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Council tables vacant‑building ordinance after public objections from downtown property owners
Summary
The council paused implementation of a long‑planned vacant building ordinance after public commenters and advisory boards urged changes; staff was directed to return with clarifications and options, and the council approved a 60‑day moratorium to allow revisions.
The Laredo City Council on Monday voted to table action on a vacant‑building ordinance and directed staff to return with more information and proposed revisions, following extended public comment from downtown property owners and advisory groups.
During public comment, members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee and downtown property owners said the ordinance, as written, risks penalizing owners who are actively renovating or trying to lease downtown buildings. "A VBO alone isn't a solution to economic development," said Julian Ratnovsky, a downtown property owner and participant in the ordinance's early stages. "When implemented without support tools, it ends up punishing the very people trying to reinvest in our…
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