Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council discusses neighborhood conservation law after property owner dispute
Summary
City Manager Michael Johnson reviewed the city's 2014 neighborhood conservation districts and defended enforcement in a dispute over 2639 Alvarado Blvd; Councilmember Mayo raised equity concerns and said he will prepare additional materials arguing the policy concentrates restrictions and can have racially disparate effects.
City Manager Michael Johnson summarized the purpose and history of Steubenville’s neighborhood conservation-district legislation, which was adopted in 2014 and has been used by 25 neighborhoods. Johnson told council the law’s purposes are to protect privacy, reduce nuisance impacts, preserve owner-occupied character, and limit traffic and parking problems. He said the law withstood an Ohio Civil Rights Commission challenge with a minor settlement change and that the city will enforce the law unless repealed or overturned by a court.
Johnson described a specific dispute over 2639 Alvarado Blvd where the city contends the property is not "actively listed" for sale at a fair-market price and therefore does not qualify for a temporary rental exception; he said the owner, Mr. Elkington, reduced an initial asking price from $495,000 to $295,000 but the city still considers that not demonstrative of a bona fide sales listing. Councilmember Mayo responded that conservation districts concentrate restrictions in certain neighborhoods and expressed concern about fairness and potential racial impacts; Mayo said he will prepare further materials for council consideration.
