The City of Canton finds, determines and declares that:
(a) Foreclosed properties and buildings, and properties in the foreclosure process, that remain vacant and unoccupied for any appreciable period of time become an attractive nuisance to children, a harborage for rodents, an increased fire hazard, and an invitation to derelicts, vagrants and criminals as a temporary residence and as a place to engage in illegal conduct, frequently including illegal drug-related activity; that unkempt and unsecured grounds surrounding such buildings invite the dumping of garbage and trash thereon and the congregation of unauthorized persons who use the property for illegal activity; that such buildings contribute to the growth of blight within the City, necessitate additional governmental services and costs, significantly interfere with the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties, and depress market values of surrounding properties, thereby reducing tax revenues; and that such buildings accordingly create an unhealthy and unsafe condition affecting the public and constitute an unreasonable use of property and a public nuisance.
(b) Protection of the public health, safety and welfare requires the establishment and enforcement of the means by which such nuisance conditions may be prevented and abated.
(c) Vacant properties that are going through or have been through the foreclosure process are frequently the responsibility of banks, lenders, and/or servicers.
(d) Properties in default and Real-Estate Owned ("REO") properties are at a greater risk of becoming unmaintained vacant properties than other properties.
(e) Even one vacant property that is not actively and well maintained, monitored and managed can cause blight and crime.
(f) It is in the interest of the welfare of neighborhoods in the city that banks, lenders, and/or servicers which fail to maintain vacant properties that they own or have an interest in be subject to the imposition of fines.
(Ord. 128-2012. Passed 8-27-12.)