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Council backs aesthetic fix for boarded storefronts; staff may seek ordinance only if owners won’t cooperate
Summary
Staff outlined current municipal-code requirements for vacant commercial properties and said the city will ask property owners to paint boarded panels to match building facades; council agreed to pursue voluntary compliance and only advance a code amendment if owners are uncooperative.
Fountain Valley — After a staff presentation, the City Council on Oct. 7 directed staff to pursue voluntary measures to make boarded vacant storefronts less visually prominent and to bring a code amendment back only if property owners do not cooperate.
Community Development staff reviewed the municipal code provisions that require owners to remove signage and maintain vacant storefronts and said the city may board buildings when there are trespassing or safety issues. "Typically, we've we know that the tenant spaces aren't vacant for very long," staff said, but noted there are isolated properties that remain vacant and require ongoing enforcement.
Councilmembers expressed concern about buildings boarded for extended periods becoming eyesores. Vice Mayor Kuneen said a coat of paint on plywood can make a boarded building “blend in with the building” and lessen the vacant appearance. Staff said they routinely contact owners and that many are cooperative; where owners do not comply, staff would return with a proposed code amendment. Council did not direct immediate ordinance changes and favored using painted board panels as a first step.
Staff will monitor problem properties and bring back a code amendment for council consideration if voluntary measures fail.
