The A-CC Single-Family Definition:
Family: Two or more persons occupying a single dwelling unit where all
members are related by blood, marriage, adoption, or are in foster
care. No single dwelling unit located in any "RS" (Single-Family Residential) zoning district shall have more than two unrelated
individuals residing therein, nor shall any family have, additionally, more than two unrelated individuals residing with such family.
Excerpt from A-CC Code 9-1-27.
The full text is available on reserve at the Law Library.
· NOT AN ORDINANCE, A DEFINITION.
· USED TO BE 4 UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS. NOW 2, STRATEGICALLY.
· NOT JUST 5 POINTS, ANY RS ZONE.
· ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN SPARCE BECAUSE OF INVESTIGATION COSTS.
· RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: LANDLORDS PISSED…STUDENTS TESTIFYING ABOUT GIRLFRIEND’S SLEEPING HABITS, LOOPHOLE CLOSED, ANOTHER EXISTS.
· The Commission supports the S-F Definition unanimously. Therefore, we are not going to win on this issue through a vote in the Commission. We need to initiate a voter referendum, and register students to vote.
Questions to be able to answer:
1. Members of the Commission claim that the Single-Family Definition is not written to proscribe students from neighborhoods, in fact, the definition does not even mention students! How can you explain this?
It is well known that the S-F Definition is designed to keep students out of certain neighborhoods. Even the Athens Daily News agrees: “The ‘definition of family’ ordinance is aimed at limiting the number of college students and other people sharing rental housing.” (ADN/BH 4 March 1998 Page 6A).
Local government leaders will claim that the S-F Definition is not aimed at students.
AN INSULT TO OUR INTELLIGENCE:
But, Athens-Clarke County, in 1992, testified in a federal court that the S-F Definition was designed to control the large University of Georgia student population. Eliot v. City of Athens, 960 F.2d 975 at 982 (1992).
2. Okay, how do we maintain reasonable neighborhoods for families in the Athens area?
The first thing to realize is that our goals are the same: We want quality neighborhoods for families. But, we can have quality family neighborhoods without excluding students.
John Barrow, District 4 Commissioner supports tightening behavioral performance standards in the neighborhoods. Simply put: Kick out students who are disruptive. Keep the students who can exist without disturbing neighborhood standards of behavior.
This approach does not require new laws: We can use existing noise violation laws, and nuisance law to eject disrespectful students.
This is the approach that makes sense: By using behavior standards, we can accomplish the goal of having quiet neighborhoods, keep the landlords in business, and live happily.
Inherent in this question is that when you separate family neighborhoods from student neighborhoods, students get a lower quality of living. In fact, there are politicians in the County who will tell you that local interests are trying to contain the student population on the East Side of Athens. The East Side of Athens has, according to East Side Commissioner Ken Jordan, experienced the worst development in all of A-CC.
What to do in the future:
1. Organize a student voting drive. Other issues affect us as well: Pedestrian Safety, quality of life issues, landlord/tenant issues, alcohol policy issues…
2. We need to have students at the A-CC meetings. COMMISSION LESS ANTI-STUDENT WHILE WE’RE IN THE AUDIENCE.
3. The ultimate goal: A student seat on the A-CC Commission.
4. POWER IS RARELY GIVEN…WE NEED TO TAKE IT.
Conclusion:
As long as students cannot live alongside local residents, students remain second-class citizens. We support local business, we pay inflated local sales taxes, we volunteer, we are good citizens—but not good enough to share the quality of life experienced in single-family neighborhoods in Athens-Clarke County.
With smiles and sophistry, the Mayor and Commission continue to hold us down in a lower quality of life. The entrance of students into local politics this year will end this forever.