Estherville, IA (KICD)– The City of Estherville is looking to update its code regarding standards for commercial buildings in town.

Code and Zoning Administrator Greg Van Langen tells KICD the hope with the proposed updates to both address empty buildings being used for storage while also bringing the existing code more in line with other regulations.

Van Langen says under the current policy, there is no way to regulate what a building physically looks like from the outside.

Van Langen says the ultimate goal would be to reduce the number of buildings in Estherville that are simply not used.

Van Langen says he has no problem showing leniency to those who have started improvements as long as work is getting done. The bigger focus would be on the structures that are in need of some upkeep with now real effort being put in.