Motor vehicle repair and storage (ordinance) 10-14-10 — File 190285

DRAFT 10-14-10 CITY OF SOMERVILLE ORDINANCE NO. 2010 – IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN: WHEREAS, the majority of property owners in Somerville take diligent and good care of their properties; WHEREAS, some property owners allow their property to be maintained in a status that can provide locations for infestations of rodents, vermin, or dangerous insects, or allow hazardous trees to remain on their properties; WHEREAS, some property owners allow inoperable or unregistered vehicles to remain on their properties for extended periods of time when can become a health or safety hazard; WHEREAS, the City needs appropriate regulations to ensure that properties are maintained in a manner that does not contribute to infestations of rodents, vermin or dangerous insects, or as health or safety hazards, now, Therefore, be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen in session assembled, that the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville is hereby amended as identified. 1. Chapter 9 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Article 4 Offenses Against Property, Section 9-57 Repairing Automobiles on Public Property is hereby amended to read as follows (additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out): Section 9-57. – Repairing and Storing Motor Vehicles Automobiles on Public and Private Property. Section 9-57(a) Repairing automobiles on public property. No person shall repair, restore or maintain any vehicle on any street or on any public property. Section 9-57(b) Unregistered motor vehicles on private property. No person, firm, or corporation shall store, place or permit to be stored or placed, any unregistered motor vehicle on private property located in the City for more than ninety (90) days. No more than one unregistered motor vehicle may be stored, placed, or permitted to be stored or placed at any time. This ordinance shall not apply to the storage of motor vehicles within an enclosed building or to a person licensed under G. L. c. 140, s. 59. Section 9-57(c) Inoperable motor vehicles. No person, firm, or corporation shall store, place, or permit to be stored or placed, any inoperable motor vehicles on private property located within the City of Somerville. For purposes of this Article, "inoperable motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle which, for a period of at least seven (7) days, is incapable of being driven under its own motor power,

DRAFT 10-14-10 including, but not limited, to where the engine, wheels, windshields, or other parts have been removed, or on which the engine, wheels or other parts have been altered, damaged, or otherwise so treated, but shall not include: 1) Any motor vehicle that is kept within a building when not in use; 2) A motor vehicle on the premises of a place of business licensed under G. L. c. 140, s. 59. Section 9-57(d) Storage of Boats, Trailers and Recreational Vehicles. One recreational vehicle, boat or utility trailer may be stored outside of a building on any lot containing a dwelling unit. The recreational vehicle, boat or trailer must be located not closer to the street than the existing front facade of the front-most dwelling unit on the property. The recreational vehicle, boat or trailer must be sight-screened from the street and abutting properties by solid fencing at least six feet in height. The recreational vehicle, boat or trailer shall not be occupied for living, housekeeping, or business purposes. All such recreational vehicles, boats or trailers shall be kept in good repair and must comply with all other City ordinances concerning nuisances and abandoned vehicles. Section 9-57(e) Penalty. Whoever violates any of the provisions of this section shall be fined in accordance with Section 1-11(b). Each day that a person, firm, or corporation violates this ordinance shall be deemed a separate offense. 2. Chapter 1 General Provisions, Section 1-11(b) Penalties and Violations is hereby amended to read as follows (additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out): Offense Fine Enforcing Personnel Repair of Automobiles on Public Ways Repairing and Storing Motor Vehicles on Public and Private Property (Sec. 9-57) 1st Offense: $50 $100 2nd Offense: $150 $200 3rd & subsequent offense: $300 Police; commissioner of public works, inspectional services, health inspectors