Basement
apartments OK in Hyde Park? Not yet
By Katy Jessen
November 30, 2004 | HYDE PARK -- The
discussion of amending the zoning ordinances of Hyde
Park that would be applicable to all zones by adding
accessory apartments was decided to be continued in
December.
Mayor David Kooyman said Hyde Park city is a single-family-dwelling
city, and existing residential zones do not allow accessory
apartments, which means the city would have to change
zoning in certain areas.
Judy Hawkins, a resident of Hyde Park, said she knows
of plenty of homes who are renting out basements who
do not have a permit. She said as the city becomes aware
of them, they should put them into compliance. She said
if the city adopts this ordinance now, they'll create
a mess, and said the council should clean it up now.
Larry Dursteler asked where the mother-in-law and
accessory apartments will be, and said after the new
amendment is made how will the council be able to enforce
it since they've ignored the people who are currently
not in compliance for so many years.
Hawkins said there is plenty of affordable housing
in Hyde Park, she said she's done studies.
Councilman James Skidmore said he strongly disagreed.
"We need to not be elitists," said Skidmore. "We have
to provide for people that can't afford a home on a
half-acre of land. The city should provide for every
person's phase in life."
Hawkins said people have purchased their "all-American
Dream," their largest purchase. She said value of homes
go down when they are next to accessory apartments.
"I don't want a bunch of accessory apartments," said
Hawkins. She and Julie Allen said there are at least
20 families that are in violation of the current ordinance.
Kooyman said he had no idea there were so many homes
in violation, he asked Allen, who is a relief society
president in a ward of the LDS church to find out just
how many people in her ward alone are in violation,
and report it back to him.
"The hardest part of my job is enforcing ordinances
that are already in place," said Kooyman at the end
of the council meeting.
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