Murrysville considers creating registry for vacant properties

Murrysville doesn’t have a big problem with vacant, blighted properties. But when one does make its way onto the municipality’s radar, they’d like to be able to address it sooner than later.

Chief Administrator Michael Nestico provided council with a proposal for a new ordinance that would create a registry for vacant properties.

“The idea would be to give us a way to keep tabs on these properties, and to allow for inspections so we ensure they’re not a danger to the community,” Nestico said. “This isn’t an issue that’s prevalent here, but there are definitely times when a property will fall through the cracks.”

Nestico said the draft ordinance is modeled on those of nearby communities including Monroeville and Jeannette.

One of the elements of the ordinance would require any absentee property owner who lives more than 25 miles from their property to have an agent or property manager who is answerable to the municipality.

“We have one property owner who is not paying taxes on a property, lives out of state, and it’s a cause for concern among neighbors,” Nestico said. “We can take the owner to the magistrate, but they don’t live here, so they just don’t show up. This would be another tool in the toolbox to address blight and protect homeowners’ property values.”

Councilwoman Jamie Lingg asked if the ordinance would have exceptions for specific circumstances, such as an extended hospital stay.

“That’s definitely something that could happen, particularly in a community where we have a lot of older residents,” Lingg said. She also asked about the fee charged to property owners for placing a vacant property on the registry.

“The idea is that, firstly, it provides a fee to cover inspections and staff’s time maintaining the registry,” Nestico said. “But the fee also escalates over time, and hopefully that can create some incentive for vacant property owners to get that property back into use.”

Nestico stressed that, if the ordinance went into effect, Murrysville staff would not be immediately going out into the community to catalog problem properties.

“The goal isn’t for us to go after people,” he said. “But when we become aware of a problem property, this would give us a better way to address it.”

Council took no action on the draft ordinance. It will come back on the agenda at its Nov. 5 meeting, set for 7 p.m. in the municipal building at 4100 Sardis Road.