With Phase I construction underway, the Astoria City Council held a public hearing this month and approved targeted amendments to Article 8 (Sign Regulations) of the Astoria Development Code, marking a key step forward in supporting development of the Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) campus.

Image Credit: Seaside Signal

A Clear Path Forward

The signage amendments modernize signage regulations and improve overall code clarity, including new hospital-specific standards to support wayfinding, emergency access, and campus navigation, while maintaining compatibility with Astoria’s scale and character. With the most recent City Council approval, the final code amendments are now in place to guide signage and development for the hospital campus and support long-term functionality.

Image Credit: Columbia Memorial Hospital

Supporting a Regionally Significant Project

For the project as a whole, Jesse Winterowd, AICP, and the Winterbrook Planning team have led a multi-phase collaborative effort between the City of Astoria and the CMH design team. Working with the City of Astoria, CMH, ZGF, Knot, and Kittelson, Winterbrook prepared a series of amendments to the City’s comprehensive plan, zoning map, and development code. The project has provided a clear and objective path for developing a hospital designed to withstand a Cascadia event within the tsunami inundation zone, while also allowing for future campus expansion.