Frelinghuysen will be joining neighboring municipalities by updating its regulations related to vacant and abandoned properties in town.
The ordinance aligns recent changes to regulations on the state level that resulted from several court cases in the past year, said Township Attorney Richard Bellin.
“Essentially what happened is a result of some court cases,” Bellin said. “There were challenges to the existing abandoned property law at the state level. So, the state redid its statute and that statute that required us to change our ordinance. It pretty much does the same thing but there are some additional procedures.”
If certain conditions apply to a vacant property, the property would be listed in the Township Property Registration Program. The party responsible for the property, including owners and lienholders, would be required to pay registration costs ranging from $500 to $3,000.
The township would then be empowered to take action necessary to regulate the care, maintenance, security and upkeep of the exterior of residential or commercial properties. A lien against the property for costs incurred by the township could be applied.
In particular, the state was concerned about what it terms “attractive nuisances,” properties and structures or objects that in addition to being an eyesore, draw the attention of people—especialy children—to explore, vandalize or otherwise trespass and pose a danger.
The conditions that would suggest abandonment include neglected vegetation, an accumulation of newspapers, mail and other deliveries and statements of neighbors.
