Published: May 08, 2008 10:38 am            

Property ordinance: safety issues, not cosmetic

Complaints of blighted and deteriorated London properties may now be investigated

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

The London City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance of voluntarily annexation of two properties located on Parker Road, one being property owned by Saint Joseph London.

Officials from both Saint Joseph London and West London Baptist Church requested annexation into the corporate city limits of London. The property owned by Saint Joseph London will be the site of the hospital’s new facility, which is expected to be completed in 2010.

In January, London officials met to review the annexation request of Saint Joseph London. The two properties would be zoned as commercial properties.

The council also gave the first reading of an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the City of London, Kentucky Relating to Blighted and Deteriorated Properties Within the City Limits, Authorizing the Acquisition by Eminent Domain of Such Properties and Establishing A Property Review Commission.” While the council previously approved an ordinance regarding blighted and deteriorated properties and has already established the property review commission, this reading allows for the removal of the term “vacant” from the prior ordinance. Now, complaints received on occupied properties may be investigated.

“We want to be able to make sure we can address all these,” Rudder said. “Basically what we’re doing right now is cleaning up loose ends. With every new ordinance, you have to do some house cleaning.”

And while the property review commission is already in place, the original ordinance was amended so that both London residents and property owners can use the services of the committee.

Rudder said the intent of the ordinance is to deal with properties that pose health or safety concerns for residents, rather than those that may not be up to code cosmetically, as there are already ordinances in place for such properties.

“It’s not about what looks good and what looks bad,” said council member Jason Handy.

Council members stressed property owners will have every opportunity to correct any issues pointed out to them. Any initial complaints will be investigated by city building inspector Chris Hubbard. The owners will then have 60 days to attempt to correct the issues before the Zoning and Planning Commission reviews the situation, at which point the property owner would be given 30 days to correct the issues. If they do not comply, the Property Review Commission will assess the situation and likely give the property owner 90 days to correct the problems. If they see an effort is being made by the owner to fix the problem, this timeframe may be extended further before the review committee makes a recommendation to the city council.

Rudder said written notice will be given to the property owner at each step in the process and it could be longer than six months before the city receives a recommendation from the review committee. At that point the city may extend the time the property owner has to resolve the issue or place a lien on the property. Council members agree eminent domain is a last resort.

“It gives property owners every opportunity to take care of what the issue is,” said council member Judd Weaver.

Officials are hopeful those receiving notice that changes are needed to their property will quickly resolve the issues.

“Hopefully most complaints won’t reach the committee,” Rudder said. “I hope the committee that’s set up now never meets. Hopefully we never get to the point of eminent domain. That’s the very last thing you possibly do.”

In other business, the council:

• Gave approval for Mayor Rudder to sign a Memorandum of Agreement on Tuesday with Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation. This would allow the city to accept $15,000 in funds for land appraisals and a title search on land near Kentucky 229 that officials want to convert into a wetland area.

• Approved the payment of dues to the Cumberland Valley Area Development District from the years 2000-06. The CVADD is an organization that not only reviews grant applications city and county organizations submit when seeking state and federal funds, but also assists the organizations in grant writing. Council members agreed that they have utilized the services of the CVADD, which seeks payment due of around $1,800 each year. The amount owed from the six years in question is a little more than $12,000.

“I think it would be wrong for us not to pay something we owe,” said council member Nancy Vaughn.

• Approved the reappointment of Coy Prichard to the London-Laurel County Industrial Development Authority, with a term to expire March 8, 2012.

• Approved the acceptance of $300,000 in grant funding for Phase II of the London Downtown streetscape renovation.

        

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