Too many roommates
The Boston Zoning Commission has set a limit of four on the number of college students who can live together off campus, The Boston Globe says. Some students and property owners say the move could make housing too costly for already cash-strapped students and may force many into more expensive college residence halls. But proponents say the occupancy limit will reduce the number of rowdy late-night parties on otherwise quiet residential streets.
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March 18th, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
In most communities the residential zoning designation already has a limit built in (”single”-family residential) but has not been enforceable due to the different interpretations of what a “family” actually is. The term family is now so vague that most local ordinances designed to regulate this have become worthless.
To regulate a private home in such strict terms it must be demonstrated that it is in the public good and does not create undue harm to the property owner, unless the city or school system is willing to compensate the property owner for the loss. Since many family homes have twice that many people living in them legally, how can you justify such a rigid regulation? It would never hold up to a challenge in court.