A.
The duty of administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter is conferred upon, but not reserved solely upon, the Zoning Officer, who shall have such powers as are conferred upon him or her by this chapter and as reasonably may be implied. The Construction Code Official, Department Head/Director of the Building and Development Department and/or Administrative Director of City Planning, or their designee or a designee or alternate designee as appointed by the Council of the City, may be appointed Zoning Officer. In no case shall a permit be granted for the construction or alteration of any building where the proposed construction, alteration or use thereof would be in violation of any provisions of this chapter. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to cause any building, plans or premises to be inspected or examined and to order, in writing, the remedying of any condition found to exist in violation of this chapter, and he shall have the right to enter any building or premises during the daytime in the course of his duties.
[Amended 10-24-2000 by Ord. No. 38-00]
B.
Where the Zoning Officer in the course of his duties determines that any plans, buildings or premises are in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall order the responsible party, in writing, to remedy such conditions. Such written order shall specify the nature of the violation found to exist, the remedy ordered and time permitted for such action, the penalties and remedies which may be invoked by the City and the violators' rights of appeal as provided for by this chapter and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
C.
A copy of the written order shall be transmitted to the Construction Code Official, who shall thereupon refuse to grant such applicant a building permit or certificate of occupancy until the above violations have been remedied. Where such violations apply to an existing structure or use, the Construction Code Official shall cause the certificate of occupancy for the building or premises in question to be held null and void. A new certificate of occupancy shall be required for any further use of such building or premises.
D.
In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of the Municipal Land Use Law[1] or of this chapter or other regulation made under authority conferred hereby, the City of Long Branch or the Zoning Officer of the City of Long Branch or any interested party, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use to restrain, correct or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of such building, structure or land or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about the premises.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
E.
Enforcement procedure.
(1)
Prior to construction and operation. Any application for a building permit for a use which shall be subject to performance standards shall be accompanied by a sworn statement filed by the owner of the subject property or the operator of the proposed use that such use will be operated in accordance with the performance standards set forth herein.
(2)
Continued compliance. Continued compliance with performance standards is required and shall be enforced by the Construction Code Official.
(3)
Termination of violation. All violations shall be terminated within 30 days or shall be deemed a separate violation for each day following and subject to fines as set forth within.
(4)
Violation inspection.
(a)
As a condition of approval and the continuance of any use, occupancy of any structure and operation of any process or equipment, the applicant shall supply evidence, satisfactory to the Planning Board or to its designated representative, that the proposed use, structure, process or equipment will conform fully with all of the applicable performance standards. As evidence of compliance, the Board may require certification of tests by appropriate government agencies or by recognized testing laboratories, any costs thereof to be borne by the applicant. The Planning Board may require that specific operating procedures or methods be followed or that specific types of equipment, machinery or devices be installed if the government agencies or testing laboratories examining the proposed operation shall determine that the use of such specific types of machinery, equipment, devices, procedures or methods are required in order to ensure compliance with the applicable performance standards. Permits and certificates required by other government agencies shall be submitted to the Planning Board as proof of compliance with applicable codes. The Construction Code Official shall be the designated representative for the Planning Board for the purpose of this subsection.
(b)
Whenever in the opinion of the Construction Code Official there is a reasonable probability that any use or occupancy violates the regulations of this chapter, he is hereby empowered to employ a qualified technician or technicians to perform investigations, measurements and analyses to determine whether or not the regulations of this chapter are being violated. In the event that a violation is found to exist, the violator shall be liable for the reasonable fees of the technicians employed to perform such investigations, measurements and analyses.