Op-ed: Reasonable Zoning Protects Students and Neighborhoods

February 26, 2009, by Amy Shapiro

This article originally appeared as a Guest Viewpoint in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin.

An article published Friday, February 20, about a planned meeting between Binghamton University students and the Mayor of Binghamton contained this statement: "Students were encouraged to attend a city meeting this week to voice opposition to a long-discussed code change that would limit the number of unrelated people who can live together in low-density neighborhoods."

This description of the zoning law is incorrect.  In fact, the current law of the City of Binghamton says that the only group of unrelated people that can live together in almost any dwelling unit in the City is a group that is so stable and permanent that it is the "functional equivalent" of a traditional family.  Judges of the state Supreme Court have held that housemate arrangements, including typical student housemate arrangements, violate this law. 

The law is outmoded and should be changed.  Currently under discussion is a proposal that would make it legal for student housemates to live in Binghamton.  The West Side Neighborhood Association - so vilified by some landlords - supports this position. 

We want Binghamton to have a reasonable, fair zoning law that is fairly enforced.  The change we support would relax current law to allow three unrelated people to live together with no questions asked.  Larger groups of four or more unrelated people would need to show that they meet the standard of the current law - that they have joined their lives with one another, for instance, by owning furniture, raising children, sharing car payments, holding joint bank accounts, vacationing together - or just living together over the summer.

Landlords like owning property in low-density neighborhoods and students like living there for the same reason the long-time family residents do - these neighborhoods are safe, quiet, stable and well maintained.  However, these very qualities are destroyed by landlords who illegally rent homes to large groups of unrelated people and renters who throw large parties, play loud music, litter, etc. 

Friday's article says that students "were encouraged" to attend the meeting and oppose changes to the zoning code.  Were they encouraged by their landlords?  Some landlords have an interest in high profits made by illegally renting ill-kept substandard housing to students.  The rents can be substantial rents -- especially when rent is paid per individual person. 

Reasonable reform will encourage good landlords to make a reasonable profit renting to smaller groups, while preserving Binghamton's residential neighborhoods, especially on the West Side.  The alternative may well be an exodus of families to other communities, continued deteriorating of unique historic housing stock, and worsened conditions for housemate renters.  This would be no favor to students.