546.17 MOW TO OWN LOT DISPOSITION PROGRAM.

   (a)   For purposes of this Section, the following words and phrases defined hereunder when used in this Section shall have the meanings therein respectively ascribed to them, unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context.

   "Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program" shall mean a program to enhance the effectiveness of the Land Reutilization Program in order to reduce the number of vacant parcels owned and maintained by the City of Youngstown that will encourage, stabilize and strengthen property owner's investments in their neighborhoods by transferring unbuildable, vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent parcels to property owners that meet the criteria of the Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program through the Land Reutilization Program in the City of Youngstown, Ohio.

   (b)   Qualified property parcels eligible for inclusion in the Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program shall meet all of the requirements pursuant to the Mahoning County Land Bank's Land Acquisition Policies & Procedures, and Section 5722.01 of the Ohio Revised Code and shall meet the following minimum criteria:

      (1)   Only lots designated by the City of Youngstown Land Reutilization Program are eligible. Said lots being designated by the Mayor, or the Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, or both, or a designee of either.

      (2)   The City of Youngstown has the absolute right to exclude properties from this program at its discretion based upon decision reached by the Mayor, or the Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, Councilperson, or a designee of any.

      (3)   The property shall be the owner occupied real property with a significant common boundary line.

      (4)   Situations not herein defined or deemed to be unusual shall be resolved at the discretion of the Mayor, or the Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, or both, or a designee of either.

   (c)   Application eligibility shall meet the following minimum criteria:

      (1)   All applicants must own and reside within 300 feet of property.

      (2)   The applicant shall not be delinquent on any and all taxes and fees both state and local to include any department within the State of Ohio or the City of Youngstown, Ohio. The applicant shall not have any property maintenance nuisance and/or building code violations on any properties they own.

      (3)   If an owner-occupant applicant owns rental properties in the City of Youngstown, Ohio, all such properties shall be registered through the City of Youngstown, Department of Public Works/Rental Property Registration division.

   (d)   Eligible activities for applicants of the Mow to Own Adjacent Lot Disposition Program shall meet the following minimum criteria:

      (1)   Applicants must maintain the property in an acceptable manner to the City of Youngstown. Decisions to be made by the Mayor, or the Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, or both, or designee of either. Maintenance shall include such items as: mowing and trimming the lawn, weed removal, cleaning leaves, trash and removing snow from the sidewalks and other areas.

      (2)   Applicants may improve the lot with landscaping, fencing subject to proper permitting, tree removal, grass restoration, gardening and other improvements that benefit the neighborhood subject to the approval of the Mayor, or the Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, or both, or a designee of either.

      (3)   Parking of cars, storage of any kind, construction of buildings or parking lots is strictly prohibited unless permission is granted by the City of Youngstown, Ohio under the Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program.

   (e)    Acquisition Process for applicants of the Mow to Own Lot Program shall meet the following minimum criteria:

      (1)   The City of Youngstown will identify the Mow to Own Lots available through this program and its websites. Interested property owners who are occupants of said property shall submit an application through the Community Planning and Economic Development Department.

      (2)   Applicants must submit to the Community Planning and Economic Development Department a signed application provided by Community Planning and Economic Development Department and shall identify the eligible property to be acquired under this program and demonstrate that the applicant is eligible as set forth in this Ordinance to participate in the Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program of the City of Youngstown, Ohio.

      (3)   A non-refundable five hundred ninety dollars ($590.00) administrative fee and recording fee necessary to transfer the deed must be submitted by the applicant in order for the application to be processed.

      (4)   Once the City receives the application and the non-refundable application fee, the City will review the application for determination of eligibility. The application will require the maintenance schedule for the vacant lot to be based upon any investment and time or labor that the City of Youngstown has incurred in said property to be divided equally among six (6) months between April and September of the applicant year. Applications for this program shall be submitted during the months of January, February, or March to be considered for that application year.

      (5)   Upon approval of the application, the City of Youngstown and the applicant will enter into an agreement specifying the program requirements and outlining the maintenance plan.

         A.   Credit toward required maintenance may be granted to applicants who have completed eligible work on an eligible property parcel prior to the enactment of this ordinance, subject to the discretion of the Mayor, or Director of Community Planning and Economic Development, or both, or a designee of both.

             (6)   The Mow to Own Lot Disposition Program will be an annual program for six (6) months, April through September.

      (7)   The property will be transferred to the applicant by January of the following year once the applicant completes the Mow to Own Lot Program subsequent to September and written notice to the Councilperson of the concerned ward is given of the transfer.

      (8)   The deed for the vacant lot acquired through this program will contain deed restrictions including but not limited to a limitation that the acquired vacant property may not be re-sold without written approval from the City of Youngstown for five (5) years after the closing date and such other deed restrictions as the Mayor, or Director of Community Planning and Economic Development Department, or both, or a designee of either deem appropriate for that specific property.

         (Ord. 22-403. Passed 12-21-22.)