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Council directs staff to revive and strengthen vacant‑storefront/plywood rules; vacancy tax deferred
Summary
After presentations from downtown subcommittees, the council asked staff to update an expired vacant‑storefront ordinance to require artwork or approved coverings, limit bare plywood use and explore registration, monitoring fees and enforcement; staff recommended no vacancy tax now but will return with draft language and stakeholder outreach.
City staff presented recommendations Nov. 3 to update policies aimed at removing plywood and blight from Gilroy’s downtown and addressing long‑term vacant commercial properties.
The downtown plywood removal and vacancy‑ordinance subcommittees proposed requirements including mandatory registration of vacant storefronts, limits on plywood (bare plywood permitted only up to 90 days, then must be decorated with approved art or coverings), fines for noncompliance (proposed $500/month for failing to cover plywood after 90 days;…
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