Code Section: 209.2

Subject:

Effective Date: 

Interpretation:

   See also "Family" and "Dwelling unit" under Interpretation 102 and in the Interpretations - Alphabetical

Code Section: 209.2

Subject: Group housing, combined with apartments

Effective Date: 7/88

Interpretation:

   This Section allows group housing in most residential districts, either as a principal permitted or conditional use. Group housing could be located on the same lot with apartments. In fact, Section 207.1(b) states, "where dwelling units and group housing are combined, the maximum permitted density for dwelling units and for group housing shall be prorated to the total lot area according to the quantities of these two uses that are combined on the lot." In other words, the density requirements for both uses apply so that there needs to be enough lot area not counted for the apartment density to allow that number of group housing bedrooms (per Table 208) and there needs to be enough lot area not counted for the group housing density to allow that number of apartments (per Section 209.1).

Code Section: 209.2

Subject: Residential occupancy without kitchens, use category

Effective Date: 4/89

Interpretation:

   The following use categories apply to a space that does not have a kitchen. If tenure is less than 31 days, it is a tourist hotel under the Residential Hotel Ordinance but would still be group housing or "roomers" under the Planning Code if tenure is more than one week. If tenure is less than weekly, it also is a tourist hotel under the Planning Code. If there is a predominant practice of greater-than-weekly occupancy, even with the option of nightly tenure, it is group housing.

Code Section: 209.2 (a)

Subject: Group housing

Effective Date: 2/88

Interpretation:

   This Section allows boardinghouses as group housing in most residential districts, either as a principal permitted or conditional use. A facility like the Ronald McDonald House where children stay with their parents while undergoing outpatient medical treatment is "group housing, boarding" if tenancy is a week or more at a time. A shorter tenancy is allowed only in a hotel.

Code Section: 209.2 (a)

Subject: Emergency shelter, where permitted

Effective Date: 4/89

Interpretation:

   There was a proposal to operate a shelter on an RM-1 lot. No treatment would be provided but about five resident staff would offer shelter and counseling for 10 to 20 people on a long-term basis (one month or more) and for about 20 people on a short-term basis (night-to-night). The short-term housing would be considered to be hotel use and therefore not permitted in a residential district.

Code Section: 209.2 (a)

Subject: Group housing versus residential care

Effective Date: 12/89

Interpretation:

   In a letter to the Liberty Hill Neighborhood Association dated December 1, 1989, Robert Passmore reaffirmed the distinction between group housing and residential care (which is not as widely permitted as group housing). The letter pointed out that group facilities operated by personnel who are not REQUIRED to have a State Department of Health and Welfare license for care providers are normally group housing and not residential care facilities for which the language of Sections 209.3(a) and (b) states requires such license.

Code Section: 209.2 (a)

Subject: Group housing, single unit

Effective Date: 7/92

Interpretation:

   This Section allows group housing without individual cooking facilities in certain zoning districts. In the situation where two dwelling units existed over a store, the owner wanted to create another space where someone could live. The existing situation was under the density allowance but there was no possibility of creating more parking, rear yard or usable open space. Where group housing is allowed and within the density and other applicable provisions, a single room or suite of rooms containing no kitchen with 31 or more days tenure is a lone group housing unit. Group housing need not consist of more than one such unit in a building.