So allow me to try to explain how exactly it will affect students. "Land-Use Management Ordinance for Dummies," if you will.
More importantly, here's why you should take all your frustrations after reading this column and channel them into a concise, intelligent but angry e-mail to Chapel Hill Town Council members protesting the implementation of the ordinance.
Behind its intimidating title, the document could directly affect the student population's off-campus housing options. Main concerns to students are proposed housing unit occupancy limitations and duplex prohibitions.
First, the current limit on occupancy is four unrelated persons per unit. Already, this is not enforced unless a complaint is issued. But the new ordinance will decrease this limit to an unreasonable two unrelated residents.
Inevitably what will happen is landlords will only put two names on the lease while still allowing more residents to live there. The rule will just force renters and landlords to find ways to around the laws.
The problem is, leases are legal documents. Dorothy Bernholz of Student Legal Services said she is concerned for students' rental protection if their names are not on the lease. Those who aren't on the lease are not legally bound to pay rent, nor are landlords obliged to acknowledge their rental concerns.
And those renters who aren't down with cheating the system will just move to Carrboro or lower-rent areas farther from campus, only increasing the urban sprawl and traffic concerns the ordinance is trying to prevent.
Second, the ordinance would prohibit the further development of duplexes. But this change is largely a result of the complaints of residents from the Northside community, whose close proximity to the campus and downtown area has recently attracted students.
However, the non-student residents of the Northside community argue that students bring noise, trash and parking problems. They are asking the town to prohibit the further development of duplexes in their neighborhood to deter the student population.
