17.40.110 Emergency shelters.
A. Purpose and Applicability. This section establishes use and development regulations for emergency shelter facilities in accordance with state law and the city’s adopted housing element. In accordance with state law, local communities have a responsibility to provide adequate sites for emergency shelters that serve homeless individuals and families. The goal of emergency shelters is to address acute needs of individuals and families by providing basic residential facilities and may include programs, which help residents find available social services. Consistent with the findings of the state legislature, the city recognizes the need for and the benefit of temporary housing and services for homeless persons and families. This chapter is intended to allow for the development of emergency shelter facilities subject to location, development and operational standards that minimize potential adverse impacts on nearby properties and the community as a whole.
B. Location of Emergency Shelters. Emergency shelters are permitted in conjunction with religious facilities (churches), subject to the location and permitting restrictions identified in this code. Emergency shelters are further permitted by right in the High Density Residential (R-3), Commercial Retail (C-R) and Service Commercial (C-S) zones. Emergency shelters shall not be located within three hundred feet of any other existing emergency shelter facility.
C. Development Standards. In addition to the development standards in the underlying zoning district, the following standards apply to emergency shelters and each emergency shelter shall comply with the standards set forth in this section. In the event of conflict between these standards and the underlying zoning district regulations, the provisions of this section shall apply. Nothing in this section modifies the requirements for approval of a church facility as otherwise provided in this code.
1. State and Local Standards Compliance.
a. Facility compliance with applicable state and local standards and licensing requirements if required for any program provided in the shelter.
b. Compliance with applicable state and local housing, building, and fire code requirements.
2. Operational Characteristics.
a. The facility shall have on-site supervision during all hours when the shelter is open.
b. Facilities shall provide secure areas for personal property.
c. If the emergency shelter is proposed in conjunction with a church facility, the area utilized for emergency shelter facilities may not exceed twenty-five percent of the total floor area used for the religious facility.
d. Where a day care facility or elementary or middle school is operated on the same site as an emergency shelter, the day care and school facilities must be separated from the emergency shelter facilities by means to prevent access from one facility to the other.
3. Citywide Number of Beds Limited. At no time shall the number of emergency shelter beds permitted within the city limits be greater than the total number of homeless individuals counted in the most recent point in time homeless count for the Wasco area. If at any point the number of existing permitted beds exceeds the most recent point in time homeless count, no new beds will be permitted.
4. Limited Terms of Stay. The maximum term of staying at an emergency shelter is six months in a consecutive twelve-month period.
5. Parking. The emergency shelter shall provide on-site parking at a rate of two spaces per facility for staff plus one space per six occupants allowed at the maximum capacity.
6. Emergency Shelter Management. A management plan is required for all emergency shelters to address management experience, good neighbor issues, transportation, client supervision, client services, and food services. Such plan shall be submitted to and approved by the community development department prior to operation of the emergency shelter. The plan shall include a floor plan that demonstrates compliance with the physical and operational standards of this chapter. The operator of each emergency shelter shall annually submit the management plan to the planning and community development department with updated information for review and approval. The city council may establish a fee by resolution to cover the administrative cost of review of the required management plan. (Ord. 706 § 3 (Exh. A), 2019).