By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
February 19, 2008

Hood River County planners and a nonprofit organization are at odds over how many seasonal farm workers should be housed on an Odell property.

Adelante, a community development corporation, has leased land from Joe Sheirbon and is proposing to build dormitory-style units for 16-92 pickers. Jose Rivera, executive director of the Sandy firm, said the 10.6-acre parcel along Lippman Road is the perfect site for development because its soil is too poor for an agricultural use. He anticipates that all eight dwellings will be inhabited by the maximum number of workers only during the peak harvest season.

“The thing that makes this project unique and affordable is that the land is available and there is already an on-site septic system so the overall cost of the project is reduced by $375-$475,000,” said Rivera.

The proposed sleeping units, and access to a commons area with food and laundry services, will be rented to laborers for $10.50 per day with one meal or $15 for three meals. Adelante will provide 24-hour management and extra security checks from 6-10 p.m. every day.

“The dynamics of the agriculture industry are changing so much that it could be a real feather in Hood River County’s cap to allow this project as a model for other communities,” said Rivera.

Planning Director Mike Benedict is interpreting state law differently than Rivera. He said Sheirbon can only provide housing for his own workers on the land, which is zoned for exclusive farm use. He has calculated that, with 78 acres of tree fruits, the orchardist would need a crew of 16 laborers each harvest.

“You can’t, by Oregon law, build housing to meet the needs of your neighbor,” said Benedict. “This is a black and white standard so the main issue is, ‘Are they able to justify the number of housing units?’ ”

He has approved the housing application if the number of tenants is lowered. Rivera contends that Benedict’s recommendation would make the project unaffordable. He also believes that farmers who can no longer afford to maintain their own worker quarters could be deprived of the help that they need to get their crops to market.

Rivera, who has been in the affordable housing business for 20 years, has appealed Benedict’s denial of his full proposal. He will present his case on March 12 to the county planning commission — and beyond, if necessary.

“It’s a very narrow definition of the law that they are trying to limit us to and it’s not correct,” he said.

According to Rivera, there are two flaws with Benedict’s reasoning:

• The dwelling units would first serve the needs of the entire Sheirbon family, which has 278-acres of holdings that should also have been factored into the allowable number of pickers.

• The law allows workers to take a job in another location when their services are not needed on the site where they reside.

Rivera is “confident” that he will prevail with the housing plans if forced to appeal Hood River County’s decision to the state. He said workforce housing — especially dwellings that meet tough federal standards — was identified as a top priority by the Oregon Legislature in 2005.

According to Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers (CGFG), about 1,800 pickers are needed in Hood River County each year.

Rivera said Adelante’s dwellings would also help area farmers avoid a labor shortage by qualifying them for participation in the federal H-2A program. Under guest worker guidelines, growers can contract with pickers from Mexico if they agree to pay transportation costs and a guaranteed daily wage. In addition, they must provide upgraded housing and a set number of work weeks, a condition that could be met by having jobs available on more than one farm.

Rivera said the clock is ticking on the Odell project since his organization stands to lose $750,000 in tax credits to offset construction costs if the modular buildings are not up by the end of December.

“We are not asking the county for any help other than to demonstrate what is possible for the area,” he said.

“We need to distinguish the politics of affordable housing from the politics of exclusion.”

In 2001, he completed a similar housing project along Gilhouley Road in Odell for a member of the Barnes family. Rivera said the dwellings resemble an apartment complex and have remained aesthetically pleasing.

He is not the only one to file an appeal of Benedict’s decision. Peter Frothingham, a neighbor of the Sheirbons, will ask the planning commission to lower the number of worker units even further. The appeal filed by Frothingham also represents the view of eight other nearby families.

“We find the approval without a site plan and proposed building(s) design unacceptable. We do not believe that the conditions cited in the approval — though they are excellent — are sufficient. And we wish to be heard regarding our concerns regarding public safety and security and other matters relating to this approval,” stated the written appeal submitted by Frothingham.

Registering in favor of the housing proposal is CGFG, which represents 450 farms in Wasco and Hood River counties.

“We support this project specifically because it would allow us to bring in workers under the H-2A program by giving us a central place to house them,” said Jean Godfrey, executive director.

She said Adelante’s proposal complies with regulations of the federal Occupational and Health Safety Administration. She said the project also has a social component since it would provide pickers, many of whom don’t speak English, with a chance to congregate in a comfortable setting.

Rivera said the large lawn surrounding Adelante’s housing units allows workers to eat at picnic benches or enjoy a game of soccer during their off-time. He said the Lippman Road property will be landscaped to screen the development from the roadway and neighboring properties.