Dorm you Tucson -- Mini-Dorm you

Excerpts from:

 

Published: 04.24.2007

Council to look at minidorm dispute

Rules on homes near university may be imposed

 

By Rob O'Dell

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

 

Midtown residents looking for relief from "minidorms" sprouting up around the UA could see a big move by the city toward giving them the protection they seek today. 

 

After a public hearing, the Tucson City Council is poised to create a test "neighborhood preservation" zoning ring around the University of Arizona — an overlay zone that could impose restrictions on such things as building heights, setbacks or lot sizes that are more stringent than would normally be allowed. [...]

 

Prop. 207 could come into play

Several property-rights advocates warned that the proposed city ordinance could trigger the first Proposition 207 lawsuit.

Both sides will voice their concerns during a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. today in the Mayor and Council Chambers at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda St. [...]

 

"It's essentially a perimeter around the university," Councilwoman Karin Uhlich said of the proposed pilot program. She said she hopes to have the specific restrictions and how broad an area would be covered ready for final council action in two to three months.

 

Property owner objects

Richard Studwell, a property owner in the Jefferson Park Neighborhood, said creating a pilot program around the entire university without even waiting for petitions from neighborhood residents would make the ordinance worse, not better.

"They are looking to do this no matter what — that's the problem," Studwell said.

 

He said he "absolutely" thinks the ordinance will become a test case for Proposition 207, because it would limit the size and number of houses on his properties, thereby decreasing the potential value of his land.

 

● Contact reporter Rob O'Dell at 573-4240 or rodell@azstarnet.com.

 

End Note:  I should add to Mr. Studwell's remarks above because the reporter left this most important fact out of the story.  Studwell said, "...it would limit the size and number of houses on his properties ... "  The factual addition is -- that is allowed by current zoning law.

 

Apparently, these mini-dorms make economic sense since they are located near the university and property owners are wanting to build more as allowed by current law.  As the population of the university increases, likely the demand for mini-dorms rises, too.

 

The typical government solution to housing issues ... crush the private sector and create subsidized government housing, then raise taxes on diminished property values to help cover the increased costs of government services such as fire, police, etc., due to the increase in population.  Just another statist solution.