Local resident urges county action on blighted and vacant properties, cites new state law

A longtime Kilmarnock resident told Lancaster County supervisors Wednesday that long-term vacant and blighted properties are impeding economic development and urged the board to act using existing ordinances, new state tools and a locally overseen task force.

John Guzak described multiple examples of vacant commercial and residential properties around the county and estimated the foregone tax and economic activity if those properties were occupied. He proposed steps including leveraging existing state, county and local ordinances, developing new ordinances if necessary, appointing a task force with deliverables and periodically reporting progress to the public. Guzak suggested vacancy or "blight" taxes as one financial lever to incentivize remediation.

Guzak also said he had recently contacted a state senator, who told him that new state legislation had been signed and would allow localities to convey vacant and blighted properties to localities or land banks; he told the board the law includes timelines for new owners to begin construction. Guzak urged county leaders to consider the law and asked county attorneys and staff to review options; the county attorney said earlier in the meeting that the county did not currently have authority to impose a blight tax without qualifying fiscal conditions and that the new statute will need legal review.

Board members thanked Guzak for the presentation and suggested county staff and counsel review the new legislation and report back. County staff offered to meet with Guzak and legal counsel to examine the statute and potential next steps. Guzak said he was willing to help organize volunteer efforts or private nonprofit groups to acquire and rehabilitate properties if the county pursued conveyance under the new law.

No action was taken at the meeting; staff and counsel agreed to review the legislation and report back to the board.