Oak Harbor’s Alcoholics Anonymous could have their meeting place shut down in less than one month, if they fail to find parking spaces.

Last Friday, Michael Bobbink, hearing examiner, denied the group’s request for a conditional use permit, which is required before opening a home to meetings.

For 30 years, AA members met in the basement of Windhaven chalet on Oak Harbor Road, until a new owner raised the rent by 65 percent.

Colleen Johnson, an AA member since 1999, decided to purchase a home on NE Seventh Avenue. She said she is paying off the mortgage with

donations from AA members.

However, Johnson’s double driveway isn’t providing enough parking, according to city planning standards.

“There are six criteria for a permit,” Steve Powers, director of

Development Services, said at the examiner’s meeting. “It wasn’t approved because parking has not been provided, but they are pursuing

a solution.”

The city requires 13 parking spaces for the five to 25 people who attend the regular AA meetings.

Johnson told Bobbink that she was looking into spots at apartment complexes and at Concordia Lutheran Church down the street.

Pastor John Palm said the congregation approved of the use of space.

But the church parking lot is beyond the 700-feet required by the city code, and nearby apartment lots are full.

Several citizens present at the meeting said public transit and carpooling were possible options, and mentioned AA’s service to the community.

“AA prevents drunk driving,” Bill T. said. “We love our group and we feel it has saved our lives. We’ve poured a lot of money into renovating the home for our meetings.”

A court judge for 20 years, Bobbink said he has ordered hundreds of people into AA.

“Nothing is aimed at the use itself, but you are asking me to approve something that violates the code,” Bobbink said. “I’m not willing to say that AA doesn’t need parking but Joe Blow’s coffee shop does.”

He added that he was willing to give the group more time.

After Johnson approached the podium, Bobbink called her “strong-willed” after she suggested legislative input from the Oak Harbor City Council.

“You’re only hurting yourself,” Bobbink said. “It’s a criminal offense for an official to influence me.”

He ruled that Johnson has 30 days to find adequate parking spaces, given that the group has already had six months.

In an interview Tuesday, Johnson said that her next option is to apply for a variance, an exception to the rule, which would make it acceptable for AA members to use the church parking lot.

And she said she will continue to seek help from Oak Harbor officials.

“My final point that he wouldn’t let me make is that I was disappointed that our elected representatives won’t jump in and take a stand to try to help us. The same way they did with the Evergreen

Mobile Home Park,” Johnson said, in reference to the council’s search

for land to develop an affordable housing project.

“I’m still going after the city council because they need to get off the fence and take a stand.”