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How would this help? If the existing operators refuse to lower rents and leave their spaces vacant then under this scheme no one else can build new spaces which rent at lower rates. You would just be stuck with vacant properties at above-market rates.

This policy would backfire greatly. For one, if I want to keep a competitor from expanding into my town, I'll just lease some commercial space and keep it vacant. That way they cannot build in my town.

That is a bad answer because it invites too much power to those commissions/boards. They already have a lot of power which they abuse (in places) to not allow things they don't like that would be good for the community.

Just charge a fine for poorly maintained space that degrades the community. They do this for homeowners.

No, Just Tax Land (TM)