The exterior exposed surfaces susceptible to
decay of any building constituting or containing a dwelling unit,
or designed for human occupancy, on any lot in this Township shall
be kept at all times painted or otherwise provided with a protective
coating or surface sufficient to prevent deterioration. This provision
shall not apply during the course of active construction projects
for which a construction permit has been issued, provided that no
more than six months has expired since the issuance of such permit.
[Amended 9-7-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-14]
A. Cutting of plant life close to dwellings. All areas installed with
lawns or other ground areas surrounding a dwelling or other building
designed for human occupancy, to a distance of 100 feet therefrom
on the side or rear thereof, and the entire area between such dwelling
or other such building and the street on which such lot fronts, shall
be maintained to a lawn or ground cover growth of not more than eight
inches. Planted shrubs, hedges, bushes, trees and other plant life
in these areas shall be maintained so as not to pose a danger to persons
or property, and dead plant life and downed trees shall be removed.
This provision shall not apply to areas of natural growth not ordinarily
maintained, such as forested areas or wetlands, and shall not apply
to areas actively devoted to agriculture.
B. Parties. The owner, tenant, occupant, agent, and lessee of lands
in Holland Township shall all be subject to the provisions of this
section.
C. Notice to cut. All brush, grass, shrubs, hedges, bushes, trees, or other plant life growing or remaining on the property in violation of Subsection
A, above, shall be cut so that it complies with such requirements within 10 days after notice to cut the same has been given to the owner, occupant, lessee, agent and tenant of the property by the Township. Such notice shall be in writing by the Zoning Officer, and shall be served personally upon the owner, occupant, lessee, agent, and tenant of the property, or by sending a notice by registered mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail to the last known address of the owner, as shown on the tax records of the Township, by posting on the subject property, or by any combination thereof.
D. Removal by Township; bill owner. If the owner, occupant, lessee,
agent or tenant fails to comply with such notice within the time provided,
the Zoning Officer shall arrange for the cutting and/or removal of
the grass, brush, hedge, tree, or other plant life and shall thereafter
certify to the Township Committee the cost of same, and, if found
correct, the Township Committee shall send the bill to the owner for
payment.
E. Lien. If payment is not made within 30 days, the amount so charged
shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands and shall be added to
and become and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied
upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as other
taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and
in the same manner as taxes.
F. Violations and penalties. Violations of the provisions of this article, by any owner, occupant, lessee, agent or tenant of the subject property who received notice of same as provided in Subsection
B, shall be punishable as provided in §
1-15. The imposition of any fine or punishment shall not constitute a bar to the right of the Township to also collect reimbursement for the cost of the removal and lien as set forth in Subsections
C and
D.
Owners and occupants of lots in this Township shall have the responsibilities prescribed by §§
109-3 and
109-4 of this chapter. No owner or occupant shall be relieved from such responsibilities nor be entitled to defend against any charge of violation thereof by reason of the fact that the other of the occupant or owner is also responsible therefor and may be in violation thereof.
Any person, firm or corporation found in violation of any provision of §
109-3 or
109-4 of this chapter shall be subject to the general penalty set forth in §
1-15 of the Code of the Township of Holland.