- Space to allow for planned future services, including spay and neuter services
- Administrative office space, including three private offices for staff;
- Space to temporarily house larger domestic animals, such as horses, in an emergency; and
- An enclosed incinerator facility for the disposal of animal remains.
I know trying to site this new shelter has been a nightmare, but this location is at the south end of the county, relatively distant from the two main population centers. It seems like it would make more sense to have it located somewhere between Newport and Lincoln City. But tell me if I’m wrong and why.