Sierra Madre OKs Limited Meaning of ‘Family’

In a split vote, the Sierra Madre City Council approved changing the wording of a city zoning code to define a family as those related by “blood, marriage or adoption.”

About 100 people crowded into the tiny council chamber to hear more than a dozen speakers attack the proposal by Councilwoman MaryAnn MacGillivray, which terms those living together in all other relationships “housekeeping units.” The vote was 3 to 2, with Councilman Doug Hayes and Mayor James Hester dissenting.

After hearing from people who called the measure an attack on unmarried couples and same-sex relationships, MacGillivray said it did not pose a threat to any particular lifestyle.

Hester, who two weeks ago supported the proposal, explained his opposition Tuesday. “Foster families are people who aren’t related. . . . Are we going to exclude them?”

The controversy began with what was meant to be a routine update of the city’s zoning code--a few plainly stated sentences defining the term “family” for housing classifications through such criteria as a shared kitchen, utilities, mailing address and front door. City officials use this kind of language to prevent such occurrences as illegal rental units being added onto houses.

MacGillivray, however, demanded that the term “family” be limited to those related by blood, marriage or adoption, and that those living together in other relationships be called “housekeeping units.” She said using the word “family” to describe those not related by blood or law “degrades the meaning of the term.”

Her definition of “family” was rejected by the city Planning Commission but approved by the City Council at a first reading Sept. 9.

State and federal laws clearly prohibit housing discrimination based on familial status.

On Tuesday, Robin Fletcher told the council, “As a teacher, I . . . [think] the definition proposed here doesn’t represent the values I want the children of our community to learn. The fact that we have this small-town feeling shouldn’t mean we are small-minded.”