tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post8565209906212426232..comments2023-10-25T21:11:44.375-07:00Comments on Twilight Zoning in Bellingham: We Do Not Know. But Do We Want To Know?Zonemavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-2229336559377230012008-06-26T05:35:00.000-07:002008-06-26T05:35:00.000-07:00Heather,Thank you for the notice, however, I will ...Heather,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the notice, however, I will not be available that evening. For the record, my email address appears on the front page of this blog on the right hand side, written as zonemaven at hotmail dot com.<BR/><BR/>DickZonemavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-63447669280355111662008-06-26T03:58:00.000-07:002008-06-26T03:58:00.000-07:00Dick, you don't have an email to contact you, howe...Dick, you don't have an email to contact you, however, I hope that you are able to join us for the candidate meet and greet with Doug Shepherd this Friday from 5:30-7:30 at the Bellingham Public Library Lecture Room. This is an important elected position that is often overlooked, and I invite you to come ask questions of Mr. Shepherd. Please visit www.electdougshepherd.com for more information, or feel free to contact me. The event is open to the public, and Mr. Shepherd welcomes your questions and concerns regarding his candidacy and this position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-47308457811290908452008-06-10T08:31:00.000-07:002008-06-10T08:31:00.000-07:00Dear Bill,Thank you very much for your comment. (F...Dear Bill,<BR/><BR/>Thank you very much for your comment. (For the record, Bill Geyer is a former Bellingham Planning and Development Director, 1985-1991.) As with the code which essentially prohibits the creation of rooming houses in single family zoned areas, codes having to do with structural issues, overcrowding, etc. seemed to be equally unenforced. How can one determine if a home is overcrowded when inspectors cannot or will not move to gain entry? How can one inspect for structural integrity if the rental property is off-limits to city officials? I am told this time and time again as a reason. albeit specious, for which the city cannot enforce the codes on rooming houses. " We can't enter the home." or "We are not in the business of looking into bedrooms." <BR/><BR/>My 13 April 2007 blog entry entitled "Hoist by One's Own Petard" describes a situation in which I presented the equivalent of a prima facie case against a rental owner. I have yet to hear back on my complaint. By now the students who lived there all year are probably preparing to leave for the summer break and I will be told that the complaint is moot.Zonemavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02853753467348220533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7944244558806877209.post-76865550852546736082008-06-09T09:39:00.000-07:002008-06-09T09:39:00.000-07:00Richard - Bellingham has a dangerous building code...Richard - <BR/><BR/>Bellingham has a dangerous building code. See<BR/>Bellingham Municipal Code (BMC) 17.050.020 (http://www.cob.org/web/bmcode.nsf/f6281a531e9ead4588257384007b2367/85d59bae6f251aba8825732c007fa856!OpenDocument)<BR/><BR/>Of note, Section 203 defines many conditions for a "Dangerous Building" including Subsection 8:<BR/>"Whenever, for any reason, the building or structure, or any portion thereof, is manifestly unsafe for the purpose of which it is being used;"<BR/><BR/>Having too many independent tenants within a single family house could meet this condition and therefore be a violation of City code. <BR/><BR/>BMC 17 also adopts by reference the International Property Maintenance Code, 2006 Edition, which contains regulations that prevent over-crowding in favor of establishing safe and habitable housing. <BR/><BR/>Any local official pleading ignorance of these codes is either unaware of his/her mandatory legal responsibilities to protect the public, or they are sticking their heads in the sand for political correctness. <BR/><BR/>Bill Geyer, AICPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com