Blaine logo
File #: WS 20-118    Version: 1 Name: Family Promise Shelter - Christ Lutheran Church
Type: Workshop Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 10/12/2020 In control: City Council Workshop
On agenda: 10/12/2020 Final action: 6/30/2022
Title: FAMILY PROMISE SHELTER, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sponsors: Lori Johnson
Attachments: 1. Attachments, 2. Presentation

WORKSHOP ITEM - Lori Johnson, City Planner

                     

Title

FAMILY PROMISE SHELTER, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

 

Background

Family Promise in Anoka County (FPAC) is an organization that offers shelter and services to families experiencing homelessness in Anoka County. Family Promise partners with faith communities in the county to provide meals, hospitality and overnight shelter. Christ Lutheran Church has been, and currently is, a partner with FPAC and the Pastor and members of the Christ Lutheran Church council on 89th Avenue have approached city staff with a proposal to construct a new building for a family homeless shelter on the church property. The new building would be 8,000 to 12,000 square feet in size and there are two alternative locations being proposed by the Church. Please review the narrative, site plans and a FAQ sheet prepared by the shelter’s organization, Family Promise and members of the church council.

 

Details of the proposal will be shared at the workshop that will include, but not be limited to, how the facility operates, the number of families served, and family participant profiles.

 

Within the City of Blaine there are currently no freestanding shelters of this kind other than the Alexandra House. Before the Alexandra House was constructed, the property was vacant and the property had a single family land use and zoning. The approvals for the Alexandra House included a rezoning to DF (Development Flex) to accommodate the unique use on the site. A conditional use permit was also approved to set up the standards for the development of the shelter.

 

Since the Christ Lutheran Church property is zoned R-1(Single Family), and this zoning district does not address homeless shelters of any kind, staff has determined that a code amendment is needed to allow a separate building to be constructed. Staff will provide details of what a code would look like for this use, but the code amendment, if Council so desires, would include a conditional use permit and a neighborhood meeting process at the very least.

 

Recommendation

Staff is asking council to review the materials about FPAC and provide direction to staff on a possible code amendment to the R-1(Single Family) zoning district to allow a family homeless shelter on the Christ Lutheran Church property.