EAST BRUNSWICK – The Township Council has introduced an ordinance which would, if adopted, amend the municipal code and add requirements and fees relating to vacant properties.
A vacant property is defined as any building or structure intended for or having existing commercial, industrial, mixed-use, single or multi-family residential use; and which is not legally occupied or at which all lawful occupancy has ceased; or cannot legally be occupied without repair, renovation or rehabilitation, according to the agenda for the Sept. 17 council meeting.
The second reading, with possible adoption of the ordinance, is scheduled for Oct. 8.
According to the ordinance, effective Jan. 1, the owner of any vacant property must file a registration statement with the code enforcement office within 60 days after the building or structure becomes vacant or within 30 days after assuming ownership of the vacant property or structure, whichever is later.
“We talk a lot up here and we have, over the course of last year, talked about Route 18 and redevelopment and revitalizing our commercial corridor and bringing new life to Route 18,” Councilman Michael Hughes said.
“This ordinance will address that, but what it also addresses … are residential properties that have fallen into foreclosure or have been in disrepair [or] the bank owns it [and] it’s tough to get a point of contact for those properties.
“This ordinance addresses that not only does it set up a fine structure where every year a property is vacant the fee goes up … more importantly … it is going to establish a registration and point of contact for each of these properties,” Hughes said.
The owner of any building who meets the definition of a vacant property prior to Jan. 1 must file a registration statement by March 1, according to the agenda.
The registration statement will include the name, street address and telephone number of a person 21 years of age or older, designated by the owners as the authorized agent for receiving notices of code violations or court proceedings on behalf of the owners, according to the ordinance.
The initial vacant property/building registration fee is $500. The fee for the first renewal is $1,000, the second renewal fee is $1,500 and any subsequent renewal is $2,000. Any owner who is not full compliance with the ordinance will be subject to a fine of $200 to $1,000 for each offense, according to the ordinance.
For more information, visit www.eastbrunswick.org/content/885/101/default.aspx.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
