WEIRTON — In an effort to address blight and encourage development, Weirton Council is taking steps to implement a vacant building registration program.

Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing the program during its Jan. 12 meeting. It must go through a second reading before becoming effective.

The ordinance notes the city “has experienced a decline similar to that suffered by many West Virginia communities caused by chronic long-term economic dislocation and the loss of high wage manufacturing jobs over several decades in the last century, which decline is partially apparent in the oldest areas of the City of Weirton, including, but not limited to the City’s downtown historic center, its former industrial areas, and many of its original residential neighborhoods.”

Such decline, according to the ordinance, resulted in a loss of population, reduced property maintenance and vacant structures in the city.

The city has been working on efforts in recent years to reverse such trends, partnering with other governmental entities on the county, state, and federal levels, as well as private organizations, “but vacant structures impede this goal and constitute a serious and growing threat to the public health, safety and morals of the City.”

“That’s another step in getting the downtown revitalized,” City Manager Mike Adams said of the ordinance.

If enacted, the ordinance would establish a new set of requirements under Chapter 5 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Weirton.

Noting the potential for fire hazards, nuisance occupancy by transient individuals, detraction from efforts to rehabilitate or maintain surrounding structures, and effects to the welfare of the public by vacant structures, the ordinance would require owners to register those properties, pay a fee which is scaled based on the number of years the structure has been vacant.

If a structure has been vacant for less than one year, there is no fee for the registration. If the structure has been vacant at least one year but less than two years, there is a $500 fee. The fees then increase to $1,000 for those vacant two to three years; $2,000 for three to four years; $3,500 for four to five years; and $4,000 for vacant properties of at least five years with an additional $300 per year in excess of five years.

Under the program, the city’s Inspections Department shall undertake an annual inspection of registered vacant buildings to determine whether they comply with the city’s Property Maintenance Code, with owners notified in writing of all corrective actions.

An appeals process also will be established through the ordinance.