My New Blog

NUISANCE PROPERTY LAW GOING TO VOTERS IN 2009

On September 9, 2008 the Broomfield City Council passed a new, expanded and tougher nuisance property law, giving officials increased authority to require owners to maintain their property or face punishment. A citizen group responded, gathering enough voter signatures to force a public vote on the new regulations. The ordinance defines a nuisance property as one in violation of any three conditions out of 17 listed in the regulation. Typical violations include structural damage, weeds exceeding 12 inches, unlawful outdoor storage, obstructing a public sidewalk or trail, peeling pain on 25% or more of a structure, etc. Faced with the prospect of having to spend up to $118,000 to conduct a special election this year, council members elected to suspend enforcement of the ordinance and schedule the issue for the November 2009 general election ballot. Council members say they enacted the law in order to protect property values. In the short time the contested ordinance was being enforced, two property owners were cited for nuisance violations.