Commission asks staff to review zoning definition for social service centers after CareCuts approval

After approving CareCuts’ special use, several commissioners asked staff to re-examine the city’s definition of "social service center," which explicitly references people "transitioning from homelessness" and therefore triggers special-use review in certain zones.

Commissioner Hill said the current language effectively labels a class of people and may be redundant with services allowed in personal-service zones. "To think that the only reason and that this goes through special use... because we've labeled a group of people homeless, drug addicts," Hill said, urging staff to consider whether some services should be permitted by right or whether the ordinance needs clearer, enforceable language.

City law representative Christina McGraw Tillery said the law department had not fully evaluated the exemption question raised at the hearing and that further legal review was needed. Director Amy Brooks acknowledged the concern and said staff would evaluate the definition and place the item on the department’s program workflow for follow-up within the coming months.

The commission did not change the ordinance at the meeting; instead, it directed staff to return with an analysis and recommended timeline, leaving any code changes to future meetings.