*UPDATE*  According to Lincoln County Public Information Officer Kenneth Lipp;

“…the property at 4794 SE Highway 101 will not be purchased for use as a winter shelter, and the Lincoln County Homeless Advisory Board was not involved with that potential acquisition. They were just being updated on an activity relevant to their homelessness response mission.”

The Lincoln County Homeless Advisory Board (LCHAB), chaired by Lincoln County commissioner Hall is believed to be in the process of buying property in the Taft district. The building may become an emergency homeless shelter with the possibility of converting it into a permanent shelter.

The building is the former Sports and Imports repair shop at 4794 SE highway 101.  It has been for sale for some time and was recently sold and relisted for sale but never developed-until the LCHAB set it’s eyes on it. 

Through multiple inquiries, the Homepage was told by Karen Rockwell, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Lincoln County that,

“My Asset & Development Manager Dan Butler mentioned that you had reached out again regarding acquisition of property that the Housing Authority if pursuing in Lincoln City. As you know, the Housing Authority has been working in partnership with Lincoln County and Lincoln City to research many different options for sheltering in Lincoln City.

At this time there are no facilities that have been purchased. There are several properties that are being vetted and if we locate one that will work we will close on the purchase.”

So, in government speak that means “technically we haven’t purchased it but we have an accepted offer and it is proceeding toward closing.”

At the LCHAB meeting on December 13 it was announced that “the property we are interested in will close either Friday the 15th or Monday the 18th of this month.”

Homepage first became aware of the situation through Mike Jipp, the owner of Lincoln City Surf Shop.  Jipp’s business abuts the proposed site. He said he had spoken with Dan Butler of Lincoln City Housing Authority who began telling Jipp about the upgrades that would be needed to make the building suitable for a homeless shelter.

In an email communication Butler wrote, “Hey Mike, Yes, we are moving forward on it. We’ve had a commercial property inspection completed and we will be opening the wall for a door and some exploration as needed.”

When questioned by Lincoln City Homepage how a homeless shelter could be sited in the Taft Village Core Zoning when a shelter previously opened next door (and owned by the author of this story) had been rejected by the Lincoln City city council she responded, “… a few years ago there were significant changes to code to allow for an increase in siting shelters. I imagine the process you went through previously is much different than what is currently allowed. See below for that information: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3395″

HB3395 basically tells local governments (and that means citizens) that they have no say in where homeless shelters can be opened. 

Section 7 reads; “Section 3, chapter 18, Oregon Laws 2021, is amended to read: Sec. 2 (1) A local government shall approve an application for the development or use of land for an emergency shelter (our italics), as defined in [section 2 of the 2021 act], on any property, notwithstanding this chapter or ORS chapter 195…or any statewide land use planning goal, rule of the Land Conservation and Development Commission or local land use regulation, zoning ordinance, regional framework plan, functional plan or comprehensive plan, if the emergency shelter..” and it goes on to list what is required within the shelter and the types of organizations that can operate it.

What is concerning citizens that Homepage asked about this is that there were “no hearings, no notifications to neighbors and another piece of property off the tax roles.”

This property sits kitty corner from a liquor store, across the street from Shuckers Bar and Grill and a few doors south of the mini mart that sells fortified wines and beers.  It is one of the busiest corners in Lincoln City with visibility issues from 48th pl to Hwy 101.  It is also a secondary road to Taft elementary school and Taft 7-12.

This is list of participants from the meeting minutes of November 8.  Homepage was unable to ascertain attendees in yesterday’s meeting.

Attendees:
City of Depoe Bay, Kathy Short, Mayor
City of Depoe Bay, Sandi HollenBeck*
City of Lincoln City, Judy Casper, Council President
City of Newport, Jan Kaplan, Mayor
City of Newport, Cynthia Jacobi, Councilor*
City of Siletz, Susan Trachsel, Council President
City of Toledo, Rod Cross, Mayor
City of Waldport, Dan Cutter, City Manager*
City of Yachats, Catherine Whitten-Carey, Councilor*
Community Services Consortium, Pegge McGuire, Executive Director
Community Services Consortium, Dina Eldridge, Housing Services Manager*
Lincoln County, Claire Hall, Commissioner

This is a developing story.