Oxford City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 156
LAND USAGE REGULATIONS
§ 156.01 MUNICIPAL PROPERTY EXEMPTED FROM ZONING REGULATIONS.
The town adopts Public Act No. 133 which exempts the town from zoning regulations. Municipal property is exempted from zoning regulations.
(Ord. passed 4-6-1964)
Statutory reference:
Zoning regulations, see Conn. Gen. Stat. § 8-2
§ 156.15 PURPOSE AND INTENT.
(A) The town desires to provide a safe and healthy environment for all residents wishing to enjoy the open spaces of the town.
(B) The regulations herein are designed to provide uniform understanding of permitted uses and prohibitions on property that has been designated by the Board of Selectmen as “Regulated Town Open Space” which open space permits public access at times designated herein, it is therefore resolved by the town meeting that the following regulations be adopted for the town.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004)
§ 156.16 DEFINITION.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
REGULATED TOWN OPEN SPACE. All those town open space areas that have been designated as regulated by the Board of Selectmen and are set forth on a list entitled REGULATED TOWN OPEN SPACE on file in the Town Clerk’s office.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004)
§ 156.17 MOTORIZED VEHICLE USE.
(A) The operation of any motorized vehicles or vessels is prohibited on any regulated town open space area, except official vehicles engaged in maintenance, emergency activities or for handicapped accessibility.
(B) No person shall park or store any motorized vehicle, bicycle, trailer or personal property on any regulated town open space area of the town, except in those areas set aside and designated as temporary parking.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.18 HOURS.
All regulated town open space areas shall be open from dawn to dusk unless the First Selectman or his or her designated representative has granted special permission to an individual or a group in writing to extend this time period. Further, public access may be restricted for maintenance, safety or other reasons related to the public health and welfare.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004)
§ 156.19 NON-MOTORIZED VESSELS.
Non-motorized vessels may be used only in regulated town open space areas approved for that purpose. No motorized vessels are allowed in any waters of the regulated town open space unless required for emergency rescue or maintenance operations, or in areas approved for that purpose.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.20 SWIMMING.
Swimming is not allowed in any regulated town open space watercourse, pond or lake except as may be designated by the First Selectman or his or her designated representative and only when appropriate supervision is available through the Park and Recreation Commission or another town entity.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.21 ICE SKATING AND FISHING.
Ice skating and ice fishing are not allowed in any regulated town open space watercourse, pond or lake except as may be designated by the First Selectman or his or her designated representative.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.22 CAMPING.
No person or organization shall camp overnight in any regulated town open space area unless they have obtained written permission from the First Selectman or his or her designated representative.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.23 ERECTING TENTS OR CONSTRUCTING SHELTERS.
No person or organization shall erect tents or construct shelters or other structures of a temporary nature or hold any sponsored gathering or function in any regulated town open space areas without the express written permission of the First Selectman or his or her designated representative.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.24 USE OF FIRE.
No person shall light, kindle or use any fire on any regulated town open space area except in receptacles installed for that purpose without the express written permission of the Fire Marshal.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.25 HUNTING, TRAPPING, ARCHERY AND USE OF FIREARMS AND THE LIKE.
(A) Hunting, trapping, archery, discharging firearms, paintball guns or use of any weapon on or into any regulated town open space area is prohibited. The Board of Selectmen may issue special limited permits for restricted hunting in specifically designated areas if it is deemed necessary by the Board for the culling of certain wildlife.
(B) No person crossing regulated town open space areas to gain access to private or state property may proceed through regulated town open space areas with any firearm.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.26 SALE OF GOODS.
No person shall expose any article or item for sale in any regulated town open space area unless the Board of Selectmen issues a permit for the activity, except that this does not apply to established Park and Recreation Commission and Board of Education programs.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.27 DESTROYING OR INJURING WILDLIFE OR PLANT LIFE.
No person shall destroy, injure, herd, harvest or disturb any form of wildlife, plant life or its habitat on any regulated town open space area excluding state permitted fishing where specifically allowed or educational programs approved by the First Selectman or his or her designee.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.28 RUBBISH.
No bottles, glass, cans, waste paper, food products or other rubbish shall be left in any regulated town open space area except in containers designated for that purpose. No residential or commercial dumping of any kind, including yard waste, leaves or refuse, is permitted on town open space areas.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.29 MOUNTAIN BIKING AND HORSEBACK RIDING.
Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted on designated regulated town open space trails only, and at no time may mountain bikes or horses be used off of the trails.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.30 ANIMALS.
Dogs must be leashed at all times while within the regulated town open space areas, except with written permission of the First Selectman, or his or her designated representative, to those individuals and their dogs which are involved in special safety training and rescue operations. Owners must remove any solid waste generated by the dog.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.31 DAMAGE OF REGULATED TOWN OPEN SPACE PROPERTY.
No person shall deface, mar, remove or otherwise intentionally damage any regulated town open space property or any improvement made thereon.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.32 ALCOHOL.
No person shall use any alcohol on any regulated town open space area.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004) Penalty, see § 156.99
§ 156.33 FOOT TRAFFIC.
Nothing in this subchapter shall supercede the restriction to foot traffic only for the Oxford Loop Trail and other Connecticut Forest and Park Association Blue Blazed Trails in the town as stated in the footpath usage ordinance approved June 7, 1993, as codified in § 70.05.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004)
§ 156.99 PENALTY.
(A) Generally. Any person violating any provision of this chapter, for which no other penalty is provided, shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 10.99.
(B) Regulated open space. Violation of any provision §§ 156.15 through 156.33 shall result in a fine of not more than $100 for each offense in addition to any other penalty provided by municipal, state and federal ordinances, regulations and statutes. Each violation of §§ 156.15 through 156.33 shall be a separate violation. The citation hearing procedure set forth in the town’s ordinance establishing hearing procedure for town citations and fines, as may be amended, shall be applicable to any violation of §§ 156.15 through 156.33.
(Ord. passed 4-29-2004)