New Occupancy Restrictions Voted In By City Council
In a decisive move aimed at addressing homeowners’ concerns, the College Station City Council approved occupancy restrictions for three city neighborhoods. Sought by homeowners, the request to limit the number of unrelated residents to two in a single property was unanimously given the green light during the council’s August 8th meeting.
The owners of 104 homes out of 147 lots in the College Hills Woodlands, Woodland Acres, and Sweet Briar subdivisions submitted the request which led to the Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) designation. This is applicable to homes situated along Ashburn between Dominik and Lincoln.
Arbitrators of the Change
City Council’s decision is in response to the thoughtful entreaties put forth by homeowners in the aforementioned neighborhoods. Councilman Dennis Maloney noted that only 13 percent of subdivisions in College Station possess enough owner occupied homes that could even apply for a ROO. This implies that most subdivisions are populated by rented residences.
Gabriel Schrum, of the city’s planning and development office, said there will be an allowance of grandfathering for existing rental homes that house three or four unrelated occupants, provided they maintain engagement with the city’s rental registration program.
Implications and Repercussions
In essence, the ROO designation and the affiliated ruling will restrict rental properties from hosting more than two unrelated individuals within the same residential space. This step is greatly endorsed by homeowners who believe that this will augment the overall quality of life in their neighborhoods. In addition, they are of the opinion that it will deter the likelihood of noise and parking disputes that often emerge in predominantly renter-occupied blocks.
The flip side of this coin, however, is that landlords who primarily let their properties to students and other city dwellers might see a decrease in their revenue. This will come about because of the limitation on the number of tenants they can have in their properties at one time.
It will be interesting to observe how these occupancy restrictions unfold within the College Station context. They certainly highlight a pressing issue faced by many towns and cities where homeowners and renters live in close quarters, which is to navigate a peaceful coexistence that respects the rights of both parties.
About College Station
College Station is a city spilling over with life and learning as it is home to Texas A&M University. With a thriving student populace, the city caters to a vibrant mix of residents, including professionals, families, students, and faculty members. This often creates a challenging dynamic for city planners who aim to maintain peace and decorum within the neighborhoods.