Article I — EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTERS

Each emergency homeless shelter shall comply with the following standards:

(A) Number of beds. An individual emergency homeless shelter shall have no more than 20 beds.

(B) Off-street parking. An emergency homeless shelter shall comply with all applicable provisions of the off-street parking and loading provisions applicable to the zoning district in which the shelter is located.

(C) Entrance lobby/intake area. The intake area of an emergency homeless shelter shall be a minimum of 100 square feet, located entirely within the building. The entrance to the intake area shall not be located directly facing a public street. Hours of client intake shall be posted. Clients shall not be allowed to form a queue outside the facility.

(D) On-site management. In order to ensure the operation and maintenance of the property upon which an emergency shelter is operated, the operator of an emergency homeless shelter shall submit a management plan to the Planning Director that includes the following information: the operator’s qualifications to operate the emergency shelter; the identification of the on-site staff person designated as a neighborhood liaison to respond to, and address, any questions or concerns from surrounding residents regarding facility operations; the operator’s security measures to protect shelter residents and neighboring land uses (which measures must be objectively sufficient to provide such security); a list of services offered by the shelter to assist emergency shelter residents with obtaining permanent shelter; and a method of screening emergency shelter residents to ensure compatibility with services provided at or through the emergency shelter prior to admittance to the shelter.

(E) Once the town’s local need for providing emergency homeless shelters is satisfied (based on the most current homeless census data), a conditional use permit is required for any additional beds or emergency homeless shelters in any district.

(F) Length of stay. No individual or family shall reside in an emergency homeless shelter for more than 180 consecutive days. A minimum of 60 days shall be required between stays. The operator of the emergency homeless shelter shall maintain adequate documentation to demonstrate compliance with this provision.

(G) External lighting. The emergency homeless shelter shall provide external lighting in accordance with California Building Code in order to maintain a safe and secure environment. Exterior lighting shall be shielded and directed towards the ground and away from surrounding properties.

(H) On-site security.

(1) Security measures shall be sufficient to protect clients and neighbors. Onsite security shall be provided during the hours when the emergency homeless shelter is in operation and at all times when clients are present on site.

(2) In the event that at least five external, verified complaints concerning unlawful activities at the facility have been

received over a 30-day period by the police department, the facility shall be required to provide additional on-site security staff to the satisfaction of the Chief of Police and the Director of Planning and Building Services.

(I) Town, county and state requirements. An emergency homeless shelter shall obtain and maintain in good standing required licenses, permits, and approvals from Town, county and state agencies or departments and demonstrate compliance with applicable building and fire codes. An emergency homeless shelter shall comply with all county and state health and safety requirements for food, medical and other supportive services provided on site.

(J) Hours of operation. An operational emergency homeless shelter shall remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(K) Smoking ordinance. Emergency homeless shelters shall comply with the provisions of § 8.44.070 of Title 8 of this code (Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Unenclosed Public Places).

(L) Design review. New construction and/or significant exterior alterations to an existing site or building are subject to design review by the Planning Commission to ensure substantial conformance with the town’s design guidelines.

(M) Emergency homeless shelter fees. Prior to issuance of a building permit for any emergency homeless shelter, any fees or exactions authorized by law, that are applicable to residential development, and that are determined by the town to be essential to provide necessary public services and facilities for the emergency homeless shelter, shall be paid by the operator of the emergency shelter to the town and/or to other applicable public agencies. In the event that the operation of the facility results in a need for additional police and public safety services or resources to ensure the public health, safety and welfare of the community, the operator may be required to reimburse the town for any documented costs incurred for providing such additional services and/or resources.

(Ord. 788, passed 5-6-2015; Am. Ord. 799, passed 2-3-2016)