It being found by the Town Meeting that the existence of blighted
properties, buildings and structures adversely affects the economic
well-being of the Town of Griswold and the Borough of Jewett City
and is inimical to the health, safety, and general welfare of its
residents, the purpose of this chapter, adopted pursuant to Connecticut
General Statutes § 7-148(c)(7)(H)(xv), therefore to define,
prohibit and provide for the abatement of blight on properties so
as to preserve and protect property values in the Town of Griswold
and the Borough of Jewett City and the well-being of its residents
and property owners.
This chapter applies to all parcels of land within the Town
of Griswold and the Borough of Jewett City upon which blight exists
with the exception of:
A. Agricultural lands as defined in Connecticut General Statutes § 22-3(b),
as amended;
B. Land dedicated as public or semipublic open space or preserved in
its natural state through conservation easements; or
C. Areas designated as inland wetlands and watercourses.
The following definitions apply in the interpretation and enforcement
of this chapter:
BLIGHTED PROPERTY
To be a property, structure, building at or on which a blighted
condition exists.
A.
It has been determined by the Blight Enforcement Officer that
a condition exists on property that poses a serious or immediate threat
to the health, safety or general welfare of the community.
B.
A property is in a state of neglect or a house, building, structure,
or any part thereof, on the property is dilapidated and/or one or
more of the following condition(s) exist(s) thereon:
(1)
Missing, broken or inadequately secured windows or doors;
(2)
Collapsing or missing exterior walls or roofs;
(3)
Structurally deficient conditions;
(4)
Unrepaired fire or water damage;
(5)
Substantially damaged or missing siding;
(6)
The persistent existence of garbage or trash on the property
not completely contained within trash or refuse containers securely
sealed by covers. Covering yard debris with tarp is not permitted;
(7)
The persistent existence of more than two vehicles on the property
that are inoperable or in a state of disrepair or major disassembly
or in the process of being stripped or dismantled including, cars,
trucks, campers, motorcycles, boats, mowers, farming and construction
equipment any one of which may also have missing doors or windows,
holes, rust, or obvious physical decay, or used for storage purposes;
(8)
Accumulated debris not properly stored or used for its intended
purposes including plastics, glass, papers, junk, furniture, appliances,
scrap metal, tires, batteries, containers, garbage and building materials;
(9)
Tarpaulins used for weather protection (roof coverings) for
periods exceeding 180 days in lieu of permanent approved roofing materials;
(10)
Overgrown vegetation and herbaceous materials including grass
exceeding 12 inches in height, including overgrown trees and shrubbery
impeding pedestrian traffic and/or vehicular traffic on sidewalks
and streets;
(11)
The Fire Marshal has notified the Blight Enforcement Officer
that a building or structure is a fire hazard and is a factor creating
a substantial problem with public safety for the use and enjoyment
of neighboring properties.
(12)
The Health Officer has determined that a building or structure
is a Health Hazard due to insect and/or rodent infestation. The storage
of debris on the property that serves as a haven for insect or rodent
infestation is not permitted. The Blight Enforcement Officer shall
independently inspect and verify if a blight condition exists.
DEBRIS
Anything that for a period of 30 days or longer remains in
public view on premises and that is incapable of immediately performing
the function for which it was designed. Debris includes, but is not
limited to:
A.
Abandoned, discarded, or unused objects;
B.
Furniture, equipment or appliances that are missing parts, not
complete in appearance, and in an obvious state of disrepair; and
C.
Cans, boxes, scrap metal, tires, batteries, containers, garbage,
parts of furniture or equipment and similar objects.
DECAY or DECAYED
A wasting or wearing away; a gradual decline in strength,
soundness or quality; decomposed or rotten, except as to a contained
compost pile.
DILAPIDATED
Any building, structure or parcel of land, or part thereof
in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect, and/or
which is deemed unsafe pursuant to the Connecticut State Building
Code, or the Connecticut Public Health Code, as they may be amended
from time to time, or any dwelling or dwelling unit which is designated
as unfit for human habitation as defined by the Connecticut Public
Health Code including but not limited to a building, structure, or
parcel of land that evidences disrepair that presents a safety concern
or evidences conditions that are likely to cause sickness, disease,
or injury to the general welfare of any of the persons living therein
or of the general public.
MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Any apparatus other than motor vehicles, including but not
limited to electric and pneumatic equipment, that is designed to be
operated by an engine or to be towed by any apparatus propelled by
an engine.
OWNER
Any natural or legal entity having an ownership interest
in a premises or buildings that are subject to this chapter. "Owner"
or "occupant" includes a "registrant" as defined in Connecticut General
Statutes § 7-148hh(1).
PREMISES
Any parcel of land or structure or building including residential,
commercial and industrial.
PUBLIC VIEW
Visible at ground level from any public right-of-way or adjacent
premises.
STRUCTURE
Any dwelling, shed or similar construction that is enclosed
in whole or in part.
Each owner or occupant of a premises or structures subject to
this chapter shall comply with its provisions and shall not cause
or allow such premises or structures to become blighted or to remain
in a blighted condition. These obligations exist jointly and severally
on affected owners or occupants.
The Blight Enforcement Officer shall be a Town official and/or
employee designated by the First Selectman. The Blight Enforcement
Officer shall be responsible for enforcing, and is hereby granted
the authority to enforce this chapter and to issue citations and/or
take other actions as he or she deems necessary to compel compliance
with this chapter.
Prior to the expiration of the correction period specified in
the notice of violation, the owner of the premises receiving a notice
may apply, in writing, to the Blight Enforcement Officer for an extension
of the correction period. The Blight Enforcement Officer may, in writing,
grant one extension of the correction period of no more than 30 days
if the officer determines that the owner is diligently working to
remedy the blighted condition and that under the facts and circumstances
an extension is reasonable. The Blight Enforcement Officer may provide
one or more subsequent extensions only upon the approval of the First
Selectman.
The First Selectman of the Town of Griswold shall appoint three citation hearing officers and a minimum of one alternate to conduct the hearing provided by §
124-10C of this chapter. Neither the Blight Enforcement Officer nor any Town of Griswold employee or Law Enforcement Officer shall be appointed as a citation hearing officer under this chapter. Three hearing officers shall sit on each appeal.
In addition to having a lien for abatement expenses, all unpaid
fines or costs shall constitute a lien upon the real estate in accordance
with Connecticut General Statutes § 7-148aa, and each such
lien shall be continued, recorded and released as provided therein.