Article 25 — Low-Barrier Navigation Centers

The purpose of this chapter is to establish development standards for low-barrier navigation centers and to ensure this use is constructed and operated in a manner that is consistent with the requirements and allowances of State law, specifically Article 12 of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Planning and Zoning Law commencing with California Government Code Section 65660 . (§ 6, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)

Low-barrier navigation centers are allowed in compliance with Sections 9-4.102 , 9-4.103 , and 9-4.302 . (§ 6, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)

A Development Permit is required prior to establishment of any low-barrier navigation center project meeting either of the following criteria. The permit shall be a ministerial action without discretionary review or a hearing. The City shall notify a developer whether the developer's application is complete within 30 days, pursuant to California Government Code Section 65943 . Action shall be taken within 60 days of a complete application being filed.

(§ 6, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)

A low-barrier navigation center development is a use by right in areas zoned for mixed-use and nonresidential zones permitting multi-family uses, if it meets the following requirements:

• A. Connected Services. It offers services to connect people to permanent housing through a services plan that identifies services staffing.

• B. Coordinated Entry System. It is linked to a coordinated entry system, so that staff in the interim facility or staff who co-locate in the facility may conduct assessments and provide services to connect people to permanent housing. "Coordinated entry system" means a centralized or coordinated assessment system developed pursuant to Section 576.400(d) or Section 578.7(a) (8), as applicable, of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as those sections read on January 1, 2020, and any related requirements, designed to coordinate program participant intake, assessment, and referrals.

• C. Code Compliant. It complies with Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 8255 ) of Division 8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

• D. Homeless Management Information System. It has a system for entering information regarding client stays, client demographics, client income, and exit destination through the local Homeless Management Information System, as defined by Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(§ 6, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)

For the purposes of this section, "use by right" has the meaning defined in subdivision (i) of Section 65583.2. Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000 ) of the California Public Resources Code and shall not apply to actions taken by a public agency to lease, convey, or encumber land owned by a public agency, or to facilitate the lease, conveyance, or encumbrance of land owned by a public agency, or to provide financial assistance to, or otherwise approve, a low-barrier navigation center constructed or allowed by this article.

(§ 6, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)