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From: GAJ Properties <br />Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 10:14 PM <br />To: Todd Larson <br />Subject: Proposed zoning change <br />Planning Commission, <br />As a property owner in the city of Ramsey, I am writing in opposition of the proposed change to the zoning <br />code related to the change in the definition of "family". I question the intent of this change that would <br />affect all residents of the city of Ramsey. I also question the enforcement of this zoning change. Currently <br />there are many residents that would be in a non compliant situation if this was passed. Defining a family <br />as not more than 4 unrelated people is an outdated term and code. Minneapolis recently took the <br />unrelated code out of their zoning code in order to conform with todays environment of affordable <br />intentional living. Stating that a home that is currently owned and law abiding would become non <br />conforming, would no longer be allowed or asked to phase out would have an impact on many <br />homeowners. Some examples of those impacted would be.... <br />The guy who just bought a home by the college for his daughter to live in along with 5 other college <br />students for the next 6 years. <br />The unmarried couple who has a friends son living with them so he can finish high school here because <br />his family moved out of state along with the 2 foreign exchange students they are hosting. <br />The 7 legal immigrant workers who are renting in Ramsey. <br />Recovery homes currently in the city of Ramsey. <br />The 4 unrelated seniors who live together on a hobby farm along with 2 other adults who take care of the <br />house, fix meals and live together in a non care facility. <br />The 2 unmarried couples and single guy who rent a 3 bedroom townhome for a year while they all save <br />money to buy a house. <br />All homeowners who purchased their home in Ramsey without this zoning code and would now have <br />limits put on who could purchase their home based on what the new owners household make up looks <br />like. <br />This zoning code does not represent diversity or the rights of homeowner ability to decide what a "family" <br />or household is. There is state codes that address how many people can live in a home based on square <br />footage that address overcrowding that are currently enforceable. To say that a family of 10 related <br />people can live in a neighborhood but their neighbors of 5 young professionals can not is an overreach of <br />the city to impose. I question how this would be enforced if passed? If the neighbors "look" like a related <br />family they would be good? If they "look" unrelated or the neighbors complain about the "look" of their <br />neighbor what would be done? <br />Would everyone who currently owns a home in Ramsey be grandfathered in and phased out with the sale <br />of the property or would they be required to change their household make up or intended use of the <br />property they purchased? What would the terms of or policy of a conditional use be? How would a <br />grandfathering policy work? And who would be monitoring or enforcing the zone code of not allowing <br />more than 4 unrelated in any single family home? <br />I ask that this portion of the proposed zoning code be scratched from the proposal until it is better thought <br />through and planned out. If the intent is a targeted intent to prevent a certain type of 4 unrelated non <br />conforming households then that could be a conversation that does not impact the entire population of <br />