2008 Woodie Awards
Housing limits reconsidered
Orono leaders delay decision on housing changes
Pattie Barry
Issue date: 12/13/07 Section: News
The Orono Town Council voted on Monday night to continue a moratorium prohibiting more than three non-related roommates from signing new leases in most Orono apartment buildings. It has been extended until June 18, 2008, at which time the council may make it a permanent ordinance.
Currently, no more than three tenants may share a dwelling unit in Orono's medium-density residential zone and forestry and agricultural zone. Monday night's vote added the limited residential district to that list.
"That's a single-family residential zone and we always wanted to include it," Town Manager Kathy Conlow said.
These districts cover the majority of the land in Orono. The sections between Kelley Road and College Avenue along Main Street are zoned as medium-density residential areas.
Fraternities, sororities, dormitories and community living establishments such as Orchard Trails are not affected.
There is no limit to the number of related tenants in a dwelling.
The moratorium was instated on June 18 of this year and would have expired on Dec. 17. No person in the audience commented for or against the passage of the extension.
Council member Lianne Harris said the council voted for the extension with "the notion that [the community development committee] is working to bring a resolution to this issue."
There will be a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 to consider adopting it as a permanent regulation. The public hearing is concurrent with the first day of classes of the spring semester.
The occupancy limit is one of several ways the town is reforming the regulation of rental housing. Another project is the development of a rental registration program. This program would require Orono landlords to annually submit information detailing the size, landscape, utilities and contact information for their properties. According to the draft of the ordinance, the rental registration program is a means to monitor trends in rental properties within the town and is not a determination that a property is fit for human habitation.
Conlow said the community development committee is suggesting a $25 annual registration fee, with exemptions granted to low or moderate income individuals.
The town is also seeking to develop a landlord-town advisory committee in order to "demonstrate how outreach education, and peer pressure can work with property owners who are not following the best practices in the management of their properties," according to the regulation of rental housing proposal. The proposal indicates that this committee will be appointed by the town council and consist of representatives from landlords, tenants, the police department, fire department, owner-occupants in Orono, an administrator from the university and an off-campus student.
A public hearing on the reform of the regulation of rental housing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14. A copy of the proposed reform is available on the town of Orono's Web site, www.orono.org.
Currently, no more than three tenants may share a dwelling unit in Orono's medium-density residential zone and forestry and agricultural zone. Monday night's vote added the limited residential district to that list.
"That's a single-family residential zone and we always wanted to include it," Town Manager Kathy Conlow said.
These districts cover the majority of the land in Orono. The sections between Kelley Road and College Avenue along Main Street are zoned as medium-density residential areas.
Fraternities, sororities, dormitories and community living establishments such as Orchard Trails are not affected.
There is no limit to the number of related tenants in a dwelling.
The moratorium was instated on June 18 of this year and would have expired on Dec. 17. No person in the audience commented for or against the passage of the extension.
Council member Lianne Harris said the council voted for the extension with "the notion that [the community development committee] is working to bring a resolution to this issue."
There will be a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 to consider adopting it as a permanent regulation. The public hearing is concurrent with the first day of classes of the spring semester.
The occupancy limit is one of several ways the town is reforming the regulation of rental housing. Another project is the development of a rental registration program. This program would require Orono landlords to annually submit information detailing the size, landscape, utilities and contact information for their properties. According to the draft of the ordinance, the rental registration program is a means to monitor trends in rental properties within the town and is not a determination that a property is fit for human habitation.
Conlow said the community development committee is suggesting a $25 annual registration fee, with exemptions granted to low or moderate income individuals.
The town is also seeking to develop a landlord-town advisory committee in order to "demonstrate how outreach education, and peer pressure can work with property owners who are not following the best practices in the management of their properties," according to the regulation of rental housing proposal. The proposal indicates that this committee will be appointed by the town council and consist of representatives from landlords, tenants, the police department, fire department, owner-occupants in Orono, an administrator from the university and an off-campus student.
A public hearing on the reform of the regulation of rental housing will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 14. A copy of the proposed reform is available on the town of Orono's Web site, www.orono.org.
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