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City of Scranton, PA
Lackawanna County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (38) Index
[Adopted byOrd. No. 101-1989 (Ch. 2, Art. III, Div. 8, of the 1979 Code)]
The Vacant Property Review Committee is hereby ordained.
[Amended 1-27-2005 by Ord. No. 101-2005]
The Mayor shall appoint a Vacant Property Review Committee consisting of the President of City Council or designee; the Chairman of the Redevelopment Authority of the City or designee; the Chairman of the City Planning Commission or designee; a member of the executive branch of the City government; and the City Planner.
The powers and duties of the Vacant Property Review Committee shall be as follows:
A. 
Review buildings, structures, site and objects alleged to be vacant and/or blighted.
B. 
Determine whether such buildings, structures, sites or objects are vacant and/or blighted.
C. 
Certify such vacant and/or blighted buildings, structures, sites or objects to the Redevelopment Authority for acquisition.
A building, structure, site or object which is vacant and/or blighted shall include:
A. 
Any premises which because of physical condition or use is regarded as a public nuisance at common law or has been declared a public nuisance in accordance with the local housing, building, plumbing, fire and related codes.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 187, Building Construction, Ch. 345, Plumbing, and Ch. 243, Fire Prevention.
B. 
Any premises which because of physical condition, use or occupancy is considered an attractive nuisance to children, including but not limited to abandoned wells, shafts, basements, excavations and unsafe fences or structures.
C. 
Any dwelling which because it is dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested or lacking in the facilities and equipment required by the Housing Code[2] of the municipality, has been designated by the department responsible for enforcement of the code as unfit for human habitation.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 360, Property Maintenance.
D. 
Any structure which is a fire hazard, or is otherwise dangerous to the safety of persons or property.
E. 
Any structure from which the utilities, plumbing, heating, sewerage or other facilities have been disconnected, destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective so that the property is unfit for its intended use.
F. 
Any vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground in a predominantly built-up neighborhood, which by reason of neglect or lack of maintenance has become a place for accumulation of trash and debris or a haven for rodents or other vermin.
G. 
Any unoccupied property which has been tax delinquent for a period of two (2) years prior to the effective date of this act, and those in the future having a two-year tax delinquency.
H. 
Any property which is vacant but not tax delinquent, which has not been rehabilitated within one (1) year of the receipt of notice to rehabilitate from the appropriate code enforcement agency.
[Amended by Ord. No. 85-1989]
The procedures to be followed by the Vacant Property Review Committee shall be as set forth in the Act of 1945, May 24, P.L. 991, § 12.1, as amended (35 P.S. § 1712.1).
The Council of the City of Scranton requests the assistance of the City Planning Commission in the certification of blighted property; and the cooperation of the redevelopment authority in the acquisition, restoration, rehabilitation, replacement and/or reuse of vacant and/or blighted buildings, structures, sites or objects located within the corporate limits of the City.