Homeless-Serving  Zoning

September 2019 Update:

On September 24, 2019, City Council approved second reading of an ordinance updating City zoning standards for homeless-serving zoning. (PMC 20.72). Please see the attachments on the right-hand side of this page for a copy of the adopted ordinance from this meeting containing amendments in strike-out underline format (NOTE: this is a link to an unsigned copy of the ordinance, pending final signature). Also attached is a zoning scenario map which reflects the adopted ordinance (AKA Alternate #5 map) and a copy of the PowerPoint presentation (saved as a pdf) from the September 24, 2019 meeting.

August, 2019 Update:

During 2017-18, Puyallup City Council considered potential zoning standards for homeless-serving daytime drop-in centers and overnight shelters at multiple meetings. City Council’s deliberation included the iterative review of multiple combinations of allowable zoning map scenarios and various procedural requirements. This work culminated in City Council’s approval of Ordinance #3179, on 10/2/18, which codified those standards as PMC Sec. 20.72. Briefly, PMC Sec. 20.72 included:

• Use definitions for daytime drop-in centers and overnight shelters
• Provision for facility requests to be processed either as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or, with City Council consent, as a Development Agreement
• Allowance for facilities to be sited in the ML (Limited Manufacturing) zone district under a CUP or any applicable zone under a Development Agreement
• Establishment of a 1000’ buffer from various “sensitive uses” (e.g. schools, parks, daycare/preschool, library, special needs senior care, residential zones) in which such facilities may not be sited
• A number of procedural submittal requirements for any application, including a Standard Operating Procedure Plan, Code of Conduct, Safety & Security Plan and Good Neighbor Agreement.    

Subsequently, that ordinance was appealed to the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB), a State board which hears local legislative land use appeals. After a hearing, the GMHB issued a decision on 6/3/19, in which they ruled on nine specific challenges to portions of Ordinance No. 3179.  The decision upheld the ordinance on six issues, but directed the City to re-evaluate the Ordinance in order to achieve compliance with the decision by 10/2/19. In brief, the GMHB decision found that Ordinance No. 3179 requires amendment to address:

• The "physically removed" (i.e., isolated or remote) locations of potentially-available parcels for these uses;
• The sufficiency of pedestrian access to potentially-available parcels for these uses;
• The sufficiency of transit access to potentially-available parcels for these uses;

On September 10, 2019, City Council will hold a public hearing to consider code revisions to the address the GMHB decision, including:

1. Adding additional zone districts to ML as potentially-available for these uses under a CUP:  General Commercial (CG), Community Business (CB) and Medical (Med)
2. Using a 500’ sensitive use buffer vs. the original 1000’ buffer.  (NOTE:  this new ordinance carries on the allowance in Ord. #3179 that affected facilities may be sited on portions of a parcel touched by a buffer so long as the facility is outside of the buffer radius).
3. Reducing the required mailed notice for the Informational Neighborhood Meeting from a full City Council District to 1000’, as well as other minor clarifying changes to that meeting requirement.
4. Changing the appeal body for a Hearing Examiner decision on a CUP, under this ordinance, from City Council to the Appellate Hearing Examiner.
5. Under the Safety & Security Plan submittal item, specifying that requisite City Police Department input on that plan will be forwarded onto eventual permit decision-makers vs. requiring that the Plan be immediately revised to incorporate that Police feedback.
6. Under the Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA), reducing the required membership of the GNA Committee and clarify a few other portions of that procedural standard.

City Council meetings, which begin at 6:30 p.m., are held in the 5th Floor Council Chambers of City Hall (333 South Meridian). Any interested party may attend the City Council public hearing and offer written or verbal testimony, if desired. Any party wishing to submit written comments on this matter prior to the City Council meeting may submit it c/o the City Clerk’s Office via mail to City Hall, 333 South Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98371, in person at the City Clerk's Office, or to MWinter@ci.puyallup.wa.us.