The Pelham city council made a smart move Monday night.

The council approved a resolution to limit the number of adults living in one house to two adults per bedroom.

Now of course, like with any resolution passed, some members of the community will be affected and have to make changes. The resolution will certainly cause inconveniences for many.

Yet if anyone has ever lived in a college dorm, been to summer camp, stayed in a hostel while traveling, or even grew up with lots of brothers and sisters, then you know how even the most spacious room can quickly become disorganized, dirty and downright uncomfortable with several people occupying one space.

Overcrowding also can create confusion for apartment or housing upkeep responsibilities. Duties such as cleaning, yard upkeep, bill payment and repairs can be easily overlooked if a group of people all begin thinking somebody else is taking care of the responsibilities.

Ultimately, overcrowding a domicile impacts more that just the shrubs and roof &045; it impacts neighbors, neighborhoods,

and strained city servants. And left unchecked, these problems can begin to pull down property values. Protection from circumstances such as these are why some choose to live in cities rather than in unincorporated parts of the county.

Pelham city council has put their foot down at exactly the right moment.

City officials have listened to the community on the issue, have recognized the potential hazard, and taken action. This in its own right deserves applause.