City officials are seeking to amend zoning regulations in order to facilitate the addition of more resources for serving the unhoused in the community. ~Photo by Bobbie Toner

By The Times Staff

The city is looking to expand where shelters for the unhoused could be located within the city to better serve residents in need.

While certain shelter uses are already allowed, a zoning amendment approved at the September 10 City Council meeting will permit defined homeless shelters either by-right or via special permit depending on the zone.

“In basically any residential zone, these will be allowable uses by right requiring a neighborhood meeting,” said Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen.

A special permit will be required in a neighborhood residence. Ewen-Campen explained the city doesn’t want to prohibit homeless shelters from neighborhood residences, but wanted to acknowledge that there would be “site-specific conversations” that will be discussed in a public forum before a permit granting authority.

Planning Division Deputy Director Fiona DiMartino confirmed that special permits for shelters would follow standard review procedures, allowing specific restrictions to be placed on a permit on a case-by-case basis, according to the meeting minutes of the September 3 Land Use Committee.

City Councilor President Lance Davis introduced this item to establish a clearer process to allow for more shelter options citywide.

“I think this is absolutely the moral call for us to enable more services,” said Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Thomas.

City Councilor At Large Jon Link said that creating more shelters for the unhoused is “part of being a welcoming community” and that this zoning amendment will assist the less fortunate with being “able to live with dignity.”