quality of living

The proposal to allow up to four unrelated people live in the same house has been deemed ineffective by the Williamsburg Planning Commission, according to the Daily Press.

Increasing the number of persons allowed to live in a single house from three to four was thought of as a potential solution to housing for William & Mary college students. However, city officials have decided that is a band-aid solution to a large problem.

Another Planning Commission meeting will be held October 7th from 4-6 p.m.n the third-floor conference room of the Municipal Building, 401 Lafayette St.

Hopefully city officials, homeowners and college representatives will be able to find a solution that provides appropriate housing for students and alleviates the fears of some homeowners who are concerned about student rentals negatively affecting their home values.

"Just over a month after it began to circulate, a proposal to allow up to four people to live in the same house in Williamsburg seems to be dead in the water.

At a Planning Commission work session Wednesday afternoon, commissioners one by one panned the plan as unpalatable, ineffective and generally unenforceable.

City staff drew up the plan after months of discussion between stakeholders, including students, homeowners, city representatives and the College of William and Mary.

The city currently allows no more than three unrelated people to live in a rental house. The proposed ordinance would allow up to four people if certain restrictions are met.

That plan has gotten no love from dozens of speakers, many of them repeat participants, in a series of public forums held on the issue.

City Council last month sent the proposal to the Planning Commission for further discussion.

Wednesday, commissioners reached a consensus that the ordinance should be gutted of all references to upping rental occupancy caps. Definitions and other housekeeping aspects of the draft will be used to strengthen the current ordinance, though any decision by the commission must still pass muster at council."

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Are you a resident in Virginia Beach and think it's a great place to live? Well, you're not alone.

U.S. News & World Report has named Virginia Beach as one of the best places to live. Noting low crime, abundant parks, playgrounds, and open spaces as some of the best features.

"Warm weather, sandy beaches, and a bounty of outdoor activities—including surfing, kayaking, fishing, and golfing—draw more than 2.7 million visitors to Virginia Beach each year. But this coastal city isn't just for tourists: Cultural activities are plentiful, as is green space and easy access to major East Coast cities.

Virginia Beach, located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on the southeastern coast of Virginia, is part of an area known as Hampton Roads, which also includes the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. With more than 443,000 residents, Virginia Beach is the most populous city in the commonwealth of Virginia."

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