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Council delays decision on vacant commercial/industrial building registration, seeks owner outreach
Summary
Cayce Council postponed consideration of Ordinance 2025-07, a proposed vacant commercial and industrial building registration program with escalating fees and enforcement, and asked staff to notify commercial property owners and supply a list of vacant properties before the next meeting.
Staff presented Ordinance 2025-07 to add an article to city code creating a vacant commercial and industrial building registration program with escalating fees, owner responsibilities and enforcement. The proposal traces to prior council work and recommendations from the Mayor’s Institute technical assistance and earlier community outreach; staff said a redline was included in the packet.
Several council members supported renewed outreach to property owners before taking final action. One council member argued the ordinance targets long-term vacant properties and said letters sent with the ordinance previously prompted sales and reuses in the downtown area: "This is not about a building that is vacant for six months. This is about a building that is vacant for years," the council member said.
Council voted to defer final action to Oct. 7, request a list of vacant commercial properties for review, and send notice to commercial property owners (vacant or not) to inform them of the proposed changes and offer opportunities to comment. Staff noted that prior outreach had led to some sales and rehabilitation of long-vacant properties.
Why it matters: The registration program is intended to reduce long-term commercial blight, incentivize re-use, and give the city enforcement and outreach tools; council chose to pursue further owner notification and review rather than immediate adoption.
