Athens City Council rejected amendments to a temporary shelter plan

By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
Posted on: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Athens City Council rejected proposed amendments for temporary homeless shelters on Monday. 

After passing an ordinance on Nov. 17 to allow The Gathering Place to operate Conestoga Huts in its parking lot on North Congress, the council declined to vote on a rezoning proposal allowing for temporary housing shelters in multifamily housing zones at the same meeting. 

Councilmember Alan Swank worried about the project potentially being implemented citywide, and he opposes the ordinance, which he introduced.  

“I have concerns of extending this citywide in R-3 and B-3 zones,” said Swank. “I’ve mentioned those in multiple meetings in the past.” 

R-3 zoning is for multifamily housing, and B-3 is for businesses but can also include housing. 

Swank was not the only person to raise concerns about the citywide proposal. Mayor Steve Patterson expressed skepticism about the project.  

“On this particular piece of legislation, I still have, not questions, just concerns for having citywide proposals such as this,” said Patterson.  

While Patterson and Swank both expressed concerns about the project being citywide, no parties have approached the city to host another location for Conestoga Huts. In addition, any new huts would have to receive approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals and Safety-Service Director Andy Stone. 

In an effort to address concerns raised by community members, Councilmember Jessica Thomas introduced several amendments. 

Thomas’ amendments would have required shelters to be supervised by a licensed local health and welfare agency, churches or other incorporated faith-based organizations and state-based welfare organizations. Further, the agencies would have needed an agreement with Stone that would define operational terms. Another amendment would have limited the number of residents at any location to six. And across the city, the number of locations would have been limited to five, allowing a maximum of four more after the location at The Gathering Place. 

“Those all address things that have been brought up as to how many would be in the city,” said Thomas. 

The Planning and Development Committee had three of their four members in attendance, with Solvieg Spjeldnes absent due to illness. The ordinance advanced out of committee, with councilmembers Michael Wood and Thomas voting in favor moving it to the full council. Swank was the only no vote.  

“In my four years of council, we have never had an issue that had a range of opinions like this one,” said Swank.  

Because Councilmember Solvieg Spjeldnes was absent with illness, Thomas’ amendments required unanimity to pass. When the amendments came up for a vote, all members present voted in favor except for Swank.  

The ordinance will have its second reading in its previous form on Dec. 8.