[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Maplewood 8-18-2015 by Ord. No. 2793-15.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance superseded former Ch. 137, Gasoline Service Stations, consisting of Art. I, General Provisions, adopted 12-3-1974 by Ord. No. 1438 as Section 3-6 of the 1974 Revised General Ordinances, as amended, and Art. II, Hours of Operation, adopted 11-27-1983 by Ord. No. 1640.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONVENIENCE STORE WITH A FUELING STATION
Any building, land area or other premises used for a convenience store, which is a store that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, snack food, candy, toiletries, soft drinks, tobacco products and newspapers, with an associated automotive fueling station, which involves the retail dispensing or sales of fuels and oil from a container for automobiles, light passenger trucks, and commercial trucks but does not include the installation of tires, batteries and similar vehicular accessories nor the renting, painting, cleaning or detailing, body work, servicing, storage or repair of any vehicles.
FUELING STATION
The dispensing, sale or offering for sale of motor vehicle fuel which is dispensed from fixed fuel pumps into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles.
GASOLINE SERVICE STATION
Any building, structure, place or location designated to supply motor vehicles with gasoline, oil, grease and supplies for the inspection, testing and examination and repair thereof and to maintain gasoline pumps and oil pumps for the purpose of selling gasoline and oil.
REPAIR GARAGE
Any business, service or industry, other than a gasoline service station, which involves the storage, maintenance or repair of motor vehicles.
The owners or operators of a gasoline service station, a repair garage, a convenience store with fueling station or a fueling station in the Township shall comply with the following regulations:
A. 
The building and premises on which the business is conducted shall be kept clean, and no refuse shall be permitted to accumulate therein or thereon.
B. 
Restrooms and other toilet facilities shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition and the fixtures in working order at all times.
C. 
At gasoline service stations or repair garages, no repair work on vehicles shall be done on the outside of the building, except the following:
(1) 
The repair of tires and tubes.
(2) 
The recharging and rental of batteries.
(3) 
Such incidental work as may be necessary in connection with the installation, mounting or adjustment of accessories herein permitted to be sold or in connection with the testing and adjustment of the fuel and electrical systems of motor vehicles.
(4) 
The adjustment of brakes.
D. 
At convenience stores with fueling stations, no repair work on vehicles shall be done in the open, except the following:
(1) 
Pouring oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and window washer fluid from a container directly into a vehicle and dispersing air.
E. 
No merchandise shall be displayed or kept for sale outside the building except petroleum products and automobile accessories reasonably connected with or necessary for the sale or lawful operation of motor vehicles.
F. 
No oil shall be stored or displayed in tanks or other receptacles outside of the building except for immediate use in servicing vehicles. Such oil shall be kept in jars or cans neatly racked or stacked, and no jar or can shall be in excess of eight-quart capacity. Nothing herein shall be construed to permit the storage or handling of flammable liquids in violation of the Fire Prevention Ordinance of the Township of Maplewood.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 127, Fire Prevention, Art. I.
G. 
At gasoline service stations or repair garages, only one neat and attractive identification pylon or similar type sign and one neat and attractive portable A-frame or similar type sign advertising the business conducted on the premises shall be permitted in addition to the usual identification signs affixed to the building on the premises. Such A-frame or similar type sign shall not exceed three feet in width or four feet in height, and the supporting frame shall not exceed five feet in height. Where the premises abuts upon two or more streets, one additional such pylon or similar type sign and one additional such A-frame or similar type sign shall be permitted at each street frontage. Signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct drivers' vision. Advertising or identification signs painted on the face of the building and the use of strings of pennants, flags or similar decorations, whirling displays, cards and flickering, rotating, flashing or colored lights on the premises are expressly prohibited. The lighting sources on the premises shall be so erected and maintained that no disturbing glare will be visible at any time to adjacent property owners or to motorists using the public streets.
H. 
At convenience stores with fueling stations and fueling stations, signage shall be in compliance with Chapter 271, Zoning and Development Regulations, § 271-56, Signs and street graphics.
I. 
Any case or rack for the display of petroleum products and automobile accessories reasonably connected with or necessary for the safe or lawful operation of motor vehicles hereinafter erected or placed outside of the building shall be constructed of metal and may not exceed seven feet in height.
J. 
At gasoline service stations or repair garages, no parking of commercial vehicles shall be permitted on the premises except such temporary parking as may be necessary in connection with the servicing of such vehicles. No outdoor parking of any vehicles shall be permitted on the premises between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except such vehicles as are required to remain on the premises for further servicing or repair.
K. 
At gasoline service stations or repair garages, no motor vehicles shall be sold or displayed for sale on the premises unless the owner or operator of the premises holds a license to do so issued pursuant to the provisions of the statutes of the State of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Township.
L. 
At convenience stores with fueling stations or fueling stations, no motor vehicles shall be sold or displayed for sale on the premises.
A. 
No towing service is to be operated from a gasoline service station or repair garage other than that customary with those facilities and with a storage limitation of one towing vehicle.
B. 
No towing service is to be operated from a convenience store with a fueling station or a fueling station.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CONVENIENCE STORE WITH A FUELING STATION
Any building, land area or other premises used for a convenience store, which is a store that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, snack food, candy, toiletries, soft drinks, tobacco products and newspapers, with an associated automotive fueling station, which involves the retail dispensing or sales of fuels and oil from a container for automobiles, light passenger trucks, and commercial trucks but does not include the installation of tires, batteries and similar vehicular accessories nor the renting, painting, cleaning or detailing, body work, servicing, storage or repair of any vehicles.
GASOLINE SERVICE STATION
Any building, structure, place or location designated primarily to supply motor vehicles with gasoline, oil, grease and supplies for the inspection, testing and examination and repair thereof and to maintain gasoline pumps and oil pumps for the purpose of selling gasoline and oil.
A. 
Except for gasoline service stations and convenience stores with fueling stations that are located within the Highway Business Zone, it shall be unlawful for any gasoline service station to be operated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following morning.
B. 
Any gasoline service station and convenience store with fueling station operating between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. must:
(1) 
Have a security plan in place that is preapproved by the Maplewood Chief of Police, which includes an emergency phone number for the owner or manager of the facility.
(2) 
Take all steps necessary to insure that ambient noise and light is not a disturbance to adjacent residential properties.
(3) 
Comply with the Township Noise Ordinance.