In this great amusement park, also known as the City of
The main argument is that we need not be adherents of the Chicken Little assumption that growth is so imminent that we need to adopt the TookKit NOW. The city would go a long way towards re-establishing trust with the electorate if it were to recognize, first and foremost, that we have an enforcement problem, especially with respect to illegal rooming houses, with which we should deal before passing further legislation for which there is no promise of future enforcement. (As if in a tandem effort to nail down the degradation of the character and quality of our neighborhoods, the
Moreover, there should also be a landlord licensing code in effect, otherwise many of the smaller units designed under the ToolKit will devolve to rentals and, left to simmer on their own, accelerate the slide of these ToolKit areas into mini-slums. Without such enforcement requirements (mandatory code enforcement officers and salaries) included in the TookKit code itself, combined with effective controls provided by a robust landlord licensing program, an area such as the fanciful Samish Way Urban Village will eventually, by dint of proximity to WWU, become nothing more than a student rental ghetto, reminiscent of large portions of Happy Valley.
*Whac-a-Mole (without the K) is the trade name of the game. Click here to read more)
7 comments:
There is a need in the world and our town for many types of different housing, The need for different types of housing usually changes throughout a person's lifetime. In my youth I lived in a number of dormitories and rooming houses. Later, as I became more financially stable and began to raise a family I rented apartments or houses. In my 30s I finally became a homeowner. Since then I have been both a homeowner and a land lord. Perhaps in the future I may find myself downsizing to a condominium or apartment. I do not oppose rooming houses. They fill a real need. As is the case with many young people employed at low wage scales, both of my daughters can really only afford to live in rooming houses. There is a place for rooming or boarding houses and that place is where they are permitted by city zoning ordinances. In our city it is currently permissable to have up to three unrelated persons per house in single family dwellings. It is entirely legal to, for example, modify a basement or section of your home and rent it out; or to simply rent out a room in your home. Structures such as Mr Starcher's proposed remodel also should be permitted, but only in multifamily zoned neighborhoods, or other areas specifically zoned to permit such structures. This is why the Sunnyland Neighborhood Association has voted to support an appeal by local homeowners of the permit at 423 E. Illinois St.
Diversity of neighborhoods is every bit as important to our city as affordable housing and the needs of developers. The remnants of our older neighborhoods such as Sunnyland, Columbia, The lettered Streets, and Cornwall Park are precious and can never be replaced once destroyed. The four to five thousand square foot lots provide much needed green areas and greenways and, together with park land, are critical to maintaining a reasonably healthy ecosystem in Bellingham. We will have to be vigilant and make sure our voices are heard by the mayor, city council, and planning departments on this issue if we wish to preserve and enhance the character of the residential sections of our neighborhood.
Mike,
Attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) such as you describe are legal but must undergo a permitting process. An owner cannot just remodel the basement to create a small apartment unit. The owner must also live in the ADU or the house and must certify that he/she is doing so at least once every two years. Renting an extra room in a single family home while the owner and/or family are still in it is not a violation of the law.
I meant to say such uses were permitted under existing zoning laws - with the proper permits naturally. The point of my comment is that legal means already exist for home owners to realize a certain amount of rental income (up to three unrelated persons). If a large number of homeowners only did what is presently permitted, we would see a great increase in density in single family zones (so the infill tool kit is not yet needed in these zones). And of course, all living units should conform to fire, health, and safety codes both for the protection of renters, and for liability reasons.
Amen.
Hi Dick, What is the current status of the landlord licencing proposal that was submitted to Councl?
The last I heard it had been sent out weeks ago for comments and that the comments received were not substantive, mostly stylistic changes. During my testimony before the City Council hearing on the Infill ToolKit on last Monday, I re-iterated my desire to see that landlord licensing and tough enforcement of codes on illegal rooming houses come first. It is only in that atmosphere that we can even begin to discuss the ToolKit reasonably. I expect to see licensing come before the council this fall but that is only an educated guess.
Thanks for doing the work you're doing on these issues. If I weren't so lazy (I'm retired from the same service you are!) I'd do something similar about my constant problem, barking dogs. I have to say my experience with Bellingham's animal control system during the last 25 years has been excellent.
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