LEWISTON — With a six-month moratorium on lodging houses set to expire this summer, the city is discussing more long-term ways to address a reported rise in loud and dangerous party activity at off-campus Bates College housing. 

In February, the city stopped issuing new permits or licenses for lodging houses — described as dwellings with more than three unrelated persons — to allow time to look at amendments to city code. 

Some residents in the vicinity of White and Davis streets near Bates College told councilors the neighborhood has become party central for most of the school year, to the point where they look forward to the summer when students move out.  They describe scenes of loud parties, beer cans and clothes littering the streets, parking issues and police activity. 

On Tuesday, a joint meeting of the Planning Board and City Council will give officials the chance to review alternatives to the current ordinances prior to drafting specific language and holding public meetings.

According to City Planner David Hedigar’s memo to the council, one of the considerations is establishing special overlay zones for specific neighborhoods, which would allow special targeted ordinances. Another is establishing a “disorderly property” ordinance. 

The city will allow the conversion of structures with a dwelling or dwellings into a lodging house, as long as zoning, parking and building code requirements are met.

Lewiston Fire Prevention regulates one- and two-family dwellings as lodging houses if each dwelling unit is occupied by members of a single family and more than three outsiders, at which time a sprinkler and alarm system is required. If zoning and fire codes can be met, the applicant must also apply for a lodging license from the city.

City Councilor Jim Lysen, who has met with a number of residents in the neighborhood, said that prior to the moratorium, more and more landlords were looking in the neighborhood to scoop up homes to convert into housing for students. 

He said he became aware of the problem more than a year ago, when when he witnessed a party at a residence with a live band and kegs of beer.

A Bates College spokesperson told the Sun Journal in February that only 170 seniors are allowed to live off-campus. He said each off-campus location also has a “house liaison,” and that Bates campus security works closely with Lewiston police.

The joint workshop begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the City Council Chamber. 

arice@sunjournal.com