[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Colts Neck 12-26-1969 as Ch. 8 of the 1969 Code; amended in its entirety 1-31-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Township Committee hereby finds and declares that the existence of brush, weeds, trees, plant life, fences and walls within 25 feet of the intersection of two or more roadways at a height in excess of 2 1/2 feet is adverse to the preservation of public safety and general welfare and is likely to constitute a traffic hazard.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FENCE
A construction, usually made of posts, wire, wood, plastic or iron, used as a barrier to enclose or border an area, or to prevent entrance, or to confine, or to mark a boundary or for decorative or landscaping purposes.
PLANT LIFE
Includes any brush, hedge, tree, weed and/or other plant life on lands within the Township.
WALL
A structure forming a physical barrier between two areas or border an area to prevent entrance, or to confine, or to mark a boundary or for decorative or landscaping purposes.
A. 
The owner or tenant of lands lying within the limits of the Township of Colts Neck shall keep all brush, hedges, trees, weeds and other plant life growing within a triangle formed at the intersection of two or more roadways measured 25 feet along the edge of pavement or curbline cut to a height of not more than 2 1/2 feet.
B. 
No fence, wall or structure greater than 2 1/2 feet in height shall be installed or erected within a triangle formed at the intersection of two or more roadways measured 25 feet along the edge of pavement or curbline.
Upon the failure or refusal of the owner or tenant to cut or lower any brush, hedge, tree or other plant life, fence, wall or structure within the limitations of § 87-3 hereof within 10 days after written notice to cut the same has been served upon him, either by registered mail or by personal service, by the Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or their designee, the Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or their designee may himself, or under his or her direction, provide for the cutting of the same. The Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or their designee shall certify the costs thereof to the governing body, which shall examine the certificate and, if found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against said lands; or, in the event that such costs are excessive, to cause the reasonable costs thereof to be charged against said lands. The amount so charged shall forthwith become a lien upon such lands and shall be added and form a part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon such lands, the same to bear interest at the same rate as other taxes and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.
A. 
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in § 1-9 of this Code.
B. 
The imposition and collection of any penalty imposed by the provisions of Subsection A of this section shall not constitute any bar to the right of the Township to collect the cost of removal as provided in § 87-4.
For the purposes of this chapter, in addition to the Zoning Officer, Code Enforcement Officer or their designee, the County of Monmouth is hereby designated as an officer of the Township of Colts Neck empowered to carry out the provisions of this chapter on all county roads and at all intersections of county roads.