Buchanan City Commission advances new ordinance on unused buildings

The Buchanan City Commission has held a public hearing and first reading on a new ordinance intended to reduce the number of vacant or underused buildings in the community.

We’ve previously reported the ordinance would create a fee charged to the owners of buildings who leave them unused for extended periods of time. Mayor Mark Weedon read the resolution Monday.

“The ordinance is to regulate, rehabilitate, and promote the active use of vacant and underutilized buildings, to discourage non-conforming storage uses outside storage zones, to establish definitions or register local responsible agent inspection, maintenance, activation fees, enforcement, hardship relief, appeals, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare,” Weedon read.

City Manager Tony McGhee said there will be a process for property owners to avoid fees if they can demonstrate they’re trying to do something with their building.

“It is not a heavy-handed approach,” McGhee said. “We also have hardship exemptions if somebody has the inability to and also activation plans. If you can show you’re making progress to getting something on market and reused again, we will work with you through that.”

The ordinance establishes a process for identifying and registering vacant or underutilized buildings, ensuring they’re properly maintained and secured while encouraging their return to productive use. It also discourages the long-term warehousing of commercial space for storage purposes.

McGhee says commissioners will hold a second reading at their next meeting and then vote on the proposed ordinance.