Enforce the rules
Jan Collins
Thursday, July 19, 2007
MY HUSBAND called the city to complain about all of the trash next door. A gentleman who works for the city told him that there was a fine line between trash and possessions. We wonder if the fine line falls between next door to our house or next door to his?
According to the zoning definition for single-family, we could have 54 people live in our home and still meet the zoning regulation for single-family dwelling. The problem would be that all of our possessions would not fit in our house and we would be forced to store them outside. Our single-family dwelling was not designed to accommodate that many people, cars, or possessions. It appears that would be okay.
Maybe we could sell our home. The problem: Is any neighborhood protected from destruction caused by bad zoning regulations and ordinances? Would we find a willing buyer for our home with the current state of the area? According to our property tax valuation, our home is increasing in value, so guess that would not be a problem.
I applaud the city and county for their efforts in obtaining new business and industry in the area. Do they not understand that Emporia is rapidly becoming a place that people do not want to live?
The city and county need to review zoning regulations and ordinances so that they can actually enforce the intent of the regulations and eliminate the “fine lines” so that our neighborhoods are protected and maintained as a place that people would actually like to live. This is not about culture, race, whether you rent or own, or what your family income is. It is about taking pride in where you live.
pizza (anonymous) says...
What a sad state of affairs this community is in. I really do not believe there is one person in any local government position that has the foggiest notion of what "zoning" means. Almost always they are looking for ways not to have to make a decision. It's such a shame they have let the community deteriorate into it's present state and it's headed downhill fast. Afterall if they had any idea at all of what "zoning" means there certainly would be not any proviion for 54 people to live in a single family home. Is there no common sense at all in local government?
July 19, 2007 at 11:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
Jan I hope you get some help with this problem, but I think this is going to be like everything else in the city...those that need to won't listen. Nice try though. I love this line: We wonder if the fine line falls between next door to our house or next door to his? It is so true.
July 20, 2007 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoahjoe (anonymous) says...
According, to the zoning regulations you should not have the possiblity of 54 people living next to you because a single family dwelling can not provide "accommodations" for that number.
When you read the definition for a single family dwelling and then for family, the answer does not seem that diffcult.
The zoning administer should be filling out a notice of violation,
with fines to follow.
July 20, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gitrdun (anonymous) says...
Jan, I can't agree with you more. My next door neighbor is over run with trash in his yard, sofas, chairs, old washer, dishes, cans, bottles, you name it he's got it in his yard. I am so tired of calling the city on this issue and they absolutely will not do anything about it. What happened to the new law that was passed here in Emporia about having such things (trash) in the yards or on porches??? I think it's about time the residents of Emporia start raising some kane with the city to begin enforcing these laws!! I had to put up a 6' privacy fence all the way around our home so we wouldn't have to wake up everyday to see that mess out my windows. And not only that, when we decide to sell....who in their right mind would want to purchase a home next to the city dump...and believe me, I have drove around Emporia and cannot believe the yards that are overwhelmed with trash. Come on city officials, do your job and enforce the yard trash laws in this town, you finally cleaned up yards from having old non registered vehicles in yards...why can't you do the same thing about the trash now? No wonder so many people are leaving this city, zoning laws, as it is right now, are ONLYenforced if it means the city will make a little money off it 1st. We the residents and home owners in Emporia have the right to walk out in our yards at any given time and not have to look at the city dump right next door! PLEASE enforce this very important law !
July 20, 2007 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
peanuts40 (anonymous) says...
i agree completely with jan's assessment of the problem in emporia. we have been here for 30+ years and really hate to see the deterioration of the neighborhoods. there is much potential here, we thought so many years ago, yet the population is stagnant, taxes are way too high, and the junk continues to pile up in yards and driveways. drive up morningside at a certain time of day and see the junky cars and houses in need of better maintenance. no wonder people are moving out north to new homes.
i think the city should have a way that people could get rid of the CRAP they have accumulated, ie, a pickup every 6 months for old furniture, etc. maybe this would help. who knows? it is just discouraging.
ps: anyone who drives down to olpe must grit their teeth as they pass the TRASH HEAP on the left side of the road. i can't believe it!
July 20, 2007 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citizen (anonymous) says...
It is unbelievable that the city will not fine people for having trash(sofas, fridge, whatever) in their yard yet my neighbor was gone for a month and didn't ask anyone to mow his lawn. You guessed it. He came back home to a sign on his front lawn for everyone to see. He was in viotation of the city and needed to mow his lawn or face a fine. I don't get it. The city seems to not want to tacke the big things. The important things.
July 23, 2007 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wookdog13 (anonymous) says...
My question, who is supposed to be paid to patrol the city to find who is breaking the city ordinance and zoning laws? If there is no one, then why do we have the laws?
Maybe one should check into the city payroll to see who is falling down on the job. Looks to me like there are a lot of places in Emporia like this.
Maybe the city is just waiting to start another law suit like with the trailer park.
July 23, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
Are there any zoning regulations for the county. I recently drove out by where the new REG plant is going to go in. To the east was an entire block of ramshackle buildings and hundreds of blue barrels. It was a mess and I wondered what the city fathers thought when they went out there for the groundbreaking. I have heard that the blue barrels are for raising fighting chickens. Could that be true? I thought that was against the law.
July 23, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gladys (anonymous) says...
I too, have called the city about trashy yards and porches. I was told that any citizen could make a complaint about any address. Then the city would send someone to inspect the residence. If they found it to be in violation of the codes a letter would be sent to the owner of the house and they would have 10 days to clean up. If, at that time, it wasn't completed they would be issued a court date and would face a $500 fine plus court costs. They could also be fined $500 for each day that the property is not cleaned and may also be sent to jail and still have to pay the $500 a day fine. (This may motivate those residents to clean up the property!) So, really the city is missing out on a great money making adventure and cleaning up the neighborhoods also. Recently, Topeka has passed new codes to improve the looks. Maybe Emporia should do the same or enforce the ones they already have in place.
July 26, 2007 at 4:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
So why on earth in this time of budget crisis where Emporia can use every penny of income it can find, are we not enforcing this? It serves 2 purposes - makes Emporia more revenue and cleans up the neighborhoods. I think that $500 fine is more than what a speeding ticket (unless you are in that lovely construction zone on the bypass) would bring in - let's clean up Emporia!
July 30, 2007 at 2:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )