Public hearing on TOH local law amendment regarding vacant building fees set for August 11
Owners of vacant spaces on Larkfield Road would experience increased fees if the TOH law proposal passed.
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The Huntington Town Board scheduled a public hearing for adopting a local law regarding vacant building registration and increased fees for properties that persistently remain vacant year after year. Residents will have an opportunity to share their viewpoints on amending the town code on Wednesday, August 11 at 2pm.
In an address to town residents, Supervisor Chad Lupinacci said that the measure would “not only improve quality of life for residents across our town, but it will help business owners to launch and grow a business, while supporting Huntington’s local economy.”
Local Law Introductory No. 46-2021 would amend the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 160 (Registration and Permitting of Property), Article II Vacant Building Registration by increasing vacant building registration fees from $250 annually to:
$250 per residential property and $500 per commercial property for the first year
$500 per residential property and $1,000 per commercial property for the second year
$750 per residential property and $1,500 per commercial property for the third year
$1,000 per residential property and $2,000 per commercial property for any additional years beyond the first three
The law amendment would also impose a monthly late fee of $25 per residential property and $50 per commercial property for each month payment is late, and increase the vacant building registration requirement deadline from 120 to 180 consecutive days. Religious organizations will continue to be exempt from paying the vacant building registration fee.
“We want to fill abandoned homes and vacant storefronts to help revitalize our local downtown economies and improve quality of life for residents across the town, some of whom have dealt with serious public safety issues surrounding abandoned properties and absentee owners for decades,” said Supervisor Lupinacci.
The hope is that the increased fees will entice an owner who can’t fill a space to sell it to someone who will. Proponents of the law believe that reducing vacant buildings and storefronts will prevent the development of deteriorated blighted areas in the Town of Huntington.
Opponents argue that the fees aren’t high enough to have a major impact on the vacancies, as landlords are afforded a tax write off for unused spaces.
The public hearing will take place at Huntington Town Hall on Wednesday, August 11 at 2pm. Speakers can sign up before the meeting begins.
