AU students who live in off-campus houses have not experienced the zoning problems regarding residential occupancy limits that are affecting some Georgetown University students.
Brian O'Neill Jr., an undergraduate student at Georgetown, was ordered to "cease and desist from the illegal use of premises" of his Georgetown home where he lives with eight friends, according to The Washington Post.
"I don't know what we're going to do right now," O'Neill told The Post.
The area where the house is located has strict zoning laws that do not allow more than six unrelated people to live in one house, according to The Post.
"Overcrowding is a problem in the city," said Karyn-Siobhan Robinson, spokesperson for the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. "We have laws on the books to help us keep residents safe."
The nine Georgetown students filed to live in the house as part of a religious group called Apostles of Peace and Unity because non-profit religious organizations are exempt from the zoning law, according to The Post.
Neighbors were angered by this filing because they feel that it is blasphemous and an abuse of the law, according to The Post. Neighbors have also complained of noise coming from the home. Police came to the home Nov. 11 to investigate a noise complaint, and O'Neill was fined $300, according to The Post.
Bill Crews, a D.C. zoning administrator, wrote in the order that the house "fits the definition of a fraternity house," according to The Post.
"We don't agree with the order, and we don't agree that we are a fraternity. That's not what we are," O'Neill told the Post.
Although AU students who live in houses off campus who were interviewed have not had any zoning-related problems, one source who wished to remain anonymous admitted there were nine people living in the source's house.
Caitlin Knuttel, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she has not had any problems with zoning or complaints from neighbors. Knuttel lives in a house with some friends close to the Washington College of Law.
"Up to this point we haven't had any problems," Knuttel said. "I think that living in a house is a good experience."
Joe Maloney, a junior in the School of Communication, said he has not encountered any problems, either.
"There have been no problems because we only have five guys living in our house," Maloney said.
Maloney said they have not had any complaints from their neighbors because "most of our neighbors are college students, too"
