Cannon Beach Turns Down Riprap Application

In a rare outcome where shoreline armoring cases are concerned, the Cannon Beach Planning Commission has denied an application for riprap—and made its decision unanimously.

The applicant is the upscale Stephanie Inn, which seeks to replace its existing riprap. The application was opposed by many residents, led by the local organization Friends of the Dunes at Cannon Beach, who would like to see preference given to less rigid, nature-based solutions. Oregon Shores weighed in to support the local opponents. We did not take a definite position that the proposed riprap structure could not ultimately be approved, but argued that possible alternatives had not been seriously considered, as state regulations require. We also argued that the fact that the existing riprap is in a state of disrepair indicates a failure of maintenance, not justification for something bigger and longer-lasting.

Oregon Shores has steadily opposed the spreading of shoreline armoring along the coast through piecemeal decision-making, but applications have almost always been approved. However, the Cannon Beach commissioners held a lengthy and thoughtful review of the application and discussed the quandary of protecting public property while also allowing owners to protect their buildings. 

The planning commission agreed with the argument made by local opponents and Oregon Shores that the geotechnical report submitted on behalf of the Stephanie Inn was biased toward full-scale replacement of the riprap, without making the case that maintenance couldn’t extend the life of the structure and without demonstrating that a less intrusive approach such as a dynamic revetment wouldn’t work. As the commissioners said in their adopted findings, “the geotechnical report does not identify the efforts taken to maintain the existing revetment and the Commission feels that it cannot reward this lack of maintenance with a further armored approach.”

The commission also found that the geotechnical report “is insufficient to show that alternative, less invasive options are not viable. For example, installation of a dynamic revetment was rejected…because of the ‘uncertainty and lack of design methodology for dynamic revetments.’ But this evidence does not explain why the necessary design and engineering could not be done. The Report also indicates that these types of dynamic revetments require more frequent maintenance. These additional maintenance costs are not a basis for rejecting a less impactful solution.”

Oregon Shores applauds the Cannon Beach Planning Commission for giving shoreline armoring and its impacts the kind of careful scrutiny which is so often lacking. We also congratulate the Friends of the Dunes for their effective advocacy.

The Stephanie Inn’s attorney has vowed to appeal the city to the Cannon Beach City Council, so it appears that we have not heard the last of this issue. Oregon Shores will continue to support local residents in active opposition.

Photo:  The riprap protecting the Stephanie Inn has become an issue, photo courtesy of Friends of Haystack Rock.