A.
These regulations shall apply to all junkyards or
salvage yards legally operating in the Township.
B.
All persons operating a junkyard or salvage yard must
obtain a permit issued by the Township. All junkyards or salvage yards
legally operating in the Township on the effective date of this chapter
shall make application for the permit required by this chapter within
30 days after the effective date of this chapter.
C.
The permit will be effective for one year from date
of issuance. The permit is subject to renewal upon reapplication and
compliance with this chapter.
D.
Prior to issuance of a permit, applicants must first
obtain all zoning approvals required by the Allegheny Township Zoning
Ordinance, if any.
E.
Initial application for a permit must be submitted
to the Planning Commission, which will review the application to determine
compliance with this chapter and make a recommendation to the Board
of Supervisors. The Planning Commission shall act upon the application
within 30 days after the Planning Commission meeting at which the
application and plans were accepted. If the Planning Commission recommends
approval of the application, Planning Commission approval and any
Planning Commission restrictions or requirements will be submitted
to the Board for final approval.
F.
In the event an application is not recommended for
approval by the Planning Commission, the Planning Commission shall
so notify the applicant in writing stating the reasons for the denial
of approval, whereupon the applicant shall then submit the application
to the Board of Supervisors of Allegheny Township for final decision.
G.
The Board of Supervisors shall act upon the application
within 60 days after receiving the Planning Commission's recommendation.
In the event the application is not approved by the Board of Supervisors
of Allegheny Township, the Board shall so notify the applicant in
writing stating the reasons for the failure of approval or denial,
whereupon the applicant shall then have 30 days to file an appeal,
in writing, to the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,
as provided by law.
H.
An initial permit application will include the following:
(1)
A plot plan showing the layout of the junkyard or
salvage yard and the location of key business operations, including
storage areas, parking areas, point of access from the nearest public
road or roads and any other areas pertinent to the business. This
plot may be hand-drawn by the owner or operator and need not be professionally
prepared.
(2)
A written plan for prevention of accumulation of rubbish.
(3)
The measurement of the area to be used by the junkyard
or salvage yard.
(4)
The type and number of buildings to be used.
(5)
The type and number of storage areas to be used, if
any.
(6)
The type of fencing or natural barriers to be used
to satisfy the requirements of this chapter and maintain the beautification
of the area.
(7)
If application is for a junkyard or salvage yard,
the plot plan must show a layout of rows and roadways within the junkyard
or salvage yard as are necessary to permit movement of emergency equipment
and facilities to safely accept and store any toxic or hazardous materials.
I.
If a permit is issued, such permit shall, at all times,
be conspicuously displayed at the junkyard or salvage yard premises.
J.
The permit will be nontransferable both as to the
junkyard or salvage yard premises and the operator or salvage yard
or junkyard dealer.
K.
No person granted a permit under this chapter will
by virtue of one permit maintain or operate more than one junkyard
or salvage yard within the Township of Allegheny, nor will any person
be a junk dealer or be a salvage dealer or operate or maintain a junkyard
or a salvage yard in any place other than the place designated upon
his permit.
L.
Application for renewal of the permit will be filed
in writing with the Township Manager and will list any changes made
since the original application or in the last application. The Board
or its Zoning Officer will inspect the property to determine if the
junkyard or salvage yard has complied with the regulations in this
chapter. If action needs to be taken by the junkyard operator or salvage
yard operator in order to come into compliance with this chapter,
such action shall be completed before the renewal permit will be issued.
[Amended 1-10-2005 by Ord. No. 2-2005]
A yearly fee as set from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors will be charged for each permit.
Every junk and salvage dealer permitted to operate
under this chapter will maintain the junkyard and salvage yard as
hereinafter provided:
A.
All junk or salvage will be stored behind a chain
link fence, not less than eight feet in height, supplemented by screening
material creating a visual barrier.
B.
The fence shall be so constructed as to permit an
entrance of not more than 30 feet in width which shall be closed off
by means of latching a gate of similar construction to the required
fence. Such a barrier must be shown in the permit application.
C.
The Planning Commission will analyze the screening
and/or fencing required for each site and in conjunction with the
owner or operator the Planning Commission will develop a plan of control
which meets the requirements of this chapter and federal and state
laws, rules and regulations.
D.
To maintain Township beautification, to reduce the
possibility of junk, rubbish, or salvage from the property being blown
by winds to adjoining property and scattered about the Township and
to provide for public safety including the prevention of children
from entering and playing in the salvage or junk, the operator will
line public highway and property boundaries with a natural barrier.
E.
The natural barrier will be of any approved type as
herein described. Construction of said barriers will not be so costly
as to jeopardize the junk or salvage dealer's livelihood. Approved
natural barrier materials are shrubbery, evergreens, arborvitae and
existing trees.
F.
The fence and barrier will be set back at least 20
feet from all established side and rear property lines and 40 feet
from the edge of the road right-of-way nearest the front property
lines of the premises occupied by the junk or salvage yard.
G.
All required open areas between fence and boundary
lines will be maintained continuously in good order. All weeds within
the junk or salvage yard will be kept under control and to a maximum
height of 15 inches.
H.
The Township will not be responsible for the preservation
or maintenance of required screening. When screening is subsequently
removed or becomes ineffective, the junk or salvage dealer will be
notified in writing by the Board to provide the maintenance required
to bring the business in conformance with the approved application
on record.
I.
All salvage will be stored and arranged so as to permit
access by emergency equipment and to prevent accumulation of stagnant
water and to preclude accidental runoff of hazardous materials.
J.
Vehicles constituting salvage will be spaced in rows
with at least fifteen-foot roadways to permit movement of emergency
equipment.
K.
Salvage will not be piled to a height of more than
seven feet from the ground.
L.
Gasoline, oil or other combustible material will be
stored in only one location on the premises. State and/or federal
regulations for storage will apply. Provisions will exist to preclude
accidental runoff of combustible liquids.
M.
All gasoline shall be promptly drained and removed
from salvage and either stored or properly disposed of.
N.
Any vehicle being dismantled shall have the gas tank
removed.
O.
There shall be no holding or storage of any quantities
of rubbish or junk except for a reasonable time as required for disposal.
P.
Hours of operation shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m.
