Residents miffed about crowded homes

Delores Davis has lived in her Hillrise neighborhood for 29 years, but lately she doesn't feel quite as safe.

Davis is feeling the effects of a growing problem in many California cities: too many people living under one roof.

Davis and other Agoura Hills residents filled the city council chambers last week seeking a solution to what they perceive as a threat to their property values, safety and quality of life.

The city council tackled the problem of residential crowding after the city's code enforcement division received several requests to investigate the possibility that up to 20 people live in some single-family houses in Agoura Hills.

Residents said several homes in their neighborhoods are being used as "boarding houses."

"The existing city code does not specifically address this issue and does not authorize any powers to investigate this issue further in its present state," said Nathan Hamburger, assistant to the city manager.

Jason Ross, whose home is located south of the 101 Freeway, said one neighbor's residence houses as many as 15 people.

"It's disturbing," Ross said regarding the noise and trash and high number of cars jammed onto his street.

In his report to the city council, Hamburger said several Supreme Court decisions have limited the ability of cities to verify the number of people living in a home, whether the residents are related to one another or not.

It is unlawful to limit how many people may live in one home, he said. But when it comes to rooms added on without permits, illegal garage conversions and other violations, the city can be effective, Hamburger said.

Former Mayor Ed Corridori spoke to the council on behalf of the Hillrise Homeowners Association. He recalled the news story about a Simi Valley home occupied by 12 people and an electrical fire that had occurred.

The city of Moorpark adopted an ordinance that provides for annual inspection of rental units, and Corridori said such a law might be effective in uncovering examples of crowding.

Corridori also said the county assessor's tax roll could be used to identify absentee owners, who could be contacted. Allowing too many people in one house could threaten the homeowner's ability to obtain insurance.

Requiring rental permits with house checks at "reasonable intervals" could also uncover violations, Corridori said.

George Spicer said that in his neighborhood, a van picks up about 12 people from a neighboring home and drives them to work. Their separate cars are left parked on the street all day, leaving no room for other vehicles.

Resident Greg Penar worries about gang problems. He said he had seen one neighbor with a prominent gang tattoo.

"That's not good for Agoura Hills," he said.

Adam Kline, a resident of Bridle Glen Street, said his 5year-old daughter was scared by a drunk in their neighborhood in the middle of an afternoon.

"We just feel unsafe," the Hillrise resident said. "It's not a discrimination thing at all. It's a law and order situation."

City Attorney Craig Steele said a faster way to deal with the problem would be to change homeowners associations' CC&R's (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions). He said problems could be addressed as a neighborhood nuisance, and more restrictive rules and an active homeowners association could solve the problem "by contract."

"People can contract away a lot of issues," Steele said.

Steele encouraged residents to report violations such as excessive trash, noise, public drinking or other safety hazards to the city's code enforcement office. He said residents could file complaints anonymously to protect their identity.

Councilmember Bill Koehler said that although there are a number of legal hurdles, residential crowding might be enforced in a variety of ways, including a stricter parking ordinance that prohibits all-day street parking.

"It's not an easy problem to solve," Councilmember Dan Kuperberg said.

Between state and federal laws and the "people's right to privacy," any ordinance that is adopted must be valid, Kuperberg said.

He added that he doesn't want to penalize college students who share a home and are not causing problems.

Mayor Denis Weber has other feelings.

"I wouldn't want a frat house or a flop house next to me," Weber said.