Item 7: Homelessness Project Siting Discussion Follow-Up

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The N Garfield site has an existing building that was previously approved to be used for storage. It could be used as a storage building for the residents of a transitional housing facility with no need for additional approvals. There may be some potential for the building to be altered to include shared toilet, shower, laundry or cooking facilities, offices, or a small meeting space. Any such alteration would have to comply with applicable building code requirements and be done with permits. Use of the building for housing/sleeping would require significant alterations and expense, most notably for the installation of a fire sprinkler system, construction of physical fire-resistive separations between sleeping areas to prevent the spread of fire, and installation of thermal insulation. Building code requirements for new construction New buildings could potentially be constructed on any of the sites to be used for transitional housing accommodations. However, conditions on sites #2 (1703284000400) and #4 (1703283001600) may make construction more challenging and costly. Both sites 2 and 4 have inadequate water available (hydrants) for firefighting, and limited or no access currently for fire and EMS vehicles. See Emergency Services comments below. Site 4 is located within the 100-year flood area, and buildings constructed there would be required to be elevated above flood levels or otherwise designed to resist damage from flooding. The Oregon state specialty codes and the fire code (i.e., “Building Codes”) regulate construction of structures on public or private property. All structures built to provide housing and all associated/shared structures, whether the structures are temporary or permanent, must comply with the Building Codes. The Building Official has some local administrative authority to allow alternate methods of construction that may be appropriate for transitional housing accommodations but are not specifically prescribed in the codes, provided that safety is maintained and the intent of the codes are met. As an example, the building code prescriptively requires that buildings be secured to a foundation or otherwise anchored to prevent movement. However, it may be possible to administratively allow portable or moveable transitional housing structures if they have no connections to utilities, are structurally sound, and could experience some lateral movement without causing any damage or hazard. The Building Codes that would typically apply to the construction of residential structures and associated shared facilities may not provide the flexibility that is needed to construct the desired temporary transitional housing shelters. There is a state statute specifically governing the construction of transitional housing accommodations that offers some flexibility regarding application of the Building Codes. Pursuant to ORS 446.265, a municipality can allow someone to establish (subject to certain limitations and requirements) transitional housing accommodations for persons “who lack permanent shelter and cannot be placed in other low income housing.” In accordance with this state statute, the transitional housing accommodations may consist of separate facilities for use as living units by one or more individuals or by families and may provide access to water, toilet, shower, laundry, cooking telephone or other services through separate or shared facilities. State statute requires that the accommodations provide parking facilities and walkways. If transitional housing accommodations and associated facilities are provided pursuant to ORS 446.265, some of Potential Sites for Temporary Transitional Housing SheltersPage 7