Mayor Bob Stefanik has said in the past that he was planning to focus on the aesthetics of the city beginning this year. “We’re really going to step up enforcement of property maintenance and aesthetics,” he said.
Not only will an overall push take place citywide on residences and commercial properties that fail with the upkeep of property, but he will be introducing legislation soon that will create a rental registry for owners of three units or less on a single property. “Landlords don’t keep them up and it’s becoming a problem,” he said, noting that, “it’s one thing I hear a lot about around town.” Stefanik also said he would look into the city’s codes to see if they need changes.
One of the issues that the city does respond to are complaints of properties that have let their grass and weeds grow. The city’s current code reads, as follows:
“660.14 WEEDS AND GRASS.
(a) Every owner, occupant or person in control of any lot or parcel of land in the Municipality shall cause such lot or parcel of land to be kept free, for a distance of not less than fifty feet from any dwelling, building, structure or public roadway, including ditches and tree lawns, and/or alternatively, a total area of 20,000 square feet from the roadway, whichever is greater, of any and all noxious weeds, grass and woody vegetation by cutting, by digging them under or by any other method approved by the Building Commissioner, unless such vegetation is part of a riparian or wetland setback as defined in Chapter 1492 or part of a deed restricted conservation area.
(b) Every owner, occupant or person in control of any lot or parcel of land shall also cause that portion of such lot or land, which lies within fifty feet of any dwelling, building or structure or public roadway located on any contiguous lot or parcel of land, and/or alternatively, 20,000 square feet from the roadway, whichever is greater, to be maintained and kept free of all such noxious weeds, woody vegetation, underbrush and nonedible grass in excess of six inches unless such vegetation is part of a riparian or wetland setback as defined in Chapter 1492 or part of a deed restricted conservation area.”
According to the code, the owner will be notified of the violation and the problem rectified within five days. If they fail to comply, the city will arrange to have it cut and bill the property owner. If not paid within thirty days, a collection cost of $70 will be added and certified to the County Auditor for collection. The code also notes that, “whoever violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.”
This is one of several codes in the city’s codified ordinances that address the manner which property owners should maintain their property. North Royalton Building Commissioner Dan Kulchytsky notes that these types of codes address not only aesthetics, but also safety issues. The aim is the “safety of the community and those living there,” he noted.
Legislation is currently being discussed that would create the rental registry, where inspection of the property would then take place. It would be a general safety inspection of the inside and outside of the property. Stefanik noted that the inspection would look for things such as properly installed smoke detectors and glaring safety violations. The details of the registry are yet to be determined. Legislation is expected to be introduce before the end of next month.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer