Larksburg council approves lien after public hearing on long‑running nuisance property

The Larksburg City Council voted Wednesday to confirm the record of abatement costs and place a special assessment lien on 217 Via Lacumbra after a public hearing on a recurring nuisance property.

A fire official explained the property — an apparently abandoned single‑family residence — has produced repeated neighbor complaints since 2018 related to overgrown vegetation and fire risk. Staff documented multiple attempts to reach the owner, voluntary abatements in earlier years, and returned certified mail in 2025; one certified notice was later acknowledged as received. When staff was unable to contact the owner in 2025 they obtained a court‑authorized abatement and sought to recover abatement and legal costs via a council‑approved lien.

During the hearing councilmembers asked whether the city could adopt a different approach to avoid repeated court steps, and staff and the city attorney explained constitutional limits on entering private property without court authorization and that the current process is intended to limit legal risk. Councilmembers also raised the idea of requiring current contact information for absentee owners as part of a broader vacant‑property regulatory scheme.

James Holmes (public commenter) urged caution, saying strict enforcement of some vegetation provisions can harm privacy screening and can disproportionately affect elderly or otherwise constrained residents who struggle to maintain their yards.

After closing the public hearing, the council moved, seconded and voted to approve the resolution confirming costs and setting the lien.

What happens next: Staff will record the special assessment against the parcel and proceed with cost recovery consistent with municipal code.