New ordinance passes in Bristol VA concerning “unsafe structures”

The Bristol, Virginia City Council approved an ordinance concerning unsafe structures in the city. The ordinance requires property owners to remove, repair, or secure any structures deemed unsafe. Council member Neal Osborne said the ordinance strictly targets properties deemed “unlivable, not something that will happen if the city drives by and you’ve got a broken banister on your front porch,” he said. The owner would have at least 30 days to remedy the unsafe conditions, but if the structure posed a significant and immediate threat, the city could take action. Mayor Becky Nave said the ordinance may introduce a plan regarding the former Virginia Intermont campus. The meeting also discussed a proposed ordinance for an RV park on Stagecoach Road that had some nearby residents concerned. The council unanimously voted against the ordinance after several negative public comments.