N.B. council passes bylaw for vacant commercial buildings
The City of North Battleford council gave its full support for a disincentive program aimed at trying to force long-term vacant commercial building owners to take more responsibility and do something with their sites.
At its meeting Monday, council approved a bylaw to create a new commercial sub-class for vacant commercial buildings identified in an area known as the city’s “key commercial corridor.” Currently 25 properties are subject to the bylaw.
Through the new bylaw, owners of these commercial properties that have been vacant for two years or longer, as of May 1, 2017, with discontinued water utilities service and/or no active business licence, will now be billed a flat rate for utilities services including UPAR (Underground Pipeline and Asphalt Replacement program) charges.
The properties will also see a mill rate increase.