Turlock council rejects homeless shelter

Vote is unanimous against Walnut site, but what's next step?

By JOHN HOLLAND
jholland@modbee.com

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TURLOCK — The City Council on Tuesday night rejected the idea of building a cold weather homeless shelter on the city's industrial west side.

The 5-0 vote against the South Walnut Road project forces city officials and homeless advocates to keep working on a plan for providing shelter.

Critics of the proposal, including neighboring business owners, said it would bring crime to the area and leave shelter users far from other social services.

They also said the homeless people, most of whom get around on foot or bicycle, would not mix well with the many trucks in the area.

"Somebody is going to end up in a lawsuit by running over one of them," said Lawrence Kelso, whose auto wrecking yard is next to the site.

The council, after hearing about 20 speakers in the packed chamber, upheld the Turlock Planning Commission's denial of the shelter plan last month.

Several advocates for the homeless agreed that the site had problems. They urged the city to get one more year out of the cold weather shelter on B Street, which has drawn complaints from nearby businesses.

The council voted earlier this year to seek a buyer for the B Street building, a converted warehouse. It was to consider launching the bidding process Tuesday night, but that had not happened by press time.

The 5,000-square-foot building on South Walnut would have housed as many as 70 people from Dec. 1 through March 31. The city planned to spend about $900,000 on the project.

Blake Hennings, co-owner of the nearby Calwater Drilling Co., said he was concerned about vandalism but also was sympathetic about the need for shelter somewhere.

"I have a feeling for the homeless situation, but I urge you to reconsider this location," he said.

Mel Powell, who is homeless, said the debate has gone on too long and that city, business and homeless representatives need to find a solution.

"Civil rights are at stake here, not money," he said. "You're always going to have homeless people here, so why not accept it?"

Kevin Schachterle, another homeless man, said the B Street building, used as a shelter since late 2004, would serve for the coming winter.

"It's cold and it's wet and people are out there," he said.

The South Walnut site was chosen from among several options by a group that includes representatives of the city, the homeless, California State University, Stanislaus, and other parties.

The group has been trying to find a long-term solution to the homeless issue, which flared up with the 2002 clearing of an illegal camp along South Golden State Boulevard. The group has worked on providing temporary shelter for winter as well as services that could help people get into jobs and permanent housing.

Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at jholland@modbee.com or 578-2385.