Minutes - 20050822 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Commissioner Jacobs asked how much money the county has collected in fines and Michael Harvey said to date he has not assessed fines to anyone except Mr. King. They either pay the zoning official or the county through the administrative mechanism stated in the ordinance or the County puts a lien on the property. Commissioner Jacobs applauded him and said the distinctions with the junk and wrecked motor vehicles are good ones and they should proceed an that. Commissioner Jacobs suggested they work with Solid Waste on a pilot program like the one in the northeast part of state. The manufactured housing industry wants to work with local government to take mobile homes for recycling and Commissioner Jacobs would like for us to be mare proactive in this recycling and to offer ourselves as a pilot project for this. He also suggested going out in the community to find assistance rather than assessing the homeowner. Commissioner Jacobs brought a copy of an article about the way Durham is looking at signs and his experience is that our standards are confusing and he said that they asked for staff to look at what other counties are doing before they make a decision and he is in no rush to bring this to a public hearing in November. He would rather see staff talk to some of the other enforcement people around us and figure out why they are doing it the way they are doing it. Commissioner Jacobs said we have a really good process as far as the way we deal with people who are having trouble paying their taxes and perhaps this same approach could work. Commissioner Jacobs asked is there anything in writing to say what the process is. Michael Harvey said that he has a check off sheet and they mandate people who receive generic letters to set up an appointment and he will go out on the property and show them exactly what they need to do. Commissioner Jacobs asked if the appeal process is in writing. Michael Harvey said that the appeal process is in writing and it is in the appendices. Chair Carey asked if there is are problems when they do the field notice of non- compliance and Michael Harvey said yes. Commissioner Gordon asked if someone complains and Zoning staff goes out and finds a problem or that they are in compliance, does staff see these as potential problems or just frivolous neighbors. Michael Harvey said that he has been out where there were blatant violations and sometimes it is just an issue with the neighbors that goes beyond the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Gordon said that some of the points in the junked vehicles definition are good. However, if they want it to be permissible to have car parts lying around, they need to be careful about what is allowed; otherwise enforcement will became very hard. Michael Harvey said that he feels that they have addressed this concern by having a hobby car definition. Commissioner Gordon reminded them that they had been asked to look at what other jurisdictions in our county are doing with their sign ordinance and to try to make our ordinance conform to the other jurisdictions as much as possible, as long as public safety is addressed. Chair Carey said that he shares the Board's views and their main priority is public safety and asked that Michael Harvey be thorough and complete. Sam Lasris asked if there was an environmental impact on junked cars and Michael Harvey said if there are fluids left in vehicles there could be an environmental impact but the zoning ordinance does not give them any purview to make that determination currently. Sam Lasris said that the state doesn't inspect wells and Michael Harvey said that they have been working with the state on Mr. King's property, but they have been a little disappointed with the lack of initiative. Sam Lasris asked how most of the cases are resolved and Michael Harvey said they go to the property owners and explain to them the way to bring the property into compliance instead of just sending out letters. They have instituted a lot of public contact and meeting with citizens who are in violation and specifically showing them what has to be done. There is no permit to park any kind of junked vehicle on their property. If they get a license far the vehicle, then it is not considered junked and it is legal to have on the property.