City Code Section
- A. The purpose of this Section is to reduce the costs of developing permanent mass shelters, outdoor shelters and short-term shelters by exempting system development charges for qualified developments. This section advances a Council-recognized public policy goal of providing a continuum of safe and affordable housing opportunities including transitional shelters, emergency shelters, and campgrounds/rest areas to meet the needs of Portland residents.
- B. The City will exempt qualified mass shelter, outdoor shelter and short-term shelter developments from paying all or part of system development charges required by Code. The applicant must apply for exemptions under this Section prior to the date the City issues the permit on the new development. Where new development consists of only part of one or more of the uses described in this Section, only that portion of the development that qualifies under this Section is eligible for an exemption. The balance of the new development that does not qualify for any exemption under this Section is subject to system development charges to the full extent authorized by Code or general ordinance. The applicant has the burden to prove entitlement to exemptions so requested.
- C. The City shall calculate exemptions in the manner authorized for calculating system development charges. Exemptions are applicable to the portions of mass shelter, outdoor shelter and short-term shelter projects that are directly used in providing shelter and services for their residents such as on-site manager facilities and shared space including but not limited to restrooms, kitchens, community rooms, social service facilities, and laundry facilities.
- D. To obtain the exemption, the applicant must present to the City, at the time of application, documentation from the Joint Office of Homeless Services, or other designated agency, that the development qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this Chapter.
- E. The applicant must provide permit drawings that clearly note the exemption, if granted, in order to ensure compliance. Alternatively, the drawings must provide remedies for failure to comply that are acceptable to the City. Permit drawings must state the following, “This project received SDC exemptions for mass shelters, outdoor shelter or short-term shelter. The exemptions only apply to the mass shelter, outdoor shelter or short-term shelter development and associated facilities including social services. If a future tenant improvement or change of occupancy creates a use that is not a mass shelter, outdoor shelter or short-term shelter or associated service, system development charges will be assessed for the new use. It is the permittee’s responsibility to maintain proper documentation of the continued mass shelter, outdoor shelter or short-term shelter use.”