29-340 (4) ZONING ORDINANCE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Sections pertaining to unregistered and junk motor vehicles
Section 2.0: DEFINITIONS
JUNK MOTOR VEHICLE: Any motor vehicle not capable of being used as such in its existing
condition by reason of being damaged or dismantled or failing to contain parts necessary for
operation and otherwise qualifying as junk.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Any vehicle self propelled by a battery powered, electric or internal
combustion engine, which are permitted and requires a valid registration legally issued by a
governmental authority in order to be operated on a public way. A motor vehicle shall include, but
not be limited to automobiles, trucks, buses, motor-homes, motorized campers, motorcycles, motor
scooters, tractors. (Adopted 7/19/90)
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCESSORIES: Any part or parts of any motor vehicle. (Adopted 7/19/90)
UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE: Any motor vehicle required to be registered by law of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for operation on public ways, not so registered.
Section 8.9 Parking and Loading Space Standards.
All parking and loading areas shall comply with the following:
10. Except on a farm, not more than one commercial vehicle, and said vehicle shall not
exceed a weight of 10,000 pounds gross weight shall be garaged or in any way stored on any lot in
any Residential (R) District.
12. No more than two (2) unregistered motor vehicles (any vehicle that does not have a valid
Registration legally issued by a governmental authority), and no motor vehicle
accessories which are not parts of said two vehicles, may be parked, stored or otherwise
placed on a parcel of land in the City of Northampton without a Special permit from the
Zoning Board of Appeals. This section shall not apply to the parking, storage or
otherwise placing of unregistered motor vehicles and/or motor vehicle accessories where
such parking, storage or placement is in connection with a legally established business
selling new and/or used automobiles and trucks, or automotive repair or automobile
service stations. This section shall also not apply to trucks and tractors which are in use
for bona-fide agricultural purposes.
13. All permitted unregistered motor vehicles and/or motor vehicle accessories shall be
screened from the view of the public and from abutting public ways and from abutting
properties by being enclosed within a structure or sight impervious fencing or screening.
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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
INSPECTOR 212 Main Street • Municipal Building
o�y 5`eye
Northampton, MA 01060
Christopher and Susan Wilson
204 Acrebrook Drive
Florence, MA 01062
Map 29, plot 340
May 8, 2006
Dear Christopher and Susan,
I am following up on a complaint we received last September about unregistered
vehicles on your property.
I visited your property on Friday, May 5, 2006. There is still an unregistered
vehicle in your side yard, visible from the street. It was there last fall, and has not been
moved.
The City of Northampton Zoning Ordinances limit the number of unregistered
vehicles allowed on residential property, define the difference between unregistered and
junk vehicles and describe the requirements for storing unregistered vehicles that are
permitted. Only two unregistered vehicles, and no junk vehicles, are allowed per parcel
of land in the city, and the allowed vehicles "shall be screened from the view of the
public and from abutting public ways and from abutting properties by being enclosed
within a structure or sight impervious fencing or screening".
It would appear that you are in violation of these zoning ordinances. I have
included relevant excerpts from the zoning ordinances for reference.
Please make arrangements to have the vehicle in question screened or removed
in the immediate future, and contact me to discuss your plans. Unless you contact this
office by 4:30 pm on Monday, May 15, 2006, 1 will issue a Notice of Violation of City
Ordinances. Penalties for violations of city ordinances may, upon conviction, be affixed
in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00)for each offense. Each day,
or portion of a day, that any violation is allowed to continue shall constitute a separate
offense.
You may contact me at the building department. Our telephone number is 587-
1240 and our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting
that we close at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays. My email address is:
Iasbrouck(a)-a)
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Louis Hasbrouck
Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement