The purpose of this chapter is to define, prohibit and abate
blights and nuisances, including unsightly materials and unregistered
and inoperable motor vehicles, from property within the Town of Southington,
and to protect, preserve and promote public health, safety and welfare,
and to preserve and protect property values. This chapter is adopted
pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes and is considered a "blight
ordinance."
[Added 3-12-2018]
This chapter is enacted pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes,
§§ 7-148(c)(7)(H)(xv) and 7-152c, and Public Acts 2012,
No 12-146.
This chapter shall apply to the maintenance of all business,
industrial and residentially zoned premises now in existence or hereafter
constructed, maintained or modified but shall exclude agricultural
lands as defined in Section 22-3(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes;
land dedicated as public or semipublic open space or preserved in
its natural state through conservation easements; or areas designated
as inland wetlands and watercourses.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this chapter:
DECAY
A wasting or wearing away; a gradual decline in strength,
soundness or quality; to become decomposed or rotten, except a contained
compost pile.
INOPERABLE
Inoperable, as used herein, shall be defined as a motor vehicle
which is incapable of being legally operated on public roads without
major work or modifications. Missing parts or broken or severely damaged
components shall be prima facie evidence of inoperability.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle propelled or drawn by any power other than muscular,
as defined in C.G.S. § 14-1(53), as amended.
PERSON
Any man, woman, corporation or other legal entity capable
of owning real property.
PREMISES
A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or 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
at grade level.
STRUCTURE
Any building, dwelling, fence, swimming pool, or similarly
constructed object.
UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES
Any motor vehicle which is not registered and displaying
number plates in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Chapter
246.
UNSIGHTLY MATERIALS
Parts of motor vehicles as well as, but not limited to, unusable
and/or discarded household appliance, furniture, equipment, building
materials, junk and refuse, as well as any other materials which are
unsanitary.
The Town shall have the right to collect from any owner of an
unregistered or inoperable motor vehicle or from the person in possession
or control, or owner of the property where such violation of this
section exists, the costs incurred in removing and/or disposing of
such motor vehicle or other personal property. A bill for the Town's
costs of removal and disposal shall be promptly sent by the Town to
the appropriate person. When the full amount of costs due the Town
is not paid by the appropriate person within 30 days after the bill
for such costs has been submitted, the Town may file a lien upon such
property.
The owner, lessee or occupant of premises subject to this chapter,
including the agents thereof, shall be jointly and severally obligated
to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Whenever the person,
as herein defined, is a corporation or other legal entity, the statutorily
required officers thereof shall be jointly and severally responsible
with that corporation or other legal entity.