Vallejo Municipal Code Ch. 16.317 Emergency Shelters

These provisions regulate temporary, short-term housing for homeless families and individual persons; implementing the housing element of the general plan, and state law to allow emergency shelters by right in specific districts. Any application for an emergency shelter facility that meets the requirements in this chapter shall not require a discretionary permit, per Section 65583(a)(4) of the California Government Code.

A. Emergency shelters shall obtain and maintain in good standing all required licenses, permits and approvals from city, county, state and federal agencies or departments and demonstrate compliance with all applicable building and fire codes.

B. The emergency shelter shall conform to all property development standards of the zoning district in which it is located, except as modified by these performance standards.

C. The length of stay of an individual client shall not exceed six months within a twelve-month period.

D. The maximum number of beds for emergency shelters shall be fifty unless a major use permit is approved to permit additional beds.

E. External lighting shall be provided for security purposes. The lighting shall be stationary and directed away from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way in compliance with Chapter 16.506, Lighting and Glare.

F. No more than one emergency shelter shall be permitted within a radius of three hundred feet from another such shelter when measured from the closest property lines. An exception to this separation requirement may be granted if significant physical features act as barriers from said sensitive uses, such as a freeway, or railroad right-of-way.

G. Parking facilities shall be designed to provide security for residents, visitors, and employees with the minimum number of parking spaces to be determined by the director based on project specific details. A covered and secured area for bicycle parking shall be provided for use by staff and client, commensurate with demonstrated need, but no less than a minimum of eight parking spaces. Shared parking is allowed through an agreement with other nearby property owners, and remote parking with shuttle service is allowed through an agreement with the parking lot/s owner. On-street parking may be allowed, but for employees only.

H. A client waiting and intake area shall be provided as interior space and contain a minimum size of one hundred square feet of floor area.

I. Outdoor charitable food distribution shall be conducted entirely on private property in a covered area during times that are approved by the city and shall not block accessible pathways. Hours of operation shall be the same as the hours of operation for social services centers and government offices in the zoning district where the facility is located unless the director determines that extending the hours will not interfere with or adversely affect surrounding uses based on the circumstances of the application.

J. No signs shall be placed on the property identifying its use as a shelter for the homeless.

K. Donation/collection bins and areas shall be screened from public view and shall be open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. A sign stating hours of operation shall be placed in a clear, visible location and shall be no larger than fifteen square feet.

L. Adequate storage for personal belongings shall be provided.

M. The city may inspect the facility during business hours for compliance with the management plan and any other applicable regulations and standards.

N. A minimum of one staff person or agent shall be on-duty and awake when the facility is in operation.

O. Management Plan. The applicant or operator shall submit a management and operations plan for the emergency shelter for review and approval by the director prior to approval of a business license. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Security.

2. Staff training.

3. Neighborhood relations.

4. Pet policy.

5. Client intake process.

6. List of services provided.

7. Facility maintenance.

8. Solid waste control.

9. Amenities, such as hours of operation, cooking/dining facilities, laundry facilities and activity policies.

10. Anti-discrimination policies.

P. The management plan may be reviewed as needed by the city with revisions made by the operator.