Temporary and Accessory Emergency Shelters (TC-4-24)
Temporary and Accessory Emergency Shelters (TC-4-24)
Temporary and Accessory Emergency Shelters (TC-4-24): This text change amends the Unified Development Ordinance to create allowances for emergency shelters that only operate during inclement weather or other mass displacement events. Read the draft ordinance.
Background information:
Over the past several years, there has been increased interest in “white flag” shelters. These facilities typically operate from the late Fall to early Spring whenever the temperature drops below a certain threshold. Most open their doors in the evening and close in the morning unless the weather requires extended hours of operation.
The UDO contains standards for permanent Emergency Shelters but does not create allowances for facilities that operate only on a temporary or intermittent basis.
TC-4-24 addresses this gap in the code by creating a special class of emergency shelter that would be permitted to operate during inclement weather or other mass displacement events.
Proposed Text Change:
As proposed, the use would be defined as, “an indoor facility providing temporary shelter and/or sleeping facilities for displaced persons during or following severe weather, natural disaster, or other qualifying event.”
The use could be accessory to a conforming permitted principal use in the CX-, DX-, IX-, and IH zoning districts, or any other district, including residential districts, to a conforming permitted Civic Use such as a place of worship or school.
The use could also be established on a property with no other principal use in the CX-, DX-, IX-, or IH districts.
In any of the situations described above, the use would also be held to the following standards:
- The shelter must provide a minimum of 50 square feet of occupiable space per person.
- An employee or volunteer must maintain continuous on-site supervision during hours of operation.
- The shelter is not allowed in an Airport Overlay District.
- No counseling or therapeutic activities may be conducted. Referral of residents to employment agencies and other personal service agencies shall not be deemed to be counseling.
- The shelter shall only operate for the duration of the following events:
- Winter Weather, Wind Chill, Frost/Freeze, Heat, Wind, Smoke and/or Dust Advisories; or Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm, and/or Fire Weather Watches as issued by the National Weather Service
- Public Health Concerns and Mass Displacement Events as determined by the [either "City Manager" or "Wake County Manager"]
Last, these shelters would only require approval by staff assuming all requirements of the UDO are satisfied.
Public Meeting Schedule:
This text change is scheduled for a Planning Commission Text Change Committee meeting in August or September. We will be collecting comments here through July 5. Comments after this date should be submitted directly to Keegan McDonald.