Chapter 18.182
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STANDARDS
Sections
18.182.050 Performance standards.
18.182.010 Title.
This chapter shall be entitled “Supportive Housing Standards.” [Ord. 1750 § 4, 2021.]
18.182.020 Application.
This chapter shall apply to all emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing in buildings or other permanent structures. [Ord. 1750 § 5, 2021.]
18.182.030 Purpose.
The purpose of this section is to establish standards for the operation of supportive housing facilities within the City. For the purpose of this section, “supportive housing facilities” includes only emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing in buildings or other permanent structures. These regulations are intended to protect public health and safety by requiring safe operations of supportive housing facilities for both the residents of such facilities and the broader community. This section does not include regulations for homeless encampments regulated by DMMC 18.170.080 and essential public facilities regulated by chapter 18.255 DMMC. [Ord. 1750 § 6, 2021.]
18.182.040 Authority.
This chapter is established to regulate the siting of emergency housing, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing. [Ord. 1750 § 7, 2021.]
18.182.050 Performance standards.
(1) General Requirements for All Supportive Housing Facilities.
(a) When a site includes more than one supportive housing facility, the more restrictive requirements of this section shall apply.
(b) Specific needs of each facility shall be reviewed pursuant to the conditional use permit process in chapter 18.140 DMMC.
(c) All supportive housing facilities shall comply with the Des Moines Municipal Code, including but not limited to Title 14 DMMC, Buildings and Construction, and Title 18 DMMC, Zoning.
(d) Facilities shall meet the following locational criteria:
(i) Facilities shall be located within one-quarter mile from a transit stop.
(ii) Facilities shall be located at least one-half mile from another supportive housing facility.
(iii) Facilities shall be located at least 1,000 feet from an elementary, middle or high school, or other supportive housing facility, unless permitted as a family or youth shelter. For the purposes of this subsection, distance shall be measured in a straight line between the closest property line of the existing facility or school and the closest property line of the proposed facility.
(e) Facilities shall match the bulk and scale of residential uses allowed in the zone where the facility is located. The design, construction, appearance, physical integrity, and maintenance of the facility shall provide an environment that is attractive, sustainable, functional, appropriate for the surrounding community, and conducive to tenants’ stability.
(f) Project design shall enhance personal safety and security through implementation of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles.
(g) The sponsor and/or managing agency shall ensure compliance with Washington State laws and regulations, the DMMC, and King County Health Department regulations. The sponsor and/or managing agency shall permit inspections by local agencies and/or departments to ensure such compliance and shall implement all directives resulting therefrom within the specified time period.
(h) The required number of off-street parking spaces for each facility shall meet the requirements of chapter 18.210 DMMC.
(i) An operations plan must be provided at the time of application by the sponsor and/or managing agency that addresses the following elements to the satisfaction of the City:
(i) Name and contact information for key staff;
(ii) Roles and responsibilities of key staff;
(iii) Site/facility management, including a security and emergency plan;
(iv) Site/facility maintenance;
(v) Occupancy policies, including resident responsibilities and a code of conduct that address, at a minimum, the prohibition on the use or sale of alcohol and illegal drugs, threatening or unsafe behavior, and weapon possession;
(vi) Provision of human and social services, including staffing plan and outcome measures;
(vii) Outreach plan with surrounding property owners and residents and ongoing good neighbor policy; and
(viii) Procedures for maintaining accurate and complete records.
(ix) A description of provisions for transit, pedestrian, and bicycle access from the subject site to services shall be provided at time of application by the sponsor and/or managing agency.
(2) Specific Requirements for Emergency Housing and Emergency Shelters, in Addition to the Requirements of Subsection (1) of this Section.
(a) Facilities shall meet the following capacity and density requirements:
(i) Emergency housing shall be limited to no more than 20 units, or 20 residents in a facility without separate units, in the D-C, C-C, H-C and I-C Zones. Facilities within the PR-R, PR-C, T-C and W-C Zones shall be permitted at the zoned density.
(ii) Emergency shelters shall limit capacity to no more than one adult bed per 40 square feet of floor area per facility with up to 20 residents permitted in the D-C, C-C, H-C and I-C Zones and up to 80 residents in the PR-R, PR-C, T-C and W-C Zones.
(b) Residents shall have access to the following services on site; if not provided on site, transportation shall be provided:
(i) For all facilities, medical services, including mental and behavioral health counseling.
(ii) For emergency housing facilities, access to resources on obtaining permanent housing and access to employment and education assistance.
(iii) For emergency shelter facilities, substance abuse assistance.
(3) Specific Requirements for Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing in Addition to the Requirements of Subsection (1) of this Section.
(a) Facilities shall meet the following capacity and density requirements:
(i) A maximum of eight residents shall be permitted in the Single-Family Zones (RS-15,000, RS-9,600, RS-8,400, RS-7,200, and RS-4,000) and R-SE Zone, and facilities are subject to the development standards of the zone that the facility is located in.
(ii) A maximum of 40 units shall be permitted in the Multifamily Residential Zones (RA-3,600, RM-2,400, RM-1,800, RM-900, RM-900A and RM-900B) and in the C-C, D-C, H-C, I-C, and N-C Zones.
(iii) Facilities located in the PR-R, PR-C, T-C and W-C Zones shall comply with the density requirements of the underlying zone.
(b) Facilities shall be required to meet the design requirements of chapter 18.235 DMMC.
(i) On-site recreation area shall be provided as specified in chapter 18.155 DMMC. The Hearing Examiner may approve equal square footage of common recreation space in lieu of private recreation space requirements.
(c) All residents shall have access to appropriate cooking and hygiene facilities.
(d) Facilities serving more than five dwelling units shall have dedicated spaces for residents to meet with service providers.
(e) Residents shall have access to the following services on site; if not provided on site, transportation shall be provided:
(i) Medical services, including mental and behavioral health counseling.
(ii) Employment and education assistance. [Ord. 1750 § 8, 2021.]