Ordinance should limit overcrowding in homes

Dear Editor,

Concerning the ever-growing problem of illegal immigrants in our county [Sept. 26], I just read about the Chesterfield Planning Commission meeting on Sept. 18 concerning a proposed ordinance limiting how many unrelated people can live in a single-family residence. The key word is "unrelated." Does this mean grandparents, parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, etc. can crowd into one dwelling? You may end up with 20 related people living under one small roof. Or the unrelated ones can simply claim they are relatives of each other! Would they have to show proof they are related? How would unmarried couples with children be handled? Would the couple fall under the common law rule and be considered related?

This leaves too much of a loop hole. The ordinance needs to specify only a certain number of people can live in a single-family or larger residence period. Whether they are related or not should not be the issue.

The apartment complex on Jefferson Davis Highway that I live in is mostly immigrants. I asked the management how many people should be in the one-bedroom [apartments] and was told two. The immigrants next door to me have four men, one woman and two children in the one-bedroom. Related or unrelated, that's way over two and way too many, and this is the norm in these apartments.

I hope the commission rethinks the ordinance of unrelated and thus be able to give the property owners the leverage in getting rid of the overcrowding situation.

K. Gracey

Chesterfield

The planning commission makes a recommendation to the board of supervisors, which will make the final decision on this ordinance. Editor