Towson apartments subject of code dispute

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Residents frustrated with rowdy student inhabitants of a Towson apartment complex are accusing county employees of skirting demands for a crackdown on codes that limit the number of tenants per unit.

Members of the Riderwood Hills community said they can’t get a straight answer on just how many tenants are allowed in a rental unit like the Kenilworth at Charles apartments in their neighborhood. They say their community is forced to endure disturbances that are more serious than what county leaders chalk up to typical “town and gown” inconveniences.

“We could deal with the occasional loud party or parking problem — we’re practical people,” said resident Trish Mayhew. “But we’re just overwhelmed by this and even now we’re just getting lip service.”

Residents including Mayhew met with county employees, the apartment’s owner and County Councilman Vince Gardina, D-District 5, Wednesday night. Residents said they were told a memo penned by county attorney John Beverungen confirmed only two unrelated people are allowed per apartment unit. But a county employee refused to provide a copy of the memo to validate the code, they said.

Gardina called the occupancy code “unclear” but said he is confident the law allows more unrelated tenants than two. He said he is awaiting clarification from Beverungen, who did not return a call by press time.

Gardina said the meeting produced “five or six pages” of notes that could lead to solutions.

“Some would involve the county and some would involve the university and the property owners,” Gardina said.

Towson University launched a new policy in August that tracks complaints against students in off-campus housing and allows the school to discipline “off-campus actions which affect the university community or the university’s pursuit of its mission,” according to the university Web site.

Meanwhile, residents said they are considering filing lawsuits against apartment owner Continental Realty Corporation and president J.M. Schapiro, who is also the subject of complaints from residents near the student-populated Donnybrook Apartments. One resident has been documenting open dumping of stoves, toilets and tires there since August.

Schapiro did not return a call for comment.

jmalarkey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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