[Adopted 12-21-1971 as Ch. XII, Sec. 2-4, of the 1971 Code]
The Township finds that uniformity in the exterior
design and appearance of dwellings erected in the same residential
neighborhood tends to adversely affect the desirability of the immediate
and neighboring areas for residential purposes and impairs existing
residential property in such area; tends to impair the value of both
improved and unimproved real property in such areas with attendant
deterioration of conditions affecting the health, safety and morals
of the inhabitants thereof and the community at large; and tends to
deprive the Township of tax revenue and destroys a proper balance
between the taxable value of real property in such areas and the cost
of Township services provided therefor. It is the purpose of this
article to prevent the above effects and other harmful effects of
uniformity in the design and appearance of dwellings erected, remodeled
or reerected in the Township in any residential neighborhood and thus
to promote and protect the health, safety, morals and general welfare
of the community.
No building permit shall hereafter be issued
for any dwelling to be erected, remodeled or reerected if it is substantially
alike in exterior design and appearance to any neighboring dwelling
in existence or for which a building permit has been issued or is
pending, situated on the same or opposite side of the street within
two building lots distant therefrom. The distance herein specified
shall be construed to mean that a building substantially alike in
exterior design and appearance may not be built for a distance of
two adjacent lots on either side of an existing building or one for
which a building permit has been issued or is pending, nor on the
two building lots nearest to a similar building on the opposite side
of the street.
A.
Houses within such specified distance from each other
shall be considered uniform in exterior design and appearance if they
have in common any one of the following characteristics:
(1)
The same basic dimensions in floor plans without substantial
differentiation of one or more exterior elevations.
(2)
The design of the roofs are without substantial change
and appearance.
(3)
The location of windows and doors in the front of
the building are without differentiation.
(4)
Substantially similar fronts of buildings, distinguishable
only because of a change in the color or the color design of the paint
thereon.
B.
In addition to the above requirements, there should
be not less than two separate basic house designs in every housing
development consisting of eight or more houses.
To ensure conformity with the provisions of
this article, no building permit shall hereafter be issued until an
engineer's survey or architect's drawing has been submitted to the
Construction Official showing thereon or on a schedule attached thereto
the model, number, type and design of each house with the proper street,
block and lot numbers for each house. The survey or drawing shall
show the dimensions of each house, its exact location on the lot with
setbacks and width or depth of all yard spaces. In the event of subsequent
desired change in basic design, size or location of a house after
a permit is issued, a revised plan and application shall be filed
and approved in the same manner and subject to the same standards
and a supplemental permit obtained before work is started.
[Added 3-19-1996]
A.
Any building having attached thereto any electrical
holiday display or that is connected to internal or external electrical
outlets must remove such displays no later than 30 days subsequent
to the ending of the respective holiday.
B.
Every display, illuminated or not, must be installed
and maintained in a safe and preventable condition at all times, including
the repair or replacement of defective parts and other acts required
for the safe and proper maintenance of the same.
C.
All electrical wiring and equipment, including extension
cords, outlet boxes, plugs, cables and switches, must be in proper
working order and properly maintained to prevent the creation of hazardous
conditions caused by dampness, rain, snow and other inclement weather
conditions.
D.
Before issuing a summons for an infraction or violation
of this section, the Township officer responsible for the enforcement
involved shall issue a warning notice citing what provision of this
section has been violated and providing the owner/operator of the
building with a period not to exceed five days to correct the violation.
