Tracy Municipal Code Art. 5 Emergency Homeless Shelters and Low Barrier Navigation Centers

(a) General. Emergency homeless shelters are permitted in the MDR, HDR and MDC Zoning Districts, subject to the requirements of this section.

(b) Requirements for emergency homeless shelters.

(1) Concentration. An emergency homeless shelter may not be located closer than 300 feet from another emergency homeless shelter.

(2) On-site resident manager. An emergency homeless shelter shall have a resident, on-site manager.

(Ord. No. 1372, § 3, 12-16-2025)

(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish streamlined permit procedures and development standards for low barrier navigation centers to help create permanent solutions for the City's homeless population. This section establishes compliance with Government Code Sections 65660 through 65666.

(b) Definitions. See Section 10.08.592 for the definition of a low barrier navigation center.

(c) Application requirements. The following application and processing requirements shall apply to applications for low barrier navigation centers:

(1) Permit required. Prior to the development of a new building or use of an existing building as a low barrier navigation center, an applicant shall submit an application for a development review permit subject to a streamlined ministerial review.

(2) Completeness determination. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of an application for a low barrier navigation center, the department shall notify an applicant whether the application is complete. If the Department does not make a written determination within thirty (30) days, the application shall be deemed complete.

(3) Decision deadline. Upon deeming an application complete, the director shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application for a low barrier navigation center within thirty (30) days.

(4) Ministerial review. The director shall consider an application for a low barrier navigation center ministerially without discretionary review or hearing. Ministerial review does not apply to actions to facilitate the lease, conveyance, or encumbrance of land owned by a public agency or to provide financial assistance to a low barrier navigation center.

(5) Conflicts with other sections of Tracy Municipal Code. Where there are conflicts between the standards in this Section 10.10.140 (Low Barrier Navigation Centers) and other requirements of this Development Code, the provisions of this section shall prevail.

(d) Development standards. A low barrier navigation center that complies with all of the following development standards shall be allowed with a development review permit subject to a streamlined ministerial review.

(1) Zoning. A low barrier navigation center shall only be located within mixed-use zones and nonresidential zones permitting two-family and multiple-family uses, which consist of the following zones:

i. Central business district (CBD).

ii. Professional office and medical zone (POM).

iii. Agricultural zone (A).

iv. General highway commercial zone (GHC).

(2) Services plan. The applicant shall submit a written services plan that identifies staffing services and demonstrates that the low barrier navigation center will offer services to connect people to permanent housing.

(3) Coordinated entry system. A low barrier navigation center shall be linked to a coordinated entry system, so that staff in the facility may conduct assessments and provide services to connect people to permanent housing. If the proposed project will receive funding from the City of Tracy, the applicant shall submit a memorandum of understanding consistent with the City's coordinated entry system procedures. If the proposed project will not receive funding from the City, the applicant shall demonstrate compliance with the coordinated entry system requirements set forth in Government Code Section 65662(b), or successor statute.

(4) Housing first policies. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 8255) of Division 8 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(5) Information collection. A low barrier navigation center shall have 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) Objective design review. A low barrier navigation center shall not require discretionary review but shall be subject to the objective design standards applicable to multiple-unit dwellings and mixed-use development in Article 2, Multiple-Unit and Mixed-Use Housing Objective Design Standards, of Chapter 10.10, Housing Regulations. For purposes of this Section 10.10.140 (low barrier navigation centers), new buildings, existing buildings, and as applicable, additions to existing buildings, shall also comply with the following design review standards:

i. Fences and walls. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with the fences and walls regulations in Section 10.08.3250 (wall, fence and hedge requirements).

ii. Height. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with height limitations of the applicable zone and the height measurement, exceptions, and limitations in Section 10.08.3200 (height limitations). This standard shall not apply to existing permitted buildings.

iii. Signs. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with the sign standards in Article 35 (signs).

iv. Setbacks. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with the setback requirements of the applicable zone. This standard shall not apply to existing permitted buildings.

v. Lot coverage. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with any lot coverage standards of the applicable zone. This standard shall not apply to existing permitted buildings.

vi. Open space. A low barrier navigation center shall comply with any open space standards of the applicable zone. This standard shall not apply to existing permitted buildings.

(e) Exempt from other development standards. Other than the development standards in Section 10.10.140(d), a low barrier navigation center shall not be subject to any other objective or discretionary development standards or other provisions in the General Plan or this Development Code, including parking requirements.

(Ord. No. 1372, § 6, 12-16-2025)