Council asks administration to seek tougher fees, compounded penalties for vacant and blighted Plymouth Road properties

The City Council asked the administration to produce recommendations for tougher financial penalties and possible compounded fees for vacant and blighted commercial properties along the Plymouth Road corridor.

At a report-out from the Economic Development, Strategic Planning and Technology Committee, Director Jerome Hannah told council there are six registered and six unregistered vacant buildings along the corridor and described ongoing enforcement work. "Vacant property owners are billed if the city cuts grass for them," Hannah said during the committee report.

Council member Shield moved that the administration provide a report with recommendations to update the fee schedule to the maximum allowed and explore a compounded annual penalty for properties that remain vacant. The motion was seconded and carried 6-0.

City Attorney Carter Fisher and planning director Mark Tormina briefed the committee and council on legal limitations and available redevelopment tools, including the Brownfield redevelopment authority and the Plymouth Road Development Authority. Fisher noted state statutory limits on local fee authority and the potential legal challenges when enforcement touches subjective conditions such as tall grass and weeds.

Council members said the intent is to target bad-actor property owners while avoiding penalties that would unintentionally hinder legitimate redevelopment. The item remains in committee pending the administration's report and any ordinance or fee-schedule changes would return to council for formal action.