McMansions Turn 'McApartments,' Stirring Ire

Del. Tawanna P. Gaines, a Democrat from Berwyn Heights, said the House delegation has given the county an ultimatum: Come up with a county approach, or the state will deal with the matter.

The Prince George's Planning Board expects to have draft legislation to the County Council for review by next month. The county could consider further height restrictions: Houses currently can be 40 feet high. It also plans to study overlay districts, which are used to limit development in certain areas. Annapolis has used overlay zones to restrict development.

"We've had a number of communities that have expressed concern," said Samuel Parker Jr., chairman of the Planning Board. "And we know the issue in Prince George's is a little different" from those of neighboring counties.

County law declares that no more than five people unrelated by blood or marriage can live in a single-family house. But enforcement has been lax, said Bob Schnabel of College Park.

"There is no penalty," he said. "Properties in my neighborhood are rented to more than five people, and it's far time that the county deal with this."

Council member Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel) said code enforcement staffing has been a problem for the county. He also said the county is considering an ordinance, like one recently adopted by Laurel, that addresses crowded houses.

In 2005, Manassas caused an uproar when it restricted single-family homes to immediate relatives, even if the number of occupants was below the legal limit. The law was meant to address problems associated with crowded housing and illegal immigration. But officials repealed the law after civil rights leaders complained.

Kristie M. Mills, city administrator for Laurel, said her city's new code was not based on ethnicity but fire safety. Under the ordinance, each house is limited to a certain number of occupants, based on the number and square footage of bedrooms.

"We had inspectors who were finding houses were being redeveloped, they were adding rooms without permits," Mills said. "One instance, the inspector found sprinklers covered up. It's boiled down to a life-saving issue."

For Williams, it is about what is happening outside the houses in her community.

In a walk through Langley Park, she pointed to several houses that tower over the bungalows. One had several cars parked around it. Another, under construction, had several entrances, suggesting that more than one family could eventually live there.

At another, Mirna Segovia answered the door and explained that she and her husband expanded their Keokee Street home two years ago simply to make room for their five children.

"It was too small," she said.

Staff writer Virgil Dickson contributed to this report.