The purpose of this chapter is to help protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens by preventing blight, protecting property values and neighborhood integrity, avoiding the creation and maintenance of nuisances and ensuring the safe and sanitary maintenance of dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings. Due to economic conditions, mortgage foreclosures and increased bankruptcies, many homes and buildings have become vacant and unsupervised. This has caused properties to become attractive nuisances for minors and criminal activity. Vacant properties have a negative impact on surrounding properties and neighborhoods. Potential buyers are deferred by the presence of nearby vacant abandoned buildings. There is an increased instance of unsecured or open doors and windows, broken water pipes, flooded basements, theft of metals and other materials, overgrowth of grass, weeds, shrubs and bushes, illegal dumping, and rat and vermin activity at vacant structures. The neglect devalues properties and causes deterioration in neighborhoods and industrial and commercial areas. The township also needs to be able to contact owners for utility shutoff, fire safety and police reasons.
(Prior Code, § XI-8.00)