[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Stillwater as § 3-5 of the 1971 Revised
General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 8-18-1992 by Ord. No. 92-15]
Chapter XXI, Campgrounds, of the New Jersey
State Sanitary Code, as from time to time amended and supplemented
and set forth in the New Jersey Administrative Code as N.J.A.C. 8:22-1.1
et seq., adopted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:1A-7, is hereby recognized,
the provisions of which, together with the provisions set forth in
this chapter, shall constitute the standards and requirements governing
campgrounds, camp dwellings and facilities located in the Township
and shall be used as a guide in determining whether they are safe,
sanitary and fit for human habitation, occupancy and use by owners
or lessees.
A.
The Township Committee is hereby designated the municipal
authority for the administration of this chapter.
[Amended 8-18-1992 by Ord. No. 92-15]
B.
The Township Clerk shall be responsible for receiving
all applications for the operation of campgrounds, notifying other
Township agencies concerned of the application received and distributing
copies of the application, together with all accompanying information,
receiving fees and issuing licenses.
[Amended 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16]
C.
The Construction Official shall be designated the
chief enforcing officer and shall process all complaints and initiate
any corrective action resulting from his own inspection. He shall
determine which agencies are needed for inspections and shall see
that inspections are made in due time and that reports are submitted
to the Township Committee. Each other enforcing officer shall submit
his or her report through his or her own committee or board; if a
board report is necessary, the board shall add its comments and recommendations.
All such reports shall be submitted to the chief enforcing officer
and thence to the Township Committee. The Construction Official shall
be responsible for annually causing an inspection to be made of all
campgrounds and shall have available to him the services of the Building
Subcode Official, Sanitarian, Zoning Officer and any other enforcing
officials as may be required.
[Added 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
[Amended 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16]
Eight copies of the application and any accompanying
material shall be filed with the Township Clerk on or before April
1, 2004, of each calendar year.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 3-5.4, Application
fee, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 8-17-2004
by Ord. No. 2004-16.
[Amended 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16]
If an annual license application is denied because
of failure to comply with any regulation within the New Jersey State
Sanitary Code, the applicant, upon request, shall be afforded a hearing
before the Township Committee at which he shall be entitled to show
that because of soil, topographical and hydrological conditions and
the natural vegetation and environment at the campsite, the prescribed
regulations cannot be complied with. After such hearing, the Township
Committee shall either confirm its denial or modify such requirement
of the Sanitary Code in accordance with its findings.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 3-5.6, Permits
to construct or expand campgrounds, which immediately followed this
section, was deleted 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2; 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16]
A.
Upon certification to the Township Clerk by the Construction
Official and the Zoning Officer that a campground is in compliance
with all relevant state and municipal regulations and upon payment
to the Township Clerk of the annual license fee, the Township Clerk
shall issue a license for the operation of the campground. Each operating
license shall expire April 30 of each year.
B.
Application for an annual operating license shall
be filed by April 15 of each year with the Township Clerk, who shall
issue same upon payment of the annual licensing fee, but no such license
shall be issued until the applicant for the license shall file with
the Township Clerk a certification from the Tax Collector that there
are no outstanding taxes due and unpaid on the campground property
and the report of the Construction Officials annual inspection of
the campground showing that there are no violations of this chapter
or of any provisions of the Sanitary Code or other ordinance relating
to public health and safety, nor any violation of the New Jersey Administrative
Code.
[Amended 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16; 6-14-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-9]
There is a fee of $10 for each campsite in each
campground, with a minimum fee of $250. This license fee is for the
purpose of defraying the administrative costs, including any inspection
costs, incurred by the Township in issuing the annual license.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
The Construction Official of the Township is
hereby designated as the officer to exercise the powers prescribed
for him by this chapter, and he shall serve in such capacity without
any additional salary.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
The Construction Official shall cause the annual inspection required by § 140-2 to be completed and his report filed with the Township Clerk by April 15 of each year. The Building Subcode Official, Sanitary Inspector, Fire Subcode Official and any other inspectors shall make inspections to determine the condition of camp dwellings, campsites, accessory buildings, sanitary facilities and all other facilities located within the Township in order to safeguard the health and safety of the occupants and of the general public. They are authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all campsites and facilities. The owner, occupant, lessee or person in charge thereof shall give said inspectors free access to any camp dwellings and facilities, subject to requirements of law relative to procurement of a search warrant for a particular inspection or for a general program of inspections. Every occupant of the campsite and camp dwelling shall give the owner or his agent or employee access to any part of the camp dwelling and facilities at all reasonable times to make such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
Whenever the Construction Official determines
that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a
violation of any provision of this chapter or of any rule or regulation
adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such alleged violation
to the person responsible. This notice shall:
A.
Be put in writing.
B.
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being
issued.
C.
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any
act it requires.
D.
Be served upon the owner, his agent or the occupant,
as the case may require, provided that the notice shall be deemed
to be properly served upon the owner, agent or occupant if a copy
is served upon him personally or if a copy is sent by registered mail
to his last known address or if a copy is posted in a conspicuous
place in or about the dwelling affected by the notice or if he is
served with the notice by any other method authorized or required
under the laws of this state. The notice may contain an outline of
remedial action which will effect compliance with the provisions of
this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
Any person affected by any notice which has
been issued in connection with the enforcement of any provision of
this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant hereto may
request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Township
Committee, provided that the person files in the office of the Township
Clerk, within 10 days after the day the notice was served, a written
petition requesting a hearing and setting forth a brief statement
of the grounds therefor. Any notice served pursuant to this chapter
shall automatically become an order if a written petition for a hearing
is not filed in the office of the Township Clerk within 10 days after
notice is served.
[Amended 5-4-1982 by Ord. No. 82-5]
Upon receipt of the petition, the Township Clerk
shall set a time and place for the hearing and shall give the petitioner
written notice thereof. At the hearing, the petitioner shall be given
an opportunity to be heard and to show why the notice should be modified
or withdrawn. The hearing shall be commenced not later than 16 days
after the day on which the petition was filed, provided that, upon
application of the petitioner, the Township Committee may postpone
the date of the hearing for a reasonable time beyond such sixteen-day
period if, in its judgment, the petitioner has submitted a good and
sufficient reason for postponement. A permittee shall reimburse the
Township for all costs or expenses incurred in connection with any
hearing necessitated by or resulting from any alleged violation of
any provision of this chapter, including the costs and legal expenses
incurred by the Township in connection with any prosecution brought
in the Municipal Court or any suit instituted in the Superior Court
of New Jersey to restrain or enjoin continued violation of any regulation
or in connection with any appeals taken therefrom, and a copy of this
provision shall be attached to and made a part of any license or permit
issued or renewed after the effective date of this amendment.
After the hearing the Township Committee shall
sustain, modify or withdraw the notice, depending upon its findings
regarding compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules
and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. If the Township Committee
sustains or modifies the notice, it shall be deemed to be an order.
The proceedings at the hearing, including the
findings and decision of the Township Committee, shall be summarized
and entered as a matter of written public record in the office of
the Township Clerk. This record shall also include a copy of every
notice or order issued in connection with the matter.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the
Township Committee may seek relief in any court of competent jurisdiction
as provided by the laws of the state.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
Whenever the Construction Official finds that
an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the
public health or safety, he may, without notice or hearing, issue
an order reciting the existence of this emergency and requiring that
such action be taken as he deems necessary to meet it. Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this chapter, this order shall be effective
immediately. Any person to whom such an order is directed shall comply
immediately but, upon petition to the Township Committee, shall be
afforded a hearing as soon as possible. The Township Committee shall
continue such order in effect or modify or revoke it, depending upon
its findings as to whether or not compliance with the provisions of
this chapter and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto
has been met.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
The Construction Official is authorized and
empowered to make and adopt such written rules and regulations as
he deems necessary for the proper enforcement of the provisions of
this chapter, provided that such rules and regulations are not in
conflict with the provisions of this chapter nor in any way alter,
amend or supersede any of the provisions. The Construction Official
shall file a certified copy in his office and in the office of the
Township Clerk of all rules and regulations which he may adopt.
The following requirements reflect municipal
requirements over and above the basic requirements of the State Department
of Health, pursuant to Section 1.1 of Chapter XI:
A.
No person shall occupy as owner or occupant, or rent
or make available to another for occupancy, any camp dwelling or its
facilities which does not conform to the provisions of Chapter XI
and this chapter which are established hereby as the standards to
be used in determining whether a camp dwelling is safe, sanitary and
fit for human habitation.
B.
"Campground" shall mean a plot of ground upon which
two or more campsites are located, established or maintained and occupied
by camping units of the general public as temporary human living quarters
for a total of 15 days or more in any calendar year for vacation purposes.
No campground shall hereafter be established on a tract of land containing
less than 50 acres.
[Amended 5-4-1982 by Ord. No. 82-5]
C.
"Camping vehicle" shall mean and include any camp
trailer, travel trailer or other unit built or mounted on a vehicle
or chassis designed without permanent foundation which is used for
temporary dwelling or sleeping purposes. A camping vehicle shall not
include any camp trailer, travel trailer or other unit carrying the
ANSI (American National Standards Institute) designation A119.5. A
camping vehicle carrying the designation A119.5 is defined as any
recreational vehicle that is primarily designed to provide temporary
living quarters for recreation, camping or seasonal use; built on
a single chassis; mounted on wheels; which has a gross trailer area
not exceeding 400 square feet in the set up mode.
[Amended 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16]
D.
Camping vehicles with the ANSI (American National
Standards Institute) designation A119.5 are expressly prohibited unless
that vehicle was located within the campground prior to November 1,
2014. Any person owning any such existing ANSI-designated A119.5 camping
vehicle may replace the preexisting camping vehicle with another camping
vehicle also bearing the ANSI designation of A119.5 camping vehicle.
Prior to the replacement of any such camping vehicle, the occupant
shall first obtain a zoning permit from the Stillwater Township Zoning
Officer, which shall only be issued upon proof of the existence of
the ANSI-designated A119.5 camping vehicle as of November 1, 2014.
In the event that any such vehicle is replaced, it shall only be replaced
on the location where the prior ANSI-designated A119.5 camping vehicle
was located. If any such ANSI-designated A119.5 camping vehicle is
removed and replaced with some other permitted camping vehicle the
right to replace the ANSI-designated A119.5 camping vehicle shall
expire, and it may not subsequently be replaced with another ANSI-designated
A119.5 camping vehicle.
[Added 8-17-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-16; amended 12-16-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-22]
A.
The owner of any private campground shall maintain
a log of every camper who uses the campground facilities. The log
shall contain:
B.
Each annual register shall be retained by the owner
for the next two succeeding years, and it shall be made available
upon request for inspection by the Sanitary Inspector, any police
officer of the Township or the State Police.
A.
No campsite shall be less than 100 feet from a public
highway right-of-way or from a property line, except where a property
line is a boundary between a CR District and R-60 or R-15 District,
as defined in the Zoning Ordinance of the Township,[1] in which event the required distance from the property
line shall be not less than 200 feet.
B.
No campsite shall be located less than 200 feet from
any stream, lake, swamp or wetland.
A.
The density of campsites permitted in any campground
shall be limited to twice the permitted density of single-family dwellings
permitted in the zoning district in question as adjusted by the density
adjustment factor set forth in the Land Subdivision Ordinance of the
Township.[1]
[Amended 5-21-1985 by Ord. No. 85-7]
B.
Each campsite, including parking space, shall provide
a minimum of 1,800 square feet of space.
Each campsite may accommodate one or two camping units occupied by the camper and party, but in no case shall the total of overnight occupants in the campground exceed a density of six times the number of campsites permitted by § 140-20A. Maximum occupancy per camping unit shall be six persons.
A.
Access for camping vehicles and other vehicular traffic
to the campground shall be from streets or roads available for public
use by means of one or more roadways joining the streets or roads
at an angle of not less than 60°, having a radius of not less
than 50 feet from juncture with streets or roads and an unobstructed
vision of the streets or roads for 300 feet thereof, and shall be
approved by the Township or County Engineer. Roadways shall be of
sufficient width for two camping vehicles to pass conveniently and
shall be so constructed as to minimize dust, ruts and mudholes in
accordance with standards approved by the Township Engineer.
B.
Pedestrians not using campground roadways shall enter
the campground and exit therefrom at specified points at which warning
signs or overpasses are provided.
Potable water supply points and drinking fountains
shall be provided convenient to access and not farther than 200 feet
from any campsite.
If provided, fireplaces shall be located in
a safe and convenient location meeting the approval of the Fire Chief
having jurisdiction over the area. The fireplaces shall be located
where they will not constitute a fire hazard to vegetation, undergrowth,
trees and camping units.
A.
Toilets and urinals shall be provided at one or more
locations in every campground. They shall be convenient of access
and shall not be located farther than 600 feet from any campsite nor
within 200 feet of an adjoining property line, stream, lake, swamp
or wetland.
B.
The privy vault shall be so constructed and maintained
that flies cannot gain access to the excremental matter therein, and
such excremental matter shall at all times be prevented from falling
on or spilling over upon the surface of the ground. The vault shall
be set at least four feet above the prevailing water table.
C.
No privy shall be located less than 100 feet from
any well or well point, stream, lake, swamp or wetland, nor less than
50 feet from any campsite or 200 feet from any adjoining property
line.
A.
No sewer line or appurtenance shall be located less
than 100 feet from any well or well point, stream, lake, swamp or
wetland or any adjoining property.
B.
Each holding tank emptying station shall be conveniently
located but shall not be less than 100 feet from any well or well
point, stream, lake, swamp or wetland, nor less than 50 feet from
any campsite nor 200 feet from any adjoining property line.
C.
Where the sewer lines of a campground are not connected
to a public sewer system, a sewage disposal system approved by the
local Board of Health shall be installed in accordance with local
requirements, provided that no sewage disposal system shall be located
less than 200 feet from any well or well point, stream, lake, swamp
or wetland or any adjoining property line.
Holding tank emptying stations shall be provided
for all camping vehicles and shall comply with the regulations set
forth in Section 6.3 of Chapter XI of the New Jersey Sanitary Code.
A.
Advertising signs provided for in Section 3.8a of
Chapter XI shall not exceed 20 square feet in area per sign and shall
be set back 20 feet or such farther distance from any public road
right-of-way as may be necessary to prevent obstruction or inhibition
of a clear view of the road by persons using same. Only nonflashing
and nonblinking white lights shall be permitted.
B.
Electric lighting shall be provided at all water points,
toilets or privies, pay telephone stations, utility buildings or offices,
roadway connections and at such other locations as may be required
by the Township Committee to protect the public health, safety and
welfare.
C.
Pay telephone service shall be provided at all campgrounds.
[Amended 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2; 12-1-1992 by Ord. No.
92-19]
During May, June, July, August, September and
October, no camping unit, camping vehicle or other camping equipment
on a campsite or in a campground be lived in or occupied for more
than 31 consecutive days.
In the construction, expansion or operation
of any campground or facility thereof, all trees and other vegetation
on the campground site shall be left unimpaired and preserved in their
natural state to the greatest extent possible. No such trees or vegetation
shall be cut, destroyed or otherwise unmoved except where such action
is clearly required to permit the construction, expansion or maintenance
of any campsite or campground facility or to protect the public health
or safety.
[Added 4-7-1981 by Ord. No. 81-2]
A full-time security guard shall he maintained
in any campground where there are more than 100 camping vehicles located
in the licensed campground.
