Goal 18 - Beaches and Dunes Comprehensive Plan and Municipal Code is geared toward protecting the dune and beach areas of Bandon. Bandon is the only oceanfront city in Coos County.
The City of Bandon Planning Commission has reviewed the Goal 18 amendments. The amendments are geared toward protecting Bandon's beaches and dunes. You can see the entire Goal 18 text, with amendments, along with maps and overlays here, starting at page 20.
According to the City of Bandon Newsletter, a second public hearing will be held April 4, 2011 at 7pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
Written by: Rushel Reed, Principal Broker
Bandon's Old Town merchants, Chamber of Commerce members, media and citizens met on Monday at the Barn to become for informed about this exciting new program.
Attempts have been made to revitalize city centers nationwide in the past, only to fail and leave towns blighted by vacant buildings and failing businesses. Urban renewal sought to eliminate old and tired buildings with new, clean facades, but backfired when all the personality of those old buildings was lost to cold and lifeless cookie-cutter downtown areas. Downtown pedestrian malls were created by blocking off motor vehicle traffic, but businesses suffered (and ultimately relocated) when the pedestrians never showed.
The Main Street program’s purpose is to bring vitality and prosperity to Bandon through the unique and existing parts of our town. Main Street embraces the vernacular food, shopping and activities that our citizens love – our history. Bandon has many aspects that make it the perfect candidate for the program, including owning its own utilities and having an existing off-highway downtown area (Old Town).
The Main Street program uses new funding in the form of donations and grants, as well as existing resources, such as the Oregon Arts Commission and the State Historical Preservation Office.
One thing that is needed, valued and always welcome in a project like this is volunteerism. Engaging our young people, our business owners and our citizens will make Bandon’s Main Street Program a success. Committees are being formed now for the areas of Economic Restructuring, Organization, Design and Promotion. If you are interested in more information, would like to make a donation or want to volunteer, please contact Anne at Sage Gallery: sagegallery@mycomspan.com .
Written By: Rushel Reed, Broker
This from the City of Bandon monthly newsletter, July 2009:
"BANDON SELECTED FOR MAIN STREET "TRANSFORMING DOWNTOWN" PROGRAM - The City of Bandon has been selected for inclusion in the Oregon Main Street "Transforming Downtown" Program. According to a press release from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD), the City of Bandon was among 10 Oregon communities whose selection "represents both state and national recognition of efforts to revitalize traditional downtown commercial districts using the Main Street Approach." A special thanks and congratulations to Anne Sabotta from the Sage Gallery, Margaret Pounder from Bandon Coffee Cafe, and Kim Powell from Bandon Baking Company, who dedicated a gread deal of time preparing the application. Thanks also to Nancy Evans who supplied historical information for the application, and to Hank Hickix from Bandon Dunes who took the time to speak at the May 1st Main Street Meeting."
According to the Oregon goverment website, the project took substantial time and effort on the part of applicants, including an application workshop held in Salem. "The underlying premise of Main Street is to encourage economic development within the context of historic preservation in ways appropriate to today's marketplace. This approach advocates a return to community self-reliance, local empowerment and the rebuilding of traditional districts based on their unique assets: distinctive architecture, a pedestrian-friendly environment, personal service, local owernship and a sense of community."
Congratulations, Bandon! We look forward to seeing progress in the Old Town area!
Written By: Rushel Reed, Broker
