In a move that could impact the issue of residential overcrowding, the Elgin City Council, meeting recently as a committee of the whole, approved the adoption of the 1998 International Property Maintenance Code.
The code, which sets standards widely used by municipalities, will change how occupancy limits in dwellings are determined. Under the current city code, living and dining areas are sometimes allowed to be counted as sleeping space.
Mark Biernacki, the city’s community development director, said that, under the old code, a three-bedroom home would have allowed an occupancy of 11 people. Under the new code, that would be reduced to six people.
The council established a method for gathering public comment on proposed city programs to address overcrowding.
Initially, the city will conduct a communitywide bilingual survey through a special edition of Spirit, the city’s newsletter. The survey will ask for comment regarding possible solutions to overcrowding.
