During the May 13 meeting of the Coventry Town Council, members approved and adopted councilman Ted Jendzejec's amendments to Chapter 153 of the Coventry Code of Ordinances entitled "Licensed Businesses".
Jendzejec began considering the revisions after being approached by a number of his Dist. 5 constituents residing in Wood Estates and Westwood Estates, who for nearly a year, have been voicing their discontent in regards to excessive noise, traffic and contamination allegedly originating from several nearby asphalt plants.
The amendment added a fourth section to the chapter as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 153 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Coventry entitled "Licensed Businesses" is hereby amended by adding the following:
"§ 153-4. Closing hours for asphalt plants and cement plants."
A.) All persons, partnerships, or corporations which manufacture asphalt and/or asphalt products and/or cement and/or cement products within the limits of the Town shall close such operation Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Saturdays between the hours of 5 p.m. and 12 a.m. unless a license for extended operating hours has been granted by the Coventry Town Council following a public hearing.
It shall be unlawful for any asphalt or cement plant to operate on Sundays. The Town Council may permit operation outside of the above permitted hours following a public hearing for a period not to exceed ten (10) days per calendar year and notification of the Town's police chief at least 72 hours in advance of said operation.
B.) The Town Council shall not grant any such license until a public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town for not less than once per week for two successive weeks prior to the day of hearing.
C.) A filing fee of $50 plus advertising fees shall be paid by the applicant at the time of application for such license. Such licenses must be renewed annually.
D.) The applicant shall in its application for such extended hours state the reasons and shall include the nature of the business to be conducted during the extended hours, the need for such extended hours, and any restrictions to be placed on the business operation during such extended hours to minimize the effect on other property in the neighborhood.
E.) After such hearing, the Town Council shall have the authority to grant the license with reasonable restrictions as they alone shall determine, or deny said license.
F.) Any violation of the hours set forth in sub-paragraph A of this ordinance shall result in the violator being subject to a fine of up to $500 for the first offense, up to $1,000 for a second offense and up to $1,500 for the third and/or subsequent offense.
G.) For a third and/or subsequent offense, the Town Council, at its option, may require the operator of said asphalt plant or cement plant to appear before them to show cause why its license should not be suspended.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its adoption.