Citizens' boycott swamps three-story oceanside inn

OCEANSIDE, Ore. — One young mother from Tillamook gathers her five children and drives two scenic miles to go beachcombing at a quaint hideaway off Highway 101.

Another Tillamook mother slips into a black gown and drives to the same town to dance at the only exotic club on the northern Oregon coast — the Anchor Inn and Grill.

They, along with strip-club patrons, visiting families, longtime residents and retirees, mix it up in this quiet community.

Dependent on vacation rentals and tourists, pint-size Oceanside — population 326 — sustains one cafe, one coffee shop, one nude-adult-entertainment venue and lots of feuding citizens.

For the past three years, a dispute over growth and development has divided the community.

Angry neighbors boycotted the Anchor because it expanded. Then, nearly broke, another owner of the Anchor brought in strippers in December as a last resort.

Now a state land-use board is investigating. In the meantime, many villagers are at one another's throats.

"Boycott the Anchor" signs are plastered on dozens of Oceanside homes. Bumper stickers proclaim: "You Won't See Me at the Anchor."

Trouble started a few years ago after the owner of the Anchor added guest rooms by building a third floor that, neighbors said, obstructed views. They questioned the building permit's legality and organized a boycott against the business.

"This is where I wanted to retire, but they destroyed this," said Slawomir "Sam" Piskorski, current owner of the Anchor.

Piskorski, a Polish immigrant, former steelworker and real-estate investor, said the boycott forced him to take drastic measures. He has abandoned hope of a peaceful retirement. Now he wants to sell the place and get out. But until it sells, he said, the strippers will carry on.

Efforts at compromise — buyouts, property trades, remodeling schemes — have flopped.

As both sides battle, the vacation-rental season draws closer.

People visit Oceanside to fish, charter boats or go clamming, crabbing or hiking. The beach beckons surfers, gliders and kayakers.

A half-mile offshore, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge gives rocky island sanctuary to tufted puffins, common murres, pelagic cormorants, seals and sea lions.

Stacy Patching is among those unhappy about the adult entertainment at the Anchor.

She takes her five children to Oceanside Beach State Recreation Site after home-schooling them all day. Bad people hang around places with nude dancing girls, she said.

Taiese Hanthorn, manager of the Brewin' in the Wind coffee shop, doesn't see what the brouhaha is all about. "It was built legally," she said.

"People here are afraid of growth," added barista Bryan McCoy.

Oregon extends protections to strip clubs because of a liberal free-expression clause in the state constitution.

One person not complaining about Piskorski's new business plan is the young mother who performs as "Skye" at the Anchor. Previously, she commuted 82 miles to dance in a Portland club.

"Out here, all the girls have a chance," she said. "The tips are good."

David VanSpeybroeck has a different perspective. The Portland trial lawyer is president of the Oceanside Protection Society, which is supporting the boycott and legal battle.

"I wanted to have a safe place with good emotional resonance for my two 9-year-old girls," VanSpeybroeck said.

He levels his anger at county planning officials. "If developers can do what they want, then Tillamook County is ripe for the picking."

Sue Butler, who is also passionate in her objection to the addition to the Anchor and to its current use, organized the boycott: "The strip club may be the death of Oceanside. I can't imagine families wanting their kids to walk by that kind of establishment."

Bob Steele owns the house behind the Anchor and said its third-floor addition spoiled his cherished sunset views. Tillamook County erred in granting the building permit, he said.

VanSpeybroeck, Butler, the Steeles and other community members have contested the issuance of the third-story building permit to Oregon's Land Use Board of Appeals.

The board, composed of three lawyers appointed by the governor, heard oral arguments and took the matter under consideration in late January.

Both parties say that if the ruling is unfavorable to them, they probably would appeal.

The Anchor is simple and clean, with wood trim and large ocean-facing windows. There are no neon or garish signage. Windows are darkened on the main, street-level strip club.

"It's unfortunate the community drove him to this position," said Debbie Johnson, a Tillamook small-business owner and friend of Piskorski.

"He was happy and content with the restaurant and the rooms."

A regular visitor for 30 years, Char Helegesen moved to Oceanside a year ago after retiring from teaching in Seattle. "I know Sam. I like Sam. He's a good guy," she said.

But the strippers are "inappropriate for this gentle little village. A lot of kids play around here. It's not a good example for them."

People should move past the issue, Helegesen said. "I don't believe in all the anger. My sign would say, 'Boycott anger.' "