The Turlock City Council went through the formality of finalizing the zoning overlay district for homeless shelters at Tuesday night’s meeting as they voted a second time on the zoning ordinance amendment as part of the draft Housing Element. The Housing Element is a required element of the General Plan.
As voted at the Council’s previous meeting, the vote remained at 4-1 to approve the zoning overly district, with Vice Mayor Amy Bublak still in opposition.
“I wasn’t against homelessness,” Vice Mayor Bublak said clarifying her decision. “I was against us just opening every zone if we don’t need to.”
The zoning area decided upon is roughly bounded by A Street on the north, Center and F streets on the east, Linwood on the south, and Lander on the west.
A previous emergency homeless shelter in Turlock had been operated at 400 B Street and the We Care Program currently operates a shelter during the cold months at 221 S. Broadway, between A Street and B Street.
No members of the public spoke for or against their finalizing vote.
The second vote of approval for this issue to pass was required due to making an amendment to the ordinance.
The push for the homeless shelter is due to Senate Bill 2 (SB2). The Bill does not require that the city construct a homeless shelter, but it does require that the city provides a zoning district for emergency shelters to be built.
Under SB2, the shelter can be constructed without public hearing and with a minimal development process.
Related Article:
Turlock Planning Commission Approves Homeless Shelter Zoning and Ordinances
Turlock Council Approves Zoning for Homeless Shelters