I t isn’t rocket science. When something isn’t working, it usually means it is time to find a different solution. I t is past time for the Town of Chapel Hill to find another solution to affordable housing, noise violations and the protection of historic neighborhoods other than a housing ordinance that prohibits more than four unrelated persons living together.
This conversation would be different if the ordinance was effective.
Advocates say the housing ordinance will help protect historic neighborhoods and prevent property values from rising.
While these are strong reasons to support the ordinance, it all comes down to the fact that the current ordinance has not actually prevented these problems from happening. Property values are rising , and landlords will continue to allow more than four unrelated people to live in a house as long as it makes money.
Granted, it will not be easy for the town to find a solution, but there has to be something that works better for everyone than what exists currently.
Though students are a temporary population here, their presence in the town is permanent. The solution may not be Christy Lambden’s proposal to increase the ordinance to include to six people; but, the fact that the student body president asked the Town Council to amend the ordinance is another reminder that there is a need for a new resolution .
As the Town Council discusses Lambden’s proposal, they should keep their minds open to finally changing ordinance, rather than staunchly closing the book on it once more .
