Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-11-20)
LEXINGTON
(WEKU) -
Safety concerns in rental units near the University of Kentucky have members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council looking at ways to limit the number of occupants in those buildings.
Since summer, city officials have contacted numerous landlords near UK regarding fire and building code violations. Planning committee chair Linda Gorton says housing concerns go beyond just student-occupied units. She says there are issues pertaining to overcrowded living conditions in various neighborhoods.
Gorton says council members have not yet acted to limit the number of people living under a single roof.
"Right now you know we don't have a definition of family, so we don't have a way to say, 'Well, only so many people can live in this or so many people can live there,'" Gorton said.
Motions passed by the council Tuesday pave the way for a possible increase in fines for code violations. They could also establish a database for officials to enforce Lexington's building and fire codes. Gorton says the UK is also working with the city's lawyers on ways to regulate sorority and fraternity houses.
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