Political Commentary On The Meaning of "Family"

Commentary Transcript, WIUM Broadcast on Tuesday, July 10, 2001
Author- Dave Dorsett

Modern life has brought about changes in the way we define many of our institutions. Take the modern "family" for instance. Once upon a time when someone said family you knew they meant Mom, Dad and One point Seven Eight or so nuclear kids. Today with divorce, remarriage and increasing acceptance of alternative lifestyles that's not necessarily the case. Mom and step-dad, dad with kids and no mom, two moms or two dads and kids and kids from more than one marriage have all forced us to broaden our definition. A recently developed group feels the City of Macomb may have way too broad a definition to start with.

No matter what, all the aforementioned groups had some sort of connection. Zoning definitions in the city of Macomb are even more open-minded than that. Can you imagine your definition of family including (and I quote) "…not more than three additional persons not related by blood, marriage or adoption?" In simpler terms, four strangers can occupy almost any house in any zoning district and legally be a family.

Because this seems, well, "odd" on its face I can understand the recent formation of a grass-roots activist group seeking clarification on these zoning points. Project HANDS, or Homeowner and Neighborhood Defense Strategy, was born out of the frustrations of finding that single family zoning really offered no protection for actual families. Founders of this group are long time residents who noticed their neighborhood changing around them. While they believed a zoning designation of "one family residential district" would help maintain a certain standard of peace, quiet and security, the city's definition is enough different from theirs to prevent that. You see, the broader definition referred to earlier essentially lets any house have four unrelated people live in it with any arrangement they see fit. Basically this means you can't get away from high density housing with the accompanying rapid turnover rate no matter where you live. And I mean no matter where you live.

This problem isn't limited to older neighborhoods. R-1 and R-2 one family residential districts are the most restrictive designations available and they still allow for what amounts to a four-unit apartment building. So it's not just somebody else's problem. Look out the window to your right. If there's a house there someone can put four people into it. Now look to your left. Another house, another chance. In a very short period of time your neighborhood could increase by eight people, each with a car, maybe a stereo and each one with a set of friends all their own. You might be lucky. Maybe they'll all share your desire to retire early. Hopefully they too will want to keep the local area clean and safe for your children. Then again, maybe they won't. Then what? It really will be too late. Because, as it stands now, that's a perfectly legitimate use.

I've spoken with members of Project HANDS. I've heard their side and soon you will too. These aren't NIMBYS. As they describe it all they want is truth in advertising. If you buy a house with the understanding that you live in a single-family neighborhood then that's what it ought to be. And I don't think your definition of family really includes four strangers who happen to share an address.