Page 15 - C.A.L.L. #39 - Spring 2015
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zoning officials determined that the committee. On the other hand, he
setup "doesn't meet the definition said, he also sympathizes with the
of a family," said Thomas Deller, the concern that a "Pandora's box"
city's director of development might open without a strict
services, which oversees zoning code interpretation of single-family
enforcement. The city's code homes.
defines members of a family as
those related by blood, marriage,
civil union or legal adoption.
The West End Civic Association
convened a committee meeting
Wednesday night to hear arguments
from both sides. Dozens showed up
to back the 68 Scarborough
residents, a group that includes
Blanchfield and another Hartford The communal mansion under dispute in the
leafy suburb of Harford, Connecticut
public school teacher, a professor at
Capital Community College, So far, the owners have spent about
employees for Charter Oak Cultural $20,000 to upgrade the plumbing —
Center and the Wheeler Clinic, and a there are six bathrooms — and the
stay-at-home dad. electrical system to bring the home
up to code, Blanchfield said. They
have a household bank account to
share the cost of groceries, utilities
and mortgage payments, and have
also gotten used to the emotional
support.
"Even just coming home at the end
Rather than a fight over one of the day, from a rough day,"
mansion, neighbors who oppose the Rosenblatt said. "Because there's so
arrangement have framed their case many more people to help out, and to
as a broader stand against any be good to each other, it just feels a
challenges to Scarborough's single- lot less lonely than I think it might
family zoning that could chip away at otherwise be."
the quiet character of the affluent,
estate-lined street. Next week, the children are planning
a night of charades, she said.
The 68 Scarborough owners "seem
like a nice group of people," said "We're not trying to change the
John Gale, chairman of the West zoning law," she said. "We're trying
End association's planning and zoning to change the definition of a family."
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