(A) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AUTOMOBILE GRAVEYARD. Any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used, or operated for storing, keeping, buying, or selling wrecked, scrapped, ruined, dismantled, or inoperable motor vehicles and which are not being restored to operation regardless of the length of time which individual motor vehicles are stored, or kept at the establishment or place of business.
BUILDING. Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, and designated or intended for the shelter, support, enclosure, or protection of persons, animals, or chattels.
DWELLING. Any habitable building used or intended for use as a residence which is connected to power and water sources and having adequate provisions for waste water disposal.
ESTABLISHMENT. Any place, land, building, or structure on which or in which there is operated or maintained a business or growing concern for profit.
FENCE. A continuous, opaque, unperforated barrier extending from the surface of the ground to a uniform height of not less than six feet from the ground at any given point, constructed of dirt, wood, stone, steel, or other metal, or any substance of a similar nature and strength, which will hide the automobile graveyard or junkyard.
GARAGE. An establishment which is maintained and operated for the primary purpose of making mechanical and/or body repairs to motor vehicles and which receives 50% or more of its gross income from charges made for such repairs.
GATE. A door or other device attached to a fence which, when opened, provides a means of ingress and egress of persons and things for which it was intended, and which, when closed, forms a continuous barrier as a part of the fence to which it is attached.
HOUSING UNIT. A house, an apartment, a group of rooms or a single room occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters.
JUNK. Old or scrapped copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber, debris, waste, dismantled or wrecked automobiles or parts thereof, dismantled or broken appliances or parts thereof, iron, steel, and other old scrap ferrous or non-ferrous materials.
JUNKYARD. An establishment which is maintained, operated, or used for storing, keeping, buying, or selling junk regardless of the length of time that junk is stored or kept, or for maintenance or operation of an automobile graveyard, but shall not include garbage dumps and county operated sanitary landfills.
PUBLIC ROAD. Any road or highway which is now or hereafter designated and maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation as part of the State Highway System, whether primary or secondary, hard-surfaced, or other dependable highways, and any road which is a neighborhood public road as defined in G.S. § 136-67, which definition is incorporated into this chapter by reference.
REPAIR SHOP. An establishment which is maintained and operated for the primary purpose of making mechanical and/or body repairs to motor vehicles and which receives 50% or more of its gross income from charges made for such repairs.
SCHOOL. Any public or private institution for the teaching of children under 18 years of age, which is recognized and approved by the North Carolina Board of Education.
SERVICE STATION. Any establishment which is maintained and operated for the primary purpose of making retail sales of fuels, lubricants, air, water, and other items for the operation and routine maintenance of motor vehicles and/or for making mechanical repairs, servicing, and/or washing of motor vehicles, and which receives more than 50% of its gross income from the retail sale of the aforesaid items and/or from the making of mechanical repairs, servicing, and/or washing of motor vehicles.
SUBSTANTIAL. Ample to satisfy the purpose for which an object is intended.
VEGETATION. Evergreen trees, including, but not limited to, white pine, evergreen shrubs, or plants, including, but not limited to, red
tipped Photinia, wax myrtle, with a minimum height of 12 inches when planted, which reach a height of at least six feet at maturity.
VISIBLE. Capable of being seen without visual aid by a person of normal visual acuity.
WIRE FENCE. A continuous, translucent, perforated barrier extending from the surface of the ground to a uniform height of not less than six feet from the ground at any given point, constructed of wire, steel, or nylon mesh, or any substance of a similar nature and strength, but which has perforations or openings no longer than 16 square inches. “Hog wife” fencing and or poultry net fencing or that fencing of a similar type shall not be used.
(B) Words used in the present tense shall include the future; words used in the singular number shall include the plural number; and the plural the singular; and the word “shall” is mandatory and not directory.
(Ord. passed 4-2-07)