Benefits of having a liveaboard population

Published 4:14 pm Thursday, June 18, 2015

Boats with people living on them add character, revenue and security to the port and merchants of Poulsbo.

The Poulsbo merchants get zero revenue from a vacant boat tied to a slip in the Poulsbo marina. However, they will do very well from the liveaboard occupants and their visiting friends and relatives.

There are 13 state-approved live aboard positions on hold pending the approvals of city hall. What was supposed to be a simple review of available parking has turned into a rather embarrassing and lengthy process, even though the port owns a mostly empty parking lot.

This situation has resulted in unwarranted hardship for those waiting on the liveaboard list at the Port of Poulsbo. We hope Poulsbo merchants realize that our revenues spent elsewhere could have been better spent in town.

On behalf of the liveaboard applicants, I invite common sense and good judgment, wherever it may be residing, to step forward and resolve this situation for the benefit of the entire community.

Jim O’Meara
Future liveaboard resident
Poulsbo