Problem Rectified

Prior to Jan. 23, 1991, Fay Miller’s fourplex, which is his residence and source of income, and Edna Mann’s home could not have been rebuilt had they been destroyed due to a casualty because they are considered nonconforming structures.

In addition, Laurie Arnold’s apartment building and all the hundreds of other apartment buildings in her area could not have been rebuilt for the same reason, and all condominium owners who have units higher than 27 feet could not have regained access to their units if any of them had been destroyed.

This problem was created by the extensive rezoning that has taken place in Oceanside during the past five years. Due to the inability of any of the above individuals to rebuild their structures, lenders and insurance companies were refusing to do any business with them. Consequently, if Mr. Miller had an emergency and needed to get a loan on his fourplex, which he owns free and clear, no one would loan him money on his property. In essence, he and everybody else in his predicament had been stripped of any equity that they had in their property.

On Jan. 23, the Oceanside City Council, recognizing the gravity of the situation in which their constituents were being deprived of hundreds of millions of dollars in equity, took quick and decisive action to resolve the situation. With a 5-0 vote, they passed an ordinance which now allows any residential property owner to rebuild his or her structure back to its original configuration, if it were to be destroyed. Through this action, no longer will there be any problem with the lending institutions or insurance companies.

I am sure that the thousands of property owners affected by the City Council’s action are as grateful as I am that the council recognized the problem and solved it. We should be thankful that we are one of the few cities in the county whose City Council has addressed this inequity.

RICHARD T. EISENDRATH, Oceanside