Zoning Text Amendments
Homeless Resource Centers and Shelters
Petition Number: PLNPCM2021-01033
Location: No specific location
Existing Zoning: CG General Commercial, D-2 Downtown Support, and D-3 Downtown Warehouse/Residential District. Temporary/Emergency Overflow shelters may impact multiple zoning districts found throughout the city.
Overlay District: Creation of a new “Homeless Resource Center Overlay District”
Council District: Citywide; the CG, D-2, and D-3 zoning districts are located in Council Districts 2, 4, 5. Adding temporary/emergency overflow shelters may impact multiple zoning districts found throughout the city.
This proposal changes the way permanent homeless resource centers and homeless shelters are regulated in the zoning code. The project was initiated by Mayor Mendenhall on October 21, 2021 with the following proposal:
- Part 1: Prohibit any new permanent homeless resource centers and homeless shelters from being in the city by making them prohibited uses in the land use tables found in the zoning code;
- Part 2: Update the conditional use standards and regulations that are specific to homeless resource centers and homeless shelters; and
- Part 3: Consider creating a different definition for a temporary overflow homeless shelter in the zoning code and allowing the use in some zoning districts.
The initiation from Mayor Mendenhall included a notice of pending ordinance. This notice allows the City to put any proposal that may be subject to the proposed change in the ordinance on hold for a period of 180 days. The 180 day period gives the city the time to craft regulations and take the proposal through the adoption process. This is a complex project that involves each of the three parts listed above and that necessitates other changes. While the goal is to have this project move forward as one proposal, some aspects of the proposal may be separated out based on input and how complexity discovered during the public outreach process.
Project Location
The zoning code lists permanent homeless resource centers and homeless shelters as a conditional use in the CG, D-2, and D-3 zoning districts. These are the only zoning districts where the use is allowed. This proposal would remove the uses as conditional use in these three zoning districts. This means that no new permanent homeless resource centers or homeless shelters would be allowed in the City. All existing homeless resource centers and homeless shelters would be allowed to continue to operate subject to the following all applicable rules.
The location of the CG, D2, and D3 Zoning Districts are shown in red, city council districts are outlined in blue.
Additional Information
Next Steps
- The Planning Division is in the process of obtaining public comment on this project to help identify concerns and issues from the public.
- Notice has been sent to the all City recognized community organizations.
- The 45-day Public Comment period ends on January 1, 2022.
- A Planning Commission hearing regarding this request is tentatively scheduled in January 2022, where they will provide time for additional public comments and make a recommendation to City Council.
- The City Council will hold another public hearing for additional public comments and make the final decision on the matter.
Public Comments and Questions
Comments that relate to the factors listed below are the most helpful for the Planning Commission and City Council when making decisions regarding changes to the zoning ordinance as well as how you feel your community may benefit or be impacted by the proposed changes. It would be very helpful to provide comments that relate to:
- The proposal to delete homeless resource centers and homeless shelters from the zoning code until such time that the city can work with the community to identify a new approval process for future homeless resource centers and homeless shelters and any issues or concerns you may have with this process.
- How to improve the operation of homeless resource centers and homeless shelters for people who use the centers or shelters.
- How your community has been impacted by homeless resource centers or homeless shelters and ideas to reduce negative impacts. Issues that are not zoning issues or that are better addressed through other tools will be separated out and provided to other entities that can address the non-zoning related issues.
- How your community has been impacted by temporary overflow shelters and ideas to reduce negative impacts.
The public comment period closed on January 1, 2022. For additional information on this project please contact the staff planner.
Nick Noris | Nick.Norris@slcgov.com | (801) 535-6173
David Gellner | David.Gellner@slcgov.com | (801) 535-6107
During and following this comment period, the Planning Division will evaluate the proposal against the applicable zoning standards, taking into consideration public comments as they relate to the standards, and develop a recommendation for the Planning Commission.