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03/02/2022 08:45 AMOver the last year, blight complaints in Clinton have dramatically increased, a phenomenon officials have linked in part to people spending more time at home due to COVID-19.
Blight is term often informally used to describe properties that have not been properly maintained. The town actually passed a revised blight ordinance late in 2021 that included set definitions of what does and does not legally constitute blight. In Clinton, blight includes instances when a structure is dilapidated, when commercial properties or residences have grass or weeds that reach a height of 10 inches and remain so for 10 days or longer, dead and damaged trees that pose a threat to property or people, more than one unregistered vehicle in public view, three or more nonoperational pieces of mechanical equipment in view of the public, piles of debris stored in a yard (not counting compost piles) that is visible to the public and presents a health and safety hazard, and landscaping that interferes with abutting properties or sidewalks and road signs.
Blight can be a serious problem for residents around town. Besides looking unattractive, a blighted property can also affect surrounding property values and potentially dissuade investment in the area. Under state statute, towns are permitted to address blight to promote public health, safety, and welfare.
However, it’s possible that some Clinton residents have getting slightly carried away in their blight complaints.
During the annual meeting of boards and commissions on Jan. 31 at which various commissions town leaders give summaries of the previous year, Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Kathy King told the audience that over the last year blight complaints had risen sharply.
Just how sharply?
“In fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, we had a total of 10 blight/land use complaints, and 6 were closed. By contrast, in fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, we had 51 total blight/land use complaints,” King told the Harbor News.
“I have closed 38 complaints either because they’ve been resolved or, because upon inspection, no blight or land use violation was found. Some of the complaints are ongoing and require continued monitoring and communication with property owners,” said King.
King pointed out that before she was hired as ZEO in fall 2019, the town had a string of several interim ZEOs over the years, which makes it difficult to determine the normal amount of blight complains over the course of a year.
“They worked a very limited number of hours per week, which made it difficult for them to have time to investigate, monitor, and follow blight complaints within the specific number of days as stipulated in the Blight Ordinance,” said King.
Asked what she felt was contributing to the rise in complaints, King speculated that people going stir crazy from COVID-19 restrictions could be to blame.
“My opinion is that the increase in blight complaints is due to people feeling frustrated due to COVID, the economy, and other issues. They are spending a lot more time at home due to COVID. I am seeing a lot more complaints involving neighbor relationships,” said King.
While the new ordinance does include a mechanism for the town to enforce penalties for blight complaints, many blight complaints are resolved without penalties and King said that a simple conversation could fix problems without escalating tensions.
“I always recommend, if possible, that neighbors try to work out the situation themselves. Once they file a formal complaint with the town, the flavor of the neighborly relationship changes,” said King.
“It’s also important for people to know what constitutes blight. For example, I often get complaints about houses with peeling paint or properties with an unregistered car in the driveway. These situations do not meet blight criteria. Blight violations have to meet the criteria in the Blight Ordinance.”
The increase in blight complaints was part of the reason the town decided to redo the blight ordinance in 2021. Town Council member Carol Walter, who at the time also worked in the town’s Land Use Office, said that she noticed that blight complaints were taking up a lot of the office’s time and suggested that the council take a look at how Clinton handles blight complaints.
The town’s new blight ordinance went into effect in December 2021, well after the increase in blight complaints was noticed. More information on the ordinance can be found on the town website or on zip06.com.