[Ord. No. 53,
passed 9-6-1955]
No person owning or having a present interest in any real estate
in the Township shall permit weeds and similar vegetation, not edible
or planted for some useful or ornamental purpose, to grow or remain
on the premises owned by such person in the Township, and all such
vegetation is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to
the health, safety and comfort of the inhabitants of the Township.
[Ord. No. 53,
passed 9-6-1955]
All weeds or other vegetation permitted to grow or remain contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall be cut and removed by or under the direction of Council or any other person designated by Council, and the cost thereof, together with the penalties provided by law, shall be collected by lien or by action in assumpsit, or in any other manner provided by law. Such remedy shall be in addition to the penalty provided in Section
690.99.
[Added 6-12-2014 by Ord. No. 484]
(a) Regulations for planting, growing or cultivating bamboo. Subject
to the exemptions set forth in this section, no person, property owner
or tenant shall plant, cause to grow or cultivate any bamboo on any
lot or parcel of ground located in the boundaries of Upper Providence
Township, subject to the following exceptions:
(1)
The root system of the bamboo plants are entirely contained
within an aboveground planter, barrel or other container of such design,
material and location as to prevent the spread of the bamboo's
root system beyond the confines of the container that it is planted;
or
(2)
The root system is planted in the ground but is entirely contained
within a barrier, constructed in accordance with the following specifications.
Compliance with these specifications is subject to the inspection
by the Code Enforcement Officer.
A.
The barrier itself shall be composed of a high density polypropylene
or polyethylene, with a thickness of at least 40 mils;
B.
The barrier shall be secured and joined together by stainless
steel clamps or stainless steel closure strips designed to be used
with such barriers;
C.
The barrier shall be installed at least 30 inches deep;
D.
At least three inches of the barrier must protrude above ground
level around the perimeter of the bamboo;
E.
The barrier shall slant outward from bottom to top.
(3)
Whether planted or growing in a container, as described herein,
all bamboo plants shall be located, trimmed and maintained so that
no part of the plant is closer than 10 feet from any property line.
(b) Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any land owner or possessor
who, prior to the effective date of this section, had planted or caused
to grow any bamboo on any property within the Township boundaries
unless, upon determination of the Code Enforcement Officer, that any
portion of such bamboo has been allowed to grow upon, or its roots,
branches and/or stalks have extended onto or over, any public way
or another's private property.
(c) Complaint, notice, order for removal and compliance. Whenever a complaint
is received by the Township regarding the encroachment of any bamboo
plant or root, or whenever the Township on its own observations and
inspections determines that there is any encroachment of bamboo plants
or roots onto the property of another, public street or sidewalk,
the Township shall give notice to the landowner or tenant in possession
of the property to remove the offending bamboo or root system.
(1)
The notice shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt
requested, properly addressed and with sufficient postage, and the
notice shall be posted on the offending property in a conspicuous
place. Notice by certified mail shall be deemed complete on the date
of personal delivery or the date the certified mail is marked "refused,"
"unclaimed" or otherwise undeliverable by the United States Postal
Service.
(2)
The notice shall specify the nature of the violation.
(3)
The notice shall state that the violation must be corrected
within 30 days from the date of mailing or posting the property, whichever
is later.
(4)
The notice shall state specifically what must be done by the
responsible party to correct the violation and come in compliance
with this chapter.
(5)
The notice shall state that failure to comply within 30 days
will result in the removal of the offending bamboo or root system
by the Township and the billing of the responsible party. Or, in the
alternative, a citation will be issued daily until such time as the
offending bamboo or root system is removed.
(d) Repealer. All ordinances, resolutions, or parts thereof inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
(e) Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this
section, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance,
shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
the remainder of this chapter nor the application of such clause,
sentence, paragraph, or part to other persons or circumstances, directly
involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been
rendered. It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that
this chapter would have been adopted had such provisions not been
included or such persons or circumstances been expressly excluded
from their coverage.
(f) Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to penalties set forth in Section
690.99.
(g) Effective date. This section shall become effective five days after
passage.