Loveland City Council considers amending homeless shelter code – Loveland Reporter-Herald

With a zoning application for a new homeless shelter pending, the Loveland City Council will have its last chance to help set standards for such facilities. At its regular meeting Tuesday, the council will take a second vote on a development code amendment that creates a new land use for shelters.

According to city planning officials, the amendment fills a gap in the existing development code, which does not address the issue of permanent homeless facilities. The new code adds a formal definition of “homeless shelter,” limits them to nonresidential areas and establishes special standards, including a requirement that the premises be fenced.

Homeless shelters will also be a “conditional” land use, subjecting them to a stricter review process, as well as hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council, which can be appealed.

The council initially gave the amendment its green light on June 4, by a near-unanimous vote. But planning staff made some changes before the second reading, including adding a special standard requiring a safety and security plan if the facility is within 500 feet of a school.

If approved, the new land-use standards will be used to evaluate the planned unit development (PUD) application for the proposed facility at First Christian Church on North Lincoln Street, which was submitted late last month. A neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposal will be held July 31 at the church. It is expected to go before the council for a quasi-judicial hearing in September.

Also Tuesday, the City Council will vote on a request to annex and rezone a 0.56-acre parcel on South St. Louis Avenue. According to the agenda item report, the property owner is requesting medium-density residential zoning, which would allow for up to six units on the site. However, no new development on the site is currently planned.

Other items on the council agenda include a new business item from Ward 2 representative Andrea Samson regarding her colleague Erin Black from Ward 3. Samson wrote in her item that she was “shocked and horrified” by Black’s recent statements and actions and will be bringing forward a motion to remove her from the Citizens’ Police Advisory Commission.

Tuesday’s meeting will conclude with three potential executive sessions to discuss two pending lawsuits related to Centerra South and the 2023 election, the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority’s district proposal and a possible condemnation action in northwest Loveland.

How to participate

The Loveland City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of the Municipal Building, 500 E. Third St.

Comments from members of the public will be accepted in person as well as on Zoom.

Those wishing to join via Zoom can use the ID 975 3779 6504 with an access code of 829866, according to the meeting agenda.

The meeting will be broadcast on Comcast channel 16/880, Pulse TV channel 16 and streamed on the city’s website at lovgov.org/tv.

Tuesday’s agenda is available on the Loveland City Council website at lovgov.org or cilovelandco.civicweb.net.