At my suggestion, the City Council is likely to adopt new regulations that require the owners of vacant lots in commercial areas to screen their properties with wrought-iron fences and evergreens. This requirement, while certainly not a substitute for positive development of underutilized lots, will help improve the appearance of several commercial arteries and limit the blighting influence of vacant — and often unkempt — properties. The currently vacant parcel on North Avenue, directly across from Beechmont Drive, is a good example of a site that will benefit from this treatment.
