Kankakee council adopts zoning change requiring conditional-use permits for shelter-care facilities; local church outlines plan to open overnight shelter

Kankakee City Council on Oct. 20 approved PB2025-8-7, an amendment to Appendix A of the city zoning code that requires shelter-care facilities in industrial districts to secure conditional-use permits. The council voted 10-0 to suspend rules and pass the ordinance after staff said it previously passed the Planning Commission unanimously on Aug. 19.

Pastor Smith of Gift of God Street Church and Shelter addressed the council during public comment outlining plans to open an overnight shelter, currently scheduled to begin Nov. 3, with the potential to open earlier depending on volunteer availability. Smith said the program currently provides daytime services (food, clothing, showers and limited on-site meals) and intends to operate seven days a week once overnight staffing is secured. The pastor asked the council to consider funding or other support to provide small stipends for overnight staff to avoid volunteer burnout.

City staff described PB2025-8-7 as a zoning text amendment that the Planning Commission recommended unanimously on Aug. 19 and that the ordinance committee had previously approved for consideration by council. Council members moved to suspend the rules to allow final passage that evening; the motion passed on roll call (10 ayes, 0 nays).

Council members and staff noted that the zoning change creates a permitting pathway intended to provide municipal oversight for shelter locations in industrial districts. Director King reported the amendment as a veil amendment (transcript language) to require conditional-use review; no change to the underlying allowed uses was described at the council meeting.

The pastors presentation also included operational details the council did not formally act on that night: volunteer recruitment events, donated food sources (cited donors such as Chick-fil-A and Olive Garden in the transcript), day services with showers and clothing distribution, and a request for help with overnight staffing. Pastor Smith gave a contact name on the flyer as Pastor Dave Skate for follow-up. The council did not make a direct funding commitment during the meeting.

Because the zoning amendment passed, organizations that propose shelter-care facilities in industrial districts must now pursue a conditional-use permit and comply with any conditions the city attaches through that permitting process. The Gift of God Street Church and Shelter said it would continue outreach and volunteer recruitment and will follow the citys permitting requirements as applicable.

Council members did not take separate votes on funding for the shelter during the meeting; any future financial requests would need to be brought forward with the appropriate ordinance or budget request.