(A) The City Commission of the City of Raton (city) finds, determines, and declares that residential, commercial and industrial buildings and structures which remain vacant and unoccupied for any appreciable period of time have a negative impact on surrounding properties and the community and contribute to blight, increase the risk of vandalism and arson in buildings, reduce community property values and tax base, and require additional public services. It is also determined that vacant buildings of relatively large area represent disproportionate adverse impacts to the community relative to smaller buildings. It is the purpose and intent of the city to protect the public health, safety and well-being by enactment of this chapter to:
(1) Establish a process to address the significant number of vacant, abandoned, foreclosed, and/or otherwise distressed buildings and structures located within the city;
(2) To identify, register, regulate and reduce the number of vacant, abandoned or dilapidated primary buildings and structures located within the city;
(3) To create conditions favorable to the general welfare, prosperity and harmonious development of the city;
(4) To establish the responsibilities of owners of vacant buildings and structures and to acknowledge community impacts resulting from long-term vacancy of buildings and structures;
(5) Reduce, minimize or eliminate the negative impacts on surrounding properties and neighborhoods from unsupervised vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed buildings and structures;
(6) Provide for administration, enforcement and imposition of fees and penalties related to this chapter.
(B) This chapter shall apply to all vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed primary residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and structures within the City of Raton, New Mexico. This chapter shall apply to any such described building that is fully intact, partially removed, burned, demolished or destroyed, or a building in which any portion of the structure is remaining in place or on the site.
(C) Further, it is found to be in the public interest for the city to impose a fee in conjunction with registration of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed primary buildings and structures to offset the disproportionate costs imposed on the city by the presence of these properties.
(Ord. 1012, passed 4-27-2021)