The Petitioner requests consideration of a Special Use Permit for the expansion of an existing Emergency Shelter currently located at 124 Arnold Street on the two adjoining parcels at 116 and 0 Arnold Street.

Per Section 13.2 of the Zoning Ordinance, an emergency shelter is defined as, “a facility which is owned and operated by a not-for-profit organization for the purpose of providing temporary overnight shelter, sleeping accommodations, meals on an emergency basis, and/or a variety of social services and/or medical services designed and intended to assist those housed in the facility to obtain permanent housing and to care for themselves.”

The subject properties are both currently zoned D-C (Downtown Commercial). The property at 116 Arnold Street is 1,820 square feet and contains a two-story, 512 square foot residential structure built on or about 1900, according to the Tax Assessor. The structure is conforming. The property at 0 Arnold Street is ~ 2,426 square feet and is currently an undeveloped lot, according to the Tax Assessor. Both lots are conforming within the D-C zoning district.

The emergency shelter that the Petitioner is looking to expand is called Inner City Night Shelter, Inc. It is located at 124 Arnold St and was established in 1983. Additionally, there is parking directly south of the emergency shelter in a dirt lot at 642 E. President Street.

On February 16, 2025, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the requested Special Use Permit request for an emergency shelter at 116 and 0 Arnold Street.