[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Forks 6-18-2015 by Ord. No.
335. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the purpose and intent of the Township to establish a
process to address the deterioration and blight of Township neighborhoods
caused by an increasing amount of foreclosed or abandoned real property
located within the Township and to identify, regulate, limit and reduce
the number of abandoned properties located within the Township. It
is the Township's further intent to establish a registration
program as a mechanism to protect neighborhoods from becoming blighted
due to the lack of adequate maintenance and security of foreclosed
and abandoned properties.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Any real property in the Township that has become both vacant
and blighted.
A property or structure that is accessible through a compromised/breached
gate, fence, wall, etc., or a structure that is unsecured and/or breached
in such a way as to allow access to the interior space by unauthorized
persons.
Properties that have broken or severely damaged windows,
doors, walls, or roofs which create hazardous conditions and encourage
trespassing; or properties that endanger the public's health,
safety, or welfare because the properties or improvements thereon
are dilapidated, deteriorated, or violate minimum health and safety
standards.
Any Building Official, Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer,
Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, law enforcement officer, or other
person authorized by the Township to enforce the applicable code(s).
Any real property located in the Township, whether vacant
or occupied, that is subject to an ongoing foreclosure action by the
lender in the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, or has
been transferred to the lender under a deed in lieu of foreclosure.
The designation of a property as "foreclosed" shall remain in place
until such time as the property is sold or transferred to a new owner,
the foreclosure action has been dismissed, and any default on the
mortgage has been cured.
Any person, legal entity or other party having any ownership
interest, whether legal or equitable, in real property.
A local property manager, property maintenance company or
similar entity responsible for the management and/or maintenance of
real property.
Any building or structure that is not legally occupied.
These sections shall be considered cumulative and not superseding
or subject to any other law or provision for same, but rather shall
be an additional remedy available to the Township above and beyond
any other state, county or local provisions for same.
Pursuant to the provisions of § 52-5, the Township or its designee shall establish a registry cataloging each foreclosed or abandoned property within the Township, containing the information required by this chapter.
A.
Upon the filing of a complaint in mortgage foreclosure on any real
property located within the Township of Forks, the mortgagee (lender)
who holds such mortgage shall perform an inspection of the property
to determine vacancy or occupancy. The mortgagee shall, within 10
days of the inspection, register the property with the Codes Department,
or its designee, on forms or a website provided by the Township, and
indicate whether the property is vacant or occupied. A separate registration
is required for each property, whether it is found to be vacant or
occupied.
B.
If the property is occupied but remains subject to a complaint in
mortgage foreclosure, it shall be inspected by the mortgage or his
designee monthly until:
(1)
The complaint in mortgage foreclosure is dismissed; or
(2)
The property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy,
at which time it is deemed abandoned, and the mortgagee shall, within
10 days of that inspection, update the property registration to a
vacancy status on forms or website access provided by the Township.
C.
This section shall also apply to properties that have been the subject
of a foreclosure sale where the title was transferred to the beneficiary
of a mortgage involved in the foreclosure and any properties transferred
under a deed in lieu of foreclosure/sale.
D.
This section shall also apply to properties that have been identified
by the Codes Department as being vacant and abandoned, through the
investigation of code violations or blighted conditions on such properties.
E.
Registration pursuant to this section shall contain the name of the
property owner, the mortgagee and the foreclosure process server or
attorney; the direct mailing address of the owner, the mortgagee and
the server or attorney; a direct contact name and telephone number
for all parties; a facsimile number and e-mail address for all parties;
the Northampton County tax parcel identification number of the property;
and the name and twenty-four-hour contact phone number of any property
management company responsible for the security and maintenance of
the property. If the property is vacant, the front door of the property
shall be posted legibly and clearly with the name and twenty-four-hour
contact telephone of the owner, mortgagee or designated local agent.
The posting shall contain the following language:
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THIS PROPERTY IS MANAGED BY:
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TO REPORT ANY PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS, CALL:
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F.
A nonrefundable annual registration fee shall accompany the registration
form or website registration, the amount of which shall be set by
resolution as part of the Township's fee schedule. The annual
registration fee shall be valid for one calendar year and shall be
due on the date of registration and every year thereafter until such
property becomes legally occupied.
G.
Properties subject to this section shall remain under the annual
registration requirement and the inspection, security and maintenance
standards of this section as long as they remain vacant or subject
to a pending complaint in mortgage foreclosure. Once the property
is no longer subject to a pending complaint in mortgage foreclosure
or is sold to a person or entity other than the mortgagee, the mortgagee
must provide proof of sale or written notice of termination of the
foreclosure proceedings to the Township.
H.
Any person or legal entity that has registered a property under this
section must report any change of information contained in the registration
within 10 days of the change.
I.
Failure of the mortgagee and/or owner to properly register or to
modify the registration form from time to time to reflect a change
of circumstances as required by this chapter is a violation of the
chapter and shall be subject to enforcement.
A.
Properties subject to this chapter shall be compliant with all applicable
Township codes. Failure of the mortgagee and/or owner to properly
maintain the property may result in a violation of the applicable
code(s) and issuance of a citation or notice of violation. Pursuant
to a finding and determination by the Township Code Enforcement Officer,
District Magistrate or a court of competent jurisdiction, the Township
may take the necessary action to ensure compliance.
B.
Properties subject to this chapter shall be kept free of trash, junk,
or debris; building materials; unlicensed or junk vehicles; any accumulation
of newspapers, circulars, flyers, printed material or notices, except
those required by federal, state or local law; discarded personal
items, including, but not limited to, furniture, clothing, and appliances;
and any other items that give the appearance that the property is
abandoned.
C.
The property shall be maintained free of graffiti or similar markings
by removal or painting over with an exterior-grade paint that matches
the color of the exterior structure.
D.
Yard and/or landscape maintenance shall be properly maintained and
shall include, but not be limited to, cutting and mowing of required
ground cover and/or maintaining all landscape.
E.
Yard and/or landscape material shall include, but not be limited
to, grass, ground covers, bushes, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings,
decorative rock or bark or artificial turf/sod designed specifically
for residential installation. Acceptable yard and/or landscape material
shall not include weeds, fallen trees or branches, broken concrete,
asphalt or similar material.
F.
Pools, spas and other bodies of water, including ponds, shall be
maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and in good repair. Pools
and spas shall be secured in accordance with Township codes.
A.
Properties subject to this chapter shall be maintained in a secure
manner so as not to be accessible to unauthorized persons.
B.
A "secure manner" shall include, but not be limited to, the closure
and locking of windows, doors, gates and other openings of such size
that may allow a person to access the interior of the property or
structure. Broken windows, doors, gates and other openings of such
size that may allow a person to access the interior of the property
or structure must be repaired. Broken windows shall be secured by
replacement of the window, not by placement of wood or other material.
C.
If the mortgage on a property is in default, and the property has
become vacant or abandoned, a property manager shall be designated
by the mortgagee to perform the work necessary to bring the property
into compliance with the applicable code(s), and the property manager
must perform regular inspections to verify compliance with the requirements
of this chapter and any other applicable laws.
All abandoned real property is hereby declared to be a public
nuisance, the abatement of which, pursuant to the police power, is
hereby declared to be necessary for the health, welfare and safety
of the residents of Forks Township.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter,
upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding,
shall pay a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $600, plus
all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred
in the enforcement of this chapter. No judgement shall be imposed
until the date of the determination of the violation by the District
Justice and/or court. Each day a violation exists shall constitute
a separate offense.
Adherence to this chapter does not relieve any person, legal
entity or agent from any other obligations set forth in any applicable
code(s) which may apply to the property. Upon sale or transfer of
title to the property, the owner shall be responsible for all violations
of the applicable code(s), and the owner shall be responsible for
meeting with the Township's Code Department within 45 days for
a final inspection report.
Whoever opposes, obstructs or resists any enforcement officer
or any person authorized by the enforcement office in the discharge
of duties as provided in this chapter shall be punishable as provided
in the applicable code(s) or a court of competent jurisdiction.
Any enforcement officer or any person authorized by the Township
to enforce the sections here within shall be immune from prosecution,
civil or criminal, for reasonable, good-faith entry upon real property
while in the discharge of duties imposed by this chapter.
The federal government, its instrumentalities, and agents shall
be exempt from the payment of fees and fines under this chapter.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction,
then said holding shall in no way affect or impair any of the remaining
portions of this chapter. It is hereby declared to be the intention
of the Forks Township Board of Supervisors that this chapter would
have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconstitutional provisions
had not been included herein.
