Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 17 63G - Supportive Housing for Homeless

A. The purpose of this chapter is to implement the provisions of California Government Code Section 65650 et seq. relating to supportive housing for a target population of homeless persons as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 5067.14.

B. The provisions of this chapter take precedence over any section of the zoning code to the contrary.

(Ord. No. 935, § 13, 4-8-25)

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:

"Administrative office space" means an organizational headquarters or auxiliary office space utilized by a nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing onsite supportive services at a supportive housing development authorized pursuant to this title and includes other nonprofit operations beyond the scope of the corresponding supportive housing development. "Administrative office space" includes parking necessary to serve the office space.

"Lower income households" means the same as defined in Section 50079.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.

"Supportive housing - homeless" means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied by the target population, and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving their health status, and maximizing their ability to live and, when possible, work in the community. Supportive housing includes nonresidential uses and administrative offices as limited by this chapter and specifically includes transitional housing for youth and young adults.

"Supportive services" includes, but is not limited to, a combination of subsidized, permanent housing, intensive case management, medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, employment services, and benefits advocacy.

"Target population" means persons, including persons with disabilities, and families who are homeless, as that term is defined by Section 11302 of Title 42 of the United States Code, or who are homeless youth, as that term is defined by paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 11139.3 of the California Government Code.

(Ord. No. 935, § 13, 4-8-25)

A. This chapter shall only apply to a supportive housing development of no more than fifty units that meets the requirements of this chapter.

B. Units within the development are subject to a recorded affordability restriction for fifty-five years. The city shall record an affordability restriction against the property which restricts the units to lower income households for a period of fifty-five years. The applicant shall be required to sign all necessary documents.

C. One hundred percent of the units, excluding the manager unit(s), within the development are dedicated to lower income households and are or will be receiving public funding to ensure affordability of the housing to lower income Californians. Rents shall be set at an amount consistent with the rent limits stipulated by the public program providing financing for the development.

D. At least twenty-five percent of the units in the development or twelve units, whichever is greater, are restricted to residents in supportive housing who meet criteria of the target population. If the development consists of fewer than twelve units, then one hundred percent of the units, excluding manager unit(s), in the development shall be restricted to residents in supportive housing.

E. Nonresidential floor area shall be used for onsite supportive services and administrative office space in the following amounts:

1. For a development with twenty or fewer total units, at least ninety square feet shall be provided for onsite supportive services.

2. For a development with more than twenty units, at least three percent of the total floor area shall be provided for onsite supportive services that are limited to tenant use, including, but not limited to, community rooms, case management offices, computer rooms, and community kitchens.

3. The total floor area dedicated to administrative office space shall not exceed twenty-five percent of total floor area.

F. The developer replaces any dwelling units on the site of the supportive housing development in the manner provided in California Government Code Section 65915(c)(3).

G. Units within the development, excluding managers' units, include at least one bathroom and a kitchen or other cooking facilities, including, at minimum, a stovetop, a sink, and a refrigerator.

H. The development shall be required to comply with the objective development standards and policies that apply to other multifamily developments within the same zone.

(Ord. No. 935, § 13, 4-8-25)

A. The standard application for the housing development project shall be supplemented with the following information:

1. The plan for providing supportive services with appropriate documentation showing that the supportive services will be provided on site to the residents in the project;

2. The name of the proposed entity or entities that will provide supportive services;

3. The proposed funding source(s) for the provided on-site supportive services;

4. Proposed staffing levels by shift;

5. The number of units that are restricted to residents who meet criteria of the target population;

6. The amount of nonresidential floor area that shall be used for on-site supportive services;

7. An identification of the number of manager units that will be provided; and

8. An identification of the number of rental dwelling units on site, or units that have been vacated in the five-year period preceding the application, which are subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts rents to levels affordable to persons of lower or very low income; subject to any other form of rent or price control through a public entity's valid exercise of its police power, or occupied by lower or very low income households.

B. An application shall be reviewed for completeness within thirty days of receipt. The application shall be acted on within sixty days after the application is complete for a project with fifty or fewer units.

C. The application for a supportive housing project that complies with all applicable requirements, including the requirement for replacement housing, shall be ministerially approved by the director.

(Ord. No. 935, § 13, 4-8-25)

The following parking requirements shall apply:

A. Parking shall be required at the rate of one space per unit. However, no minimum parking requirement shall apply for the units occupied by supportive housing residents if the development is within one-half mile of a public transit stop.

B. A minimum of one parking space shall be provided for each manager unit(s).

C. Parking at the rate of one space for every employee on the largest shift.

(Ord. No. 935, § 13, 4-8-25)