Grand Junction is moving forward with a framework that would allow transitional housing in certain areas.
The city council on Wednesday unanimously approved adjustments to local zoning rules, creating a procedure to identify designated spots for temporary housing. The new complexes would take the form of prefabricated shelters in mixed non-residential areas.
“There are many, many, many other people we can do it with right now, and I think this is a step,” Councilman Scott Beilfuss said. “You don’t solve a challenge like this all at once. We all know that.
The housing itself would be funded through grants or nonprofits, and the city has committed budget for the interim housing structure.
The new strategy does not approve sites that allow tents or secure parking. These concepts were considered as in previous versions and removed for security reasons.
Sites approved for prefabricated shelters will need to be staffed 24 hours a day controlled by privately funded organizations with experience in providing hoho services. The leases would be awarded for two years after a proceeding involving public review and hearings before the planning commission and city council. The approved spaces would likely have extended leases for two more years.
Mayor Abe Herman met with Denver contractors who have worked on short-term housing projects and said their practices were in line with the city’s new code.
“It jibes with the lived experience of the other people who run those things,” Herman said.
Housing at all levels has recently been a priority in Grand Junction, with a specific focus on unhoused residents. Earlier this year, the city banned the use of tents in city parks. Camping overnight is already illegal, but the city council vote extended this ban to the present day. -use use.
This summer, local police began issuing more tickets to other people camping on public property. In July, Grand Junction police handed out 25 tickets for camping or sleeping on a public sidewalk. This is almost double the total of thirteen tickets won in June.
While the increase follows a June ruling by the United States Supreme Court that cities can prohibit other people from sleeping in public spaces, Grand Junction police officials said this has nothing to do with the backlog of citations. Police Commander Sean Crocker said the increase was due to more reports from members of the network about illegal encampments.
“Officers give warnings before issuing citations for illegal camping,” he said.
Since the closure of a park frequented by homeless citizens in the fall of 2023, Grand Junction officials have taken more action, adding stricter controls. Tactics include banning tents as well as expanding investment to non-profit organizations that other homeless people. It has also created a new day shelter downtown.
Wednesday night’s vote generated little public comment on the issue. Earlier in the evening, Council members heard from several citizens who were frustrated by recent adjustments to some downtown streets to protect bicyclists and pedestrians. Despite years of local media coverage, many citizens said they felt the city had not sufficiently informed citizens about the adjustments to those roads.
Herman said he hoped the same would not happen with the new temporary housing plan.
“We know that there are other noisy people on the network who don’t like it. And the fact that they’re not there to say what they’re saying worries me,” Herman said. “We can spend three years of public awareness and, once we’ve implemented a project, be accused of not having taught something to the public. “
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