Delegation presses zoning on blight enforcement, junk cars and urgent school rebuild; Hopwood told to submit conditional-use application

Members of the House delegation pressed zoning officials on steps the office is taking under the Nuisance Abatement and Blighted Properties Maintenance Act of 2018 to address government and private blighted properties, abandoned vehicles and hazardous sites.

Theresa Gumrow, zoning administrator, reviewed the act’s enforcement provisions: notices must describe the nuisance and the allowed abatement period; owners may file a written appeal to the Commonwealth Zoning Board within 30 days; the Commonwealth may abate a nuisance and recover costs if an owner fails to act. Gumrow said the adopted regulation requires priority enforcement on highways, properties within 300 feet of schools, playgrounds or daycares, properties in tourist districts and village areas.

Nut graf: Delegation members pressed for faster, more consistent enforcement and clearer interagency pathways when public lands or government-owned parcels are involved. They also…