Plain City Council is seeking additional ways to revitalize the Historic Uptown District.
During the most recent council meeting, Mayor Jody Carney posed the possibility of creating a vacant building registry.
She said it could serve as “an incentive for building owners to seek out tenants.”
“If a business goes out, how are we helping them actively find something new to go in?” Carney asked.
Village Administrator Nathan Cahall explained that similar programs “got a little more use after the last recession” when there was an increased number of vacated commercial buildings.
“They are utilized by certain local jurisdictions to try to help and facilitate the reuse and reutilization and redevelopment of vacant commercial properties,” Cahall said.
If this type of program was established in Plain City, once a commercial building is vacant for a certain amount of time, the owner would be required to be listed on a registry.
To be listed on the registry, the owner would be obligated to provide the village with contact information, Cahall said.
He noted that there is “usually a registration fee component.”
The fee would be used to market the community, maintain properties and ensure code compliance, Cahall said.
He said the fee generally increases annually as a building remains vacant.
Vacant building registries are typically targeted toward properties “that are not being marketed vigorously or have an absentee landlord situation,” Cahall said. He said it could encourage owners to “maintain a certain minimum level of compliance.”
He said the program is an option for council, though staff is not yet committed to implementing it.
Cahall said they are not guaranteed to garner results.
“There’s a mixed track record of success of these types of programs,” he said. “They can move the needle, while other communities have had mixed outcomes.”
Carney said she simply wanted to gauge what council members thought of exploring such a program.
Council member Shannon Pine said she would like to see the regulations used by other communities with similar programs before she makes a decision for the village.
Council member Frank Reed also seemed to need more information.
He said he wanted to ensure the “benefit (would) offset the cost” of village staff maintaining a registry.
However, he said he felt it was “moving in the right direction in trying to get new people in” Plain City.
Reed asked if there were any legal concerns regarding helping businesses find properties to move into based on the registry.
Solicitor Paul Lafayette said the program would have to treat all types of businesses equally, without catering to some over others.
“We just need more detail as to how we’d set this up,” he said.
Carney agreed.
She said she wanted to be careful to continue to be thoughtful surrounding the prospective businesses coming to Plain City, even if such a program was in place.
“(The registry) could jumpstart economic development or we could get some subpar businesses going in,” Carney said.
Cahall said staff would provide council with regulations from other communities for their consideration.
In other business:
– Council decided on the bench placement for the Uptown streetscapes project.
Cahall said village staff was debating between two options: placing benches closer to the curb or against buildings.
He noted that the benches will be backless, which allows people to sit facing either direction.
If the benches are placed against buildings, Cahall said they will be on private property, which will require the village to work with business owners. He said doing so is “not insurmountable.”
On the other hand, placing benches closer to the curb would put them in the area that will be paved with decorative bricks. The seats would require “anchoring pieces of concrete” that change the layout of the pavers.
Randy VanTilburg, with the engineering firm The Mannik and Smith Group, said most historic buildings have multiple doors and front windows.
He said business owners would not want any displays to be blocked by benches, so this option would result in less available space for seating.
Council member Shannon Pine said she preferred the option closer to the curb.
Each of her peers agreed, aside from Reed.
He was not opposed to the placement, but benches altogether. He said he would prefer adding tables and chairs along the Uptown streets.
VanTilburg explained that the width of the sidewalk does not allow for enough space to add tables while maintaining a safe “pedestrian access route.”
He said there will be approximately four feet extending from buildings in which property owners can attempt to add seating or tables if they feel compelled to do so.
Carney also said the village could consider adding tables and chairs to the flatiron when it is renovated in the future.
Reed reluctantly agreed with placing benches near the curb line.
“I’ll support it; I don’t think it’s the best solution,” he said.