Georgia College & State University students and Historic District residents regaled city council Tuesday with two disparate views of students’ relationship with the home of their alma mater.

But despite the night and day realities presented by the different city residents, council was unable to cast a vote, and thus resolve, the fight over how many unrelated people will be able to occupy houses in the Historic District once the three-unrelated-persons ordinance goes into effect next month.

About 60 people filled the pews and spilled into the hallways outside council chambers during a public hearing in which 17 people provided council with community input on a proposed special-use zoning designation to allow group residences in the Historic District abutting Milledgeville’s downtown.

The proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance would allow a special-use designation in the Historic District for group homes that could be occupied by more than three unrelated persons, provided that the property owner meets parking requirements, annually certifies occupancy and has the property inspected by the city building inspector and the fire department on an annual basis.

Milledgeville realtor Robert Binion, who owns the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority house at the corner of North Columbia and McIntosh streets, said he has caught flack from other local landlords for supporting a designation that puts so many requirements on property owners to be able to rent larger homes as group residences, but he said his affected houses already meet and exceed the standards set forth in the designation. ZTA Local Housing President Jenny Webster told council that the sorority would welcome another set of eyes ensuring the quality of life of their students.

But other people speaking in favor of the special use tried to stress how the three-unrelated-persons ordinance will upset the social fabric students enjoy in the Historic District.

Evan Karanovich, speaking for the GCSU Student Government Association, said the enforcement of the ordinance will impact the well-being and livelihood of those affected.

“The potential displacement will affect the everyday life of thousands of students,” he said.

Karanovich said student relocation will result in increased stress on the city’s already dire parking situation as more students will be commuting to class.

Other speakers touted the student body’s impact on the community through service, stressed the affordability of group residences, and said it was a relative minority of students who were causing problems such as vandalism, littering and noise violations.

SGA Senator Adam Whittaker said that 90 percent of students act responsibly and don’t contribute to the negative perceptions some residents have about students. Whittaker also told council about an anonymous vandalism reporting initiative SGA is sponsoring and a monthly night-of-service called “Students Servin’ the City,” in which students will provide some watchful eyes on the city’s night life and help with the clean up.

But most of all, the people speaking in favor of the special use stressed that students are learning who they are as people in a community that will remain close to their hearts whether they leave after college or stay on as residents.

“This is a historic city and it must remain that way,” said Lauren McDonald, a ZTA member and SGA Senator. “There are groups who deserve an exception. If we continue to keep up the community, we have showed ourselves worthy of living in a house.”

But speakers who opposed the special use painted a much different picture of the student presence on Historic District streets.

Wearing badges displaying a Georgia license plate imploring residents to “preserve Georgia,” opponents of the special use described a situation they feel is quickly snowballing out of control.