AGENDA #5d

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:              Mayor and Town Council  

FROM:        W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:   Report on Northside Occupancy Enforcement

DATE:         July 5, 2000

 

BACKGROUND 

On November 22, 1999, the Town Council adopted a resolution directing the staff to begin more aggressive enforcement of the Town Development Ordinance regulations  limiting the number of unrelated people allowed to live in a typical single-family or two-family dwelling in the Northside neighborhood.  

This report provides the Council with information regarding the monitoring and follow –up activities by staff in this neighborhood.

DISCUSSION

The Inspections Department has initiated steps to enforce occupancy limitations in the Northside neighborhood. The Department has made site visits and investigated eleven (11) dwelling units for possible zoning violations. There is reason to believe that two of these units may be non-compliant, based on the evidence received.  “Notices Of Violation” will be mailed on July 3, 2000, requiring property owners to reduce the number of occupants within thirty (30) days.  If voluntary compliance is not attained, we will seek enforcement through the courts.

A property owner of twenty-one (21) dwelling units has pledged to abide by the occupancy limitation regulation, and has submitted a letter of commitment  (Attachment 1).

The Inspections Department has not received any additional complaints regarding occupancy violations at a specific property within the Northside neighborhood.

The Department will continue to monitor the neighborhood and will begin weekly checks as students return in the late summer.  We have engaged an attorney to assist us in developing cases and pursuing compliance with the Ordinance.

CONCLUSION

We will continue to improve our occupancy enforcement procedures and activities in this area.  The Inspections Department will continue to work with neighbors and to monitor the Northside neighborhood.

ATTACHMENT

  1. Letter from Mark R. Patmore dated June 28, 2000. (p. 3)