Whitewater has had an ordinance, seldom enforced, that limits the number of cars that may be parked outside on certain parts of a residential property. Members of the Council had understandable trouble determining what our current two-car limitation really meant – the jumble of definitions of side yard, front yard, etc. is like a parody of regulation.
Some of the definitions of areas of a house will make no sense to most people, and their enforcement will only make Whitewater look ridiculous.
An amendment to the existing ordinance will now allow three cars where two were permitted. That’s not 50% more generous – it’s 100% as intrusive and meddlesome.
There’s a question about whether the ordinance will be enforced in response to complaints, or comprehensively. Some at the meeting expressed understandable concern – given the city’s sketchy reputation for enforcement – that the provisions would be enforced selectively.
There are two good reasons to contend that it will be enforced selectively
If the ordinance is enforced in response to citizen complaints, then it is by definition enforced selectively.
If, as someone observed, the new ordinance derives from a desire to protect single family housing, then it will almost certainly be enforced selectively. If that motivation controls, rather than a comprehensive one, then selective enforcement will be the result.
If the city started ticketing everyone in every neighborhood who violated this ordinance, they would have to hold long-term residents, friends etc. to the same standard as students and newcomers. Exceptions and selective enforcement – an exercise of discretion in dubious ways – will be tempting.
Not even tempting – what temptation would be required, really, if the motivation is to preserve a certain class of housing?