Towson cites rowdy houses
Overcrowded living situations aren't affected by nuisance policy
Brian Stelter
News | 4/11/07
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Towson's recently enacted nuisance house policy has helped neighbors report loud and disruptive students, but over-crowded living situations are still bothering local communities.
Last fall, the University established a phone number and e-mail address so neighbors could report rowdy students living in houses off-campus. But Towson doesn't get involved when neighbors complain about houses that are violating local zoning laws.
Pat Frawley, director of judicial affairs, said that she received 38 complaints about houses in Fall 2006. Fifteen houses were given a warning.
"As soon as we know if they're students and what their names are, we send a police officer over," Frawley said.
Twelve students were charged by judicial affairs and put on probation. Some of the students were fined, but they appealed and associate vice president for student affairs Jana Varvig overturned the fines.
Twenty three other houses were reported, but Towson didn't receive enough information to take action, Frawley said.
She said the Burke Avenue corridor just east of York Road has been the site of repeated complaints recently.
Towson's policy is intended to penalize students who host loud parties or are disruptive to the neighborhood. It doesn't deal with zoning issues - like sorting out how many students are living in houses off-campus.
Baltimore County regulations state that no more than two unrelated persons may live in a single-family house. Groups of students are violating that law in neighborhoods like Towson Manor Village (east of York Road and north of Burke Avenue) and Knollwood/Donnybrook (east of York Road and south of Burke Avenue).
That's a problem for Ed Kilcullen, a resident of Towson Manor Village, who reported two houses in his neighborhood last week.
Towson replied the next day and said one of the issues had already been reported. But the other issue involved over-renting and parking, and the staff member said they couldn't help.
Last fall, the University established a phone number and e-mail address so neighbors could report rowdy students living in houses off-campus. But Towson doesn't get involved when neighbors complain about houses that are violating local zoning laws.
Pat Frawley, director of judicial affairs, said that she received 38 complaints about houses in Fall 2006. Fifteen houses were given a warning.
"As soon as we know if they're students and what their names are, we send a police officer over," Frawley said.
Twelve students were charged by judicial affairs and put on probation. Some of the students were fined, but they appealed and associate vice president for student affairs Jana Varvig overturned the fines.
Twenty three other houses were reported, but Towson didn't receive enough information to take action, Frawley said.
She said the Burke Avenue corridor just east of York Road has been the site of repeated complaints recently.
Towson's policy is intended to penalize students who host loud parties or are disruptive to the neighborhood. It doesn't deal with zoning issues - like sorting out how many students are living in houses off-campus.
Baltimore County regulations state that no more than two unrelated persons may live in a single-family house. Groups of students are violating that law in neighborhoods like Towson Manor Village (east of York Road and north of Burke Avenue) and Knollwood/Donnybrook (east of York Road and south of Burke Avenue).
That's a problem for Ed Kilcullen, a resident of Towson Manor Village, who reported two houses in his neighborhood last week.
Towson replied the next day and said one of the issues had already been reported. But the other issue involved over-renting and parking, and the staff member said they couldn't help.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
Tracy
posted 4/12/07 @ 1:39 PM EST
I am tired of hearing about Towson students causing problems in the neigborhoods.This makes me so mad that the community see us as a threat. I am a Towson Student who owns a townhouse in Loch Raven Village and yes i do rent to other Towson Students. (Continued…)
Weston
posted 4/13/07 @ 11:30 AM EST
Tracy,
Were you the young woman who attended the Lock Raven Village meeting last Tuesday? If so you should have spoken up at the meeting to represent the responsible TU off campus residents. (Continued…)
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