No shelter capacity decision this month

GREEN BAY - A request to increase the capacity at the St. John the Evangelist homeless shelter won't be considered by the City of Green Bay until next month at the earliest.

The shelter's conditional use permit limits the number of beds to 64. The city has issued a citation to the shelter for exceeding that capacity. The shelter has pleaded not guilty to the citation, arguing that the permit also allows for overflow housing above the 64 figure.

However, earlier this week, officials from the shelter and Catholic Diocese of Green Bay announced they would seek to have the limit formally increase to 84 beds.

Such a request would first go to the city's Plan Commission for review. Its next meeting is Monday. However, in the agenda published Friday, there is no agenda item related to the shelter, as no paperwork was submitted, according to Bill Lockery with the planning department.

Justine Lodl, spokeswoman for the Diocese, says the shelter plans to submit the appropriate paperwork yet today.

An amended agenda has not been issued.

The next Plan Commission meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11. After the commission, the full council would also have to review the matter.

The shelter has been using space at St. Norbert College as overflow housing. However, that space will no longer be available starting next week, when students return for the second semester. Lodl says if they have more than 64 people who want to stay, they will be housed as overflow, per the terms of the operational plan.