[Adopted 2-25-2015 by Ord. No. 317 as Ch. 8, Art. II, of the 2015 Pittsfield
Charter Township Code]
It is determined to be desirable and necessary for the public
health, safety and general welfare of the Township and it is therefore
the purpose of this article to prevent, reduce or eliminate blight
or potential blight in the Township by the prevention or elimination
of certain environmental causes of blight or blighting factors that
exist or that might later exist in the Township.
A.
BLIGHT
OPERATIVE CONDITION
The following
words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
clearly indicates a different meaning:
A condition that impairs, destroys or deteriorates the property
because of its decay, improper storage, or effect on property or quality
of life, including but not limited to such things as garbage, junk,
inoperative vehicles and waste. The proper storage of materials or
equipment incidental to and necessary for the carrying out of any
business or occupation lawfully being carried out on the property
in question is not the cause of blight or a blighting factor if all
applicable Township ordinances are satisfied. The piling and storage
of firewood in a neat, orderly manner for consumption by the property
residents is not blight.
A motor vehicle duly licensed for use upon the highways of
the state and in a condition to propel itself through or by the mechanical
or other means designed to propel it and possessing that operating
equipment required by the State Vehicle Code.
B.
Unless otherwise
defined in this section, all words, terms and phrases shall be construed
to be defined in accordance with the enabling acts under which this
article is adopted or in accordance with Public Act No. 300 of 1949
(MCL 257.1 et seq.).
It is determined that the following uses, structures and activities
are causes of blight or blighting factors that, if allowed to exist,
will tend to result in blight and in undesirable neighborhoods. No
person shall maintain or permit to be maintained any of these causes
of blight or blighting factors upon any property in the Township,
owned, leased, rented or occupied by such person except as such uses
of property may be permitted by or be incidental to the carrying out
of any business or occupation authorized by the zoning ordinances
of the Township.
A.
Inoperative
motor vehicles. The parking, storage or placing upon any public right-of-way,
public property or private property within the Township of any motor
vehicle that is not duly licensed for use upon the highways of the
state for a period in excess of 30 days or is not in an operative
condition for a period in excess of 14 days unless such vehicle is
wholly contained in a fully enclosed building. Vehicles in a state
of disassembly or from which parts have been stripped are considered
inoperable.
B.
Modified
vehicles. The parking, storage, or placing upon any public right-of-way,
public property or private property within the Township of more than
one motor vehicle, even though duly licensed and in operating condition,
which has been redesigned or modified or reconstructed for racing
or purpose other than that for which it was manufactured, unless such
vehicle is wholly contained in a fully enclosed building. In no event
shall any such vehicle be parked, stored or placed in the front or
side street yard area within a residential zone.
C.
Trucks;
trailers. The parking, storage or placing upon any public right-of-way,
public property or private property within the Township of any truck,
road tractor, semitrailer, pole trailer, bus, trailer coach or camper
removed from the carrying vehicle for a period in excess of 48 hours
unless the vehicle is wholly contained in a fully enclosed building.
No such equipment shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping
purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot, or in any location
not approved for such use.
D.
Special
equipment. The parking, storage or placing upon any public right-of-way,
public property or private property within the Township of any special
mobile equipment such as farm tractors, farm equipment, road construction
or maintenance machinery, mobile office trailers, mobile toolshed
trailers, ditch-digging apparatus, well-boring and well-servicing
equipment, mobile cranes and other similar vehicles, except when they
are being used in an ongoing municipal or private project that is
proceeding under any required permit, or in the case of farm equipment,
when they are parked, stored, or placed on active private farm property.
E.
Repairing or dismantling vehicles. The repairing, redesigning, modifying or dismantling of any vehicle or other equipment described in Subsections A through D of this section, unless accomplished in a fully enclosed building, except for repairs of any emergency nature, which shall be completed within a forty-eight-hour period.
F.
Building
materials. The outdoor storage upon any property of building materials
or equipment, unless there is in force a valid building permit issued
by the Township for construction upon the property and the materials
are intended for use in connection with such construction. Building
materials and equipment shall include but shall not be limited to
ladders, scaffolding, tools, lumber, bricks, concrete or cinder blocks,
plumbing materials, electrical wiring or equipment, heating ducts
or equipment, shingles, mortar, concrete or cement, nails, screws
or any other materials used in constructing any structure.
G.
Litter;
junk; garbage. The storage or accumulation of litter, junk, trash,
rubbish, refuse, waste materials, garbage, offal, paper, glass, cans,
bottles, debris or other foreign substances of every kind and description
except such as may be temporarily stored awaiting collection for periods
not to exceed seven days. The term "junk" shall include parts of machinery
or motor vehicles, unused appliances stored in the open, remnants
of wood, metal, carpet or floor covering materials, furniture or household
items intended for indoor use, crates, cartons, or any other cast-off
materials of any kind whether or not they could be put to any reasonable
use.
H.
Uninhabitable
structures. The existence of any structure, or part of a structure,
that, because of fire, wind or other natural disaster, or physical
deterioration, is no longer habitable as a dwelling nor useful for
any other purpose for which it may have been intended or lawfully
used.
I.
Vacant
buildings. The existence of any vacant dwelling, garage or other accessory
building unless they are securely locked, windows intact, or neatly
boarded up, and otherwise protected to prevent entrance by unauthorized
persons.
J.
Partially
completed structures. The existence of any partially completed structure
unless such structure is in the course of construction in accordance
with a valid and subsisting building permit issued by the Township
and unless such construction is completed within the time specified
by existing ordinances.
Any person who violates a provision of this article, or fails to comply with any of its requirements, shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction subject to the penalties established by Chapter 2, Article V, Municipal Civil Infractions; Civil Fines and Penalties, of this Code. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. The payment of any fine or imposition of any sentence shall not exempt the offender from compliance with the requirements of this article.
