A self-governed Sacramento homeless encampment plans to remain on a city-owned lot after securing a land use extension this week.
Residents of and advocates for Camp Resolution announced the plan Thursday after securing a land use extension from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. The variance was set to expire on June 1, but a letter from the waterboard extends it to Dec. 1 in order to give the city of Sacramento, the tenant and board time to reach a new agreement.
Attorney Mark Merin of Safe Ground Sacramento, which has leased the land at Colfax Street and Arden Way from the city since April 2023, requested a six-month extension on May 22, according to the letter.
But Sacramento officials have not made a decision about extending the lease while they review the water board’s letter, city spokesperson Tim Swanson said in an email on Thursday.
The city in March notified Safe Ground Sacramento it would terminate the lease on June 1 and require residents to leave by May 16. Earlier this month the city said it would hold off if the nonprofit and Camp Resolution representatives agreed to negotiate a plan to build affordable housing on the site.
In an emailed statement, City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood said it was Safe Ground Sacramento’s responsibility to seek renewal of the variance. The city couldn’t legally allow people to live there without it, Alcala Wood said.
“This crisis was 100 percent avoidable,” Alcala Wood said in the statement. “It could have been prevented by the simplest of actions by the lessee, Safe Ground Sacramento, who knew that the terms of the lease agreement placed the requirement to comply with and obtain an extension of the variance solely in its court.”
Camp residents have criticized the city for not including them in negotiations, including over ending the lease because of the land use issue.
“We would like to be included in all correspondences and meetings with the city,” said Sharon Jones, one of the camp’s co-founders. “And we would like to be notified as well as with the Homeless Union and with our attorney.”
The attorney representing the residents, Anthony Prince, said they still plan to proceed with their lawsuit against the city.
“Our people for the last two months out there in Camp Resolution have suffered extreme emotional distress, anxiety,” Prince said Thursday. “Some of them may have even panicked. Some of them have started packing their belongings. There has been all kinds of consternation and upheaval in that camp.”
Prince added he believes the lease is still in effect, despite the city not officially rescinding a notice to end it June 1.
Chris Hagan contributed to this report.
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