Politics & Government

Residents Demand Upkeep at Former Miele's Property, Parkway Drive Home

Clark Council passed an ordinance that will allow the town to issue summonses more quickly on properties that are not properly maintained.

Clark Council unanimously passed an ordinance enacting stricter rules for residents and business owners to maintain their properties at Monday night's council meeting – but not before hearing from a few angry residents about properties they feel are currently in desperate need of upkeep. 

Township ordinance currently requires that property owners "maintain such premises where the same are exposed to public view, together with the landscaping contained thereon, in an orderly state, with lawns and bushes trimmed and free from becoming overgrown, littered and unsightly, where such would constitute a blighting effect, depreciating adjoining and nearby property."

The new ordinance will allow the town's code enforcers to issue summonses more quickly in the event of a violation and ups the penalties for a violation. 

Lake Avenue resident Marianne Disporto brought photos of the former Miele's property across the street from her that has been partially demolished. Disporto is also a member of the Clark Neighbors group that opposed the planning board's March approval of the Sangiuliano Group's proposal to build 39 townhomes on the five-acre property. Several members of the group are currently involved in an appeal of that decision.

"Why can't residents' complaints be acted on?" asked Disporto after passing out photos of the property to council members (see the photos in our gallery). "This has been going on for four months. We have made the town aware of it and nothing has been done. ... I want to hear from you people up here that this ordinance is going to be enforced."

Township Attorney Joseph Triarsi replied that Disporto was "preaching to the choir" and told her to see how things go after the ordinance is passed and come back if she's still unhappy. 

"We have had problems enforcing the ordinance previously because of the notice requirements," said Triarsi. "This ordinance cuts all that away. Let ordinance be adopted and see how it shakes out."

Business Administrator John Laezza said the litigation is partially to blame for the condition of the property.

"This property is scheduled for demolition," said Laezza. "It hasn’t been demolished because the property has been in the courts for the last six months. The grass has been cut on a number of occasions and probably next week a demolition permit will be issued on the entire property."

Disporto said she wanted it put on record that the ordinance will be enforced after it takes effect and that it will not take until the litigation is settled.

"Whatever is permitted to be taken down will be taken down," replied Triarsi. "Whatever is not permitted will stay until the litigation is over. We're not going to cross that bridge until we have the court's approval."

Resident Gail Antonik brought photos of 470 Parkway Drive (see them in our gallery), the property next door to her, pointing out stumps, debris, rodents and trespassers at the unoccupied home she claims is falling apart and has been unkempt for 13 years.  

"It’s a safety hazard," she said. "The grammar school is directly behind the property. There are teenagers hanging out in there, the doors are wide open, windows are broken. I don’t understand why the town of Clark permits that. Because no one else sees it or only I see it or only the people next door? Clark is supposed to be one of the nicest places to live, but for whom?"

Laezza took her information and said he would investigate the issue.

The new ordinance states that for the first violation the property owner will receive a notice and be given five days to correct the violation (previously the law allowed 10 days). After five days, a summons will be issued. For any subsequent violations, the town will not have to provide notice and can issue a summons immediately. The penalties for violations have also been raised as follows: Residents will be issued a warning for the first violation, a fine of $250 for the second violation, and a fine of $500 for subsequent violations. Commercial property owners will be issued of fine of $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for any subsequent violations. 

 

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