On Monday, city officials contacted free pantry Roadside Moon to let them know they would temporarily suspend code enforcement on their operations. The pantry has moved toward compliance, and the city’s intent is to give the pantry organizer more time to fall in with applicable codes.
Offering free food, clothes and other items to community members in need, the pantry was organized by Amy Ruth Crevola – she runs the effort from a Northwest Corvallis home she owns and lives in. The goods had been placed on tables and shelves in Crevola’s driveway, and folks were welcome to take whatever they’d like 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Crevola’s NW Sycamore Ave. home is located between 9th and Highland, and is surrounded by other single-family residences. The neighborhood is a mix of low-income apartments and modest single-family homes that have increasingly been fixed-up over the last few years.
Four neighbors filed complaints with the city concerning the operation, and in a June 2 letter to Crevola, the city advised her she would need to bring Roadside Moon into compliance with the usual codes for a residential neighborhood in the city, or potentially face fines.
The letter also held out the possibility that she could come into compliance by adhering to allowances city code makes for home-based businesses, if she wished, or alternatively, she could come into compliance under codes that permit garage sales.
Pantry, City Steps Towards Common Ground
One bone of contention has been the outward display of available goods on Crevola’s driveway, and now those goods have been placed under a prior existing carport in front of the house, with tarps and blankets hung from the top of the structure, so the items are no longer on public display.
According to the city’s community development director Paul Bilotta, it’s still not compliant, but it’s progress, and that counts.
“Today, we made a site visit to your location and it is clear that you have taken some actions with your operations to attempt to become more code compliant. Thank you,” writes Bilotta in a July 10 email to Crevola.
“Although the actions aren’t enough for us to be able to sign off on this case as being “fully resolved”, these steps are much appreciated. Based on what we observed today, it appears to be sufficient progress for us to determine that you are making positive efforts and therefore we can suspend enforcement actions temporarily in order to provide more time for you to work with staff on remaining steps, creative solutions, etc. We have had four different community members file complaints, but hopefully some of the steps you have already taken will start to reduce some of the tension in your neighborhood.”
Next steps
In our interview, Bilotta said, “The City is typically able to work through code enforcement cases quickly and collaboratively in residential neighborhoods.” In his email to Crevola, he offers that City personnel are available to work through proposals and makes suggestions so that Roadside Moon becomes compliant, and also writes, “We have no desire to needlessly issue financial penalties if there is a collaborative solution available.”
In a Tuesday email to us, Crevola said, “Have had several people reach out who are willing to help with the construction of a shed/structure to obscure public view of the carport in order to both continue offering our free pantry and be compliant with the code for home businesses (although we are of course not a home business). We will get a GoFundMe up by the end of the week for the project.”
“Our plan is to connect and meet with the city with our ideas and go from there. I am feeling hopeful.”
She also said she’s reached out to a mediator for help facilitating a conversation with the pantry’s neighbors, adding, “Our goal is and always has been to be a safe and welcoming place for all.”
– Advocate Staff
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