REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Joint Study Session with Planning Commission on the Zoning Code Comprehensive Update: Safe Parking, Assisted Living, and Continuation of August 20 Study Session Topics
Report
BACKGROUND
The Community Development Department is preparing a comprehensive update to the City of Santa Clara Zoning Code. The City of Santa Clara's current Zoning Code has not been comprehensively updated since it first came into effect in 1969.
DISCUSSION
The study session will highlight potential areas of change within the Zoning Code Update including developing new regulations to address safe parking opportunities and assisted living developments.
Safe Parking
Safe parking programs are overnight parking areas, typically large parking lots, that allow program participants who live in their vehicles to safely park their vehicle overnight. The goal of safe parking programs is to provide a temporary living situation until individuals and families regain permanent housing. Safe parking programs are often operated out of lots owned by churches, public entities, or non-profit organizations. They will typically have security or onsite staff, bathroom facilities, water, and trash services. Existing state law authorizes local authorities, by ordinance or resolution, to prohibit or restrict the parking or standing of vehicles on certain streets or highways, or portions thereof, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Regulations to allow safe parking programs are often proposed in combination with overnight vehicle parking bans.
California is host to a number of Safe Parking Programs, many of which are operated by nongovernmental entities including faith-based groups and others that are operated by a local government. Examples include:
* The City of Los Angeles launched a pilot in 2016, Safe Parking LA, in partnership with the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority, and has multiple lots since March 2018.
* A multi-faith group in Oakland, where home...
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