PORT TOWNSEND — Guest speakers at the third Port Townsend town meeting said there aren’t any magic bullets to fix the deficits in affordable housing and family wage jobs.
“But these kind of meetings are the most important thing to change [the problem],” said Len Brannen, a nonprofit housing developer.
A handout provided by the city to the more than 150 people at the Thursday night meeting presented a primer on the difficulties that city staff has recognized in reaching the goal of the Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan to provide affordable housing within the city limit.
The first line said: “We are in a housing crisis.”
And while that may be the case, Brannen said he believes Port Townsend residents can solve the problem.
“The people who get it done are the ones who have the attitude that I am going to get this done, no matter what,” he said.
“These kind of meetings show that kind of organizational thrust.
“It will take time, but gather your resources and work [for the next] two to four years.
“These things take time.”
Maury Foreman, an economic planner and developer, also said he believed the town could succeed in infusing economic growth into the city limit — eventually.
“Many people in communities believe economic development can happen overnight,” he said.
“It doesn’t, and it is going to take time.”
Both Brannen and Foreman gave the history lessons in housing and economic development.
Then, the crowd gave its feedback to the city planners.
Using hand-held voting devices, members of the audience voted on several questions presented by City Planner Rick Sepler, and watched as results were returned in real time.
