Committee recommends zoning text amendment to define humanitarian service facilities, repeal broad "philanthropic" use

The Planning and Economic Development Committee on March 27 recommended approval of a zoning text amendment, TA-25-47, to define "humanitarian service facilities," establish the districts where such uses may be located and set performance standards for those facilities.

Staff described the amendment as a replacement for the current, broad "philanthropic and charitable institutions" category, which the city said contains no clear definition or performance standards. Under the proposed amendment, staff said the ordinance would define humanitarian service facilities, identify appropriate zoning districts for the use and require conditional use permits (CUPs) so council would review new proposals or expansions. Staff told committee members they would amend the draft to make the conditional-use requirement explicit in the listed districts.

Staff listed proposed performance standards including on-site staff supervision, a guest log for occupants, and prohibitions on on-site alcohol or cannabis use and on requiring financial compensation from guests. Staff also said temporary, short-term shelters that operate on rotating dates — often organized through churches and nonprofits — would continue to operate under existing temporary-permit processes and that the amendment is not intended to displace facilities already operating lawfully; existing operations would be grandfathered. If an existing facility sought to expand or move, staff said that change would generally require a CUP and review by council.

Committee members discussed the map of zoning districts where the use would be permitted, noting the concentration of eligible districts in parts of the city with commercial and industrial zoning and near employment and transit. Staff and members also discussed the forthcoming New Downtown Development (NDD) zoning rollout and how the amendment would interact with future rezoning efforts.

After discussion, a committee member moved that the committee recommend approval of TA-25-47 as amended; the motion was seconded and passed. Staff said the amendment had been vetted by planning staff and that if providers identify missing provisions the text can be amended later.

Next steps: if forwarded by the committee, TA-25-47 will proceed to City Council readings, with the first reading intended as a detailed review and the second reading serving as the public hearing and potential final action.