Planning Commission Approves Proposed Zoning Code Amendments Pertaining to Emergency Shelters

The Planning Commission has approved the proposed amendments to the Zoning Code to implement the city’s Housing Element pertaining to emergency shelters, low barrier navigation centers, safe parking and others. 

Every city in California is required to develop, as a part of its General Plan, a Housing Element as a community-specific approach to “how” and “where” housing will be addressed to meet the needs of the community. 

Like all other cities in California, Pasadena is required to update its Housing Element on a regular basis with the State Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) to support continued progress toward meeting diverse community housing needs and to address regional housing production targets. 

The City Council adopted the Housing Element updated in July 2022. It was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development in March 2023. 

Under the Zoning Code “emergency shelters” are defined as “a nonprofit facility that provides short-term lodging without rent or fees on a first-come first-serve basis where people must vacate the facility each morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night.” 

The existing parking requirement is one space for every four beds. 

“Emergency shelters” are permitted subject to a Minor Conditional Use Permit (MCUP) throughout the Central District Specific Plan, as well as portions of the East Colorado Specific Plan and East Pasadena Specific Plan.

Meanwhile, “emergency shelters, limited” are defined as “a nonprofit facility that provides short-term lodging without a fee or rent on a first-come first-serve basis for not more than twelve persons at one time where people must vacate the facility each morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night.” 

The proposed amendment strikes down the phrase “where people must vacate the facility each morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night” on the definition of “emergency shelters” and  “emergency shelters limited” to allow for longer stays. 

It will also update bed capacity above the current 12-bed limit to at least 35 beds. The amendments will revise parking requirements based on shelter staffing needs versus based on shelter beds. 

The amendments will expand the zones where “emergency shelters” are permitted with Minor CUP and “emergency shelters, limited” are permitted by right and would allow low barrier navigation centers as a by-right land use.

It would also allow safe parking as an accessory use, with MCUP on sites in Specific Plan areas and occupied by “Transit Stations or Terminals” or “Colleges.” 

Aside from voting on the staff recommendation, the Commision also voted on a recommendation to include safe parking sites as permitted use on all religious institutions in Pasadena, subject to a minor CUP.

Commissioner David Coher voted against the staff recommendation.