75A - PH - AMEND ZONING ORD RELATED TO EMERGENCY SHELTER

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Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2013-01 July 22, 2013 Page 3 Santa Ana's current need was the 2011 Point-in-Time count, which estimated that there were 6,939 homeless individuals in Orange County, with 20 percent of that total, or 1,388 homeless persons, estimated to be from Santa Ana. Existing emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities in Santa Ana serve some of this, but it is estimated that Santa Ana's unmet homeless housing need is 1,060 persons or beds. Using information regarding the square footage of the existing emergency shelters that staff researched and visited in preparing this ordinance, it is estimated that a total of 31 acres of land would be needed to theoretically provide for enough emergency shelter space to meet Santa Ana's unmet homeless housing need. These 31 acres are an estimated total aggregate and could be comprised of a variety of facilities of varying sizes. The area proposed to allow for emergency shelters, i.e. Industrially-zoned properties meeting the criteria, is approximately 995 acres. This indicates that the City has identified enough acreage to meet the requirements of SB2 and also allows for any new emergency shelters to be dispersed over a large area rather than being concentrated in one part of town (Exhibit 2). The proposed Ordinance Amendment identifies emergency shelters as a permitted use in the industrial zones, provided certain standards are met. These are: separation of at least 500 feet from residences, parks, child care centers, or schools; separation of at least 300 feet from another emergency shelter; located within % mile of a transit stop. In addition, the proposed Ordinance Amendment identifies standards for emergency shelters including limits for the number of persons to be served nightly, parking, waiting and intake area, support services, hours of operation, and length of stay. One key standard is a Management and Operation Plan for detailing a security plan, procedures, the staff ratio to clients served, a "good neighbor" communication plan, client transportation plan, and program for ongoing outreach to the Santa Ana homeless population. The Management and Operational Plan is to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Manager in conjunction with the Police Chief prior to issuance of permit to minimize any impacts on surrounding industrial land uses. As defined in the ordinance, an Emergency Shelter for Homeless in Santa Ana, would allow up to 30 beds or persons per night and would be permitted by right. Emergency shelters between over 30 beds, but less than 150 beds would be allowed through a Conditional Use Permit. The ordinance also allows for one large facility, permitted by right, that could serve as a replacement for the National Guard Armory, which currently operates only a portion of the year and does not provide on-site services. This large facility, defined as a Multiservice Center for Homeless, would have a minimum occupancy of 150 and a maximum occupancy of 200. The Multiservice Center would be required to provide a variety of support services be open 24 hours a day, such that, after the designated check-out in the morning, clients could remain on site to receive job training, health screening, legal counseling or other services that the shelter operator might provide. By definition, overall occupancy of emergency shelters would be limited to six months or less by a homeless person. 75A-5