Bellevue aims to clarify land use code for year-round homeless shelters

The city of Bellevue on April 3 took another step toward solidifying a plan to allow year-round men’s homeless shelters within city limits.

City staff held a community workshop where the public was invited to learn about and give feedback on permanent land use code regulations that would allow for homeless shelters throughout the year. Various booths featuring maps and drawings were placed outside the council chambers for attendees to learn about how the process works, land use code and how the process of amending that code works.

City staff answered questions and took feedback on several topics that night, including questions regarding what type of zoning a shelter can be located in and what types of services should be nearby.

Kate Berens, deputy city manager, explained that in 2017 the city put interim regulations in place that permitted homeless shelters in districts where hotels and motels were allowed. The interim regulations were implemented by council after receiving feedback that the existing land use code on the matter is unclear. When the city made the interim designation, it stated that it intended to develop more thorough, permanent regulations that would clearly address the operation of homeless shelters.

“Depending on which area of the city you were in, the process to get a shelter approved was different and they wanted consistency so they put interim controls in place,” Berens said. “That gives them time for us to then engage the community on a set of permanent regulations that reflect what the council’s objective is, which is to find a set of regulations that allows shelters to be located in Bellevue and operated successfully.”

Seasonal shelters have operated in the city since 2008, Barrens said, but the increasing desire for more permanent shelter locations on the Eastside led council to take on the task of establishing clear regulations.

“As staff, it’s our job to collect feedback and take this kind of feedback, take the policy documents the council has already adopted…and come up with a staff recommendation on a set of regulations that will hopefully accomplish that objective of helping shelters be sited in Bellevue, and sited in a way that meets the community’s expectations,” Berens said.

In addition to community feedback, staff has also researched how other cities around the region define and implement codes that regulate land use for homeless shelters.

During a presentation at the workshop, staff members gave an overview of a recent survey conducted in the city concerning what elements residents feel are important to the code. Berens said some of the feedback so far has shown that people are interested in separating the shelter from single family zoning and locating it away from elementary schools and day cares. They also have data that shows citizens suggesting that a shelter should be close to public transit options as well as organizations that provide services to the homeless population.

Nancy LaCombe, assistant director in the city manager’s office, spoke to attendees of the workshop about the survey results and broke down the information collected from the initial study.

“What things the shelter should be located adjacent to or near? The number one (answer) was social services, number two was to transit services and number three was to health services,” she said. “Right below that was employment services and workforce training as well as public facilities.”

A full draft of the code is expected to be completed and submitted to the council for an April 23 meeting where they will discuss the matter. Examination of the draft will continue in study sessions throughout May, before a public hearing planned for June. Berens said the city hopes to have the code approved by the council in June or July.

“Our goal here is to try to find a way that the shelter can be located in Bellevue and operate successfully in the community,” she said. “Hearing from the community and having them engage with us on this is very important.”

Land Use Planner Mark Brennan puts up notes written by community members about what services they would like to see at a potential shelter in the city. Evan Pappas/Staff Photo