Crowded multifamily homes studied

Officials try to find solutions to cramped living conditions in College Park

Mayor Stephen A. Brayman, just back from the June 24-27 Maryland Municipal League conference in Ocean City, where the matter was discussed, said he took note of what other municipalities are doing.

‘‘It’s clear to me it’s an issue that is unresolved and statewide,” Brayman said. ‘‘It’s a sensitive issue for College Park. We’ve been concerned about it for decades.”

County rules stipulate no more than five unrelated people can live in a house, said Brayman, who participated in the group discussion on overcrowding in multifamily housing.

For College Park, the issue is important because of the number of college students living in the city, he said.

College Park could learn from other municipalities such as Frostburg and Salisbury, which are homes to universities, Brayman said. Unlike College Park, the two municipalities have zoning authority that allows them to strictly monitor and prosecute overcrowding cases. The District Council — which comprises the nine County Council members sitting to hear zoning and development matters — has zoning authority in College Park.

City Councilman David L. Milligan (Dist. 1) said the conference also discussed Maryland’s gang problem. He said College Park does not have gangs, and it was important that the city take steps to keep it that way. Milligan said speakers during the conference talked about municipalities collaborating with county police and county schools to offer recreational and other after-school activities for youth to keep them away from gang activity.

‘‘What you learn is municipalities all over the state are dealing with similar problems,” said Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3), who attended her first conference after being elected in February.

College Park regularly budgets $1,200 for officials to attend the MML conference, Mayor Stephen A. Brayman said.