After hearing members of the community speak for and against a proposed zoning ordinance to clarify the definition of family, the Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night for its approval.
"This ordinance represents a promise made and a promise kept," said Councilman Harlon Reece.
Although the council admitted that the ordinance would need continual tweaking as the enforcement of overcrowding issues arose, they all agreed they were taking a positive step toward reducing the security and health risks that come with the overcrowding of homes.
"We are going to lead because we are pioneers," said Councilman Steven Mitchell, adding that overcrowding is a national problem and that he believed many national people are watching how the town chooses to deal with the increasing problem.
IN ADOPTING the zoning ordinance, the council is clarifying and strengthening occupancy limitations of residential units and amending the definition of "family," among others.
This redefinition allows the council to control overcrowded dwelling units and to help reduce the associated increase of vehicles, noise, traffic, overwhelming of public utilities and the result of impairment of the quality of life in the neighborhoods that are designed for family use and enjoyment.
Carole Broadbent, Herndon resident, was the sole person opposing the ordinance during the public hearing, and said her main concern was that this new ordinance would be like all the others, only slap people on the wrist, but not solve the problem.
"Leave the law the way it is and don't redefine family," said Broadbent during the open forum. "Unless you want to destroy this town, don't vote for this ordinance."
Broadbent asked the council to keep the family definition as a nuclear family, but the council expressed that in today's diverse communities that is too difficult to do.
Council said there are many reasons this issue is so important, and needs to move forward. Some of the overcrowding of dwellings issues include: fire hazards, increased opportunity and incidence of domestic violence and possible abuse, and adversely affecting the peace, comfort, safety and dignity that surrounds the law-abiding residents.
IN THE ORDINANCE, the council states that it is aware of large extended families and that those situations should be taken into account in designing the occupancy rules, saying it plans to devise rules that accommodate families with children "in a way that does not contribute to the impairment of the quality of life in the Town's residential neighborhoods." Because of this the council has decided it is appropriate to exclude children from the determination of the overall occupancy limits in the zoning ordinance, although they have a specific definition of what determines a child, and plan to make the necessary revisions to the ordinance as each situation presents itself.