tl20011126-000 "niotonday www.thetowerlight.com � 0 Weir 'gilt Published twice-weekly by students of Towson University 11/26/01 The new story on toys after Sept. 11 Gift ideas for the college budget 7 Tigers end season with loss to UNC 13 Towson drops third in a row 16 Departments News hiking Stock A&E 7 Sound Bites 8 In the spotlight 8 In a Theater Near You 9 Sports 13 In This Corner 13 Athlete of the Week 15 Op/Ed /s Home sweet rental home Saul Stoogenke The Towerhght Cal Bowman, a junior political science major who rents the house at 9 Burke Ave., is one of many Towson residents who could see the effects of newly proposed legislation requiring rental licenses. Withdrawn last Monday for revision, the new bill is expected to be reintroduced in January. County withdraws rental bill amid community concern Chris Terry The Towerlight Junior political science major and SGA senator Cal Bowman enjoys living at 9 Burke Ave. with his two roommates: his brother, Dwight, and his best friend, Tim. The three-bedroom town house is a comfortable fit for the three students, who were glad to find cheap living quarters so close to the University. But if Cal and Dwight weren't related, someone would have to move out. Baltimore County zoning codes stipulate that no more than two unrelated single persons may occu-py a single-family home. ""I don't know how it is for a lot of other people,"" Bowman said, ""but I was fortunate enough to have a brother and a best friend who go to Towson, and we were able to work it out financially and legally."" The zoning law has long been in effect, strongly supported by some, reluctantly accepted by others, and strategically avoided by numerous landlords and tenants, espe-cially in Towson, where students compete with each other, and the law, for cheaper housing. Recently, however, debate has arisen over newly proposed legislation that would require small property owners to obtain a rental license, making it easier for the county to enforce the zoning codes. Last Monday Bill 91-01, which called for the registration of rental property and the right for county inspection, was withdrawn for revision during a Baltimore County Council meeting. If passed, the bill would have required all owners renting up to six ""dwelling units"" to acquire a license from the Department of Permits and Development Management by Jan. 1. Licenses would cost $25 per unit and renewal would be required every two years. -The major benefit of the bill is that the county will be able to know the number and location of rental properties and have on record a contact name of either the owner or their representative,"" Baltimore County Councilman Wayne Skinner, a sponsor of the bill, said. ""This will help us with code enforcement issues as well as public health and safety issues."" The bill required that if renters such as Randy Armstrong, who owns the house at 9 Burke Ave., did not obtain a license, they would be fined $1,000 for each day they vio-lated the registration code. The bill's withdrawal has allowed the sponsoring councilmen, Skinner of Towson, Vince Gardina of Perry Hall and John Olszewski of Sparrows Point, to reevaluate the initiative before it is reintroduced in January. ""I support the bill as currently proposed, but would support changes to address corn- See RENTING, page 6 Today High 64 Low 42 Tuesday High 62 Low 43 Wednesday High 62 Low 40 Thursday High 60 Low 36 "
