Oak Harbor advisory board backs pallet-shelter plan, recovery-cafe model to ease downtown homelessness

The Oak Harbor Police Community Advisory Board on Sept. 3 voted to prepare a report recommending that the city pursue a pallet-shelter community and a recovery-cafe model to address homelessness concentrated in the Southwest Barlow Street business district and to present that recommendation to city council, with a preferred council hearing date of Dec. 16.

The matter drew extended public comment from property owners and business operators who said the presence of people congregating near 1241 Southwest Barlow Street — and the services provided there — has driven customers away and impaired property sales. “We started out at a very competitive price,” said Corinne Lerch, a Windermere realtor who represents the owners of 1421 Southwest Barlow Street. “The main concern that they did not continue with the purchase of the property was because of the ongoing issues with the homeless population that congregates around 1241 Southwest Barlow Street… open drug use, loitering, panhandling, intimidation, public urination and defecation, and increased crime rates.”

Why it matters: speakers said that the business district — which includes national and local anchors such as Walmart, Safeway and Starbucks —…