Frustrated with property owners who continually fail to maintain their property, Fairview Twp. supervisors plan to amend the property maintenance section of the township’s code of ordinances to establish enhanced enforcement procedures and increased penalties for repeat offenders.
The amendment to the property maintenance ordinance will be on the agenda of the supervisors’ Sept. 2 meeting, which gets underway at 6:30 p.m.
Earlier this year, supervisor Harry Zearfoss, the township road master, said the township was going to make enforcement of ordinances regarding nuisance and dilapidated properties, especially those with high grass and weeds, a priority.
Over the last few months, the township’s zoning and code enforcement officer issued numerous violation notices to property owners. Despite these efforts, officials found some property owners only addressed the violations only after receiving a notice, and then not again until they received a second violation notice.
“It’s the same people over and over,” said board of supervisors chairman Barry Jacob. “The zoning officer sends out a violation notice (for high grass) and they wait until the last day to cut the grass. Then, they don’t cut it again until we send out another notice. It’s getting ridiculous,” he stated.
Zearfoss echoed Jacob’s comments. “It’s the same handful of people over and over,” he related. Many of the offenders, he noted, are absentee landlords.
The proposed amendment adds the definition “Repeat Offender” to the Property Maintenance section of the township’s code of ordinances. The definition describes a repeat offender as “Any property owner who has received two or more violation notices under the 2015 IPMC Section 302 for the same property within any 12-month period.” The IPMC is the International Property Maintenance Code.
Section 302.4 of the IPMC specifies weeds or plant growth in excess of six inches in height as a violation.
The ordinance under consideration by supervisors calls for increased fines and shortens the length of time for compliance by those property owners deemed repeat offenders.
Fairview Twp. meeting
Prior to their regular meeting on Tuesday, Fairview Twp. supervisors will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. That session will address two topics.
The first issue will be discussion of the township’s municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) permit and its stormwater management program. To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into MS4s, certain municipalities, like Fairview Twp., are required to obtain permits and develop stormwater management programs. Municipalities are required to annually report on steps taken to implement this stormwater management program.
The second item on the agenda is a discussion of the Dale Drive bridge replacement project. The span over Big Wapwallopen Creek was closed in late October 2020 after a routine state Department of Transportation inspection determined it to be unsafe.
State Rep. Alec Ryncavage, R-Plymouth, has assisted the township in securing approximately $800,000 in state grant funding for the bridge replacement.
Property transfers
After months of speculation, Januzzi’s Pizza and Subs at 76 N. Mountain Blvd. has been sold. According to a deed filed earlier this month at the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds, long-time owner Al Saba sold the property to Mountain Top Titan LLC for $300,000.
Another property on North Mountain Boulevard, Top of the Mountain Plaza, also has been sold. The property was sold to SCKK LLC for $650,000. Top of the Mountain Plaza includes Boxes & Bows gift shop, The Conservatory of Dance, HUE Hair Lounge, Maditude Children’s Boutique and Toys and the offices of Dr. David J. Flannery, DPM, and Dr. Juan Torres, acupuncturist.
SCKK LLC lists an address as 512 Northampton St., Suite 126, Edwardsville, which is the UPS Store.
Hose company Community Day
Mountain Top Hose Company No. 1 will hold its second annual Community Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at the hose company picnic grounds.
The event will give community members a chance to meet and support members of the Fairview Twp. volunteer fire company. It will feature food and craft vendors, That Foam Guy, a bounce house and the hose company’s famous potato pancakes.
