[Ord. No. 16-1998]
Any structure intended for residential or commercial use
which has not been occupied or in use for a period of six months or
more. This definition shall not include the following:
Any structure which is unoccupied because of a current alteration
being performed in accordance with a plan which is a principal residence
that is utilized by the owner for a period of six months or less per
year.
Any structure which is a principal residence that is utilized
by the owner for a period of six months or less per year.
Any structure which is a vacation home or seasonal residence.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
All owners of vacant buildings shall comply with applicable
provisions of the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:18-2, et
seq. as supplemented by the Fire Prevention Code of the City of South
Amboy, and the following additional standards for fire safety:
A.
No vacant building shall contain any space utilized for the storage
of flammable liquids.
B.
No room within any vacant building shall be used for storage of debris,
junk, rubbish, or wastes, furniture or building materials not intended
to be used in the existing building.
C.
The early detection and containment of fire being a valid municipal
concern, the boarding up of doors and windows shall not be permitted
except with the permission of the construction official in emergency
situations. When doors and windows are boarded up, they shall be covered
with no less than 1/2 inch exterior plywood or equivalent and be painted
the same color as the body of the structure. In no case shall the
boarding up of doors and windows be permitted for a period in excess
of six months. Should an owner find it necessary to board up doors
and windows in excess of six months, an application seeking permission
to do so must be made before the expiration of the six month period
to the Code Enforcement Agency of the City of South Amboy. At the
time of the application, all circumstances shall be set forth supporting
the owner's request for an extension of the time in which the vacant
building may remain boarded up.
D.
Windows of any vacant commercial building that are within 20 feet
of the ground or which are easily accessible, may be secured with
security screens, bars and/or grills and the security screens, bars,
and/or grills on open windows shall include quick release mechanisms
all of which shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Subcode
Official of the City of South Amboy prior to installation.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
A.
All vacant buildings shall comply with the following minimum standards
for safe and sanitary maintenance:
(1)
Every foundation, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be: weather
tight, water tight and rodent proof; kept in sound condition and good
repair; and be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which
normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
(2)
Every yard area (font, side and/or rear) shall be properly graded
so as to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.
(3)
Every structure shall have all utilities, including but not limited
to gas, electric, water and sewer turned off and/or disconnected with
sewer service to be sealed at the tap of said property.
(4)
The exterior of the condition of accessory structures shall be maintained
so that the appearance of the entire premises, including any and all
structures and buildings thereon, shall reflect a level of maintenance
in keeping with the standards of the neighborhood, and such that the
appearance of the premises and structures shall not create a blighting
effect on the immediate neighborhood nor an element leading to the
progressive deterioration and degradation of the neighborhood resulting
the diminution of property values in the area.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
A.
All owners of vacant buildings shall be required to comply with the
following standards:
(1)
Any yard area (front, side and/or rear) or parking lot adjacent to
a vacant building shall be cleared and maintained free of trash, solid
debris, or any other materials that cause litter.
(2)
Grass, weeds or vegetation shall not be permitted to grow or remain
on the side, front and/or rear yards of any vacant building so as
to exceed a height of eight (8") inches.
(3)
Vacant buildings, including any yard area (front, side and/or rear)
of such buildings, shall not be utilized for storage of any materials
whether solid or liquid.
(4)
When a vacant building is found to be infested with rats, termites,
roaches and/or other insects and vermin, the owner shall undertake
an expedient means of extermination of such nuisances. Such extermination
shall be certified by an approved exterminator.
(5)
All doors and/or lids on appliances, furniture utilized for storage,
or on hearing furnaces, shall be locked in order to deny entry to
individuals where the potential for physical harm or death may result
should said door close to prevent the individual's escape.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
The standards and requirements of this Article shall apply as
long as any dwelling, building and/or commercial structure remains
vacant. Upon occupancy, the other appropriate sections of this chapter
shall prevail along with other state and local codes and regulations.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
The owner of any commercial structure determined to be vacant
as defined herein, that contains a storefront, display window, and/or
any area intended to exhibit or display merchandise or conduct advertising,
shall place a display or visual medium, such as mannequins, potted
plants or some form of decorative display, which will not by its appearance,
create a blighting effect on the immediate neighborhood. The following
methods of obstructing windows and/or storefronts are prohibited:
the placement of newspaper or other types of news print on windows
and/or storefronts; the painting soaping or hazing of windows and/or
storefronts; the boarding and/or placement of cardboard or other similar
material in windows and/or storefronts. The aforementioned list is
not intended to be exclusive but rather illustrative as to those types
of conditions which are specifically prohibited under this Article.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
A.
The Code Enforcement Official shall serve written notice of violation
on an owner for any violation of the provisions of this Article. Violators
shall be allowed 10 days to abate said conditions before further action
is taken unless, in the opinion of the Code Enforcement Official,
special reasons or conditions have been demonstrated to allow for
an extension of this time period.
B.
The 10 day period set forth in subsection A shall not apply to repeat violators of this Article. Said repeat violators shall be subject to immediate action by the Code Enforcement Official and may immediately be issued a summons for a violation of this Article. For the purposes of this Article, repeat violator shall mean a person or persons who has previously been convicted of a violation of the provisions of this Article on at least one occasion.
[Ord. No. 16-1998]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provisions
of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500 for
the first offense and not to exceed $1000 for a second or subsequent
offense, or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both,
at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation continues
after due notice has been served, in accordance with the terms and
provisions hereof, shall be deemed a separate offense.
[New]
A mortgage or other lien holder of a property shall, upon institution
of any foreclosure proceedings against the subject property as the
subject of the foreclosure action shall, within 10 days of filing
such action, file notice with the City Clerk designating the name,
address, contact telephone number and designated representative of
the mortgage/lien holder along with the name, address, telephone number
and designated representative of the mortgagee/lien holder's legal
representative, the name and address of the owner and the address
and tax map lot and block number of the property subject to foreclosure.
