Jessie Stensland reports from the Island County Commissioners board meeting of Jul. 12, 2022.
The only motel in Freeland will soon be turned into a shelter to provide short-term “bridge housing” for people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and are searching for permanent shelter.
Following a lengthy public hearing Tuesday at which nearly 40 residents spoke, Island County commissioners voted 2-1 to provide $1.5 million in matching funds to the Low Income Housing Institute, commonly known as LIHI, for the purchase of the Harbor Inn.
A video recording of the meeting is available at this link. The discussion of the Harbor Inn project begins at 16:16, beginning with public comment. The commissioners took a short, five-minute recess at the 1:59:53 mark. The commissioners’ discussion began at the 2:05:10 mark and lasted approximately an hour.
They Said It
Commissioners Melanie Bacon and Janet St. Clair voted in favor of the funding while Commissioner Jill Johnson voted against it.
After the vote, Johnson spoke about her opposition to the project, admitting that she’s spoken in support previously. She said she wanted people to know her decision wasn’t partisan — she’s the sole Republican on the board — and that she doesn’t believe there will be safety or crime issues.
Johnson argued that the project trades one set of problems for another set of problems. While it will help with the lack of affordable housing, it means fewer options for lodging or short-term workforce housing. She said it’s easier to create new housing than new hotels.
In addition, she said she agreed with Reece Rose, who said the $3 million price tag was artificially inflated because government was picking up the cost.
“We were a willing buyer at a price the market wasn’t going to pay,” she said.
Likewise, St. Clair said she has significant concerns about whether the project is viable, but that’s an issue that will be decided during the permitting process. She also pointed out that multiple evidence-based studies have shown that supportive housing is effective.
On The Ballot in August 2022
| County Commissioner, District 3 Tim Hazelo (R-Oak Harbor) Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island), the incumbent Rick Hannold (R-Oak Harbor) |
