Morning Buzz – Jan. 24, 2011

The city should keep its nose out of this issue. Bigger and more valuable homes are in the city’s interest as they generate more tax revenue. Also it encourages more affluent people to stay in or move to the city, with many positive spin-offs besides mere tax revenue. For a city that never saw a cheesy apartment development it didn’t approve, this effort strikes me as incredibly stupid. It also demonstartes the arrogance of city pols who are probably motivated as much by envy as by civic concern.

the city should address all the older homes of the city being converted into apartments ” 2 stories” become 4 apts and bungaloes being made into 2 apts ect, it lowers property value, causes traffic and parking problems, increases the number of children in the school system, ect. single family homes of yesterday should stay single family homes today. It has ruined the character of alot of the old neighbor hoods I grew up in.

This is why I will NEVER live in the TOWN of Fredericksburg…i had the chance to inherit a home there but….no thanks!!

William–wasn’t able to follow. WHAT is why you won’t live in Fbg?

I don’t mind reminders to keep up the property if it’s really out of line…hurts everyone’s value. But our subdivision is WACKY on control…they even tell you that if, on your vacation, you decide to pitch a tent in your back yard and camp with your kids (we’re very wooded)…you can only have the tent up 2 days! Not even a week. I understand not wanting homeless camping out but geez! At least let a family enjoy their vacation week in their own back yard!

Randy,

I don’t believe current zoning allows for any further conversion of single family homes to multi-family homes in the SFH zoned areas. There are lots of houses in the area, especially around the college, that were converted before the current zoning was imposed, but I suspect that any permits to convert now would be denied.

If you know of someone who has recently or is planning to convert, you might ask someone at city hall about it.

There are also laws about the number of unrelated people who may live in a house. I believe the number is 3, which would prevent a “run of the house” type arrangement for more than 3 unrelated people.

Fredericksburg developed well before there was zoning and most neighborhoods are non-conforming. Problems resulted. For example, a homeowner wants to put a porch on his house like all the other homes on the block. Most of the homes being build in the 30′s and 40′s the porches are too close to the sidewalk by current zoning regs. So said owner can’t build a porch on their house which frankly makes no sense. There were also concerns about oversized homes in neighborhoods. To address all these issue it was suggested that through the Special Use process we allow property owners to put porches on their homes if that is already prevalent in the neighborhood. It would also allow for building to go above the 35′ limit if house in that neighborhood were over the 35′ limit. There were limits on additions but the Planning Commission studied lot sizes in the city and found that these limits would still allow significant additions. The city would thus be able to maintain the character of city neighborhoods. It was a rather ease approach giving the city flexibility in dealing with issues that arose due to non-conformity. Council voted it down with some members saying it was too restrictive. Council now seem to be proposing an even more restrictive approach which is overly complicated.

This city kills me. If a homeowner wants to improve his property by putting on a nice addition, he is hastled by the brainiacs on City Council. While any fly by night apartment operator is welcomed with open arms. What kind of a mixed up, stupid, hare-brained city council would propose such a bone-headed set of priorities? Answer: the Fredericksburg City Council thats who! Jeez what a bunch of envious little miniminds.

Mostly in USA, the illegal aliens rent the McMansions, so 20-30 people can live in one dwelling. Also, the welfare offices in a City are easy to get to, and apply for lucrative benefits.
The City Council should rule that no home should exceed 1500 square-feet, and levy a heavy 500% property tax on any homes that exceed this limit.
Also, you may notice that many of the mcmansions don’t have enough parking in front for all the residents inside. It should be the law that each resident should have two parking spaces on the street in front of the home, or it can’t be built.