tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post6349188515021572172..comments2023-10-25T21:11:44.375-07:00Comments on Twilight Zoning in Bellingham: WWU Dormitory Expansion Plan - Yawn!Zonemavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-43222657432150673512008-05-31T14:22:00.000-07:002008-05-31T14:22:00.000-07:00Dear Herald Reader,If you were to take the time to...Dear Herald Reader,<BR/><BR/>If you were to take the time to read my blog from the beginning, you would find that it is dedicated to issues of zoning enforcement, only part of which involves students, not only of WWU but of WCC and BTI - or any other group of modest means attempting to find affordable housing in Bellingham. I do not blame students for the situation in which they find themselves, given that this city and WWU have not served moderate and low-income people well in the domain of affordable housing. WWU, by dint of its size, is a huge factor in the distortion of the rental market by the mere fact that over 8,000 students seek rentals each year. They do this, in part, by grouping together in single family homes in violation of zoning codes. I understand the economic reasons for them to do so, however, the zoning laws exist to control density throughout the city. To ignore these laws renders any city planning moot, devalues property and places renters in danger in what is largely an uncontrolled, unregulated and unsafe rental market.<BR/><BR/>Rowdiness, litter, illegal parking and other such behaviors are somewhat related to the creation of illegal rooming (group) houses. The sad fact is that these 'nails" do not get hammered in any way commensurate with their numbers as I have experienced myself and as others have reported to me. And yes, it is a "big deal" that landlords and tenants alike scoff at laws even if the renters do not cause problems. Ignoring of laws creates an atmosphere of permissiveness wherein bad behaviors emerge as the perpetrators see little risk of being sanctioned. This goes for landlords as well as tenants.<BR/><BR/>You seem to suggest that people who cannot afford to live in "high class' neighborhoods are condemned to a lesser quality of life merely because they can afford to live only in areas close to a campus. On the contrary, those of modest must certainly expect that the local government will provide them with equal protection under the law and that comity is as much their due as the due of those who can escape by living elsewhere.Zonemavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-84371402232776117972008-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:002008-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00So, let me get this straight. You have an entire b...So, let me get this straight. You have an entire blog dedicated to pointing out inevitable flaws of student numbers and room availability in a large institution that you volunteer at. Instead of discussing topics that are important to the general public that WWU has control to change. You blame lack of housing for single family homes on poor college students condensing together in various houses? Thus actually lowering the number of houses they take up? <BR/><BR/>Yes, some groups get to be a little more rowdy than they should be. Those nails tend to get hammered pretty quickly though. At least from what I've seen. But seriously, when a good group of people live in a house that don't cause any big problems, is it really such a big deal? <BR/><BR/>This is a college town afterall. A lot of people seem to forget that when they move their families in close to campus and expect it to be as calm as living in high class neighborhood far from campus or in the countryside.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com