AGENDA DATE: 12/1/2021
TITLE:
Title
Work Session to Discuss Blighted Properties and Property Maintenance
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Work session to discuss options for property maintenance and blight abatement.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACTS: Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Filardo, McCulley, Dellinger, Svoboda
PRESENTERS: Jodie Filardo, Amelia McCulley
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Board's Fiscal Year 2020-2023 Strategic Plan identifies revitalizing "aging urban neighborhoods" as one of the priorities. A stated goal of the County's Comprehensive Plan is that the Development Areas be vibrant active places with attractive neighborhoods. The presence of blighted and deteriorated properties can have an economic and environmental impact on property and lead to criminal activities and other public nuisances. Large concentrations of blighted homes can lead to disinvestment and decline of an area.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Thriving Development Areas - Attract quality employment, commercial, and high-density residential uses into development areas by providing services and infrastructure that encourage redevelopment and private investment while protecting the quality of neighborhoods.
DISCUSSION: In a December 16, 2020 Board work session, staff reviewed the currently-adopted blight and property maintenance regulations (Attachment A). Staff also provided strengths and weaknesses of three tools: spot blight abatement, a tax abatement to demolish or renovate "derelict" buildings, and the Virginia Maintenance Code (VMC). As a result of the work session, the Board asked staff to research costs and options for adoption of all or part of the VMC, including possible phased options. During the discussion, several Board members also expressed concerns about abandoned properties, particularly within neighborhoods, that become blighted and impact other properties.
Staff recognizes that continued ...
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