The Grants Pass City Council last night unanimously approved a special use permit for the Mobile Integrated Navigation Team (MINT) to operate a resource center and place pallet shelters for the unhoused population at 218 Redwood Highway.
This single lot is located in the General Commercial zoning district and is under private ownership of Thomas Parker. The site is known to Grants Pass residents as Parker's Place. MINT has acquired a one-year lease at the site with an agreement to eventually gain ownership of the property.
Some improvements to the building have already been accomplished to meet state and city requirements. The existing building on the site will serve as the navigation center for support services to the unsheltered while the land behind the building will be the location for what is projected to be 15 pallet shelters.
According to MINT, those shelters would be reserved for the elderly or infirm when living in a park or on public property would create an unhealthy and undue hardship.
MINT has met all required criteria for such a facility including security concerns.