Walkersville Planning Commission Workshop on Blight
The Town of Walkersville’s Planning Commission will hold a workshop on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 to discuss issues related to vacant, blighted, neglected and abandoned properties. At their last public hearing, the Planning Commission asked to review two ordinances proposed by the Walkersville Economic Development Commission (EDC) with the town’s attorney, code enforcement officer, and members of the EDC at this month’s workshop. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting which starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Walkersville Town Hall.
The two proposed ordinances address two separate issues related to ongoing issues that have been brought to town leaders. The first ordinance addresses trash accumulating on properites. The second ordinance requires the registration and inspection of vacant properties.
During its public hearing, Planning Commission members expressed varied opinions on the matters. Some fully supported the measures, but a few questioned the effectiveness or the sense of the ordinances.
GladeValley.net has highlighted some of the issues that Town Hall raises as examples these ordinances hope to address. While most of the discussion has focused on commercial properties, some wish to see these applied to residential properties, also.
Properties of concern include:
- Tomarchio Enterprises properties:
- Former Exxon:
- vacant for many years,
- Parking lot falling apart,
- Graffiti,
- Landscaping/grass tends to get overgrown.
- Former Bank:
- graffiti
- kids hang out, skateboarding,
- Building has been vacant for many years,
- Lighting out,
- Detract from the appearance of shopping center.
- Former Burger King:
- graffiti
- kids hang out, skateboarding,
- Building has been vacant for many years,
- Lighting out,
- Detract from the appearance of shopping center.
- Walkers Village Shopping Center:
- Not fully leased,
- Out-of-town owner difficult to work with, appears to be part of the problem with vacancy,
- Removed landscaping without replacing it,
- Lighting on part of site turned off,
- Trash sometimes accumulates behind building,
- Building appears to be poorly maintained,
- Occasionally vehicles for sale and trucks parked overnight on property.
- Former Exxon:
- Marsala’s
- Closed for “renovations” for years. Construction debris, furnishings, and appliances have sat outside of the building for years.
- The Walkersville Market
- sat vacant for more than six months in general disrepair with abandoned property left on property.
- The current owners have fixed it up and resolved issues, but the Town had no way of addressing the issues.
- Vacant Property on George Street:
- used by owner’s son for tractors, farm equipment, junk
- Manor house in Deerfield:
- Furnishings and junk on front porch.
- Three “sea containers” in back yard with more stuff.
- Townhouse in Glade Towne:
- Occupied but completely neglected.
- Gutters down,
- siding falling off
- House on East Pennsylvania Avenue:
- Occupied by hoarder.
- Junk on front porch and all over yard.
- Other houses around town:
- perpetual state of construction.
- Sidewalks in disrepair.
- Repeat tall grass/weed violations.
- Need siding, roof repairs or paint
