County committee considers stronger rules, higher fees for vacant properties; substitute adds gated-entry requirement for large sites

The New Castle County Administrative Finance Committee on May 13 discussed a substitute to Ordinance 25-046 that would increase fees and inspections for vacant properties and add a requirement that large vacant commercial structures restrict vehicular access.

The substitute, discussed by Land Use General Manager David (Dave) Culver, would raise first-year registration fees, add a $100 monthly inspection charge and require that “all vacant commercial structures over 100,000 square feet shall restrict vehicular access to the site,” while preserving fire-department access under Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulation 705, General Safety Chapter 5, Section 2.6. Culver said the change was prompted by recurring public-safety incidents at some large vacant sites, including car racing and gatherings.

Committee members said the fee increases and new enforcement tools are intended to discourage long-term vacancy, improve public safety and spur rehabilitation or reuse. Councilman John Cartier, chairing the meeting, and several council members pressed staff on implementation details and appealed to the need to circulate the substitute to all…