The Puyallup City Council is poised to discuss a zoning amendment that would prohibit clusters of sex offenders from living together in residential neighborhoods.
The council will review the first draft of the ordinance at the regular Feb. 5 meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
This piece of city law would prohibit two or more sex offenders from living under the same roof in any residential zone in Puyallup. It also requires that the property owner must submit and receive a conditional use permit (CUP) before allowing two or more sex offenders or violent felons from living in the same residence within the city's central business district and zones. The city would not issue a CUP if a similar permit has already been issued for another dwelling within 880 feet. The CUP process requires a public hearing before the hearing examiner and allows Puyallup leaders to seek conditions that address public safety and welfare.
The ordinance also would add a new chapter to Puyallup's business licensing regulations, allowing the city to impose additional conditions in a business license to address harmful impacts on the community from certain businesses such as airports, hazardous waste facilities, and facilities where two or more sex offenders reside. For example, the city could require a "significant impact business" to provide high amounts of liability insurance, to post a bond, or provide other types of security.
The council will discuss these law changes, but a vote on the ordinance is not expected.
See the full agenda here.
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