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Commissioners table zoning change to allow emergency temporary housing after questions about oversight and services
Summary
The Planning Commission paused consideration of Love Over Crisis LLC’s request to authorize emergency temporary housing in agricultural zones after staff and commissioners said more information from state agencies is needed on oversight, services and operator requirements.
The Charlotte County Planning Commission on Dec. 20 tabled consideration of a zoning text amendment that would allow “Emergency Temporary Housing” in the General Agricultural District until its January meeting, after commissioners said they need additional information from state agencies and staff about oversight and service requirements.
The applicant, Shelley Mays-Couch, executive director of Love Over Crisis LLC, told the commission the proposed facility would serve local residents and people from the region, would be multi-residential, ADA-compliant and intended for single clients. “The proposed facility would serve local citizens as well as others in the region,” Mays-Couch said.
Staff provided an updated report that reviewed the application, existing housing programs for people experiencing homelessness and the specific challenges of siting shelters in rural areas, including the need for supportive services, limited transportation options, the potential strain on local service providers if the shelter serves regional clients, and concerns that fees for shelter accommodations could prevent occupants from saving toward permanent housing.
Commissioners asked whether operators could be required to register as nonprofits; Mays-Couch said Love Over Crisis is an LLC. Chairman Andrew Carwile asked whether periodic inspections or classification of the facility as a hotel could produce state oversight. Mays-Couch said funding providers, such as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), provide a requirements checklist but added that neither she nor staff was aware of a state regulatory agency that inspects shelters.
Staff recommended obtaining additional information from state agencies before the commission takes further action. By consensus the commission tabled the matter until the January meeting to allow staff to gather the requested information and return with recommendations.
Next steps: staff will contact appropriate state agencies and report back to the commission at its January meeting; no formal zoning change was adopted.
