[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Wallkill 4-27-1961.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
By the adoption of this chapter the Town Board of the Town of Wallkill
declares its intent in so doing to be to regulate, control and license the
activities or businesses known as auto graveyards, junkyards, secondhand parts
collection areas, the processing of used metals for resale and the dumping,
storage and disposal of waste, secondhand or used materials of whatever composition.
Said Town Board hereby declares that such activities or businesses can constitute
a hazard to property and persons and a public nuisance. Such materials may
be highly inflammable and sometimes explosive. Gasoline tanks on old autos
often contain in some quantity combustible gasoline; the engines and other
parts of such autos are frequently covered with grease and oil, which is also
inflammable. The tires, plastic seats, tops and other elements of such autos
are also inflammable. Batteries and other elements of such autos can contain
acids and other matter potentially harmful to humans. These autos frequently
contain sharp metal or glass edges or points upon which a human could receive
serious cuts and abrasions. These autos can constitute attractive nuisances
to children and certain adults. The presence of such junkyards even in areas
zoned for business or industry is unsightly and tends to detract from the
value of surrounding land and property unless such areas are properly maintained
and operated.
For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as
follows:
- AUTO
- Passenger auto, truck, tractor-truck, trailer, bus, motorcycle or other vehicle, however propelled, as well as tractors, bulldozers, machinery and equipment.
- PERSON
- An individual; an association; a partnership; a corporation.
A.
No person shall engage in or conduct on real property
within the Town of Wallkill, either for himself or for and on behalf of any
other person directly or indirectly as agent, employee or otherwise, any activity
or business, either for profit or otherwise, at wholesale or retail, which
involves the collection, storage, burning, dumping, disassembling, dismantling,
salvaging, sorting or otherwise handling or arranging, for sale, resale, storage
or disposal or otherwise, of bodies, engines or parts of autos, or of any
other secondhand or used property of whatever material it is composed, or
any waste material, whether composed of wood, paper, cloth, cardboard, plastics,
metals, stone, cement or otherwise, without first obtaining a license therefor
as hereinafter provided. The outdoor storage of any property or materials
as above referred to for a period of 15 days shall raise a presumption that
this chapter applies.
B.
This chapter shall not apply to those activities necessary
in conducting the business of dealing in new or used automobiles where the
person engaged in such business is a licensed dealer under the Vehicle and
Traffic Law.
A.
Each applicant for a license hereunder shall execute
under oath an application therefor, to be supplied to him by the Town Clerk,
which shall contain the following information:
(1)
That the applicant is over 21 years of age.
(2)
That he is a citizen of the United States.
(3)
Whether he has ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor,
and such other facts or evidence as is deemed necessary to establish that
he is a person fit and capable of properly conducting the activity or business
for which the license is sought.
(4)
A description of the exact type of business he intends
to conduct.
(5)
The nature of the materials he intends to handle.
(6)
The number of employees he intends to engage.
(7)
The name and address of the owner or owners of the land
and the nature of the right of occupancy of the applicant to the use of such
land.
B.
At the time of making the application, the applicant
shall submit to and file with the Town Clerk a map or plan of the real property
upon which he intends to conduct the activity or business for which he is
making application for a license hereunder, with the area of such real property
which it is proposed to use for such purpose, the location of the fence required
hereunder indicated thereon as well as the location of any buildings on such
land and the location of any streets or highways abutting or passing through
such land and the location of any water, sewer or gas mains or laterals available
thereto as well as the general drainage pattern of such land.
C.
In the application, the applicant shall agree that if
granted the license applied for, he will conduct the activity or business
pursuant to the regulations hereinafter set forth and that, upon his failure
to do so, such license may be revoked forthwith.
D.
A person presently engaged in or conducting an activity
or business such as described herein on real property within the Town of Wallkill
must apply for a license therefor within 30 days of the adoption of this chapter.
If the place where he conducts such activity or business presently complies
with the requirements a person must meet to secure a license in the first
instance, he shall be issued a license therefor if he meets the other requirements
contained herein. If the place where he conducts such activity or business
does not presently comply with the requirements a person must meet to secure
a license in the first instance, he may be granted a temporary license for
one year, during which year he must arrange the place where he conducts such
activity or business so that it does then comply with the requirements a person
must meet to secure a license in the first instance. If, at the end of such
year, such person has not so arranged his place of such activity or business,
he shall forthwith cease and desist engaging in or conducting the same and
shall remove from such place any autos, parts or other materials of the nature
described herein.
E.
If the person conducting such activity or business is
not the sole owner thereof, he shall state such fact at the time he applies
for his temporary license, and the Town Clerk at the time of issuing such
temporary license shall send the owners or each of them a notice of the issuance
of such temporary license to such person, together with a copy of this chapter.
A.
The fee for the license covers not only the cost of issuing
the license itself but also the cost of making the necessary inspections of
the premises to ascertain compliance with the regulations hereinafter prescribed.
[Amended 3-23-2006 by L.L. No. 3-2006]
B.
Such license shall be placed and at all times displayed
in a conspicuous place at the licensee's place of activity or business for
which it is issued.
C.
Such license shall be effective from the date of its
issuance until the 31st day of December of the year of such issuance, after
which a new application for license must be made yearly if the licensee desires
to continue such activity or business.
D.
Such license is personal with the licensee. It does not
go with the title of the land nor may it be sold, assigned, transferred or
disposed of.
E.
Such license may be revoked by the Town Board after a
public hearing thereon at which the licensee shall have an opportunity to
be heard. Upon revocation of a license, the Town Board may require the removal
of autos, parts and materials left, as above provided in the case of an applicant
for a temporary license who fails to qualify for a license.
F.
Licenses shall be issued by the Town Clerk or by the
Building Inspector or any other officer, appointee or designee as provided
by resolution of the Town Board.
G.
In the event that an applicant for a license as provided
herein shall have previously been duly issued a valid and effective junk dealer's
license by the Supervisor of this town, pursuant to the provisions of Article
6 of the New York State General Business Law, then such applicant shall be
entitled to and allowed a credit against the above-provided license fee in
the amount of $5 for such junk dealer's license fee actually paid by such
applicant; otherwise, this chapter shall be fully binding upon and applicable
to the holder of any such junk dealer's license.
H.
All fees required to be paid pursuant to this chapter shall be
set by resolution of the Town Board.
[Added 3-23-2006 by L.L. No. 3-2006]
A.
The named licensee only must manage or be responsible
for the management of the activity or business for which the license is granted.
B.
The licensee must maintain an office and a sufficient
number of employees on the premises to assure the proper and safe conduct
of such activity or business, to minimize the fire hazard therefrom and to
prevent improper trespass thereon by children and others.
C.
The licensee must erect and maintain an eight-foot solid
wall or fence, uniform in finish and appearance, or an effective living screen
of evergreen-type, adequate to prohibit the entrance of children and others
into the area of the activity or business and to contain within such fence
the materials dealt in by the licensee. Such fence shall be at least 100 feet
from any highway right-of-way line or adjoining property line, except where
the licensee is in business on the effective date hereof and where the present
area of business is less than 100 feet from the highway or boundary, in which
case the fence must be set to enclose the present area of business and must
be not less than 25 feet from any highway line. All the materials dealt in
by the licensee shall be kept within such fence at all times. In no case shall
such materials be stored so as to exceed the height of the wall or fence or
be visible from any public highway.
[Amended 9-28-1967]
D.
Inside and adjacent to and contiguous with such fence
a strip of land at least 10 feet in width shall be kept free of all dry grass
or other growth or other combustible material so as to provide a fire lane
or line around the whole area where the activity or business of the licensee
is being conducted.
E.
The autos, parts and materials shall not be cut, dismantled
or burned unless all gasoline, fuel or explosive material is first removed;
no burning shall be permitted unless a special permit therefor, limiting the
place of burning, shall be obtained from the Town Building Inspector or the
Town Clerk, and no burning in any event shall be permitted so as to create
a fire hazard or public nuisance. The autos, parts and materials, etc., shall
not be piled higher than the fence herein required and shall be piled or arranged
in neat rows so as to permit easy, clear passage through the area.
F.
There shall be maintained at each such place of activity
or business for which a license is issued at least one fire extinguisher of
approved design and capacity for each 40,000 square feet of area. Each such
fire extinguisher shall be hung or mounted in a conspicuous place, clearly
marked and available.
G.
When the area is not supervised by the licensee or his
employees, the fence shall be locked at a secure gate in a secure manner.
H.
Suitable sanitary facilities shall be available, connected
to approved public sewers or septic tanks, for the use and convenience of
the employees of the licensee as well as the general public visiting the area.
I.
The area of the licensee's activity or business shall
not be used as a dump area nor as a place for the burning and disposal of
junk or trash, and any such burning is a violation hereof.
J.
The Town Constable or police, the Town Clerk of the Town
Board or any of its representatives shall be granted access to the area of
the activity or business of the licensee at all reasonable hours to inspect
the same for compliance herewith.
K.
Where the entire business or activity regulated hereunder
is conducted within a building or buildings so that the same is completely
enclosed within the building, then the foregoing provisions requiring a fence
shall not apply.
A.
The owner or licensee of any such place of business who
commits or permits any acts in violation of any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be deemed to have committed an offense against such chapter
and also shall be liable for any such violation or the penalty therefor. Each
day such violation shall continue or be permitted to exist shall constitute
a separate violation.
B.
For every violation of any provision of this chapter,
the person violating the same shall be subject to a fine of not more than
$100 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
C.
Conviction for any above-mentioned violation shall constitute
and effect an immediate forfeiture of the license.
D.
Any person violating this chapter shall be subject to
a civil penalty enforceable and collectible by the town in the amount of $100
for each such offense. Such penalty shall be collectible by and in the name
of the town for each day that such violation shall continue.
E.
In addition to the above-provided penalties and punishment,
the Town Board may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the
town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or to
restrain by injunction the violation of such chapter.
