No owner, agent, tenant, firm, corporation,
or person in control of real property, taxable or tax exempt, located
in the City of Meriden shall create, allow, maintain or cause to be
maintained, continue, or suffer to exist a blighted premises.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following
words, terms and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
BLIGHT
Any building or structure or any parcel of land in which
at least one of the following conditions exists shall be considered
blighted:
A.
It is becoming dilapidated as defined herein.
B.
It is not being maintained as defined herein.
C.
It is a fire hazard as determined by the Fire
Marshal or documented by the Fire Department or the Building Department.
D.
It is unsanitary as determined by report of
the Department of Health that existing conditions constitute a life-threatening
hazard or a hazard that puts at risk the health or safety of the citizens
of the City.
E.
It is a factor creating a substantial and unreasonable
interference with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of other
space within the neighborhood.
F.
It is a substantial factor causing serious depreciation
of the property values in the neighborhood.
G.
There exist at the property conditions promoting
rodent harborage and/or infestation.
H.
There exist at the property overgrown shrubs,
brush or weeds.
I.
Parking lots/areas are left in a state of disrepair
or abandonment and/or are used to store abandoned or unregistered
vehicles.
J.
Chimneys and similar appurtenances are in a
state of disrepair.
K.
Overhanging extensions, including but not limited
to canopies, marquees, signs, awnings, stairways, fire escapes, standpipes,
and exhaust ducts, contain rust or other decay.
L.
It is a factor creating the cancellation of
insurance on proximate properties.
M.
Graffiti exists at the premises.
N.
Garbage on the property is not stored in standard
containers and/or is scattered throughout the yard.
O.
The property contains dead, decayed, diseased
or damaged trees that constitute a hazard or danger or are objectionable
to adjacent premises or the occupants thereof or to public property
or persons lawfully therein.
P.
Noxious plants such as poison ivy, poison sumac,
poison oak, or ragweed are allowed to grow unchecked on the property.
Q.
There exists on the property stagnant or unsanitary
water in which mosquitoes may breed; garbage, sewage, excrement, manure
or other foul, decayed, putrid, unwholesome, deleterious or offensive
thing or substance; animal carcasses or parts thereof; or trash, rubbish,
rubble, tires, brush, used materials or discarded items of little
or no value.
R.
Refuse or filth is discharged from the property
into a stream, well, spring, brook, ditch, pond, river, or other inland
waters within the City, or such substances are placed on the property
in such position that high water or natural seepage will carry the
same into such waters.
BUILDING OFFICIAL
The building official as defined in Connecticut General Statutes
§ 29-260.
CITATION
A written statement of the relevant conditions and facts
giving rise to the specified violation, including a reference to the
specific section of the ordinance which has been violated and the
amount prescribed as a fine for the violation(s).
DEBRIS
Material which is incapable of immediately performing the
function for which it was designed, including but not limited to abandoned,
discarded, or unused objects; junk or collections of equipment such
as automobiles, boats and recreation vehicles which are missing parts,
not complete in appearance and in an obvious state of disrepair; and
parts of automobiles, furniture, appliances, cans, boxes, scrap metal,
tires, batteries, containers, and garbage.
DECAY
A wasting or wearing away; a gradual decline in strength,
soundness or quality; to become decomposed or rotten.
DILAPIDATED
A building is considered dilapidated if any of the following
conditions exist:
A.
The structure is unable to provide shelter or
to serve the purpose for which it was constructed due to poor conditions.
B.
Any walls, supports, floors or foundations appear
to be poorly maintained or in disrepair to the extent that presents
a safety concern.
C.
Damage exists from fire, wind, or other causes
so that the building is unsightly and no longer provides shelter from
the elements and has become dangerous to the life, safety, or general
health and welfare of the occupants or the residents of the City.
D.
There are missing, broken, or improperly boarded
windows or doors.
E.
Stairs, porches, railings, handrails, and/or
basement hatchways are unsafe or unsightly.
F.
Conditions exist that are likely to cause sickness
or disease or injury to the health, safety or general welfare of the
persons living therein or of the people at large.
EXEMPT PROPERTY
Land dedicated as public or semipublic open space, land preserved
in its natural state through conservation easements, or areas designated
as inland wetlands and watercourses shall be exempted from this chapter.
Properties acquired by the City of Meriden through foreclosure, etc.,
shall be exempted from this chapter for a period of nine months post
acquisition.
LITTER
Any discarded, used, or unconsumed substance or waste material,
whether made of aluminum, glass, plastic, rubber, paper, or other
natural or synthetic material, or any combination thereof, including
but not limited to any bottle, jar, or can or any top, cap or detachable
tab of any bottle, jar, or can; any unlighted cigarette, cigar, match
or any flaming or glowing material; or any garbage, trash, refuse,
debris, rubbish, grass clippings or other lawn or garden waste, newspaper,
magazine, glass, metal, plastic, or paper containers or other packaging
or construction material, which has not been deposited in a receptacle.
NEIGHBORHOOD
An area of the City comprised of premises or parcels of land
any part of which is within a contiguous radius of 1,000 feet of any
other parcel within the City of Meriden.
NOT BEING MAINTAINED
A structure is not being maintained if any of the following
conditions apply:
A.
Siding, roofing, or gutters are damaged, missing,
or show signs of disrepair.
B.
Windows or doors are missing or improperly boarded
over.
C.
Garbage, trash, litter, rubbish, or debris are
situated on the premises.
D.
Abandoned, wrecked, or junked motor vehicles
are stored on the premises.
E.
Lawns, landscaping, or driveways are deteriorating
or unkempt.
F.
Trees, shrubs, hedges, grass or plants block
or interfere with any road sign or obstruct any walkway, driveway,
or street.
PREMISES
Any parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied
by any dwelling or nondwelling structure, and includes any such building,
accessory structure or other structure thereon, or any part thereof.
The term "premises," where the context requires, shall be deemed to
include any buildings, dwellings, parcels of land or structures contained
within the scope of this chapter.
PUBLIC VIEW
Visible from any public right-of-way or neighboring property.
RUBBISH
Any nonputrescible waste materials, except ashes, including
but not limited to paper, cardboard, tin cans, wood, glass, bedding,
furniture, crockery, appliances, junk automobiles, demolition material,
tree limbs, and industrial wastes.
STRUCTURE
Any building, dwelling, fence, swimming pool, or similarly
constructed object.
UNIT
Any space within a building that is or can be rented by or
to a single person or entity for his or its sole use and is intended
to be a single and distinct space.
The Director of Development and Enforcement
and his/her designee shall be responsible for enforcement of this
chapter. The Director of Health and Human Services and the City Manager
or his designee shall assist, in an advisory capacity, with the administration
of this chapter.
Violations of the provisions of this chapter
shall be punishable by a fine of $100 for each day a violation exists
and continues.