Ocean Shores Food Bank seeks conditional use permit at 788 Point Brown Ave; traffic, parking and SEPA left open for further review

The City of Ocean Shores hearing examiner on Jan. 29 heard public testimony on CUP2400006, an application from the Ocean Shores Food Bank to locate its operations at 788 Point Brown Avenue Northeast, a property in the B-1 retail-commercial zone.

Hearing Examiner Yoshi Kumar admitted staff exhibits and asked the city to present its analysis. Marshall Reed, the city’s lead planner, said the Food Bank’s proposed use is listed as a public or semi-public conditional use in the B-1 district (citing Ocean Shores Municipal Code 17.34.030(a)), and that the site plan conforms to city standards in concept. Reed told the examiner, however, that staff had concerns about vehicle and pedestrian congestion because the site sits on a primary corridor (Point Brown Avenue) and events or distribution days have in the past coincided with higher visitor volumes in town. Reed listed standard conditions that would accompany approval: compliance with building and fire code, completion of a SEPA checklist, inspections by building, fire, planning and the Grays Harbor County Health Department if required; an approved storm drain design prior to permits; landscaping per code; and adequate parking as required under municipal code.

Applicant representatives described the proposal and mitigation measures. Stephen Berry, president of the Ocean Shores Food Bank, said the food bank served 1,214 distinct households in 2024, up from 685 in 2021, and that weekly service runs about 225 to 250 households. Berry said the current rented facility on Anchor Avenue holds about 20 cars and forces outdoor queuing; the Point Brown site would increase on-site parking to roughly 40 spaces and, with use of adjacent on-street parking and layout adjustments, might permit between 40 and 65 spaces. Berry described a traffic-control plan that would prohibit entry from Point Brown, route distribution-day traffic via Magellan and Shoal into the site, deploy signage and trained volunteers for traffic control, and stage arrivals so vehicles do not queue on Point Brown. Applicant operations staff Anthony Pothier said the site could accommodate the typical 40-car backup experienced today and potentially more.

Multiple speakers — including City Council member Richard Wills, City Administrator Scott Anderson and several residents and volunteers — testified either in support or with concerns. Supporters said a larger facility could reduce queuing by increasing indoor capacity and allow multi-day distributions for peak events; some noted potential public benefits such as increased downtown parking if the applicant renovates and sells the street-facing restaurant building. Residents expressed concern about pedestrian safety at the Point Brown and Shoal intersection, potential driveway blockage on Magellan, and the impacts of special large distributions (holiday events) on nearby neighborhoods.

The hearing examiner asked whether a SEPA determination and any required traffic analysis had been completed. City staff and the applicant said SEPA review is required and that the city could impose SEPA and related requirements as conditions. Because SEPA and any traffic mitigation remain unresolved, the hearing examiner left the record open to allow the city to complete a SEPA determination and to receive additional exhibits; he asked the city to communicate a timeline for that determination. No final decision was issued at the hearing.

The applicant emphasized that the relocation is not finalized: they are evaluating inspection reports, renovation cost estimates and financing options, and said ownership of the site would allow them to pursue grants for which they are not currently eligible as tenants. The record will remain open while the city performs SEPA review and the applicant completes due diligence.