College Media Network - Search the largest news resource for college students by college students Jobs and internships for students -

Editorial: Code change will hurt student renters

Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 00:04

A change in the Morgantown zoning code could make it more difficult for students to find proper rental housing in the area.

The amendment alters the definition of a "family" and would prevent more than two unrelated persons from living in the same dwelling.

The new code would apply to R1 and R1A residential neighborhoods, including South Park. Previously, up to three unrelated individuals were permitted to live in the house in these areas.

The policy will effectively remove rental housing from several neighborhoods in the city and could decrease supply of cheap, convenient units for West Virginia University students.

The change will eventually lead to rental units being sold as owner-occupied private residences. The aim of the new code, according to Morgantown Mayor Bill Byrne, is to encourage students to live in certain areas of the city.

"I think everybody thinks this is a pretty good idea because it sort of recognizes that we want to really work hard to preserve owner-occupied neighborhoods," Byrne said. "With Sunnyside Up and quality rentals downtown, we’re trying to get students closer to the campus and within walking distance of the campus and in areas more suited for student life."

But Downtown is already congested and that purpose is unlikely the true motivation of the code change.

If these rental units are converted into owner-occupied houses, property values in the neighborhood will increase, and subsequent city revenue from property taxes will increase, as well.

Yes, the city needs to protect the interests of local homeowners. But at what expense to the students?

Most options closer to the Downtown Campus are either prohibitively expensive or sometimes of a questionable standard.

South Park is one example of a neighborhood that, for the most part, provided a decent combination of quality, convenience and affordability.

Thankfully, current renters will be grandfathered into the system.

But unless comparable housing units are made available at a similar distance to the main campus, students will suffer.
 

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

4 comments

Anonymous
Mon Apr 26 2010 16:59
I think this is targeting students. We already tried targeting the students from 4 unrelated to 3. Did it work? NO! The city coucil doesn't admit to targeting students but the transient poplulation. Our Morgantown community IS a transient population and, as a university town, we should embrace our transient population and welcome them into our neighborhoods (all transients...Dr's... professors...students! We have (noise, trash, parking) ordinances in place. This new ordinance is extreme and does not serve our university community. Rents will increase per individual, properties will sit idle...home values will decrease. This is a university town. It is, for the most part, a transient city. It's what makes Morgantown great...we're always moving!
Anonymous
Wed Apr 14 2010 21:31
Where do they intend to put the cars? If at least 1 person has to move farther away from at least 300 houses in the South Park area, that's an extra 300 cars on the road in order to get the students to class without having to walk 5 miles up hill both ways. That lenth is about the same from Beechurst to the waterfront. Hurray extra traffic!
Anonymous
Wed Apr 14 2010 18:15
Seems like something very difficult to enforce. I know of plenty of 3 bedroom apartments where 4-8 people live just to get by. The overflow just isn't on the lease and contributes to rent with cash.

Morgantown's residents always seem to resent the students and don't realize that the town would be nothing without them. If you don't want to live in a college town and near college students, move somewhere smaller and quieter.

Anonymous
Wed Apr 14 2010 09:08
Ok-you're right that changing the zoning will make it harder for students to find housing in those neighborhoods. But how can you fault Morgantown for wanting to (finally) control the growth of student housing? The city and its taxpayers have every right to preserve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. You paint it as if it's simply a money grab. THE REAL PROBLEM THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSED: the city probably won't get away with this. The ACLU will be in here soon to contest it, especially considering the city will review each request for an exception on a "case-by-case basis." That is by nature discriminatory. But remember kids, if the city comes knockin': "everybody here's cousins."






log out