Aldermen on the Planning and Development committee continued discussions at a meeting Monday about Evanston’s three-unrelated rule — often referred to as the “brothel law” — a city ordinance preventing more than three unrelated people from living together in a single unit without a special use permit.

The three-unrelated rule has emerged in discussions about affordable housing over the past five months, as some argue it makes housing too expensive, especially for Northwestern students. Aldermen on Monday discussed the impact of the ordinance on residents and the importance of affordability for students.

Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th) emphasized that a lack of enforcement for housing restrictions affects residents’ quality of life. However, she said she needed to discuss the ordinance more with residents, students and NU officials.

“Our students and our properties in these neighborhoods should not be in these conditions that I’ve been made aware of,” Rue Simmons said. “(I’ve received) pictures of extreme debris in alleys and students living with improper plumbing and excessive mold.”

Ald. Donald Wilson (4th) said he thought about the three-unrelated rule when he went to see “RBG,” a recent documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He said the movie inspired him to think about change and how it happens incrementally.

“We talk about the kind of community we are, we talk about the kind of people we are and we talk about what we believe in,” Wilson said. “As Evanstonians, we don’t look at who the people are and what they believe and how they choose to live. I think it’s really incumbent on us to rethink this fairly antiquated principal.”

Wilson suggested staff prepare both an ordinance to repeal the three-unrelated rule and a plan for more effective enforcement of a new policy, arguing the current ordinance is not effective.

However, Ald. Judy Fiske (1st), chair of the committee, denied the motion until aldermen and city staff have the chance to talk with the University about resources in place for students and the impact of new housing options on campus.

“There are some problems that we need to talk to the University about,” Fiske said. “We need to educate students about how to sign leases, how to enter into leases, how to protect themselves. We need to talk with landlords as well to make sure that their properties are being run properly.”

Fiske referenced her joint ward meeting with Simmons in February, when the two discussed the ordinance. She said attendees expressed concerns about the lack of affordable housing for students.

Still, Fiske said people see their neighborhoods changing. She said the three-unrelated rule is the only protection in city codes that prioritizes keeping families in their homes over tenants renting to students.

Fiske said she is open to alternatives, but needs more information before proceeding.

“This is not an easy fix,” she said. “Unless we do this thoughtfully, we’ll be making the problem worse than it is now. What are the resources that we have available?… I’m not ready to leave the discussion of this right now.”

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