Wheeler leaders and residents push Port for rail-with-trail plan as Salmonberry Trail realignment raises property concerns

WHEELER, Ore. — Residents of Marine Drive told the Wheeler City Council on Aug. 19 they were surprised and alarmed after receiving letters from the Port of Tillamook Bay saying portions of the proposed Salmonberry Trail alignment may encroach on private yards and parking, and that parking to remain in the railroad right-of-way would need a use agreement or easement.

Councilors and residents said they had not been given prior notice of the trail realignment and asked the city to investigate what the port has communicated to property owners and whether the city’s lease or local responsibilities were affected.

The issue drew additional attention after a presentation by Trevor Park, general manager of the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, who urged communities along the corridor to back a “rails-with-trail” approach that preserves train service while accommodating a trail alongside the track. Park said the railroad carried about 55,000 riders in 2024 and estimated its economic impact in Tillamook County last year at nearly $6 million; he said 2025 ridership is up about 24 percent so far.

“OSCR supports the trail. We want the trail built,” Park said in his presentation, and he urged residents to contact the Port of Tillamook Bay and to attend the port’s board meeting on Aug. 27. He provided the port contact email (info@potb.org) and asked Wheeler to write a letter supporting a rails-with-trail outcome.

Residents who live on the waterfront said the proposed alignment could require fences to be moved, removal of trees and loss of business parking. Ken Painter, a property owner at 600 Marine Drive, read portions of the port’s letter aloud and said his fence and parking appear to fall a few feet inside the railroad right-of-way. “All of a sudden because of the realignment they want me to get a lease for parking,” he said.

Councilors said they had learned of the port’s renewed communications only recently. Councilor Karen Matthews said the Salmonberry Trail Foundation had long envisioned a rails-with-trail solution and that the new notices to property owners were recent developments. Council members asked city staff to gather more details about the port’s notices, the number of affected properties, the timing of any required changes, and the scope of the city’s lease of port property.

During the meeting the council agreed to prepare a letter of support for the railroad’s continued operation on the corridor and for a rails-with-trail approach, and councilors moved to finalize a letter that would emphasize both Wheeler’s historic character and the railroad’s economic impact on local businesses. Councilor Karen Matthews offered language capturing Wheeler’s heritage and the council instructed staff to include additional economic-impact figures before sending the letter to the Port of Tillamook Bay.

Councilors, staff and residents discussed next steps: city staff will pursue information from the port about the number and timing of notices sent to property owners; council members said they want the city manager to meet with the port and explore alternatives for residents affected by the alignment; and councilors encouraged residents who support a rails-with-trail outcome to send written comments to the port’s public email and to attend the port’s Aug. 27 meeting.

The council did not adopt a binding policy change at the Aug. 19 meeting; rather, members directed staff to gather lease and notice details, and they approved preparing a council letter of support for rail preservation combined with trail construction.

Why it matters: Wheeler business owners and residents say train riders bring off-season customers; the railroad argues that preserving rail access supports shoulder-season tourism and local merchants. Property owners along Marine Drive say the port’s notice may require removal of fences, trees and parking they have used for decades.

What’s next: The Port of Tillamook Bay board is scheduled to meet Aug. 27; the council and other residents were urged to submit written comments to info@potb.org and to attend the port’s meeting. City staff said they will report back with documentation on port notices and the extent of the city’s lease of port property.

Speakers
- Ken Painter — Resident / property owner at 600 Marine Drive (citizen)
- Rebecca Painter — Resident (citizen)
- Trevor Park — General Manager, Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad (business / nonprofit)
- Karen Matthews — Councilor, Wheeler City Council (government)
- Maddie Chestnut — Interim city manager and finance manager, City of Wheeler (government)
- Laura Swanson — Representative, Hubs PAC (nonprofit)
- Councilor Mary — Councilor, Wheeler City Council (government; transcript uses single name)
- Gordon — Councilor, Wheeler City Council (government; transcript uses single name)

Authorities
- other: Use agreement / easement (referenced by Ken Painter in port letter; "If parking is to remain in the right of way, it will need to be under a use agreement easement with the port.")
- other: Port of Tillamook Bay (landowner / decision-maker; referenced throughout public comments and presentation)
- other: Salmonberry Trail Foundation (project steward; referenced by councilors and public)

Actions
- motion: "Prepare and send a council letter supporting preservation of railroad operation with a rails-with-trail approach, amended to add economic-impact detail"; mover: (motion made on the record); second: (second noted); outcome: approved (council directed staff to finalize and send the amended letter)
- discussion direction: City staff directed to gather details about port notices to property owners, timing and scope of impacts, and to consult the Port of Tillamook Bay about alternatives for affected residents

Discussion vs. decision
- Discussion: Residents described port letters and potential encroachment, engineers' alignment options and environmental constraints on portions of the alignment.
- Direction: Staff to obtain and report back port notice counts, lease scope and timing; staff to meet with the port and explore alternatives for affected property owners.
- Formal action: Council voted to prepare and send an amended letter of support for railroad preservation plus trail construction (rails-with-trail), and urged public comments to the port.

Clarifying details
- category: port notice text; detail: port letter said fence and garden appear "a few feet" into the railroad right-of-way and "if parking is to remain in the right of way, it will need to be under a use agreement easement with the port"; source_speaker: Ken Painter
- category: OCSR ridership; detail: OCSR reported ~55,000 riders in 2024 and 24% increase in 2025 year-to-date; source_speaker: Trevor Park
- category: economic impact; detail: OCSR reported about $6,000,000 estimated economic benefit to Tillamook County in 2024; source_speaker: Trevor Park
- category: schedule; detail: port board meeting where public input is scheduled: Aug. 27 (Trevor Park urged attendance)

Proper_names
- {"name":"Port of Tillamook Bay","type":"agency"}
- {"name":"Salmonberry Trail Foundation","type":"organization"}
- {"name":"Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad","type":"organization"}
- {"name":"Marine Drive","type":"location"}
- {"name":"Wheeler","type":"location"}

Community_relevance
- geographies: ["Wheeler","Tillamook County","Rockaway Beach"]
- impact_groups: ["waterfront property owners","small business owners","tourism businesses"]

Meeting_context
- engagement_level: {"speakers_count":14,"duration_minutes":180,"items_count":18}
- implementation_risk: "high" (realignment depends on intergovernmental approvals, port decisions and possible easements)
- history: [{"date":"2023-07-01","note":"Earlier planning and public outreach on Salmonberry Trail alignment and rail-with-trail alternatives"}]

searchable_tags:["Salmonberry Trail","rail-with-trail","Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad","Port of Tillamook Bay","Marine Drive","trail alignment"],

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"t-671","local_start":0,"local_end":250,"evidence_excerpt":"My name is Ken Painter. I'm a citizen and property owner of Wheeler for the last 35 years. I live at 600 Marine Drive, and I was recently given a letter from the Port Tillot Bay... If parking is to remain in the right way, it will need to be under a use agreement easement with the port.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"t-6985","local_start":0,"local_end":320,"evidence_excerpt":"Make sure to contact the commissioners and staff of Port Atollam Bay as they are ultimately the ones that make the decision... info@potb.org. And we really appreciate this or if you believe in what our CSR brings to this county and this city.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.88,"overall_justification":"Large local economic stakes (tourism, businesses), many residents affected, multi-jurisdictional decision with an upcoming port board meeting.","impact_scope":"regional","impact_scope_justification":"Affects multiple towns along the corridor in Tillamook County","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Decisions are imminent at port board meeting and residents reported immediate notice from the port."},

engagement_forecast:{"newsworthiness":{"regional":0.85,"local":0.95,"justification":"High local interest due to property impacts and tourism implications"},"notify_recommendation":{"audience":"city","reason":"Potential immediate impact on residents and local businesses; upcoming Port board meeting Aug. 27","justification":"Local government, affected property owners and business community should be notified."},"predicted_read_time_minutes":3}