Public Forum: Johnson Street Emergency Homeless Shelter
UPDATE: The public forum was held on November 13th, 2023. This case is now closed for comment.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Community Planning, Development, and Innovation received an application for a public forum to vary from zoning code from the City of Missoula for the parcel at 1919 North Ave. West. The proposal is for the operation of temporary year-round Emergency Homeless Shelter by the Poverello Center in the building where the Emergency Weather Shelter previously operated. Zoning code regulates Emergency Homeless Shelters differently from Emergency Weather Shelters.
The City is deviating from two sections of Title 20, 20.40.045, section A.3 and section C.1, recognizing that this is a similar use that has operated with success for the last three years. These sections of code will not be met because the site is within 300 feet of a residential district and storage lockers will not be provided. The Poverello Center has an operational plan in place that addresses the lack of required storage lockers.
Furthermore, the proposed accessory structures, containing showers and bathrooms, will deviate from Title 20, Section 20.45.030.C because they are within 10 feet of each other. The City is also deviating from street frontage landscaping standards in Section 20.65.030, as two trees will be removed for a new sewer connection. No new landscaping is proposed.
The City Council is authorized to hold a public hearing when an agency proposes to develop public land contrary to local zoning regulations. The public agency in this case is the City of Missoula, which owns the subject property. City Council shall hold the public hearing as a public forum and shall have no power to deny or condition the proposed use, but shall act only to allow a public forum for comment on the proposed use. (See Title 20, Section 20.85.095.E)
PROJECT APPLICATION LINKS:
The application packet can be viewed here: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/68291/Johnson-Street-_Application-Packet
PROJECT TIMELINE:
City Council will conduct a public forum on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. Information on how to attend the public forum virtually or in-person can be found online at https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1149/AgendasWebcastsMinutes.
PROJECT COMMENT DEADLINE:
Public comment will be taken by City Council until the public hearing is closed. Comments can be submitted through Engage Missoula, via email to the planner noted below, by mailing in a letter to the City of Missoula office at 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT 59802, or during the public meeting. Provide your comment by November 7, 2023 to be included in the staff report provided to City Council. Your comments may be considered by the City when moving forward with their proposal.
PROJECT PLANNER:
The project planner is Jon Sand, who can be reached at SandJ@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406-552-6629.
