The City of Hermiston has been approached by a local organization with a proposal to construct a temporary emergency shelter on property owned by Agape House on W Harper Road.  This land is zoned Light Industrial and currently does not permit this type of use.  

The city council offered to commit some city resources to the project, one of which is staff time to research and prepare the necessary land use process to allow this type of use in the future.  Staff agrees with the basic proposal that industrially zoned property is best suited for shelter uses.  Industrial properties have fewer neighboring uses and less potential for residential disturbance.  Although the proposed W Harper Road location may or may not be the final location of a shelter, it is important that the city is prepared for this type of use in the future.  Homelessness and distressed populations are a growing concern in the community.  Regardless of the final development proposal, it is the staff opinion that this type of land use should be confined to industrial property and thus the attached amendment to the Light Industrial zone is presented.

This is intended as a worksession to gather feedback on proposed regulations prior to any public hearing.  The attached draft amendment to the M-1 zone has been prepared by staff and land use counsel.