Town Uses Cannabis Funds to Clean Up Run-Down Properties
Abandoned and dilapidated properties are being cleaned up in the Town of Edgewood at a faster pace than other New Mexico communities thanks to a town ordinance set up by the commission in 2023 and and from cannabis sales within town limits.
The Cannabis Regulation Act /Nuisance Abatement Fund ordinance has made progress bringing dilapidated properties into compliance, and in several cases, has made way for new residential properties to take their place.
The new approach follows a civil procedure rather than a criminal process for nuisance properties, defined as a property with excessive trash and debris, abandoned vehicles, dilapidated buildings or any combination of those. In some cases, the buildings are abandoned or have gone into foreclosure. Edgewood officials say the approach is less contentious and more cost effective for property owners and the town. Bringing blighted properties into compliance typically involves large-scale clean up or removal of vehicles or structures. Homeowners have the option to complete those tasks on their own in an agreed upon time frame. Alternatively, the town can do the work using a fund from its cannabis gross receipts tax revenue and then put a lien on the property to recover clean-up costs. Upon sale of the property, the town is reimbursed for its cleanup expenses.
Under the ordinance, Edgewood requires vacant properties to be registered with the town. This provides a way for the town to contact property owners should a nuisance problem arise. Oftentimes, the property owners are longdistance and may be unaware of the property’s condition.
“I was pleased to find that most of the property owners we were able to engage with were willing to work positively with the Town to resolve the nuisance concerns,” said Brad Hill, Planning & Zoning Manager. “Most of the property owners fully understood why these issues needed to be addressed and worked with staff to find an agreeable solution.” Edgewood’s new approach is proving effective, in part because it is less contentious and more cost effective for property owners and the town.
“Planning & Zoning Manager Hill is doing a great job of working with the community while preserving their property rights, protecting the character of our neighborhoods, and preventing them from being degraded,” said Town Commissioner Jerry Powers.
Since adopting the new ordinance, in less than a year, 13 nuisance properties have been successfully abated. Of those, eleven voluntarily complied and two went to adjudication.
The level of success Edgewood has raised interest from other municipalities in New Mexico where getting nuisance properties cleaned up typically takes years and numerous criminal court filings and appearances.