Overdevelopment
CUPON is not opposed to reasonable growth within our community. We are advocates of controlled growth that ensures new housing, schools, and businesses will enhance the quality of life in our communities. We believe in development that complies with health, safety, environmental, and zoning laws and will promote and sustain diversity, harmony, and inclusiveness for all residents. We oppose any development that will foster urbanization, stress our infrastructure, propagate discriminatory housing, or community segregation.
An area of concern is the unfair or misuse of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) in certain areas that intimidate municipalities into disregarding their master plans or zoning laws. When RLUIPA was enacted in 2000, congress stated the intent to review this law for possible updates. This review was never done. CUPON will ask that a review of RLUIPA be done, to examine whether it is being used as intended and its effect on communities. For information regarding RLUIPA, below are links to three short articles written by Marci Hamilton, a leading RLUIPA attorney, shortly after RLUIPA was enacted.
https://supreme.findlaw.com/legal-commentary/struggling-with-churches-as-neighbors.html
https://supreme.findlaw.com/legal-commentary/californias-defeat-of-a-state-rluipa-bill.html
https://supreme.findlaw.com/legal-commentary/how-congress-undermined-the-american-dream.html
Local Code Enforcement
CUPON’s purpose is to sustain the neighborhood by getting rid of unsightly litter, junk, and unkempt property. Local code enforcers are either non-existent, part-time, or overloaded. CUPON chapters subsidize code enforcers by informing them of code violations and following up to see that they were corrected. The main reason local codes are not adhered to is unawareness, so education of the residents is key!
Illegal Housing
Illegally constructed housing and schools are destructive to neighborhoods. They diminish property values and endanger the occupants and first responders. CUPON chapters identify unsafe, overcrowded, and illegal properties and report them to the appropriate authorities and building inspector.
Zoning Issues
Zoning issues can deteriorate a neighborhood's character. CUPON chapters identify and oppose any zoning changes that do not comply with the community's character. Requests for variances submitted to our Planning and Zoning Boards are monitored and evaluated to ensure they will not alter the character of our community negatively.
Beautification of Neighborhoods
CUPON chapters pro-actively look to engage with other residents and host events that help communities create positive social and environmental change for their neighborhoods. Better and healthier neighborhoods are achieved through volunteerism and action. CUPON chapters partner with other environmental and social organizations that with similar objectives. Please reach out to your local chapter if you have an idea for an event or would like to become a volunteer or partner organization.
Blockbusting
Blockbusting has become a pervasive issue all over our region. Some realtors and others are bombarding homeowners via door-knocking, mailing, and flyers to sell their homes. Many of these solicitations have threatening and inappropriate undertones. We urge all residents to report every instance of unsolicited communications.
