Bellevue Approves Homeless Shelter Ordinance

BELLEVUE, WA - The Bellevue City Council on Monday voted 4-3 on a new land use ordinance for homeless shelters. The law formalizes the process for any entity that wants to build a shelter in the city, and comes after a months-long discussion process.

The ordinance creates a multi-step process for building a shelter that includes multiple community meetings, an advisory committee, and approval by City Council in some cases.

The ordinance also creates rules for shelter buildings, including: no shelter can have more than 100 beds; camping is not allowed on shelter grounds; shelters must have WiFi and a dedicated electrical outlet for each bed. The ordinance also bans shelters from being built in certain zones, including residential and office zones.

What does the ordinance do? Here are some highlights:

• An entity planning to build a shelter must enter into a development agreement with the city, as approved by the City Council.
• Alternately, a developer can build a shelter by securing a conditional-use permit.
• Before applying for a permit, a shelter operator must hold a public meetings with homeowners near where the shelter will be located.
• The formation of a Good Neighbor Agreement Advisory Committee to "foster communication between the community and homeless services use operators."

The ordinance does not apply to churches that host temporary shelters or encampments on church property.

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