Sec. 14-52. - Commercial standards established
Please read the entire section on Code of Ordinances for complete information.
(a) The exterior appearance of all commercial property shall be maintained so as to prevent deterioration or blight.
(1) All exterior building surfaces shall be free of chipping, pitting, cracking, discoloration, peeling or fading.
(2) All exterior signs shall be in good repair and free of chipping, pitting, cracking, peeling, fading or discoloration. Lighted signs shall have all lights working. All signs shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition, which shall include the replacement of defective parts, repainting, cleaning and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign. The area around the base of the sign shall be kept free of weeds and debris. If a sign does not comply with the above standards, the town manager or designee may require its removal.
(3) Doors and windows shall be free of cracked or discolored glass or corroded frames. All doors and windows shall be maintained in a safe, presentable and good structural condition, which shall include the replacement of defective parts, repainting, cleaning and other acts required for maintenance of the doors and/or windows.
(4) All awnings shall be without tears or holes and be free of dirt, discoloration, fading or cracking. All hardware, supports and poles shall be straight, free of rust, and in good condition.
(5) If any property is vacant for more than seven days, all glass surfaces visible to the public shall be clean and the interior of such vacant store shall be screened from public view in one of the following two ways until property is occupied:
a. All glass surfaces visible to the public shall be covered with a town approved window exterior screening, which is available at the town's building department. This provision does not preclude the placing of a real estate sign on the premises, pursuant to the requirements in section 90-74.1. The town will utilize a licensed and insured installer to attach the screening to the glass of the said property and request reimbursement for the installation from the property owner; or
b. Decorative displays of merchandise currently available within the town, merchandise of the future tenant of the vacant store, signage advertising the future tenant, public service displays or festival and current holiday displays extending as much as three feet into the vacant store may be located in displays or a cut out of the windows screening not to exceed more than 25 percent of the store front which shall have approval from the town manager. A copy of the lease shall be provided when seeking town manager approval to advertise the future business. The remainder of the storefront shall consist of the town approved screening. Such screening shall consist of the town-approved window exterior screening that is available in the town's building department. The town will utilize a licensed and insured installer to attach the screening to the glass of the said property and request reimbursement for the installation from the property owner.
(6) If any property is vacant for more than seven days, appropriate exterior nighttime lighting shall be provided.
(7) All sidewalk overhangs attached to commercial buildings shall be structurally sound and free of rust, discoloration, peeling, chipping, cracking, fading, sagging or dirt. All lettering or signage on overhangs shall conform to the requirements provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(8) No air conditioner or heating or cooling device shall be installed so as to be visible from the street, or so as to discharge condensation onto the sidewalk or street.
(9) Every merchant, storekeeper or operator of a business in the town shall sweep, hose down or cause to be swept and hosed down the sidewalks adjoining his respective place of business continuing such actions as often as necessary thereafter to keep the area clean, on each day such business shall be operated. The sweepings shall be picked up and not swept into the gutter.
(10) Every restaurant shall provide a cigarette disposal receptacle permitted by law. The cigarette receptacle shall be kept clean and sanitary. The contents shall be regularly emptied and the contents shall not be swept into the gutter.
(b) The town manager is empowered and authorized to require compliance with this section within 30 days of written notice. Failure to comply shall be punishable as provided in section 1-8
(Code 1960, § 11A-11; Ord. No. 1527, § 2(Exh. A), 7-15-09; Ord. No. 1534, § 2, 9-8-09; Ord. No. 1547, § 2, 2-12-10; Ord. No. 1578, § 2, 7-12-11; Ord. No. 1584, § 2, 1-17-12)