Redmond OKs homeless camp at church

The city of Redmond approved Thursday the relocation of a homeless encampment to a church, with some conditions.

Redmond Planning Director Robert Odle made the decision to allow St. Jude's Catholic Church, 10526 166th Ave. N.E., to be host to Tent City 4.

Odle said the church's application "appears to satisfy the Redmond Community Development Guide's standards for temporary uses provided that additional conditions placed on this proposal are met."

The approval is for a maximum of 110 days beginning about Feb. 11. The approval was given after a Dec. 13 public meeting on the application, where 112 people signed up to become parties of record and must be given notice on any matters related to the Tent City application, Odle said.

The decision may be appealed by filing a notice of appeal within 14 days. The encampment now is in the Finn Hill area north of Kirkland.

Approval conditions include requirements such as:

• Limiting the encampment to 100 persons.

• Limiting to five the number of vehicles parked at the church in association with Tent City.

• Having background checks on new residents processed through the Redmond Police Department.

• Providing sidewalk monitors along Northeast 104th Street and 166th Avenue Northeast during normal hours when students are going to and from nearby schools.

At the hearing Dec. 13, comments split about evenly between favoring and opposing the encampment, Redmond senior planner Steven Fischer said.

The city had received nearly 40 e-mail comments on the application that St. Jude Church filed Dec. 1.

Comments about the proposal raised concerns ranging from safety to crime to public responsibility.

Writers also questioned placing the camp at the church because three schools — Horace Mann Elementary, Redmond Junior High and Redmond High School — are all within blocks of the church.

Several of the letters suggested alternative sites such as Marymoor Park, empty space near the Redmond police station or 60 Acres soccer field.

The encampment moves about every 90 days and previously was in Woodinville. It has never had a Redmond site.

Information about the application is available at Redmond City Hall or on the city's Internet site at www.ci.redmond.wa.us/.

Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com