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Cordele City outlines blight cleanup pilot and land-bank restructuring as commissioners press for sales progress
Summary
Planning and community-development staff and the community advancement manager reported a new color-coded blight inventory, a Ward One cleanup pilot set for March 21, and ongoing land-bank work; commissioners pressed staff on why only three properties have moved into sale process in five years.
Cordele City officials on Feb. 3 described steps to accelerate removal and reuse of blighted properties while unveiling a neighborhood cleanup pilot in Ward One.
Planning and community development Director Mary Derby told the City Commission she is restructuring zoning and permitting work and recommended resending notices to owners of properties classified as blighted after staff compiled a color-coded list (red for demolition, yellow for significant maintenance, green for minimum maintenance). "We will resend the blighted letters out to the property owners that are impacted," Derby said, noting the list is still being composed for internal review and eventual public sharing.
Maurice Hill, the Community Advancement Manager, said the city’s land bank currently holds three vacant parcels, one of which is in the process of being sold. "We've only had—we have three properties in our possession. One of them is in the process of being sold and the other two are still under land-bank ownership," Hill said when commissioners asked why the land bank has not yet produced revenue for the city.
Commissioners pressed for context and timelines. One commissioner said it has been five years since the land bank was reactivated but little revenue has been returned; staff responded that part of the delay stemmed from quorums, earlier partnerships that fell through and the need for clear titles and quick-claim actions before closings can finish.
Derby also outlined a pilot cleanup program, "Taking Pride in Our Community," planned for March 21 from 9 a.m. to noon in Ward One. The initiative will deploy code enforcement, police and public-works resources alongside volunteers to remove trash, tires, furniture and other debris and to address dilapidated properties. Derby named streets in the pilot area and said Keep Chris Beautiful and other partners will supply materials and volunteers.
Derby described parallel planning steps: an RFP for a complete zoning-ordinance rewrite (RFP approved), creation of public-facing application guides, a GIS/data framework for permitting, and a pre-application process intended to speed development approvals. She said some developers already in pre-application or site-review stages have experienced permit holdups related to stormwater plans and building-plan accuracy.
Why it matters: A clearer public blight inventory and an actionable cleanup pilot aim to reduce nuisance properties and spur redevelopment, but commissioners signaled they expect faster movement from the land bank and more transparent reporting on sales and revenues.
What’s next: Derby said staff will resend blight notices, finish the public-facing map and proceed with the Ward One pilot. Hill and planning staff will continue moving pending land-bank closings through quick-claim and title-clearance steps so sales can complete.
