[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of the Township
of Denton 6-7-1978 by Ord. No. 40. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Nuisances — See Ch. 214.
It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent, reduce or eliminate blight
or potential blight in Denton Township by the prevention or elimination of
certain environmental causes of blight or blighting factors which exist or
which may in the future exist in said Township.
It is hereby determined that the following uses, structures and activities
are causes of blight or blighting factors which, if allowed to exist, will
tend to result in blighted and undesirable neighborhoods. On and after the
effective date of this chapter, no persons, firm or corporation of any kind
shall maintain or permit to be maintained any of these causes of blight or
blighting factors upon any property in Denton Township owned, leased, rented
or occupied by such person, firm or corporation:
A.
In any area zoned for residential purposes, the storage
upon any property of junk automobiles, except in a completely enclosed building.
For the purpose of this chapter, the term "junk automobiles" shall include
any motor vehicle which is not licensed for use upon the highways of the State
of Michigan, and shall also include, whether so licensed or not, any motor
vehicle which is inoperative. This section also prohibits the storage of vehicles
deemed abandoned under state law. In addition, the continuous parking of unlicensed
or unregistered motor vehicles on any property for more than 48 hours shall
be deemed blight.
B.
In any area, the storage or accumulation of junk, trash,
rubbish or refuse of any kind without a landfill permit, except domestic refuse
stored in such a manner as not to create a nuisance for a period not to exceed
15 days. The term "junk" shall include parts of machinery or motor vehicles,
unused stoves or other appliances stored in the open, remnants of woods, metal
or any other material or other cast-off material of any kind whether or not
the same could be put to any reasonable use.
C.
In any area, the existence of any structure or part of
any structure which, because of fire, wind or other natural disaster, or physical
deterioration is no longer habitable, if a dwelling, nor useful for any other
purpose of which it may have been intended.
D.
In any area, the existence of any vacant dwelling, garage
or other outbuilding unless such buildings are kept securely locked, windows
kept glazed or neatly boarded up and otherwise protected to prevent entrance
thereto by vandals, or other unauthorized persons.
A.
This chapter shall be enforced by such persons who shall
be so designated by the Township Board.
B.
The owner, if possible, and the occupant of any property upon which any of the causes of blight or blighting factors set forth in § 103-2 hereof is found to exist shall be notified in writing to remove or eliminate such causes of blight or blighting factors from such property within 10 days after service of the notice upon him. Such notice may be given personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested. Additional time may be granted by the enforcement officer where bona fide efforts to remove or eliminate such causes of blight or blighting factors are in progress.
C.
Failure to comply with such notice within time allowed
by the owner and/or occupant shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
E.
Denton Township may sue in any court of competent jurisdiction
for injunctive relief and to require the removal of blight and to authorize
the Township to remove such blight if the property owner fails to do so and
to recover such costs and expenses as incurred by the Township in the civil
action and the blight removal. Such costs and expenses would constitute a
lien on the property to be paid together with the taxes thereon.[2]
