Accessory Dwellings - Questions for Council Candidates

Editor's Note - Welcome to the 10th installment of Questions for Council Candidates. Recently, Hyattsville Patch sent a 15 part questionnaire to candidates running in this year's Hyattsville City Council election. The questions, developed with the help of Hyattsville Patch readers, probe the candidates thoughts on city policy, development, and also asked the candidates to do a little self reflection. 

Between now and May 6, Hyattsville Patch will be publishing their responses to each question to help you, the reader, make a more informed decision at the polls on May 7. Here now are the responses to the 10th question. Responses are organized alphabetically by ward.

Question - Should homeowners be allowed to build a small accessory dwelling on their property for rental tenants or family members to live in?

Ward 1 Candidates:

Bill Jenne - I don’t have a firm opinion on that issue. I could go either way depending on the specifics of any proposed ordinances. Takoma Park has had a unique approach to multi-family zoning since the early days of that city and it hasn’t hurt their property values. However, I would be against a proposal that created a sizable number of “house-that-Jack-built” properties here in Hyattsville.

Bart Lawrence - If the construction is in compliance with City and County codes or some Council-approved variance of the code, then the answer is yes. Decisions to approve variances for such construction should take into account the effect it might have on neighboring property values and the neighbors’ quality of life.

Ward 2 Candidates: 

Robert Croslin - I think someone should be able to build on to their home for a family member if it meets county requirements. 

David Hiles (Incumbent) - This is covered by existing county zoning.

Ward 3 Candidate:

Patrick Paschall - No.

Ward 4 Candidates:

Ross Gateretse - Allowing sub-renting or high rise dwellings in Hyattsville will not promote development. There is not a visible financial infrastructure to support it. The city's biggest weakness by far is code enforcement.

Edouard Haba - To this question I say, let's have the City, County and State's code regulations as our reference.

Ward 4 Candidates:

Pastor Herrera - Editor's Note - Herrera did not submit responses to this questionnaire before the publication deadline.

Joseph Solomon - I think that this should be determined, by the amount land, the amount available parking, and fire safety standards. 

Clayton Williams - The ability of a homeowner to build out their main structure to accommodate additional family members is usually an easier option than building a separate structure. So, this issue likely affects a tiny subset of the population in Hyattsville. When zoning conflicts with an individual’s reasonable needs, the answer is to review the situation and see if a variance is possible. The answer is not to change the rules for everyone to fit extraordinary circumstances for one person.