Petrolia's Marketing Director has come up with a plan to spruce up the downtown and attract new business at the same time.
Laurissa Ellsworth says vacant buildings that fall into disrepair hinder economic development, as well as decrease property value to the businesses around them.
She suggests the town adopt a bylaw to force building owners to maintain minimum building maintenance or be fined.
Signs would have to be removed and after 30 days, the owner would have to register with the town for $750, and be fined up to $500 per violation.
"It would be part of our beautification bylaw and part of our downtown vacancy and under-utilization bylaw and enforced through our partnership with the county,' she says.
Ellsworth is also recommending that grants be given to business owners in "Operation Facelift".
She'd also like to see an "Open Program" entice small business owners operating out of their home to set up a "pop up" store in vacant space for a short period of time to see if they could open on a full-time basis.
