Source: https://ecode360.com/9793732
Timestamp: 2017-11-24 22:13:45
Document Index: 90194355

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 6', '§ 66', '§ 66', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 1', '§ 312', '§ 312', '§ 66', '§ 8', '§ 312', '§ 306', '§ 340', '§ 1', '§ 381']

Village of Mazomanie, WI Property Maintenance
Village of Mazomanie, WI
Ch 4 Administrative Determinations Review
Ch 9 Assessments and Charges
Ch 42 Emergency Government
Ch 45 Emergency Medical Services
Ch 56 Fire Department
Ch 94 Officers and Employees
Ch 100 Police Department
Ch 106 Property, Surplus and Abandoned
Ch 154 Amusement Arcades
Ch 158 Animals
Ch 166 Bicycles
Ch 181 Burning, Open
Ch 187 Cable Television
Ch 195 Direct Sellers
Ch 201 Driveways
Ch 209 Electric Utility
Ch 215 Erosion Control and Stormwater Management
Ch 221 Fair Housing
Ch 227 Fire Prevention
Ch 235 Flea Markets
Ch 239 Furnaces, Outdoor
Ch 254 Intoxicating Liquor and Fermented Malt Beverages
Ch 280 Mobile Homes
Ch 301 Parks and Recreation
Ch 306 Peace and Good Order
Ch 312 Art I Brush, Grass and Weeds
§ 312-1 Noxious weeds and grasses.
§ 312-2 Natural lawns.
§ 312-3 Length of lawn and grasses.
Ch 312 Art II Junked Vehicles and Appliances
§ 312-4 Outside storage on private property.
§ 312-5 Definitions.
§ 312-6 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
Ch 317 Public Buildings
Ch 339 Sexually Oriented Businesses
Ch 345 Smoking and Tobacco Products
Ch 350 Snowmobiles
Ch 355 Solid Waste
Ch 357 Stormwater Utility
Ch 370 Trees and Shrubs
Ch 381 Vehicles, Abandoned
Ch 400 Floodplain Zoning
Ch 415 Zoning
Ch A420 Historic Preservation Plan
Chapter 312: Property Maintenance
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Mazomanie as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Building construction — See Ch. 172.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 227.
Historic preservation — See Ch. 246.
Nuisances — See Ch. 290.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 306.
Solid waste — See Ch. 355.
Trees and shrubs — See Ch. 370.
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 381.
Chapter 312 : Property Maintenance
Article I Brush, Grass and Weeds
Article II Junked Vehicles and Appliances
Article I: Brush, Grass and Weeds
[Adopted 6-28-1988 as §§ 6-1-5 to 6-1-7 of the 1988 Code]
The Village Clerk-Treasurer shall annually, on or before May 15, publish as required by state law a notice that every person is required by law to destroy all noxious weeds on lands in the Village which he owns, occupies or controls. A joint notice with other towns or municipalities may be utilized.
If the owner or occupant shall neglect to destroy any weeds as required by such notice, then the Weed Commissioner of the Village shall give five days' written notice by mail to the owner or occupant of any lands upon which the weeds shall be growing to the effect that said Weed Commissioner, after the expiration of a five-day period, will proceed to destroy or cause to be destroyed all such weeds growing upon said lands and that the cost thereof will be assessed as a tax upon the lands upon which such weeds are located under the provisions of § 66.0407, Wis. Stats. In case the owner or occupant shall further neglect to comply with such five-day notice, then the Weed Commissioner shall destroy such weeds or cause them to be destroyed in the manner deemed to be the most economical method, and the expense thereof, including the cost of billing and other necessary administrative expenses, shall be charged against such lots and be collected as a special tax thereon.
As provided for in § 66.0407(2), Wis. Stats., the Village shall require that all noxious weeds shall be destroyed prior to the time in which such plants would mature to the bloom or flower state. The growth of noxious weeds in excess of eight inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the Village corporate limits. Noxious weeds shall include any weed, grass or similar plant growth which, if allowed to pollinate, would cause or produce hay fever in human beings or would cause a skin rash through contact with the skin.
Noxious weeds, as defined in this section and in § 312-3, shall include but not be limited to the following:
Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)
Ambrosia trifida (great ragweed)
Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge)
Convolvulus arvensis (creeping jenny) (field bind weed)
Tragopogon dubius (goat's beard)
Rhus radicans (poison ivy)
Cirsium vulgaries (gull thistle)
Arctium minus (bur dock)
Xanthium strumarium (cocklebur)
Amaranthus retroflexus (pigweed)
Chenopodium album (common lambsquarter)
Rumex crispus (curled dock)
Plantago lancellata (English plantain)
Noxious grasses, as defined in this section and in § 312-3, shall include but not be limited to the following:
Agrostia alba (Redtop)
Dactylis glomerata (Orchard)
Phleum pratensis (Timothy)
Poa pratensis (Kentucky blue)
Sorghum halepense (Johnson)
Setaria (Foxtail)
Natural lawns defined. "Natural lawn" as used in this section shall include common species of grass and wildflowers native to North America which are designed and purposely cultivated to exceed eight inches in height from the ground. Specifically excluded in natural lawns are the noxious grasses and weeds identified in § 312-1 of this article. The growth of a natural lawn in excess of eight inches in height from the ground surface shall be prohibited within the Village corporate limits unless a natural lawn management plan is approved and a permit is issued by the Village as set forth in this section. Natural lawns shall not contain litter or debris and shall not harbor undesirable wildlife.
Natural lawn management plan defined.
"Natural lawn management plan" as used in this section shall mean a written plan relating to the management and maintenance of a lawn which contains a legal description of the lawn upon which the planted grass will exceed eight inches in length, a statement of intent and purpose for the lawn, a detailed description of the vegetational types, plants and plant succession involved, and the specific management and maintenance techniques to be employed.
Property owners who wish to plant and cultivate a natural lawn must submit their written plan and related information on the form provided by the Village. "Property owner" shall be defined to include the legal title holder and/or the beneficial owner of any such lot according to most current Village records. Natural lawn management plans shall only indicate the planting and cultivating of natural lawns on property legally owned by the property owner. Applicants are strictly prohibited from developing a natural lawn on any Village-owned property, including street rights-of-way. This shall include at a minimum property located between the sidewalk and the street or a strip not less than 10 feet adjacent to the street where there is no sidewalk, whether the area is under public or private ownership. In addition, natural lawn shall not be permitted within 10 feet of the abutting property owners' property unless waived in writing by the abutting property owner on the side so affected, such waiver to be affixed to the lawn management plan.
Any subsequent property owner who abuts an approved natural lawn may revoke the waiver, thereby requiring the owner of the natural lawn to remove the natural lawn that is located in the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring property owner. Such revocation shall be put in writing and presented to the Village Clerk-Treasurer by the subsequent abutting property owner. Upon receiving the written request to revoke the original waiver, the Village Board shall contact the owner of the approved natural lawn and direct the owner to remove the natural lawn located in the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring property owner. The Village Board shall revise the approved natural lawn management permit accordingly. The owner of the approved natural lawn shall be required to remove the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring property owner within 20 days of receipt of the written notification from the Village, provided that the notification is received sometime between May 1 and November 1. Property owners who receive notification from the Village between November 2 and April 30 shall be required to remove the ten-foot section abutting the neighboring property owner no later than May 20 following receipt of the notification.
Property owners interested in applying for permission to establish a natural lawn shall obtain and complete an application form available from the Village Clerk-Treasurer. The completed application shall include a natural lawn management plan. Upon submitting a completed application, a nonrefundable filing fee as set by the Village Board will be assessed by the Village. Upon receiving payment, copies of the completed application shall be mailed by the Village to each of the owners of record, as listed in the office of the Village Assessor, who are owners of the properties situated wholly or in part within 300 feet of the boundaries of the property for which the application is made. If within 15 calendar days of mailing the copies of the complete application to the neighboring property owners the Village receives written objections from 51% or more of the neighboring property owners, the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall immediately deny the application. "Neighboring property owners" shall be defined as all those property owners who are located within 300 feet of the proposed natural lawn site.
If the property owner's application is in full compliance with the natural lawn management plan requirements and less than 51% of the neighboring property owners provide written objections, the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall issue permission to install a natural lawn.
Application for appeal. The property owner may appeal the Clerk-Treasurer's decision to deny the natural lawn permit request to the Public Protection and Ordinance Committee at an open meeting. All applications for appeal shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of the notice of denial of the natural lawn management plan. The decision rendered by the Public Protection and Ordinance Committee shall be final and binding.[1]
Safety precautions for natural grass areas.
When in the opinion of the Fire Chief the presence of a natural lawn may constitute a fire or safety hazard, due to weather and/or other conditions, the Fire Chief may order the cutting of natural lawns to a safe condition. As a condition of receiving approval of the natural lawn permit the property owner shall be required to cut the natural lawn within three days upon receiving written direction from the Fire Chief.
Natural lawns shall not be removed through the process of burning unless stated and approved as one of the management and maintenance techniques in the lawn management plan. The Fire Chief shall review all requests to burn natural lawns and shall determine if circumstances are correct and all applicable requirements have been fulfilled to ensure public safety. Burning of natural lawns shall be strictly prohibited unless a written permit to burn is issued by the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall establish a written list of requirements for considering each request to burn natural lawn, thereby ensuring the public safety. In addition, the property owner requesting permission to burn the natural lawn shall produce evidence of property damage and liability insurance identifying the Village as a party insured. A minimum amount of acceptable insurance shall be $300,000.
Revocation of an approved natural lawn management plan permit. The Clerk-Treasurer, upon the recommendation of the Building Inspector, shall have the authority to revoke an approved natural lawn management plan permit if the owner fails to maintain the natural lawn or comply with the provisions set forth in the approved natural lawn management plan permit or any requirements set forth in this section. Notice of intent to revoke an approved natural lawn management plan permit shall be appealable to the Public Protection and Ordinance Committee. All applications for appeal shall be submitted within 15 calendar days of receipt of the written notice of intent to revoke the approved natural lawn management plan permit. Failure to file an application for appeal within 15 calendar days shall result in the revoking of the natural lawn management plan permit. All written applications for appeal filed within the fifteen-calendar-day requirement shall be reviewed by the Public Protection and Ordinance Committee in an open meeting. The Public Protection and Ordinance Committee shall make a recommendation to the Village Board. The decision rendered by the Village Board shall be final and binding.[2]
The growth of a natural lawn as defined in this section shall be considered a public nuisance unless a natural lawn management plan has been filed and approved and a permit is issued by the Village as set forth in this section. Violators shall be served with a notice of public nuisance by certified mail to the last known mailing address of the property owner.
If the person so served with a notice of public nuisance violation does not abate the nuisance within 10 days, the enforcement officer may proceed to abate such nuisance, keeping an account of the expense of the abatement, and such expense shall be charged to and paid by such property owner. Notice of the bill for abatement of the public nuisance shall be mailed to the owner of the premises and shall be payable within 10 calendar days from receipt thereof. Within 60 days after such costs and expenses are incurred and remain unpaid, the Village Clerk-Treasurer shall enter those charges onto the tax roll as a special tax as provided by state statute.
The failure of the Village Clerk-Treasurer to record such claim or to mail such notice or the failure of the owner to receive such notice shall not affect the right to place the Village expense on the tax rolls for unpaid bills for abating the public nuisance, as provided for in this section.
Any person, firm or corporation who or which does not abate the nuisance within the required time period or who or which otherwise violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to the general penalty found in Chapter 1, § 1-3 of this Code.
In addition to any penalties herein provided, the Village may issue stop-work orders upon owners of lots where work is unfinished under a previously issued building permit for any violation of this section.
Purpose. This section is adopted due to the unique nature of the problems associated with lawns, grasses and noxious weeds being allowed to grow to excessive length in the Village.
Public nuisance declared. The Village Board finds that lawns, grasses and noxious weeds on lots or parcels of land which exceed eight inches in length adversely affect the public health and safety of the public in that they tend to emit pollen and other discomforting bits of plants, constitute a fire hazard and a safety hazard in that debris can be hidden in the grass, interfere with the public convenience and adversely affect property values of other land within the Village. For that reason, any lawn, grass or weed on a lot or other parcel of land which exceeds eight inches in length is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, except for property located in a designated floodplain area and/or wetland area or where the lawn, grass or weed is part of a natural lawn approved pursuant to § 312-2 above.
Nuisances prohibited. No person, firm or corporation shall permit any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above to remain on any premises owned or controlled by him within the Village.
Inspection. The Weed Commissioner or his designee shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the Village to determine whether any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above exists.
Abatement of nuisance. If the inspecting officer shall determine with reasonable certainty that any public nuisance as defined in Subsection B above exists, he shall immediately report such existence to the Village Board which shall, if it determines that such nuisance exists, cause notice to be served that the Village Board proposes to have the lot grass or lawn cut so as to conform with this section and § 312-1.
Due process hearing. If the owner believes that his grasses or weeds are not a nuisance, he may request a hearing before the Village Board or committee thereof. The request for said hearing must be made in writing to the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office within the five days set forth in the Weed Commissioner's notice. Upon application for the hearing, the property owner must deposit a bond of $25. If a decision is rendered in the property owner's favor, the $25 will be returned to the property owner. If the property owner fails to appear for the hearing or if the decision is rendered against the property owner, the deposit shall be forfeited and applied to the cost of Village personnel abating the nuisance, if necessary. When a hearing is requested by the owner of the property, a hearing by the Village Board shall be held within seven days from the date of the owner's request. The property in question will not be mowed by the Village until such time as the hearing is held by the Board. At the hearing, the owner may appear in person or by his attorney, may present witnesses in his own behalf and may cross-examine witnesses presented by the Village as well as subpoena witnesses for his own case. At the closing of the hearing, the Village Board shall make its determination in writing, specifying its findings, facts, and conclusions. If the Village Board determines that a public nuisance does exist, the Board shall order the Weed Commissioner to mow the property in question unless the property has been mowed by the owner within 48 hours of the Village Board's decision. If the owner does not abate the nuisance within the described 48 hours, the Weed Commissioner shall cause the same nuisance to be abated and cost in excess of the forfeited fee assessed accordingly.
Village's option to abate nuisance. In any case where the owner, occupant or person in charge of the property shall fail to cut his lawn, grass or weeds as set forth above, then and in that event the Village may elect to cut said lawn, grass or weeds as follows:
The written notice required in Subsection E shall inform said person that in the event of his failure to abate the nuisance within the prescribed time, the Village shall abate the same and the cost thereof shall be assessed to the property owner as a special charge.
The Village shall cut or cause to be cut all grass and weeds from the subject property and shall charge the expenses of so doing at a rate as established by resolution by the Village Board. The charges shall be set forth in a statement to the Clerk-Treasurer, who, in turn, shall mail the same to the owner, occupant or person in charge of the subject premises. If said statement is not paid in full within 30 days thereafter, the Clerk-Treasurer shall enter the charges in the tax roll as a special tax against said lot or parcel of land, and the same shall be collected in all respects like other taxes upon real estate, or as provided under § 66.0907(3)(f), Wis. Stats.
Article II: Junked Vehicles and Appliances
[Adopted 4-25-2000 (§ 8-4-8 of the 1988 Code)]
§ 312-4 Outside storage on private property. [1]
No disassembled, inoperable, unlicensed, junked or wrecked motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, trailers, farm machinery or appliances shall be stored or allowed to remain in the open upon private property within the Village for a period exceeding 10 days unless it is in connection with a properly licensed automotive or appliance sales, repair or storage business enterprise located in a properly zoned area and such business is maintained in such a way as not to constitute a public nuisance.
Any business engaged in automotive sales, storage, body repair or other repair may only retain such vehicles if such vehicles are stored out of public view behind a solid fence. The fence design and materials shall be approved by the Village Board, after an advisory recommendation from the Plan Commission. Such automotive and repair-related businesses may only be located in a properly zoned area.
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 306, § 306-20, Storage of junked or discarded property.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
DISASSEMBLED, INOPERABLE, JUNKED OR WRECKED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS OR TRAILERS
Motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors, farm machinery or trailers in such state of physical or mechanical ruin as to be incapable of propulsion or being operated upon the public streets or highways or which are otherwise not in safe or legal condition for operation on public streets or highways due to missing or inoperative parts, flat or removed tires, expired or missing plates, or other defects.
INOPERABLE APPLIANCE
Any stove, washer or refrigerator which is no longer operable in the sense for which it was manufactured.
As defined in § 340.01(35), Wis. Stats.
UNLICENSED MOTOR VEHICLES, TRUCK BODIES, TRACTORS OR TRAILERS
Motor vehicles, truck bodies, tractors or trailers which do not bear lawful current license plates.
Whenever the Police Department shall find any vehicle or appliance, as described herein, placed or stored in the open upon private property within the Village, it shall notify the owner of said property on which said vehicle or appliance is stored of the violation of this article. If said vehicle or appliance is not removed within five days, the Police Department shall cause to be issued a citation to the property owner or tenant of the property upon which said vehicle or appliance is stored. The penalty shall be as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-3 of this Code.[1]
If such vehicle or appliance is not removed within 20 days after issuance of a citation, the Chief of Police shall cause the vehicle or appliance to be removed and impounded and it shall thereafter be disposed of as prescribed in Chapter 381, §§ 381-3 through 381-6, by the Chief of Police or his duly authorized representative. Any cost incurred in the removal and sale of said vehicle or appliance shall be recovered from the owner. However, if the owner of the vehicle or appliance cannot readily be found, the cost of such removal shall be charged to the property from which it is removed, which charges shall be entered as a special charge on the tax roll.