BROOMFIELD — A controversial nuisance ordinance designed to force residents to maintain their homes and landscaping is being used sparingly, say officials and those who opposed the measure.
After six months on the books, only three properties have been found to be in violation of the ordinance.
Properties not in compliance with at least three of 17 “property nuisance” categories are found to be in violation.
Two of the cited properties were ticketed for buckled concrete, busted garage doors and overgrown weeds. The third had a sidewalk obstructed by vegetation, rubbish on the property and overgrown weeds, the city said.
Owners of properties found to be in violation have 21 days to clean up their land or face possible fines.
The city also is monitoring 11 properties cited for two nuisance-violation items, the city said.
Louise Benson, who led the fight against the ordinance, said she is surprised only three properties were cited. “We walked the older neighborhoods, and it looked like there were one or two houses per block that looked to be in violation,” she said.
City-code officers may be reluctant to cite too many homeowners because it would prove costly for many who are already struggling, Benson said.
“Maybe they are cognizant that these are rough economic times,” she said.
The City Council passed the ordinance in September 2008 to force property owners to fix homes that have fallen into chronic disrepair.
The nuisance hit list includes: siding where at least 10 percent of it is damaged, broken or missing; a roof at least 10 percent of which is falling apart or has damaged or missing shingles; missing doors; and missing or broken garage doors.
Benson and a group of residents gathered almost 1,000 signatures to force the council to put the proposed ordinance on last November’s ballot. They claimed Broomfield was trying to force out residents who couldn’t afford repairs.
The measure passed, 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent.
The city says the focus of the ordinance is on compliance and not punishment. In his report to the City Council last week, code-compliance manager Kirk Oglesby said publicity about the ordinance may have prompted many to clean up their properties.
Also, new owners of foreclosed homes are doing the needed repairs, he said.
Mayor Patrick Quinn said he was not surprised that so few homes were cited, because the ordinance was not designed to be used as a broad-based hammer against property owners. “It was always viewed as just as another tool for the city to get compliance,” he said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
