Anyone in Auburn planning to build or turn their home into a multi-family unit might have to put those plans on hold for a year and a half.
The Auburn City Council will consider a proposal today that would place an 18-month moratorium on development of multi-family housing. If the resolution passes, the city will stop approving any zone changes, permits or other legislative acts that would authorize such development.
The proposal includes banning the construction or conversion of buildings that will house more than one family, as well as apartments, condominiums, apartment complexes, duplexes, semi-detached homes and conjoined single family homes.
The city Planning Department would not be able to approve any multi-family subdivisions, plot plans or site plans under a moratorium, according to the proposal. The city Zoning Board of Appeals could not approve any use variances that would allow multi-family units, either.
The projects that have already received proper permits and authorization will be allowed to commence, City Manager Mark Palesh said Wednesday. But any projects still in their concept stage will not be allowed to go ahead.
Because they have permits in place, the residential units that are part of the State Street “Creative Corridor” project and the Logan Street condominium project will not be affected, he said. The moratorium also would not affect proposed hotels, motels or bed and breakfasts.
The moratorium would be in place until the city finishes its comprehensive plan, Palesh said. Through the plan, city officials will examine how the city's multi-family housing affects its residents, he said.
“We felt that we should hold off on any new proposals until the plan is adopted,” Palesh said.
More than half of the city's housing is made up of multi-family units, he continued. That is a “very unhealthy” number for a community the size of Auburn, Palesh said.
“A lot of the multi-family units are non-owner occupied,” he said. “They don't have a vested interest in the city.”
If you go
What: Auburn City Council
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: Memorial City Hall, 24 South St.
Meeting format change?
Auburn City Council might start conducting business every week.
Councilors will vote today on a proposal to change the meeting schedule to make every council meeting a business meeting. A work session is held every other week, during which councilors discuss city issues and there is no session for the general public to be heard.
If the resolution passes, every meeting will include a public to be heard session.
The proposal includes banning the construction or conversion of buildings that will house more than one family, as well as apartments, condominiums, apartment complexes, duplexes, semi-detached homes and conjoined single family homes.
The city Planning Department would not be able to approve any multi-family subdivisions, plot plans or site plans under a moratorium, according to the proposal. The city Zoning Board of Appeals could not approve any use variances that would allow multi-family units, either.
The projects that have already received proper permits and authorization will be allowed to commence, City Manager Mark Palesh said Wednesday. But any projects still in their concept stage will not be allowed to go ahead.
Because they have permits in place, the residential units that are part of the State Street “Creative Corridor” project and the Logan Street condominium project will not be affected, he said. The moratorium also would not affect proposed hotels, motels or bed and breakfasts.
The moratorium would be in place until the city finishes its comprehensive plan, Palesh said. Through the plan, city officials will examine how the city's multi-family housing affects its residents, he said.
“We felt that we should hold off on any new proposals until the plan is adopted,” Palesh said.
More than half of the city's housing is made up of multi-family units, he continued. That is a “very unhealthy” number for a community the size of Auburn, Palesh said.
“A lot of the multi-family units are non-owner occupied,” he said. “They don't have a vested interest in the city.”
If you go
What: Auburn City Council
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: Memorial City Hall, 24 South St.
Meeting format change?
Auburn City Council might start conducting business every week.
Councilors will vote today on a proposal to change the meeting schedule to make every council meeting a business meeting. A work session is held every other week, during which councilors discuss city issues and there is no session for the general public to be heard.
If the resolution passes, every meeting will include a public to be heard session.
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 12 comment(s)
javajava wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:41 PM:
I'm just curious, is the rental property you're talking about (or worse, propertIES) your sole source of income? If so, I can understand your frustration > because, as stated above, being a landlord is not as easy as one would think. But if rental income is NOT your sole source of income, then stop renting. You're obviously not doing it for the community by providing someone a home. Hmmmmm, could it be GREED?........ "
teacher1 wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:12 PM:
interesting wrote on Sep 25, 2008 2:39 PM:
Andy b wrote on Sep 25, 2008 11:28 AM:
teacher1 wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:52 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:19 AM:
Andy b wrote on Sep 25, 2008 10:02 AM:
On another point, there is currently more apartments than available renters. Its been that way for at least 6 years. "
justventing wrote on Sep 25, 2008 9:52 AM:
cm wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:56 AM:
However, longboard is correct too, there are so many places that need code-enforcments attention, they so need to start fining the dead-beat landlords!! "
interesting wrote on Sep 25, 2008 8:31 AM:
longboard315 wrote on Sep 25, 2008 7:25 AM:
brew1234 wrote on Sep 25, 2008 12:18 AM: