Port Chester Extends Building Amnesty Program 4 Months

Port Chester is extending its ongoing building violations amnesty program for another four months.

The program, which is designed to encourage property owners in the village to clear up problems related to old building permits and violations, was originally set to take applications up until Dec. 31. After community meetings about the program, members of the village Board of Trustees have decided to give property owners another four months to apply.

Port Chester Village Manager Christopher Steers said about 63 property owners have submitted applications to the program. What he's seen so far with the program, Steers told the Board of Trustees that he expects the issues related to those properties can likely be cleared up by June 2013.

By expanding the program, Steers told trustees he expects the applications could reach beyond 300. As a matter of business, Steers said the village Building Department should be able to handle the additional work that would come from the extended amnesty program.

Property owners who apply for the amnesty can find out from the village how to correct problems related to their properties, with fines and fees waived. Property owners — residential, multi-family and commercial — get 18 months to follow up.