Decision on Tenant Limits on Hold

A decision on limiting the number of unrelated people who can live in a rented house was put on hold until next month, but the San Diego City Council heard passionate testimony on the subject Tuesday.

The proposed citywide law is designed to solve longstanding conflicts between long-term residents and transient renters, such as college students, in areas zoned for single-family homes.

But because of a faulty ad announcing the public hearing, council members must wait until their May 21 meeting to take any action on the amendment.

Problems with crowding and parking are “just absolutely unbelievable” in the area near San Diego State University, said Brian Bennett, president of the College Area Community Council.

According to Bennett, two-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath homes are routinely occupied by six to 14 students, who sleep in living rooms and illegally converted garages. The students park their cars on lawns, increase traffic and bring down values of nearby property by disrupting the quiet, family atmosphere, he said.

“It is philosophically the fault of SDSU for letting the population of the student body grow . . . without supplying adequate housing,” Bennett said.

Bennett was one of about 20 people who testified at the public hearing.

Opponents of the proposed law included students who said most pose no problem to the community.

“There are a few disruptive groups in the area,” said Rich Engler, a graduate student at UC San Diego. “Overcrowding is not the problem. We need to enforce existing laws.”

UCSD graduate student Daved Fremont said the law would ruin a student’s chances of finding affordable housing close to campus.

The amendment to the city’s Municipal Code would apply to homes that are not lived in by the owner. Its main points:

* Each resident must have at least 80 square feet of bedroom space.

* There must be at least one bathroom for every four people.

* There must be a parking spot for each adult, minus one.

* The residence must have a communal living space of at least 150 square feet--excluding kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.

The amendment would empower the city to impose fines and raise property taxes for rental units to cover the estimated $1 million cost of enforcing the law.

An unlikely opponent of the proposed law was the Preserve Single Family Zoning coalition, represented by lawyer Barry Schultz.

The coalition wants the amendment to define what kinds of groups can rent homes in single-family zoned areas. The groups allowed would have to exhibit family-style living--such as showing that communal areas such as kitchens are accessible to all residents. It also wants to require that all residents be named on the lease and that the city monitor the leases.

Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer said the measure will probably go back to committee, where the coalition’s proposal will be considered.