(a) Whenever the Building Inspector finds any auto service/repair facility to be abandoned within the meaning of this chapter, he or she shall give notice in the same manner as service of summons in civil cases or by certified mail addressed to the owner of record of the premises at his or her last known address or to the address to which tax bills are sent or by a combination of these methods, to abate such abandoned condition within thirty (30) days either by placing the station in operation in accordance with this chapter, adapting and using the building for another permitted business use or by razing the gasoline and filling station structure, removing the pumps, storage tanks and signs and filling depressions to the grade level of the lot. Council may, by a resolution, determine that by reason of the effect of a national emergency which would curtail the operation of motor vehicles or a state of general economic depression, this section shall not apply.
(b) Upon the failure, neglect or refusal by any owner to comply with the notice to abate such abandonment, the Building Inspector shall advise the Law Director of all the facts and the Law Director shall proceed to exercise, on behalf of the Municipality, any remedy which is available to secure an abatement of such abandonment, including any remedy that pertains to the abatement of a public nuisance, and he or she shall recover any damages or enforce any penalties which may be recovered or imposed at the instance of the Municipality.
(c) An inoperative service station, whether or not abandoned, shall be maintained in accordance with this chapter and the owner shall cut all grass and remove all rubbish and weeds from the premises. The parking of motor vehicles upon the premises shall be prohibited and the owner shall place in the window of such station a sign of at least ten square feet in area notifying the public of such prohibition. If the Building Inspector finds that such notice is not complied with by the public, he or she may order the owner of the premises to install fencing approved by the Building Inspector which will be sufficient to block motor vehicle access to the property.
(Ord. 1997-34. Passed 4-15-98.)