Planning commissioners back code change to prohibit ‘accumulation of junk’ on private property

Planning commissioners recommended adopting an amendment to the town land-use code to add a general-site standard prohibiting the accumulation of junk on private property, the body decided during a regular meeting.

Speaker 3, explaining the proposed change, said the amendment would insert a new subsection into Chapter 19 (general site standards, 19.46, subsection j) to give the municipality authority to prohibit accumulations of junk on private property. "A property owner may have up to 2 inoperable vehicles on their property provided the subcriteria," Speaker 3 said, summarizing the vehicle-related sublimits carried over from the prior code.

The discussion focused on definitions and enforceability. Speaker 3 read the existing code definition of "junk," which lists "worn out or discarded materials including, but not necessarily limited to, scrap metal, inoperable motor vehicles or recreation vehicles which are inoperable for more than 60 days, and parts, construction materials, household waste, including garbage and discarded appliances and yard debris." Speaker 1 raised a clarification about firewood, stating "this junk cannot include firewood," and Speaker 3 agreed that unless firewood is treated as yard debris it would be excluded.

Speaker 4 outlined the rationale for relocating those standards into a concise accumulation rule, saying the previous long "junkyard" definition made court enforcement difficult: "we're not gonna try and prove it's a junkyard," they said, arguing a straight prohibition on accumulation lets code enforcement require cleanup without litigating nomenclature.

Commissioners also discussed softer, community-centered tools. Speaker 4 and Speaker 1 mentioned social mechanisms such as neighborhood pressure and "beautification awards" as complements to enforcement.

Speaker 2 moved to recommend adoption of the amendment "with the clarification already suggested," noting concerns about effects on historic neighborhood character but calling the change "a good addition." The Chair opened a public hearing as required; no members of the public spoke. After the hearing Speaker 2 renewed the motion and Speaker 1 noted that Donna seconded it. Commissioners recorded verbal 'Aye' votes and the recommendation moved forward.

The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn; no further business was raised. The commission noted the next meeting date as April 2.

The amendment as discussed would: clarify the town's authority to prohibit accumulations of junk on private property; retain vehicle-related subcriteria (including a two-vehicle allowance subject to conditions); and allow the Commission to add a recital emphasizing health and safety as the ordinance's purpose. Several points discussed — including exact subcriteria language and which items count as "yard debris" or "firewood" — were left to final ordinance drafting and were not resolved on the record.

The Commission opened the item for public hearing, received no public comment, and advanced the recommendation to adopt the Title 19 amendment.