An interoffice memo requested by residents, stonewalled for weeks in their quest to identify the county?s restrictions on apartment occupancy, confirms no restrictions apparently exist.
The memo, exempt from public information laws but provided to The Examiner by Baltimore County, says the county limits residents of a boarding house to two unrelated people, but does not regulate the number of tenants in apartments.
“To really regulate apartments, we really have to rely on property owners who have a vested interest in not allowing more tenants than a unit can hold,” county spokesman Don Mohler said. “I think we need to bring property owners to the table to work with them.”
Residents of the Towson community said they?ve requested clarification on the codes for several weeks to no avail. At least three said the memo from county attorney John Beverungen to county Community Conservation director Mary Harvey was read at a meeting Wednesday that also included Councilman Vince Gardina, D-District 5, and the owner of several student-populated apartment buildings in the Towson area.
The residents said they were told they would receive a copy of the memo, but have since been denied access. The meeting?s minutes, they say, omitted the promise of copies.
“It is reprehensible that not only has the county delayed providing this interpretation for a ridiculous and unreasonable amount of time, but to then read it, recant it and refuse to disclose the memo from the county attorney stating it, enters a whole new realm,” said Corinne Becker, president of the Riderwood Hills community association.
Community residents such as Trish Mayhugh say the code is important to make sure landlords aren?t cramming more student tenants into units than allowed. The residents say they are frustrated with unruly behavior of college students and fewer students would mean fewer problems.
Residents? complaints center on student-populated Kenilworth at Charles and Donnybrook apartments, owned by Continental Realty Corp., which has contributed to the campaigns of several Baltimore County lawmakers.
Corporation President and CEO J.M. Schapiro said the company has made “tremendous strides” the past two months to crack down on disruptive behavior.
Towson University officials also said students seem to be responding to a new policy that allows the school to discipline the off-campus conduct of repeat offenders.
Schapiro declined to “interpret” the county?s occupancy code as he understands it.
“Whatever I say, people will just say I?m wrong,” Schapiro said. “But whatever the county tells me to do, I?ll do.”
