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Rockingham considers housing-standard rules

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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

(Updated 5:27 am)

By Jonnelle Davis
Staff Writer

WENTWORTH — The county is considering a minimum housing ordinance to tackle the problem of abandoned and blighted properties.

The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday briefly discussed a draft of the ordinance prepared by the county’s legal department. The ordinance would give the county the power to regulate housing standards that the building code does not cover, such as appearance and sanitation, and to demolish property that does not meet those standards.

“It’s an appearance issue, and it’s a safety issue,” Tom Wiggins, the county’s planning director, said after the meeting.

The proposal outlines standards for overgrown yards, garbage disposal and rodent control, among other issues.

A petition charging unfit living conditions that is signed by at least five county residents could start an investigation by a housing inspector, according to the ordinance.

Commissioner Bobby Stanley objected to what he called the ordinance’s tough language. He said he also feared the potentially costly maintenance required to comply with the ordinance would prove difficult for some property owners, such as landlords.

“Average people can’t stand this,” Stanley said.

Bob Shaver, the county’s assistant attorney, said the draft covers what state law allows, but said the commissioners could craft a less strict ordinance that suited the county’s needs.

Wiggins said the county would use the ordinance primarily to target abandoned homes.

Minimum housing ordinances are common in densely populated cities and urban counties, county officials said. Stoneville and Wentworth are Rockingham County’s only municipalities without a minimum housing ordinance, Wiggins said.

The commissioners agreed to discuss the matter again at a later date.

In other business, the commissioners unanimously voted to spend $34,000 to contract with the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments to update the county’s unified development ordinance. Wiggins said the county plans to add more zoning districts. The money for the project may come from the county’s fund balance.

The commissioners also heard from architect Walter Teague about a space-needs study. They voted last summer to spend $81,500 on the study to determine how the county can more efficiently use its buildings.

One of the buildings the study focused on is the courthouse, which will be vacated next year when the new judicial center opens. There has been talk of turning the old courthouse into a museum, and Teague told the commissioners there is ample space in the building for that project.

Teague said some buildings, such as the courthouse and jail building, would require some renovation if used for other purposes. County Manager Tom Robinson said the study is just a blueprint, and that the county cannot afford any major renovation projects.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com

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countryboy

September 9, 2009 - 7:33 am EDT

Excellent news. Rockingham County is the natural jewel of the Triad, but some of the non-natural areas leave something to be desired. This is a good start, but please, do not water down the tough standards. As for Mr. Stanley's comments, I am sure they are well intended, but it cost very little to keep property free of trash and debris. As for the landlords he is defending, if they cannot afford to meet minimal living conditions for their tenants, they cannot afford to be landlords. Being a landlord is about more than making a profit, it is about providing adequate and sanitary living conditions.

jeffreyhsykes

September 9, 2009 - 8:09 am EDT

Great comments, Country Boy. Thanks for speaking up. I agree with you that we need to get tougher on landlords and their tenants who fail to keep their residential properties up to community standards. It's good policy that serves multiple functions and is based on personal responsibility.

We need more voices like yours in Rockingham County to speak up for a better vision of the future.

http://www.jeffreysykes.com

Panacea

September 9, 2009 - 8:48 am EDT

Makes me wonder how many rental properties Stanley owns.

Landlords have a responsibility to their neighbors to make sure the tenants mow the lawn and keep the trash clear. It is not hard to do simple maintenance. Power wash the walls once a year. Repaint every 7-8 years, just like you would on your own home. It maintains curb appeal. Let your properties go to rot and all you get are trashy tenants who just make the place worse.

I've rented several houses in my life, and I was always expected to do the yard work to keep it looking nice, and to keep the inside clean so I didn't get mice and cockroaches. It was not a problem as I did not want mice and cockroaches for roommates.

Stanly's argument is bogus.

Get the facts

September 9, 2009 - 10:07 pm EDT

I think everyone can agree that overgrown, trash ridden, and rodent infested properties are a nuisance and should be dealt with accordingly. Did you know the county already has ordinances to cover these safety and sanitation issues? They only need to be enforced. Everyone thinks these rules would apply to someone else. Consider this, in Greensboro they now tell residents where they can park their car on their own properties, they dictate the type of driveway you can have, in some cases they dictate the type of landscaping, you can't cut down a tree without preapproval even though it is dying and presents a hazard. Where does it stop? Who decides what is unsightly or ugly? Reidsville has a whole set of these ordinances already, do you think you can find an unsightly house there? They are on every street. This doesn't only apply to landlords, it would also apply to private homeowners. Speaking of landlords, higher maintenance costs will not affect their profitability because it will be passed along as higher rent to tenants. Before anyone asks, I do own several houses in Reidsville and I know the law. I have never failed a city inspection and maintain a 100% occupancy rate. I accomplish this by treating my tenants fairly, maintaining my properties, and charging a fair, not lowest, rent. I do this not because of the law but because it is what is most profitable for my company. I know that if my properties aren't kept up the tenant will go somewhere else. This is a characteristic of the free market which we lose every time government attempts to legislate something else.