The City Council packed up and headed east to Grantville on Nov. 19 to listen to community input before voting on two items designed to stop the development of mini-dorms throughout the city.
Because of the complex legal issues involving property and tenants’ rights, the City Council presented a two-pronged approach to address the problems created when a three-bedroom home in a single-family residential area is transformed into a nine-bedroom home housing 18 adults.
The first item, the Residential High Occupancy Permit (RHOP) and Enforcement Efforts, would require a permit for a single-family dwelling housing six or more adults.
It also required the creation of additional parking per occupant.
The second item, the Rooming House Ordinance, would ban dwellings where three or more bedrooms are rented under three or more rental agreements. It would also require landlords to convert any rooming houses located within residential neighborhoods to revert to a standard home within three years.
After more than two hours of public comment followed by council discussion, the councilmembers approved the RHOP ordinance 7-1, then voted 5-3 against the Rooming House Ordinance before voting to return to the item in January for a second vote after it has been modified.
April Boling, who is running for the District 7 council seat, which includes San Diego State University and surrounding communities, spoke before the council and endorsed the measures.
“Stop the commercialization of our residential neighborhoods,” she said.
She said the council would also need to ensure extensive enforcement of any new laws.
Former consumer reporter Marti Emerald, who is also running for Councilman Jim Maddafer’s District 7 seat once his term is over, also endorsed the two items.
“The needs of the community are not being met,” she said, saying the city has failed to address affordable housing issues.