Published September 6 2019
The City Council will begin a review and consider amendments to temporary encampment regulations (Bellevue Land Use Code (LUC) Chapter 20.30U), which govern permitted temporary encampments on property controlled by religious organizations. The regulations are not related to unlawful public camping, which is prohibited on all city-owned property.
Bellevue first began regulating temporary encampment permits in July 2005. Upon issuance of the first temporary encampment permit, a lawsuit was filed against the city alleging that the LUC and certain permit conditions violated the applicants’ rights to exercise their religion. The lawsuit was settled via a Federal Consent Decree which describes how the parties agreed to interpret and apply certain provisions in Chapter 20.30U LUC during the permitting process. The Consent Decree will expire on Jan. 27, 2020.
The first briefing will be held during the council’s next study session starting 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. More background can be found in the council agenda materials and on the project webpage.