University Daily Kansan, November 12, 1981
Dispute ends; Omega Psi Phis denied house
By JANICE GUNN Staff Reporter
Three Orgame PsI Phi members battled for six months with the city, the Oread Neighborhood Association and the university to get a fraternity house—but failed.
The house, occupied by the fraternity members at 1146 Kentucky St. does not meet the city's requirements for a fraternity and should issue as one. Kent Snyder, owner of the house, said yesterday.
"I think this is what the Oread Neighborhood Association and the city wanted." Snyder said. "The
fraternity members are right back where they started from—no house."
OMEGA PSI PHI members wanted their national chapter to purchase the house, which they have been renting for more than to get an exemption from city codes.
"It's not like we've lost, we just lost the ownership of this house," Anthony Coleman, Omega Psi Phi president, said. "I feel there was a big effort to get us out of that house, for what reasons I don't know."
Three months ago, Snyder told the men that they had 30 days to buy the house, pending a change in the zoning laws by the Lawrence City
Commission, or he would evict them for not meeting city codes.
According to city codes, the house's lot is not large enough for a fraternity and there are not enough parking spaces. A fraternity in the center of town has a square feet and at least one parking space for two two members.
Jeff Southard, Oread Neighborhood Association board member, said that there could never be a fraternity on the house's 3,800 square foot lot and that the members could not advertise as a fraternity.
BUT SNYDER LATER realized that the zoning laws were never broken despite the suspicions of Oread neighbors. the group, Snyder
said, met the requirements for a single-family house having no more than four unrelated people living there at a time.
However, at one time, the members displayed the Greek letters of their fraternity in the front yard. Also, they had rush parties last month and added a fourth member to the house.
"The zoning is very clear that it cannot be used for a fraternity, but it looks as if there is a fraternity there." Soutard said. "I'm surprise you've still there. Synder told me you'd take care of that situation."
Coleman said Omega Psi Phi members did not want to be a large
fraternity that needed 20,000 square feet.
Snyder said that the lot-size stipulation was the only reason the house could not be converted into a house met all other requirements.
"It's too bad we didn't get the house, but there are other houses available. "Cedeman said. "We're not sure how much the house will not be our own property."
Snyder said that since the house could not be a fraternity, the members signed year-long leases as individual tenants last month. Before, the members had been on a month-to-month lease because they
thought their national chapter would pay for the house.
SOUTHARD SAID that some neighbors complained that having a fraternity nearby would cause disturbances. Also, neighbors complained about excessive noise and illegal parking by the members and their guests during parties at the house.
Snyder said that the neighbors called the Lawrence police about three times when the tenants had parties, but police found the complaints invalid and the noise level acceptable.
"The tenants in the house are breaking no laws." Snyder said.
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