The council’s most newsworthy decision centered on the closure of a section of Century Avenue due to safety concerns and upcoming construction. The engineering staff, supported by Washington County, deemed the intersection at Century Avenue and County Road 74 unsafe due to limited sight distance. The proposed closure will affect a segment of Century Avenue north of 65th Street, with plans to construct a cul-de-sac to maintain access to residential properties.

During the public hearing, Tracy Rom, a resident of 525 Century Avenue, expressed general support for the closure but raised several concerns. Rom highlighted potential public safety issues if the road were closed prematurely before other developments were completed and inquired about the maintenance of the remaining gravel road. The engineering staff acknowledged these concerns and assured coordinated efforts with Cottage Grove to complete utility work before fully severing the road, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access for residents during construction phases. Good View Avenue will serve as the primary access point once the changes are implemented.

Further debate during the meeting focused on access points during the construction phase. One participant noted, “it may be an inconvenience if you want to be going north,” but emphasized the desirability of having multiple access points during construction. Concerns regarding the installation of a trail along Century Avenue were also raised, with the staff noting that constructing a trail would necessitate purchasing right-of-way from property owners, which had not been part of the city’s current discussions.

The council also addressed the dimensions of the planned cul-de-sac, confirming it would meet Newport City standards, measuring 46 feet in diameter, sufficient for accommodating larger vehicles like garbage trucks and school buses. Another resident raised queries about the intersection near Century Avenue and its implications for Newport residents, leading to clarifications that no discussions had occurred regarding the closure of the south leg of that intersection.

The meeting then transitioned to updates on ongoing construction projects. The city manager reported that the sanitary sewer manhole and lateral replacement project was approximately halfway through, with 26 out of 43 laterals and 12 out of 26 manholes replaced. Work was focused on the 12th Street and 2nd Avenue area, with plans to move further south to 11th and 10th streets. The paving subcontractor was scheduled to start patching work in the north side of town. Further updates included a report on a lateral lining subcontractor working on manhole seals and finishing lining tasks, expected to conclude soon.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the assessment hearing for the lateral lining improvements project. Residents raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the assessment process, with discrepancies noted in assessment amounts among neighbors. Nancy Sapita, a resident at 17431 Avenue, voiced confusion about her assessment, highlighting that some neighbors did not receive any charges while others had higher amounts despite no additional work done. The speaker clarified that every active lateral within the project area received a t-liner and addressed concerns about street repairs and damages caused by contractors, assuring that the city would restore streets to their pre-existing condition.

The council also discussed the Cherrywood housing development project, focusing on zoning regulations, minimum lot sizes, and the project’s alignment with the city’s comprehensive plan. The developer had incorporated feedback from the council into their submission, proposing 122 units on approximately 35 acres, achieving a density of about 5.4 units per acre. The project includes single-family detached housing and attached townhomes, with deviations from city standards related to minimum lot area and depth.

The plan’s impact on the bluff area was a particular concern, with staff emphasizing the importance of bluff protection and the necessity of a 30-foot setback from the bluff line. Tree preservation and stormwater management were also discussed, with the applicant proposing a reduction in vegetative strips around stormwater ponds from 16.5 feet to 12 feet.

The developer emphasized the importance of density and affordability, noting that smaller lots would allow for housing “that normal folks can afford to buy.”