City Commission reviews update to vacant property registry; proposed expansion to commercial and industrial properties

The Springfield City Commission received an update on the city’s vacant property registry and a package of proposed ordinance changes that would expand the program to commercial and industrial properties, raise several fees, change the civil fine for nonregistration, and authorize a contract with an outside vendor to manage registration.

Logan Cobbs, director of community development, told commissioners that “the vacant property registry was established in January of 20 20” and said the registry’s purpose is to “reduce and prevent neighborhood blight” and to “maintain property values and assessments.” He said the program documents ownership, helps identify problematic properties and can aid crime prevention efforts.

The proposed ordinance changes described by Cobbs would: add commercial and industrial properties to the city’s existing residential registry; raise the annual residential registration fee from $100 to $125; add a construction/commercial registration fee of $300 semiannually (described in the…