[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Borough of West
View as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-13-2012 by Ord. No. 1467]
This article may be cited as the "Borough of West View Neighborhood
Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Ordinance."
A.
This article is to implement in the Borough of West View the provisions
of the Act of October 27, 2010 (P.L. 875, No. 90), 53 Pa.C.S.A. Ch.
61, known as the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization
Act.
B.
There are deteriorated properties located in the Borough of West
View as a result of neglect by their owners in violation of applicable
state and municipal codes; and
C.
These deteriorated properties create public nuisances which have
an impact on crime and the quality of life of our residents and require
significant expenditures of public funds in order to abate and correct
the nuisances; and
D.
In order to address these situations, it is appropriate to deny certain
governmental permits and approvals in order:
(1)
To prohibit property owners from further extending their financial
commitments so as to render themselves unable to abate or correct
the code, statutory and regulatory violations or tax delinquencies.
(2)
To reduce the likelihood that this municipality and other municipalities
will have to address the owners' neglect and resulting deteriorated
properties.
(3)
To sanction the owners for not adhering to their legal obligations
to the Borough of West View, as well as to tenants, adjoining property
owners and neighborhoods.
The following words and phrases when used in this article shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
The act of October 27, 2010 (P.L. 875, No. 90), 53 Pa.C.S.A.
Ch. 61, known as the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization
Act.
A residential, commercial or industrial building or structure
and the land appurtenant to it.
A building, housing, property maintenance, fire, health or
other public safety ordinance enacted by a municipality. The term
does not include a subdivision and land development ordinance or a
zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality.
The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny Canty.
A business association defined as a "banking institution"
or "mortgage lender" under 7 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 61 (relating to mortgage
loan industry licensing and consumer protection) that is in possession
of or holds title to real property pursuant to, in enforcement of
or to protect rights arising under a mortgage, mortgage note, deed
of trust or other transaction that created a security interest in
the real property.
Privileges relating to real property granted by the Borough
of West View that are building permits (cite to Uniform Construction
Code Ordinance),[1] zoning permits, special exceptions, conditional uses and
variances granted under the Borough of West View's Zoning Ordinance
(cite to Zoning Ordinance provisions)[2] and (cite to the Rental License Ordinance, if any, as
well as any other ordinance authorizing a municipal permit affecting
real property for which the municipality desires deny permits under
this article). The term does not include decisions on the substantive
validity of a zoning ordinance or map, such a validity variance or
the acceptance of a curative amendment.
A city, borough, incorporated town, township or home rule, optional plan or optional charter municipality or municipal authority in this commonwealth and any entity formed pursuant to the Act of Dec. 19, 1996 (P.L. 1158, No. 177), § 1, 53 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 23 (relating to intergovernmental cooperation).
A holder of the title to residential, commercial or industrial
real estate, other than a mortgage lender, who possesses and controls
the real estate. The term includes, but is not limited to, heirs,
assigns, beneficiaries and lessees, provided this ownership interest
is a matter of public record, including lessees under leases for which
a memorandum of lease is recorded in accordance with the Act of June
2, 1959 [P.L. 254 (vol. 1), No. 86], 21 P.S. § 405.
Property which, because of its physical condition of use,
is regarded as a public nuisance at common law or has been declared
by the Codes Official a public nuisance in accordance with International
Property Maintenance Code adopted by Ordinance 1418[3] (other ordinances cited here), or by the court.
A plan for the correction of violations of state law or code
that is part of an agreement between the owner and the municipality
in which the real property containing the violations is located.
A violation of a state law or code that poses an imminent
threat to the health and safety of a dwelling occupant, occupants
in surrounding structures or a passerby, that is a building ordered
vacated in accordance with the Department of Labor and Industries
Regulations, 34 Pa. Code § 403.84, as amended, implementing
the Uniform Construction Code, the Act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.
491, No. 45), as amended, 35 P.S. § 7210.1103; a building
placarded as unfit for human habitation so as to prevent its use under
the Borough of West View Property Maintenance Code adopted by Ordinance
No. 809;[4] or a vacant building whose exterior violates Section 304
of the 2009 ICC Property Maintenance Code adopted by Ordinance No.
1418,[5] or any successor statute, regulation or Property Maintenance
Code.
A statute of the commonwealth or a regulation of an agency
charged with the administration and enforcement of commonwealth law.
An affirmative action as determined by a property codes official
or officer of the court on the part of a property owner or managing
agent to remedy a serious violation of a state law or municipal code,
including, but not limited to, physical improvements or repairs to
the property, which affirmative action is subject to appeal in accordance
with applicable law.
Tax delinquent property as defined under:
The Act of July 7, 1947 (P.L. 1368, No. 541), known as the Real
Estate Tax State Law;[6]
The Act of May 16, 1923 (P.L. 207, No. 153), referred to as
the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Act;[7]
The Act of October 11, 1984 (P.L. 876, No. 171), known as the
Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act,[8] located in any municipality in this commonwealth; or any
successor law to any of the above statutes.
The Act of November 10, 1999 (P.L. 491, No. 45), as amended,
35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 to 7210.1103 as implemented by
Ordinance No. 1418.[9]
A.
Actions. In addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity,
the Borough of West View may institute the following actions against
the owner of any real property that is in serious violation of a code
or for failure to correct a condition which causes the property to
be regarded as a public nuisance:
(1)
In personal action.
(a)
An in personal action may be initiated for a continuing violation
for which the owner takes no substantial step to correct within six
months following receipt of an order to correct the violation, unless
the order is subject to a pending appeal before the administrative
agency or court.
(b)
As authorized by the Act, the Borough of West View reserves
the right to recover in a single action under this section, an amount
equal to any penalties imposed against the owner and any costs of
remediation lawfully incurred by or on behalf of the municipality
to remedy any code violation.
(2)
A proceeding in equity.
B.
Asset attachment.
(1)
General rule. A lien may be placed against the assets of an owner of real property that is in serious violation of a code or is regarded as a public nuisance after a judgment, decree or order is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against the owner of the property for an adjudication under Subsection A (relating to actions).
(2)
Limitations under the Act. In proceedings under the Act, except as
otherwise allowed by law, where the owner is an association or trust
no lien shall be imposed upon the individual assets of any limited
partner, shareholder, member or beneficiary of the owner.
C.
Reservation of rights and remedies under law other than the Act.
The Borough of West View reserves all rights and remedies existing
under statutes other than the Act, its ordinances implementing them,
and applicable case law to obtain recovery for the costs of preventing
and abatement of code violations and public nuisances to the fullest
extent allowed by law from mortgage lenders; trustees' and members
of liability companies, limited partners who provide property management
services to the real property as well as general partners of owners;
and officers, agents, and operators that are in control of a property
as an owner or otherwise hold them personally responsible for code
violations as well as owners themselves. Such owners, mortgage lenders,
partners, members of limited-liability companies, trustees, officers,
agents and operators in control of a real property with code violations
shall be subject to all actions at law and equity to the full extent
authorized by such statutes, ordinances and applicable case law. Such
action may be joined in one lawsuit against responsible parties with
an action brought under the act.
A.
Permit application form.
(1)
In addition to the requirements set forth in the governing ordinance, regulations or rules for the specific municipal permit being applied for under the ordinances referenced in the definition of "municipal permit" in § 198-3, all applications for a municipal permit shall include:
(a)
If the owner is an individual, the home address of the owner.
(b)
If the owner is an entity, its registered office and principal
place of business, type of entity, in what state it was formed, and
whether the entity has qualified to do business as a foreign entity
in Pennsylvania by filing with the Corporation Bureau of the Pennsylvania
Department of State under Title 15 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes. (The home address of at least one responsible officer, member,
trustee, or partner shall also be included.)
(c)
The applications shall also include a provision requiring the
owner to disclose real properties owned by the owner both inside of
the Borough of West View as well as in all other municipalities of
the commonwealth:
[1]
In which there is a serious violation of state law or a code
and the owner has taken no substantial steps to correct the violation
within six months following notification of the violation; and
[2]
For which fines or other penalties or a judgment to abate or
correct were imposed by a magisterial district judge or municipal
court, or a judgment at a law or in equity was imposed by a court
of common pleas; and
[3]
Real property owned in the commonwealth by the owner for which
there is a final and unappealable tax, water, sewer or refuse collection
delinquency on the account of the actions of the owner. This provision
shall require the owner to disclose the street address, tax parcel
number, municipality, and county of each such real property. The provision
shall require the disclosure be under penalty as provided in 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 4904(a) for an unsworn falsification to a government officer
or employee (public servant) performing official functions.
(2)
All applicants for a municipal permit shall accurately complete the
Permit Applicant Disclosure Form as from time to time adopted by resolution
of the Town Council subject to a penalty as described in 18 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 4904.
B.
Municipal permit denials and appeals.
(1)
Permit denial.
(a)
The Borough Manager, or the (Zoning Hearing Board)(Zoning Board of Adjustment) under Subsection B(1)(f), (may) (shall) deny issuing to an applicant a municipal permit if the applicant owns real property in any municipality for which there exists on the real property:
[1]
A final and unappealable tax, water, sewer or refuse collection
delinquency on account of the actions of the owner; or
[2]
A serious violation of state law or a code and the owner has
taken no substantial steps to correct the violation within six months
following notification of the violation and for which fines or other
penalties or a judgment to abate or correct were imposed by a magisterial
district judge or municipal court, or a judgment at a law or in equity
was imposed by a court of common pleas. However, no denial shall be
permitted on the basis of a property for which the judgment or order
decree is subject to a stay or supersedeas by an order of court of
competent jurisdiction or automatically allowed by statute or rule
of court until the stay or supersedeas is lifted by the court or a
higher court or the stay or supersedeas expires as otherwise provided
by law. Where a stay or supersedeas is in effect, the property owner
shall so advise the municipality seeking to deny a municipal permit.
(b)
Borough Manager or Zoning Hearing Board shall not deny a municipal
permit to an applicant if the municipal permit is necessary to correct
a violation of state law or a code, provided all other conditions
for the issuance of a municipal permit have been met.
(c)
The municipal permit denial shall not apply to an applicant's
delinquency on taxes, water, sewer or refuse collection charges that
are under appeal or otherwise contested through a court or administrative
process.
(d)
In issuing a denial of a municipal permit based on an applicant's
delinquency in real property taxes or municipal charges or for failure
to abate a serious violation of state law or a code on a real property
that the applicant owns in this commonwealth, the Borough Manager,
his designate, or board shall issue the denial in writing and indicate
the street address, municipal corporation and county in which the
property is located and the court and docket number for each parcel
citied as a basis for the denial. The denial shall also state that
the applicant may request a letter of compliance from the appropriate
state agency municipality or school district, in a form specified
by such entity as provided in the Act. The denial shall be delivered
by U.S. certified, registered, or express mail, return receipt requested
(and such receipt is obtained or delivery refused); personal service
in manner provided by the Pennsylvania Rules of Court for Civil Procedure
for original process; hand delivery by a member of the codes enforcement
staff; or a private delivery service that provides for a receipt (and
such receipt is obtained or delivery refused).
(e)
The information on the real property forming the basis for municipal permit denial may be obtained by Borough Manager, his designate, or other employee or agent of the Borough of West View from information disclosed by the owner in accordance with § 198-5A or any other reliable information obtained through a search of records using governmental systems online or through direct contact with the office maintaining the systems such as the court docket systems maintained by the administrative office of the Pennsylvania Courts, county/city department of records, offices of the recorder of deeds, municipal and county tax collectors and treasurers, county tax claim bureaus, prothonotary and clerk of court, private online fee-based search services, and free searches on the internet. Prior to making a determination on whether to deny a municipal permit the Borough Manager, his designate or Zoning Hearing Board using the services of the Zoning Administrator or other municipal staff or contracted service provider may conduct a search using the sources described in this Subsection B(1)(e).
(f)
Zoning Hearing Board.
[1]
Municipal permits may be denied by a board in accordance requirements
of this section to the extent that approval of the municipal permit
is within the jurisdiction of the board. For purposes of this section,
"Board" shall mean the Borough of West View Joint Zoning Hearing Board
granted jurisdiction to render decisions in accordance with the Act
of July 31, 1968 (P.L. 805, No. 247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
[2]
In any proceeding before a board other than the governing body
of the municipality, the municipality may appear to present evidence
that the applicant is subject to a denial by the board in accordance
with this section.
(2)
Applicability of other law. A denial of a municipal permit shall
be subject to the provisions of 3 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 5, Subch. B (relating
to practice and procedure of local agencies), and Ch. 7, Subch. B
(relating to judicial review of local agency action), or the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code,[2] for denials subject to the act.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
(3)
The Borough Manager, his designate, or the Zoning Hearing Board shall review the disclosure from and the searches, if any, in accordance with Subsection B(1)(e) prior to any plan or construction reviews or inspections to determine if such review or inspection is unnecessary due to a municipal permit being denied under this Subsection B.
(4)
Right of appeal.
(a)
The owner shall have a right to appeal the denial of a municipal permit in accordance with the applicable law governing such municipal permit. In the case of a denial by the (title of Codes Official), the appeal shall be made within 30 days of the denial to the Board of Appeals established under the Uniform Construction Code unless the owner has submitted to the Board of Appeals proof before the expiration of the 30 days that the owner is seeking proof of compliance under Subsection B(5), in which case the municipal permit and the denial shall be held in abeyance until the forty-five-day period for obtaining proof of compliance under Subsection B(5) has expired. In case of a denial by the Borough of West View Zoning Hearing Board, the appeal shall be to the court of common pleas.
[1]
With respect to a denial under the grounds authorized by the
Act, the denial may only be reversed for the following reasons:
[b]
Evidence of substantial steps taken to remedy a
serious violation set forth on the denial confirmed by an order of
the Court or the Borough Manager or his designate.
[c]
Evidence of an approved remedial plan to address
a serious violation set forth on the denial.
[d]
Evidence of a timely appeal or administrative contest
of a tax, water, sewer or refuse collection delinquency.
[e]
A failure of a state agency, school district or
municipality to issue a proof of compliance within 45 days of a request.
[f]
A failure of a state agency or municipality to
provide the relief required under § 6144 of the Act to an
heir or devise.
[g]
Any other verifiable evidence that establishes
by a preponderance of the evidence that is a serious violation or
collection delinquency of tax, water, sewer or refuse accounts does
not exist.
[2]
With respect to denials for reasons other than those authorized
by the Act, the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code or applicable
zoning law shall govern.
(b)
The owner shall be informed of the right, time, and place to
make an appeal.
(5)
Proof of compliance.
(a)
All municipal permits denied in accordance with this subsection
shall be withheld until an applicant obtains a letter from the appropriate
state agency, municipality or school district indicating the following:
[1]
The property in question has no final unappealable tax, water,
sewer, or refuse delinquencies;
[2]
The property in question is now in state law and code compliance;
or
[3]
The owner of the property has presented and the appropriate
state agency or municipality has accepted a plan to begin remediation
of a serious violation of state law or a code. Acceptance of the plan
may be contingent on:
[a]
Beginning the remediation plan within no fewer
than 30 days following acceptance of a plan or sooner, if mutually
agreeable to both the property owner and the municipality.
[b]
Completing the remediation plan within no fewer
than 90 days following commencement of the plan or sooner, if mutually
agreeable to both the property owner and the municipality.
(b)
In the event that the appropriate state agency, municipality or school district fails to issue a letter indicating tax, water, sewer, refuse, state law or code compliance or noncompliance, as the case may be, within 45 days of the request, the property in question shall be deemed to be in compliance for the purpose of this section [provided a copy of the request has been delivered to the municipality where the municipal permit has been applied for in accordance with Subsection B(5)(d)]. The appropriate state agency, municipality or school district shall specify the form in which the request for a compliance letter shall be made.
(c)
Letters required under this section shall be verified by the
appropriate municipal officials before issuing to the applicant a
municipal permit.
(d)
An owner seeking to obtain a proof of compliance in order to
obtain a municipal permit that would otherwise be denied shall submit
a copy of the owner's request for proof of compliance within
five days of the date that request is sent to the appropriate state
agency, municipality or school district, to the municipality from
which a municipal permit is sought or submit the copy of the request
with the application for the municipal permit if such application
is made at a later date.
A.
Conflict with other law. In the event of a conflict between the requirements
of this article and federal requirements applicable to demolition,
disposition or redevelopment of buildings, structures or land owned
by or held in trust for the Government of the United States and regulated
pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888, 42
U.S.C. § 1437 et seq.) and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
the federal requirements shall prevail.
B.
Relief for inherited property. Where property is inherited by will
or intestacy, the devisee or heir shall be given the opportunity to
make payments on reasonable terms to correct code violations or to
enter into a remediation plan in accordance with Section 6131(b)(1)(iii)
of the Act and Subsection B(5)(a)[3] (relating to municipal permit
denial) with Borough of West View to avoid subjecting the device's
or heir's other properties to asset attachment or denial of permits
and approvals on other properties owned by the devisee or heir.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be
and are hereby repealed, except any ordinance or parts of ordinances
that authorize greater remedies than this article are preserved.
The provisions of this article shall be severable and if any
of its provisions are found to be unconstitutional or illegal the
validity of any of the remaining provisions of this article shall
not be affected thereby.
This article shall take effect in (accordance with the law)(_____
days).