Students deal with city zoning ordinances
For many students, finding a house to rent off-campus can be tough, and city-zoning ordinances are making it even tougher.
This is one of the biggest problems the city has, said Brandy Clement, Logan city planner.
The current ordinance for a single family residential area allows for one family or three related people per house. The problem arises when property managers and landlords allow more than the allotted number of tenants to live under the same roof, Clement said.
“Many students will let more people live with them in the house because it lowers their share of the rent,” Clement said, in an interview earlier this year. “The main problem with this is that there are a limited number of parking places available per house and neighbors complain about the noise and traffic.”
Enforcement of this ordinance is difficult, Clement said.
“Many owners either don’t know about the additional people that move in late into the semester or they simply don’t care. Some even get caught every year and they still don’t comply.” Clement said. “We rely heavily on ‘watchdog’ neighbors and if laws are broken, they let us know. We don’t have the manpower to check everyone, so the neighbors’ complaints are critical.”
Clement said she sees another side to the issue. She sympathizes with the students.
“I was once a college student in the same situation and realize how hard it is to find cheap housing,” she said. “Having more people living with you really cuts down on the costs.”
Mike Jacobs, a USU graduate and local homeowner, has had first-hand experience with this issue. He bought his four-bedroom home in an area zoned single family residential. Initially, two of his brothers and three friends rented from him.
Four months later, a police officer came to his door and told him he was in violation of the zoning ordinance and gave him a verbal warning. Jacobs said he learned that his neighbors were not angry with him, but were afraid of what could happen.
“They were worried because they had heard that some people buy houses and then rent them out to students who cause problems. They felt like this could decrease the value of the neighborhood and bring unfavorable people who might not take care of the yard or who are loud and inconsiderate,” he said. “I chose to buy a house so that I could have space, privacy and a quiet place to live. They should consider themselves lucky to have us as neighbors.”
His tenant, Christopher Johnson, agrees.
“I am a law-abiding citizen who has rights. We have four people living in the home right now and we are good, quiet neighbors,” he said. “To me, the city zoning has problems.”
“We are getting information and suggestions from other university cities similar to Logan. I don’t think, however, that making it more restrictive will help out the situation,” Clement said. “We really want to make it better for everyone – the families, the city and the students.”