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Township of Jackson, NJ
Ocean County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee (now Council) of the Township of Jackson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Charitable clothing bins — See Ch. 148.
Garbage, rubbish and waste material — See Ch. 216.
Secondhand dealers — See Ch. 338.
Abandoned or inoperable vehicles and other machinery — See Ch. 418.
[Adopted 12-7-1971 by Ord. No. 30-71 (Ch. 71 of the 1972 Code)]
No person or persons, firm or corporation shall engage in the business of keeping a junkyard or salvage yard, that is, no person or persons, firm or corporation shall keep and maintain a yard, space or place, covered or uncovered, in the Township of Jackson for the purpose of buying, taking in trade, selling, exchanging or storing rags, old metals, old bottles, old glassware, old tinware, old iceboxes, old refrigerators, old paper, old lumber, old building supplies, old furniture, old plumbing fixtures, old unlicensed automobiles, dismantled old automobiles or parts thereof, motor vehicle junk or any other old material commonly called junk or salvage, without being licensed so to do by the governing body of this municipality; provided, however, that this shall not prohibit the storage of old material to be used by the person or persons, firm or corporation storing the same for manufacturing purposes upon the same subject premises.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
JUNK or SALVAGE
The items described in § 239-1 heretofore.
JUNK OR SALVAGE DEALERS
Any person, firm association, partnership or corporation who buys, takes in, sells, exchanges or otherwise acquires junk or salvage for commercial purposes within the Township of Jackson or who collects or stores junk or salvage therein, and shall include any automobile wrecking business, the sale or storage of used auto parts and the sale or storage of used lumber, used plumbing fixtures or appliances or other used or secondhand articles.
JUNKYARDS or SALVAGE YARDS
Any land within the Township of Jackson upon which junk or salvage is placed, collected, stored, traded in or exchanged or kept for commercial purposes.
SEPARATE AND DISTINCT LOCATION TO BE LICENSED
Any open-air plot of ground, yard or parcel of land consisting of part of one lot, or one or more lots, as set forth in the Tax Map of the Township of Jackson, and which parts of the lot or lots are adjacent and contiguous to each other and, if described by metes and bounds, would have one continuous and uninterrupted boundary line.
A. 
No such license shall be issued until the applicant shall have made and filed with the Township Clerk written application in triplicate on forms furnished by the Township, and which application shall provide:
(1) 
The name and address or residence of the applicant, and if a firm, association, partnership, limited partnership or corporation, the names and addresses of the officers, registered offices and registered officer, if any. In the event the applicant is an association, partnership, limited partnership or corporation, it shall also list the names and addresses of all active and inactive members, partners, stockholders and any person who has or holds any beneficial interest in and to the capital stock of any such entity or corporation. Where the applicant is a corporation, a certificate of good standing of the corporation attested to by the Secretary of State shall also be furnished with the application. In the event the applicant is an individual, he shall set forth his interest in the business and list the names and addresses of any other person or entity that has an interest directly or indirectly in the business to be conducted upon the subject premises.
(2) 
The street address and lot and block numbers on the Township Tax Map of the premises desired to be licensed.
(3) 
If the applicant is not the owner of the site where the business is to be licensed and conducted, the owner's consent to conduct the business on his land shall accompany the application.
(4) 
Each application shall have attached thereto an accurate sketch or drawing of the property desired to be licensed, showing the names and locations of all public highways adjoining the premises, the dimensions in feet of the said premises, the lot and block numbers on the Tax Map of said premises and the names and addresses of all real property owners within 200 feet of the premises sought to be licensed.
(5) 
A detailed summary of the nature of the business to be carried on on the premises.
(6) 
A receipted real estate tax bill for the subject premises.
B. 
In making his application for a license or renewal, the applicant shall give written notice to all property owners within 200 feet of the proposed licensed premises of his intention to apply for such license. Such notice shall be served either personally or by registered mail, return receipt requested, at least 10 days before the application is filed with the Township Clerk. Written proof of such service in affidavit form shall accompany the application for a license.
A. 
The licensed premises shall be subject to official inspection at any time by the governing body of the municipality, as well as its agent and employees acting in an official capacity, and by any police officer or the Health Inspector, members of the local Board of Health, the local Fire Commissioner and representatives of the local fire company desiring to make an inspection of the licensed premises.
B. 
Every license issued hereunder shall be kept in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises and shall be procured and made available for inspection by authorized officials as herein provided.
C. 
Prior to the issuance of any license or renewal thereof, the Building Inspector or his assistant shall inspect the licensed premises as soon as practicable upon receipt of the application for a license or renewal thereof, and he shall make his written report to the Township Committee of approval or disapproval of the operation at the subject premises, setting forth his reason for any disapproval. The Township Clerk shall notify the applicant in writing of any disapproval and transmit the reason thereof to the applicant. Thereafter, the applicant shall rectify any and all conditions in violation of this article forthwith, and, upon correction, the applicant shall notify the Township Clerk and the Building Inspector in writing of the corrections made, and the Building Inspector or his assistant shall reinspect the premises as soon as practicable and make his written report to the Township Committee. No license shall issue unless and until the applicant has complied with all the requirements of this article and corrected any deficiency as determined by the Building Inspector or his associate pursuant to this article.
D. 
Upon receipt of the application, the Township Clerk shall forward a copy of same to the Township Police Department, which shall forthwith investigate the character and background of the applicant or, if the applicant is a legal entity, the character and background of the principals, partners, stockholders or any person holding a beneficial interest therein, or of a firm or limited partnership holding a benefit in such entity. The investigation shall be concluded as soon as practicable and a written report thereof shall be transmitted to the Township Clerk by the Police Chief or such official as designated by the Chief of Police.
E. 
Upon receipt of written approval from the Building Inspector or his assistant and from the Police Department and subject to the approval as required hereunder, the Township Clerk may place the application on the agenda for consideration by the Township Committee. A license or renewal thereof may only be granted by the Township Committee at a public meeting and upon compliance by the applicant with this article and such other applicable ordinances of Jackson Township.
The licensee shall:
A. 
Maintain the licensed premises in a safe manner, and particularly the premises shall be kept free of rats, weeds, brush, dry leaves, unbound or loose papers and stagnant water in such quantity as to be a hazard to the health or well-being of the general public or the comfort of adjacent or nearby property owners or residents.
B. 
Maintain the licensed premises in a sightly manner, with due regard to the public safety of persons and property in the vicinity in which the junkyard is located, and particularly the junk shall not be so piled or placed as to endanger any person upon the licensed premises, on adjacent property or on any public highway. The junk and debris on the licensed premises shall be so secured that it may not escape said premises or be permitted to be promiscuously blown about on the licensed or other premises.
C. 
Not set or permit any outdoor fire on the licensed premises.
D. 
Stack, pile or arrange the merchandise and personal property on the licensed premises in such manner that a fire truck, police car or first-aid ambulance may have at least one open and unobstructed driveway to and across each licensed premises, with appropriate open space for turnaround or other means of entrance and exit in all cases. The licensee shall not stack junk or salvage material, including automobiles, higher than six feet.
E. 
Be a citizen of the United States of America if the licensee is a natural person or persons. If the licensee is a corporation, it shall be a corporation of New Jersey or be duly licensed to do business in New Jersey, have a principal office in this state and have a registered agent in charge thereof upon whom process of service can be made.
F. 
Construct a solid fence at least seven feet high so that the contents of any junk- or salvage yard are entirely enclosed on all sides. Said fence shall be sightly and shall not be constructed from materials of different quality, types or dimensions and shall be maintained and painted so as not to detract from the surroundings. Said fence shall be kept in good repair at all times and shall have no openings through which persons or animals may enter, except for doors or gates necessary for ingress and egress to said junkyard, which said doors or gates shall be kept closed at all times except when actually needed for ingress or egress. The doors or gates herein described shall not exceed 15 feet in width, and there shall be no more than two such openings. Where the topography, natural growth of timber or other considerations create a natural barrier which accomplishes the purposes of this section in whole or in part, the fencing requirements hereunder may be reduced by the Township Committee at the time of the granting of the annual license; provided, however, that such natural barrier conforms with the purposes of this section.
[Amended 4-26-1977 by Ord. No. 11-77]
G. 
Make certain that each entrance and exit to the licensed premises is well-marked as such by appropriate signs and permit automobiles to enter and leave the licensed premises only at established entrances and exits, respectively. The purposes of the provisions of this subsection are to prevent cars from promiscuously or surreptitiously entering and leaving the licensed premises, thus preventing interference with traffic upon the adjacent public highway and lessening the likelihood of accidents and injuries, and to permit observation of the licensee's operation by those municipal officials who are charged hereunder. No damaged or disabled vehicle, junk or salvage materials shall be parked, stored or placed outside the limits of this fence. Said fence shall be constructed by each licensee within six months from the date of adoption of this article and shall otherwise comply with all zoning requirements respecting setbacks and side yard requirements for structures.
H. 
Not purchase anything from a person under the age of 18 years, unless accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or person standing in the place and stead of parent or guardian to such minor.
I. 
Not make or permit excessive noise on the licensed premises so as to unreasonably disturb adjacent or nearby residents in the quiet enjoyment of their properties or so as to be detrimental to the health and well-being of the residents in the immediate vicinity of the licensed premises. No motor vehicle or junk or salvage shall be stored, bought, sold, exchanged, traded in or dismantled within 500 feet of any dwelling house, place of residence, church, school, auditorium, place of public gathering or like place, except such dwelling house as may be situated on the licensed premises.
J. 
Take precaution to safeguard all inflammable, combustible or explosive materials from fire, and no licensee shall stack, pile or place junk upon the licensed premises in such manner as to create a fire hazard. In addition, all gasoline, fuel or other explosive material shall be drained and removed from any motor vehicle within eight hours after it is received on any premises licensed as a junkyard, conducted by a junk dealer, located in the Township of Jackson, and said gasoline, fuel or other explosive material shall be either removed from said premises or kept in a leakproof tank buried on said premises at a point not closer than 100 feet from any dwelling house and to a sufficient depth so that the top of the tank shall not be nearer to the ground level than 2 1/2 feet, which tank shall be located within the permissible portion of the premises, as hereinafter set forth in this article, at which said business is conducted.
K. 
Not conduct his business in any junkyard or salvage yard as defined in this article at any point on said premises which shall be located nearer than 150 feet from any street or highway nor nearer than 50 feet to any of the side lines of said premises where said side lines are more than 150 feet from any street or highway which does not run parallel with or along the front of said premises; provided, however, that these setback provisions shall not apply to junkyards already in existence and operating prior to the adoption of this article.
[Amended 12-5-1972 by Ord. No. 34-72]
Every licensee shall be required to keep a written book or record in bound form at the licensed premises. Said book or record shall contain a legible daily record of the description of all articles purchased, the name and address of the person from whom each was purchased and the price paid. Said book or record shall be open to inspection at any reasonable time requested by any of the persons or officials named in or referred to in § 239-4 hereof.
A. 
Such application shall be accompanied by cash or a certified check, payable to the order of the Township of Jackson, in a sum equal to the entire annual license fee, which is hereby fixed at the sum of $350. In the event the license is refused, said fee, less $150 to defray and cover the cost of inspections and processing the application, shall be returned to the applicant. If the application for the original license is for part of the licensed year only, the fee shall be prorated on a monthly basis, but in no event shall it be less than $200.
B. 
The license fee imposed herein is expressly declared to be imposed for regulation and for revenue.
All licenses issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall expire at 12:00 midnight on December 31. An application for renewal shall be filed with the Township Clerk on or before November 1 of the year of expiration.
A. 
A separate license shall be obtained for each separate location at which the business of the licensee is conducted and the license shall authorize the licensee to conduct the said business only at the place specified in the license.
B. 
No license shall be transferable from one location to another unless and until:
(1) 
The latter location complies with this article.
(2) 
Written application has been made for such transfer, which application shall show the same general items as to the applicant and the premises as are required for the original license.
(3) 
A transfer fee of $250 has been paid to the Township of Jackson.
(4) 
A sketch or drawing such as is required by § 239-3A(4) hereof shall accompany the application.
(5) 
The landowner's consent to the license, such as is required by § 239-3A(3), where the applicant is not the owner of the land site for the license, shall also accompany the application for transfer.
(6) 
The license has been endorsed by the Township Clerk of the Township of Jackson after adoption of a resolution by the Mayor and Township Committee approving the same, which approval shall be granted upon the licensee's satisfying all of the requirements of this article as to the new location, and with the further provision that the licensee is not at the time of the application in violation of any provision of this article.
No license shall be granted for or transferred to any land site or premises where such business is forbidden by any legal ordinance.
No transfer of license from one person or entity to another person or entity shall be made except upon written application signed by the person or entity desiring to secure the transfer and bearing the written consent of the then licensee. Such application shall be accompanied by a transfer fee of $250. The proposed transferee shall be capable of qualifying as an original licensee and shall file an application as provided for in this article.
A. 
No license shall be issued to or be outstanding in the name of any person convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, breaking and entering, robbery, larceny or receiving stolen goods. In the event the applicant or licensee is a limited partnership, firm or corporation, no license shall be issued or be outstanding where any principal of the entity or stockholder of such corporation would not qualify individually for a license pursuant to this subsection.
B. 
No person convicted of any of the foregoing crimes shall be employed by any licensee without prior approval of the Township Committee. Prior to such approval being given, the Jackson Township Committee shall request the Jackson Township Police Chief to make an investigation regarding such person, and the Chief shall file his reports and recommendations with the Township Committee within 30 days of receipt of such written request.
Any person, firm, association, partnership or corporation, or agent, servant or employee thereof, who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both.
In connection with the violation of this article, each day such violation shall be continued shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense and violation thereof.
A. 
Whenever the authorized Jackson Township official shall determine that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this article or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor as hereinafter provided, and said official shall also notify the Township Clerk and the Township Committee of such alleged violation in writing.
(1) 
Such notice shall:
(a) 
Be put in writing.
(b) 
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued.
(c) 
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
(d) 
Be served upon the owner or his agent, provided that such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent if a copy thereof is served upon him personally, or if a copy thereof is sent by certified mail to his last known address, or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the junkyard or salvage yard affected by the notice or if he is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of the state.
(2) 
Such notice may contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this article and with rules and regulations adopted thereto. Any person affected by any notice which has been issued in connection with the enforcement of any of the provisions of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Township Committee, provided that such person shall file in the office of the Township Clerk a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds therefor within seven days after the day the notice was served. Upon receipt of such petition, the Township Clerk shall set a time and place for such hearing and shall give the petitioner written notice thereof. At such hearing, the petitioner shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show why such notice should be modified or withdrawn. The hearing shall be commenced not later than seven days after the day on which the petition was filed, provided that, upon application of the petitioner, the Township Committee may postpone the date of the hearing for a reasonable time beyond such seven-day period if, in its judgment, the petitioner has submitted a good and sufficient reason for such postponement. After such hearing, the Township Committee shall sustain, modify or withdraw the notice, depending upon its findings as to whether the provisions of this article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with. If the Township Committee sustains or modifies such notice, it shall be deemed to be an order, which, at the discretion of the Township Committee, may operate as a revocation of a junkyard or salvage license. Any notice served pursuant to this article shall automatically become an order if a written petition for a hearing is not filed in the office of the Township Clerk within seven days after such notice is served. The proceedings at such hearing, including the findings and decision of the Township Committee, shall be summarized, reduced to writing and entered as a matter of public record in the office of the Township Clerk. Such record shall also include a copy of every notice or order issued in connection with the matter. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Township Committee may seek relief therefrom in any court of competent jurisdiction, as provided by the laws of this state.
B. 
Whenever the authorized official of the Township of Jackson shall find that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the public health or safety, he may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as he deems necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately but, upon filing a petition with the Township Clerk, shall be afforded a hearing within 72 hours of the receipt by the Clerk of such petition. After such hearing, depending upon its findings as to whether the provisions of this article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with, the Township Committee shall continue such order in effect, modify it or revoke it.
[Amended 11-23-1987 by Ord. No. 39-87; 5-13-1991 by Ord. No. 18-91]
There shall be no more than four junkyard or salvage yard licenses issued in and for the Township of Jackson.
[Adopted 9-21-1954 (Ch. 104 of the 1972 Code)]
No person shall, after the effective date of this article, begin or continue to deal in secondhand motor vehicles and parts thereof in this Township unless and until a license for each such dealer is procured pursuant hereto.
No license shall be considered or issued hereunder to any such dealer unless and until:
A. 
A written, signed application is made by such dealer on forms therefor to be provided by the Township. Said forms shall make provision for applicant to furnish information giving the area, dimensions, location, road frontage, name and address of owner of land where business is proposed to be conducted, name and address of applicant, consent of owner of said lands for the conduct of such business thereon, the precise location on premises where business will be located and conducted, reference to deed by which owner acquired said land and its recordation when recorded, and showing all dwellings within 500 feet of proposed site on which business shall be conducted. Said applicant shall also state in his application whether he has ever been convicted of crime, and if so, when, where, nature of crime and penalty imposed.
B. 
A fee of $25 is paid to the Township. Said fee shall be an annual fee for each license granted. If application is rejected, $10 of said $25 shall be retained by the Township to cover its charge for investigating application, and the remaining $15 shall be returned by the Township to applicant.
No such dealer shall be granted a license where the premises on which he intends to conduct his business shall be within 500 feet of any public highway, unless and until a tight, nontransparent fence six feet in height shall be constructed and maintained between said business site and highway. Said fence may have opening or openings for ingress or egress, which opening or openings shall be made of same or comparable material as fence.
No more than four such licenses shall be in effect at the same time. If any side or rear line of any such premises on which a dealer is to operate his business shall be within 75 feet of the property line of another person, such side or rear line and the motor vehicles and parts on the licensed premises shall be shielded from view by similar fence as provided for in § 239-19 or by evergreen trees or otherwise.
[Amended 4-13-1976 by Ord. No. 18-76]
Licenses shall be issued by the Township Clerk for such secondhand vehicle dealers as shall hereafter be approved for such licenses by the Township Committee. Such licenses shall be issued on an annual basis with a term commencing as of April 1 and terminating as of March 31 following.
The licensee shall conduct his business with minimum noise, consistent with efficient operation of his business. The purpose of this provision is to prevent, so far as practical, annoyance from noise by dealer in the operation of his business to adjacent residents.
Licensee shall at all times keep the premises on which he conducts his business in such manner that same shall not constitute a fire hazard or menace.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PERSON
Includes an individual, individuals, partnership and corporation.
Nothing herein shall be construed to conflict with any state law regarding automobile or motor vehicle junkyards.
[Amended 12-5-1972 by Ord. No. 34-72]
Any person convicted of a violation of this article shall, upon conviction, be subjected to a penalty of a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the Common Jail of the County of Ocean for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Judge before whom said conviction is had.