St. Cloud Planning Commission to Look at Homeless Shelter Stay Length, Capital Improvement Projects Tuesday Night

(KNSI) — A public hearing is set for tonight so the St. Cloud’s Planning Commission can gauge the public’s feelings about the length of a temporary stay at a homeless shelter.

Now, residents at places like Anna Maries Alliance, the Salvation Army, Lincoln Center and Place of Hope can stay a maximum of 45 or 90 days. Homeless Helping Homeless went before the Zoning Board of Appeals last month and said the rule should be changed because 45 days and even 90 days in some cases isn’t enough to connect those in need with a transition to permanent shelter or social services. The panel agreed, and if the rule is changed, residents would be allowed to stay a maximum of 120 or 180 days.

If the commission passes the move, it will be forwarded to the city council for approval.

A public hearing will also be held tonight on the proposed capital improvement projects for the next five years. This is the community’s chance to share their thoughts about what upgrades they see as most vital.

Some ideas include devising a vision for the vacated Stearns County jail and court buildings within downtown and incorporating St. Cloud State University’s recent plans to resize its campus by identifying potential redevelopment sites.

Thanks to the Community Development Block Grant funds, it’s also starting to make hundreds of thousands of dollars available for small businesses to upgrade.

The meeting is Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. inside city hall.

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