HomeMy WebLinkAbout9B - Senior Care Facilities
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
AGENDA ITEM:
DISCUSSION:
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MAY 15, 2000
9B
DONALD RYE, PLANNING DIRECTOR
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REPORT OUTLINING PROCESS
FOR DEALING WITH SENIOR CARE FACILITIES IN THE
ZONING ORDINANCE
History: At the May 1 st Council meeting, the Council discussed a
proposal by Councilmember Gundlach to modify the way in which
senior care facilities are dealt with in the zoning ordinance. Following
the discussion, the Council directed Staff to prepare an outline for an
ordinance amendment which would allow senior care facilities in
commercial districts as well as the high density residential district.
Current Circumstances: At present, the Zoning Ordinance only
regulates "elderly housing" which is defined as multiple family
dwellings where at least 60% of the units are inhabited by persons at
least 60 years of age. "Elderly housing" is presently allowed only in
the R-4 High Density Residential district. Nursing homes are also
allowed in the R-4 district.
Issues: There is a continuum of care being provided today for senior
citizens ranging from congregate care facilities, which provide meals
and some social activities, to assisted living facilities, which offer
some medical care and assistance in daily routines, to memory care,
which provides comprehensive care for persons suffering from
Alzheimer's disease. Nursing homes offer the highest level of care.
At present, the Zoning Ordinance only recognizes senior housing and
nursing homes. Given the fact people live longer, the Council has
determined there is a need for the City's Zoning Ordinance to provide
for various types of housing, and to provide a mechanism whereby
these facilities can be integrated into the community.
Proposed Approach: Staff is proposing the following methodology in
developing the ordinance amendments.
. Review planning literature dealing with senior care facilities
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RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
REVIEWED BY:
. Formulate criteria and standards for senior care uses
This process is expected to be completed in 30 days.
Based on the discussion with the Council on May 1, staff is pursuing
the idea of regulating senior care uses as conditional uses in several
zoning districts, in addition to the R-4 district. Presently, staff is
considering adding "senior care" uses, a term to be defined, in the R-2,
R-3, C-2, C-3 and C-4 districts. The ordinance amendment would also
include criteria for this use.
We have not suggested this use in the R-l district, primarily because
much of the area zoned R-l is not conveniently located relative to
many of the support facilities and land uses senior care uses require.
In addition, we have not suggested senior care be located in the C-l
Neighborhood Commercial districts because these districts tend to be
relatively small. Senior care is also not recommended in the C-5
Business Park district and the 1-1 Industrial district because of general
incompatibility of uses.
As noted, we will develop standards and criteria for locating senior
care facilities in the other zoning districts. It is likely that these
standards and criteria may differ somewhat from district to district
because of differences in land uses and the location of these districts in
the community. The criteria or conditions of this use may include such
things as:
. locational considerations
. land use relationships
. support services
. density
. architecture
. access
. additional criteria developed as a result of our research.
Once these standards and criteria are developed, the ordinance
amendment will be drafted for preliminary review by the City Council.
If satisfactory, the Council can then initiate an amendment and staff
will schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission.
Motion to accept report
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