The Delaware County Redevelopment Authority has released proposed guidelines on how a new online land bank will work here in Delaware County.

A land bank combats neighborhood blight by allowing people to acquire vacant, tax-delinquent properties to turn them into housing, commercial development, and green space.

Before all that happens, the Authority needs comments from the public, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

Comments can be submitted until May 5 by filling out the online form.

The land bank guidelines look at property acquisition, discharge of liabilities, cleaning up titles, and disposition, said Winnie Branton, the principal of consulting firm Branton Strategies.

Branton worked with the county to create the land bank.

The guidelines will be adjusted based on the public comment it receives before a formal policy is adopted.

Afterward, the Delaware County Redevelopment Authority will negotiate with municipalities about delinquent properties.

“We need to have agreements in place with the municipalities that we’re going to be operating in here because we will be taking properties with tax liens and other delinquent payments into the land bank and part of the process for the land bank is extinguishing those,” said Matt Sullivan, chair of the redevelopment authority.

Read more about public input on a new land bank in Delaware County at WHYY.

Here are a few things you should know about land banking.