As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
STORAGE CONTAINER or CONTAINER
Any temporary box, bag, bin, dumpster, portable storage unit,
POD, or any other thing which occupies space and is used for the purpose
of storing material or items of any nature.
No owner or occupier of any real estate may place or cause to
be placed on his/her/its real estate any container except in compliance
with this chapter.
Any person or entity desiring to place a container on his/her/its
property must first apply to the Building Inspector (for purposes
of this chapter, this shall include the Code Enforcement Officer)
for a permit. It is declared to be the intent of this chapter that
no container of any nature or size may be placed on private property
except in compliance with this chapter. Containers may not be used
for storing garbage. On private property, one storage container of
four cubic feet or less may be utilized by the property owner or occupant
for a thirty-day period without any permit, so long as the same does
not constitute or amount to a public nuisance.
The Building Inspector is hereby authorized to prepare forms
for such applications requesting such data as the Building Inspector
deems necessary in his discretion, including but not limited to limits
of liability of any liability insurance policy requested, a hold-harmless
provision protecting the Township, a provision mandating lighting
or reflectors on such containers, the placement of containers, warning
signs and barricades and whether a cash or security bond to cover
damages should be included. A dated application signed by the owner
of the land and the applicant, if not the owner, must provide at least
the following information:
A. Name and address of the applicant and the owner of the subject real
estate and the address where the container is to be placed;
B. The dimensions and capacity of the container to be used;
C. The place on the real estate where the applicant wishes to place
the container, the duration of time when it will be in place and what
materials will be stored in the container.
Based on the application and all the circumstances, the Building
Inspector may issue a permit in accordance with this chapter. The
Building Inspector may place such further restrictions on the permit
as he sees fit to assure compliance with the standards of this chapter.
Permits shall be valid for no longer than 30 days; a permit may be
renewed by filing an application with the Building Inspector. A fee
is hereby set in the amount of $30 for each permit and each renewal,
payable upon presentation of the application. The Township Commissioners
may change this fee from time to time at its sole discretion by simple
resolution.
The Building Inspector in his discretion may issue a permit,
refuse to issue a permit, refuse to renew a permit, move to rescind
a permit by taking into consideration the following circumstances,
and any other factors or conditions he deems to be relevant:
A. If the container due to its size or proposed location has or likely
will unduly interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or parking;
B. If the applicant's activity or proposed activity or use produces
or likely will produce or contain hazardous or noxious conditions
(smoke, dust, odors);
C. The circumstances surrounding the applicant's need for a container,
and the availability of alternate means of storing.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Building Inspector
may appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board by filing such appeal in the
office of the Township Manager and paying an appeal fee as proscribed
for appeals to the Zoning Hearing Board within 30 days of the decision
of the Building Inspector.
Any person or entity found to be in violation of this chapter
shall be subject to a civil fine in the amount of $600 for each day
such a container remains without a permit as set forth herein.
If any portion of this chapter is held to be illegal or unconstitutional,
then it is deemed to be the intent of North Versailles Township Commissioners
that the balance of this chapter would have been enacted irrespective
of said invalid portion.
This chapter shall take effect immediately.