GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Green Bay’s city council voted to send a proposed ordinance aimed at filling empty commercial buildings, back to committee Tuesday night.
The proposal would require property owners to register with the city within 60 days of their building becoming vacant.
The proposal carries exemptions including for buildings that have been marketed for sale or lease for up to 12 months, are actively under construction or rehab, require casualty repairs, the owner is on active military deployment or are part of legal proceedings.
Property owners that fall under one of these exemptions would still be required to register but would not need to pay the fee.
Violations of the ordinance could result in daily fines between $250 and $5,000, according to the proposed ordinance.
City officials say at least five other municipalities in the state have similar ordinances. Those communities include ones that are both bigger and smaller than Green Bay.
