(A) Community Decay Standards: It shall be a violation of this chapter to allow any of the following conditions to exist within "public view", as defined within this chapter, on any land or property in the city:
1. The piling or spreading of straw, hay, grass trimmings or similar material unless the material is to be used as soil conditioner or mulch and the material is plowed into the ground or otherwise mixed and covered with clean soil within sixty (60) days from placement upon a lot or field.
2. The dumping, piling, or stacking of bricks, concrete blocks, waste wood, and/or similar material on open lots or fields, unless said material is stacked in neat piles and all waste material from the cleaning of such items, such as mortar, wood splinters, broken and unusable bricks, is removed to a licensed solid waste disposal facility or to some other location which has been approved by the agency within a reasonable period approved by the agency. Should such an operation be an ongoing continuous business, it shall be located in an area properly zoned for such a salvage business and shall be shielded from public view. Shielding shall meet the shielding standards outlined within these community decay standards and/or city zoning regulations.
3. The storage or large accumulation of cardboard boxes, broken packing boxes, paper, or other similar items on lots or fields.
4. The piling, dumping or depositing of any dirt, demolition wastes including wood, bricks, concrete, used road blacktop and other similar materials on any open lots or fields, unless such material is to be utilized for fill material to fill a coulee or land depression. If such material is used as fill material, all such material shall be completely covered with clean fill material once every ten (10) days and the fill area shall be adequately fenced to restrict access to the area. Failure to comply with the periodic cover and access control requirements shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
5. The storage and accumulation of iron, metal, component vehicle and machine parts, junk vehicles, household appliances, barrels and other salvaged metal items, unless such material is stored in an approved, licensed, and shielded motor vehicle wrecking facility. If such material is being accumulated as part of an ongoing, active salvage business other than an approved licensed motor vehicle wrecking facility, the salvage business must be located in a properly zoned area for such a business and shall be shielded from public view. Shielding shall meet the shielding standards outlined within these community decay standards and/or city zoning regulations.
The standards set forth herein are for guidance only and are not intended nor shall the same be considered the sole or exclusive standards establishing a violation.
(B) Shielding Standards:
1. All plans for shielding shall be approved by the agency prior to commencing construction of shielding.
2. When fences are used for shielding the boards may be spaced and/or slanted to reduce wind load. The space between boards when viewed from broadside shall not be more than one and one- half inches (11/2") and the interval between spaces shall not be less than seven and one-half inches (71/2"). Rough dimensional lumber or better is acceptable. Chainlink fences with standard fiberglass or other inserts are acceptable, provided the gap between adjacent slats does not exceed one and one-half inches (11/2").
3. Shielding with shrubs and trees shall provide a similar degree of shielding at all times of the year. Dirt berms are acceptable for shielding purposes, provided the berm slopes are graded smooth and seeded with an adequate grass seed formula.
4. Other types of fencing of equivalent permanence, attractiveness, and shielding qualities, including corrugated metal, are also acceptable.
5. No more than one of the approved shielding materials shall be used on any one side of a shielding fence.
6. The fencing is to be maintained by the property owner or occupant in a neat and workmanlike manner and shall be replaced when necessary. (Ord. 1650, 9-8-1998)