Walnut Creek Municipal Code Art. 16 Objective Standards for Emergency Shelters and Navigation Centers

The purpose of this article is to establish written, objective standards for housing for the homeless/emergency shelters and low barrier navigation centers pursuant to Section 65583 of the California Government Code, and to streamline the review process for such uses by providing clear information regarding application filing and project compliance requirements.

(§ 3(23), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/2024)

The provisions of this article shall apply to all housing for the homeless/emergency shelters and low barrier navigation centers. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter or navigation center access because of an inability to pay.

(§ 3(23), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/2024)

Housing for the homeless/emergency shelters and low barrier navigation centers shall comply with the following standards, except that the standards for overnight residents, client waiting/intake area, and proximity to other facilities may be modified upon approval of a conditional use permit in accordance with Part IV, Article 6.

A. Overnight Residents. The maximum number of overnight residents per night shall be fifty (50).

B. Client Waiting/Intake Area. An indoor client waiting/intake area shall be provided, with a floor area not less than ten (10) square feet times the maximum number of persons the facility is authorized to serve nightly, or one hundred (100) square feet, whichever is greater. Outdoor client waiting/intake areas shall not be permitted.

C. On-Site Management. On-site management personnel shall be provided continuously from at least one (1) hour before the facility opens to clients until one (1) hour after the last client leaves.

D. Proximity to Other Facilities. The minimum distance between each facility shall be three hundred (300) feet, measured from the nearest portion of each property.

E. Exterior Lighting. All facilities shall comply with Section 10-2.3.128, Lighting, and with objective light design standards most currently in effect and maintained by the Community Development Department.

F. Security. Security personnel shall be provided at all times the facility is open to clients.

(§ 3(23), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/2024)

Housing for the homeless/emergency shelters and low barrier navigation centers are encouraged to comply with the following guidelines:

A. Storage. Facilities should provide each overnight resident with a secure, adequately sized locker or other container for storage of personal property.

B. Showers. Facilities should provide at least one (1) shower for the use of overnight residents.

C. Laundry. Facilities with daytime services should provide laundry equipment (washers and dryers) for the use of clients.

D. Community Meeting. Prior to opening, facilities should invite all residents, businesses, and owners of property within three hundred (300) feet of the facility to a meeting to share information about the facility's operations and management, and provide a contact person for community inquiries.

(§ 3(23), Ord. 2243, eff. 9/7/2024)