Photo: Diane Edwardson, April 17, 2009. One of two homeless encampments on the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract Lots. (Click on photo to enlarge.) The developer was notified of the homeless encampments several times since last summer. He has allowed them to continue to this day. Perhaps the developer is just attempting to give the site historic value. Camping was one of the original uses outlined in the 1905, Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Association Articles of Incorporation.
The land was outside the City limits in 1905. Today, I'm pretty sure camping is not an approved land use in R1 zoned neighborhoods and definitely not without a Conditional Use Permit. Allowing these campsites to continue would seem a liability for the property owner, in the event of a campfire getting out of control and damaging adjacent hillside property.
City Council's Planning & Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) will revisit the plan to subdivide the 3 large lots into 16 lots in the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.
