The Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce has called on the City of 91原创 to take a harder line on derelict properties, saying they discourage investment and devalue surrounding property.
The proposal is meant to be a proactive approach, 91原创 Chamber president Kristine Simpson told 91原创 City council Nov. 2, as she asked them to consider taking 鈥渢wo actions鈥� with respect to derelict buildings.
First, she said, the GLCC is seeking the City鈥檚 support for the BC Chamber鈥檚 proposal to amend the province鈥檚 Community Charter. The proposed amendment would provide municipalities with more options to address the issue of derelict buildings in the community.
The Chamber鈥檚 second request is that the City take a more aggressive approach in utilizing the existing tools available to them within local bylaws.
Vacant properties which aren鈥檛 properly maintained create health and safety concerns, discourage investment in the community, and drag down the value of surrounding properties, Simpson told council.
Currently, the Community Charter limits municipalities to providing incentives for building owners to maintain empty properties but does not provide for any punitive recourse when they don鈥檛, she added.
鈥淭he charter allows for incentives, such as revitalizations and tax exemptions but does not allow municipalities to penalize owners of derelict properties, except when there are concerns of health, safety or protection of people.
A harder line does not necessarily equal a heavy-handed approach, said Simpson.
鈥淭his is not a recommendation focused on unnecessary penalties when a property has become temporarily vacant, but rather to give municipalities the necessary tools to encourage action where an owner chooses to let a property remain derelict for their own benefit at the expense of neighbouring properties and the community.鈥�
Rather than simply endorse the Chamber鈥檚 proposal, however, council members asked Simpson to explain more clearly what she meant by derelict.
鈥淚鈥檇 like some clarification,鈥� said Councillor Dave Hall. 鈥淵ou would like the provincial government to define derelict? Do you have a definition? If something isn鈥檛 a health and safety concern, it comes down to aesthetics.鈥�
If a mall has five vacant premises and two in operation, but it鈥檚 not a health and safety concern, does that constitute a derelict commercial building, asked Hall.
Simpson said the bylaw would have to be applied within the context of the surrounding properties. If all the buildings in the area are of a similar age and appearance it is different than if there is one building that stands out as an eyesore, she said.
鈥淭he definition necessarily has to be grey,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e have to determine what is derelict and where do we draw the line,鈥� said Councillor Jack Arnold.
鈥淲e need to figure out where the line is before saying 鈥榊ou can鈥檛 do this and you can鈥檛 do that.鈥欌��
She said the measure is meant to be proactive rather than reactive, so that if it becomes an issue, the City is ready and able to take action as quickly as possible.
Council decided to refer the matter to staff for further information.
It鈥檚 better to have a policy in place ahead of time, Simpson replied. Then, if a problem arises, it鈥檚 not personal, it鈥檚 policy.
鈥淒efining derelict is a challenge,鈥� agreed Councillor Teri James.
A building with smashed windows, overgrown property or covered in graffiti would qualify, she added.
Simpson acknowledged that she couldn鈥檛 think of a derelict commercial building in 91原创 City at the moment.
Simpson acknowledged that derelict homes 鈥� which have been an issue for the City in areas slated for, but not yet under, redevelopment 鈥� also have an effect on a community's overall appearance and its property values.
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Simpson gave a similar presentation to 91原创 Township council at its Oct. 28 meeting.Township council voted 8-1 to endorse the B.C. Chamber of Commerce call for an amendment to the Community Charter, to give municipalities the power to pass get-tough regulations to deal with owners of derelict properties.
Councillor Bob Long voted against the measure because he wanted council to refer the chamber proposal to Township staff, who are currently preparing a report on the problem of abandoned houses.
