Therese T. Ogumoro
THE Commonwealth Zoning Administration has begun enforcing the 2018 Nuisance Abatement & Blighted Property Act.
In an interview on Tuesday, Zoning Administrator Therese T. Ogumoro said that besides actively enforcing the provisions of the zoning law, they have recently begun enforcing the Blight Act in priority areas or those in view of tourist sites, those within 300 feet distance from schools, daycares, and playgrounds, and those within main thoroughfares or roadways.
“The enforcement procedures are strictly carried out with precautions to ensure that recipients of enforcement notices are educated on the nature of violations, what actions to take, and what rights they have,” Ogumoro said.
She added that the Zoning Office has also been actively engaging with the public or recipients of notices to discuss compliance actions and ways to improve. She said the Zoning Office is scheduled to conduct a public outreach and engagement in the villages beginning Jan. 14, 2025.
Ogumoro said the Zoning Office encourages the public to attend to learn more about the zoning law and the Blight Act. The schedule of these village meetings will be announced in January.
Applications
As of Oct. 1, 2023, the Zoning office had received a total of 18 applications for conditional use permits. Of the 18 applications, Ogumoro said, 11 were approved, one was denied, and three were pending submission of requirements. One application was canceled, and two new applications were pending review by the board.
In a separate interview, Zoning Board Chair Henry S. Hofschneider said that “it is important for people to know that without the zoning law, we won’t have a peaceful, quiet and safe neighborhood.”
He said the zoning administrator is “very strict and aggressive” in enforcing the law, because people have to comply with the zoning law.
Those who are found to be incompliant must “meet with the [zoning] administrator, and if there’s disagreement, they can appeal to the zoning board.”
Right now, he said the Zoning Board is moving forward with the applications for conditional use permits.
As for the strict enforcement of the Blight Act, the Zoning Office has posted notices at abandoned and dilapidated buildings along Beach Road. Business owners have 60 days to work with the zoning administrator to abate the nuisance, fix or remove the blight, Hofschneider said.
