Zoning Amendments Supporting the Unhoused Get Green Light: Extended Shelter Stays, Safe Parking at Institutions

Members of the City Council on Monday approved a proposed Zoning Code amendments allowing longer stays in emergency shelters and allowing homeless people to park on certain sites occupied by colleges and churches.

The amendments support implementation of the City’s Housing Element. 

Like all other cities in California, Pasadena is required to regularly update its Housing Element, a community-specific approach to “how” and “where” housing will be addressed to meet the needs of the community.

The City Council adopted the Housing Element in July 2022. It was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development in March 2023. 

Under the Zoning Code “emergency shelters” are defined as “a nonprofit facility that provides short-term lodging without rent or fees on a first-come first-serve basis where people must vacate the facility each morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night.” 

The proposed amendment strikes down the phrase “where people must vacate the facility each morning and have no guaranteed bed for the next night” to allow for longer stays. 

The proposed amendment will also update bed capacity above the current 12-bed limit to a maximum of 40 beds. 

The current zoning and bed limit allows up to only 372 shelter beds while the proposed amendment would allow up to 2,400 shelter beds.

The amendments will revise parking requirements based on shelter staffing needs versus based on shelter beds. From one parking space for every four beds to one space per every two on-site staff members.

It will also allow safe parking as an accessory use on up to 74 sites occupied by transit stations, colleges, and religious facilities in non-residential zones. 69 of these sites belong to religious institutions.

In Pasadena, the Safe Parking Program provides a safe and legal place for individuals and families experiencing homelessness to park and sleep at night.

A total of six councilmembers voted in favor of the staff recommendations.

Councilmember Jess Rivas voted in the negative after her motion, pushing for the recommendation of the Planning Commission to expand safe parking to all religious sites in the City, failed to get the majority’s support. 

Aside from Rivas, several members of the community gave support to the recommendation of the Planning Commission for safe parking to be expanded to all religious facilities, with minor Conditional Use Permits. 

Planning and Community Development Department Director Jennifer Paige said the staff’s proposal will allow the use of 69 sites belonging to religious institutions. If expanded to all religious sites, the total would jump to 121 sites.

“Religious institutions want to be a part of the solution to our homelessness crisis. Please vote to allow our congregations to provide legitimate, highly structured and supervised safe parking sites in all Pasadena neighborhoods with approval of minor conditional use permits,” said resident Gloria Newton. 

“I feel that the Planning Department’s proposal to allow safe parking only on church property in commercial zones is too limiting. By allowing parking in all zones with a use permit, it would allow neighbors to express any concerns and to be reassured at how the programs will be run at each site,” Lorynne Young, chair of the Peace and Justice Ministries Committee at All Saints Church said.

Mayor Victor Gordo said it is important for the City to strike a balance and be prudent. 

“The staff recommendation I believe is a balanced recommendation, a place to start and then we can always amend as we move forward,” said Gordo. “It’s important that we strike the balance and gain the confidence of our residents that we are being  cautious and prudent but at the same time having a spirit and heart to help those who need it.” 

“A review period of six months to see what we might learn from the first six months would be helpful in terms of adjustments to the ordinance,” Mayor Gordo added.

The City Council required staff to come back six months after the effectiveness of the ordinance for review and updates.