[Ord. No. 16-1998]
VACANT BUILDING
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:
(1)
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.
(2)
Any structure which is a principal residence that is utilized
by the owner for a period of six months or less per year.
(3)
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]
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]
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.