Cedar Falls Conversion Ban Passes

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier ^ | 8/18/2014 | Mike Anderson

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Cedar Falls conversion ban passes

August 18, 2014 10:00 pm • By Mike Anderson(1) Comments Cedar Falls rental moratorium faces fight

CEDAR FALLS | City staff have finished writing a resolution to impose a six-month moratorium on new rental permits in parts of the city, but t… Read more

Councilman applies for permit to turn his home into rental

CEDAR FALLS | At-large councilman Nick Taiber has no plans to rent out his home in the Overman Park neighborhood, but on Aug. 15 he went to Ci… Read more

Cedar Falls rental housing task force looks for focus

CEDAR FALLS | Some members of a task force to address the controversial conversion of single-family homes to rental units are beginning to que… Read more

CEDAR FALLS | Packed to the walls.

Homeowners, renters and landlords filled every seat and rubbed shoulders in the doorway of City Council chambers. They were there for the moratorium.

A resolution approved by the council by a 6 to 1 vote Monday night places a six-month moratorium on the conversion of single-family homes into rental properties in the city's R1 and R2 zoned districts.

Starting today in any areas zoned for single- or double-family residences, homes cannot be converted into apartments for the next six months. The the moratorium can be extended to one year. An appeals committee can grant exemptions to citizens in cases of financial hardship.

Current rental properties will not be affected.

This isn't the first time Cedar Falls has imposed a moratorium on certain types of rentals.

In 2005, the city put a temporary moratorium on the construction of multi-family apartment complexes in the College Hill neighborhood. Developer Michael Geisler challenged the legality of that moratorium in court in 2009.

"The Supreme Court of Iowa said the moratorium was a proper exercise of the city's legislative authority," City Attorney Steve Moore said.

While the city can legally impose the moratorium, critics argue it shouldn't.

"I'd like to see a press release that says, 'Hey, you're not welcome here,'" said resident Mike Geller.

Geller was worried he would not be able to rent his home to his son within the next six months, but City Administrator Richard McAlister said he does not need a permit to rent to family.

Moore said any rental homes sold during the moratorium can remain rentals.

Council members noted they received heated emails from residents on both sides of the issue in recent days.

"A week ago I was ready to pull the plug," said Councilman Frank Darrah. "It was so divisive. Good people were saying bad things about other good people in this community."

But the conversation during Monday evening's meeting remained civil and evenly split.

Sue Schauls, vice president of the Landlords of Black Hawk, asked the council to table the moratorium for more study.

"People in their 20s to low 30s are really leaning toward being lifelong renters because they want the freedom and the ability to move around," Schauls said. "I really think that's something the task force needs to get more academic about."

Resident Mark G. Miller was one of many who supported the moratorium.

"What's happening in our city center is too many homes are changing to rentals, and that changes the neighborhood," Miller said. "A lot of these rentals are operated by Realtors and landlords who would not live next to the property they rent out. I do acknowledge we do have good landlords here who take care of their properties, and I'd hope those landlords would speak out in support of the moratorium."

Councilman Nick Taiber argued the moratorium constitutes a breach of property rights. Those on the opposite side of the issue made the same argument.

"I would also argue that I have property rights that are being intruded upon," said city resident Tony Reed. "When I go out in the morning and there's trash blowing around in my yard. When there's drunks yelling outside at 2 a.m. and I have to get up for work in a few hours. All of those are things that have happened to me. There's the old adage that your right to swing your arms around extends as far as my nose. Well, I feel like my nose has been hit a few times."

[Mears]

“Live in some craphole city if you want. Ride a bus with seats covered with diseases they don’t even have names for yet. Enjoy your liberal ghetto.”

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Yikes! I doubt ghetto would apply to the places I mentioned, but we all have our opinions.

.

[Beagle8U]

Detoilet was once the richest most expensive area in America. Filled with mansions and homes that Royalty would envy. Per capita income led the nation.

Don’t think it can’t happen to any city that doesn’t fight the cancer of rentals and section 8 housing.

Public transportation is required to spread the infestation. No public transportation = no section 8 and no ghetto.