Newtown City Zoning Code
§ B70-7.07
Truck, boat and construction vehicle restrictions.
A.
Vehicles for which registrations are required to be obtained from the State of Connecticut before using the public highways, including without limitation, cars, trucks and trailers, which do not have a currently valid registration permitting them to travel on the public highways, except operable motor vehicles used on farms, shall not be parked or stored on any lot unless completely enclosed within a building or other structure.
B.
Boats, boat trailers and unoccupied trailers having a current registration to use the public highways may be parked or stored (one of each) outdoors only if parked or stored in a rear or side yard as far from the lot line as possible.
C.
Plumbers, electricians and similar artisans and tradesmen using panel, pickup or similar trucks in their trade or business may park said trucks on the same lot as the dwelling they occupy in any zone provided that no more than one such truck is so parked or stored on the lot per occupant engaged in such trade. Parking of light pickup and panel trucks not in excess of 1.5 tons capacity used for transportation by occupants of the lot, whether or not artisans, is also permitted.
D.
Heavy machinery and equipment generally prohibited in Residential and Farming and in Professional zones.
[Amended 12-10-2014, effective 12-22-2014]
(1)
Except for equipment and vehicles operated by a public authority or public utility, and except as otherwise provided below, the presence of any piece of construction machinery or other equipment, dump truck, garbage truck or other heavy truck of a type not ordinarily used as a means of transportation for people exceeding 500 pounds gross weight ("heavy equipment") is prohibited in all Farming and Residential and Professional zones, whether or not used or owned by an occupant of the lot. Such heavy equipment, when parked or stored in other zones, and all operable motor vehicles used on farms which are parked or stored outdoors, shall be screened from the street and adjacent residentially and professionally zoned property.
(2)
Heavy equipment permitted in certain circumstances. The presence of heavy equipment is allowed in the following circumstances; provided, however, that the work is diligently prosecuted:
(a)
Relating to approved site plan or special exception. Heavy equipment may be present on properties in such zones only to the extent necessary to facilitate repairs and/or improvements to the property on which they are present (hereinafter, "the Work"), provided that specific provision therefor has been made in any site plan or special exception approval.
(b)
Relating to building permits for work by independent contractors. Any property owner or person in control of property may have heavy equipment on Residential and Farming or on Professional zoned property in conjunction with, and only insofar as is necessary for the completion of the Work by an independent contractor for which a building permit has been issued in advance, provided that any such time period shall not exceed 45 consecutive days from the beginning to the end of the Work period.
(c)
General permit.
[1]
Any property owner or person in control of property may have heavy equipment having a gross weight in excess of 500 pounds on Residential and Farming or on Professional zoned property in conjunction with, and only insofar as is necessary for the completion of the Work, one time for a period of not more than seven consecutive days in any three-month period pursuant to the general permit established by this subsection.
[2]
Any property owner or person in control of property may have heavy equipment having a gross weight of 2,000 pounds or greater on Residential and Farming or on Professional zoned property either in conjunction with, and only insofar as is necessary for the completion of the Work, one time for a period of not more than 48 consecutive hours in any three-month period pursuant to the general permit established by this subsection.
[3]
Heavy machinery or equipment owned by or under the control of any licensed tradesperson may be present on Residential and Farming or on Professional zoned property belonging to others during the time necessary to effect improvements or repairs contracted by the property owner or occupant.
(d)
Heavy equipment permit.
[1]
Any property owner or person in control of property may have heavy equipment on Residential and Farming or on Professional zoned property in circumstances other than those specified above with a heavy equipment permit. The Zoning Enforcement Officer may issue up to four heavy equipment permits in any twelve-month period for not more than 10 days each with respect to any single property. The Zoning Enforcement Officer shall refer all other applications to the Zoning Commission for review and action thereon.
[2]
The applicant for any such permit shall provide the following information and such other information as may assist the issuing authority in determining the necessity for the presence of such equipment on the property for the period for which the application is made:
[a]
The name of the property owner and the address of the property;
[b]
A description of the nature and extent of the Work;
[c]
The proposed beginning and ending dates of the Work;
[d]
A description of the types and number of pieces of heavy equipment required for accomplishment of the Work;
[e]
A statement of the proposed workforce expected to be engaged in accomplishing the Work; and
[f]
The reason, if any, why the presence of such heavy equipment for periods in excess of those provided for generally is necessary to the accomplishment of the Work.
[3]
Copies of such application(s) and/or permit(s) may be distributed to the Zoning Enforcement Officer, the Building Department, the Inland Wetlands Agency and/or other governmental agencies as deemed appropriate.