Sacramento judge denies TRO filed by North Natomas residents over homeless shelter
A Sacramento Superior Court judge denied Friday a temporary restraining order sought by a group of North Natomas residents to halt a temporary homeless shelter site for seniors.
The temporary homeless shelter would feature 40 tiny homes, each 120 square feet in size. The “micro-community” site at Arena Boulevard and El Centro Road would include electricity, heating, shared bathrooms and other services.
The group of North Natomas residents last month filed a temporary restraining order, citing “imminent harm,” against the city to preempt construction, which the residents believed would start in April.
Resident Rosalee Lehr said the temporary homeless shelter shares the boundary of a mobile home park, mostly occupied by seniors. A cloud of fear hangs over the area, Lehr said, and residents have contemplated moving because of the homeless shelter.
The group has not retained an attorney and is representing itself in court.
“We live in a very nice neighborhood,” said Lehr in court. “And we don’t want that to be taken away from us.”
Senior Deputy City Attorney Leslie Walker stated that construction is not going to begin in April. The city is undergoing an environmental review process, and no contracts have been issued, she said.
“This petition is not motivated by civic duty, concern for city governance, or concern for the environment,” the city wrote in its court documents. “This action is NIMBYism at its most cynical.”
Judge Shelleyanne Chang sided with city officials, agreeing that residents did not demonstrate imminent harm. The environmental review process for the site is not complete, and construction can’t begin untill it is finished, she said.
The residents also alleged the city violated Measure O, which regulates how many beds the city provides, and Sacramento’s City Charter. Chang did not rule on those arguments Friday, and said the residents can proceed with arguing those claims in court.
This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 10:32 AM.
