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Sec. 9-71. - Definitions.#
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Camping area means any tract or parcel of land set aside for use by persons paying a fee to camp there in tents, similar portable structures, vehicles designed for use in camping or camping trailers, so-called, or vehicles designed to be drawn by vehicles or self-propelled and occupied as a dwelling or used for sleeping purposes.
Trailer coach or mobile home means any portable structure or vehicle designed to be drawn by vehicles or self-propelled and occupied as a dwelling or used for sleeping purposes.
(Ch. 26, § 10, 12-1-69)
Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 9-72. - License required.#
No person shall maintain or operate a camping area within the town without a license for the same as provided in this article. No person shall locate or maintain a trailer coach or mobile home within the town except in a camping area, in accordance with the provisions of this article unless such trailer coach or mobile home meets the requirements of the town building code; provided, however, that any trailer coach or mobile home presently located and being maintained in the Town of Hopkinton prior to the effective date of former chapter 18 of the ordinances of the town regarding regulating the location of single trailers in the town and any trailer coach or mobile home located and maintained in the town after the effective date of former chapter 18 under a valid license issued under former chapter 18 may be continued to be located and maintained in its present location in the town and may be replaced by a replacement trailer coach or mobile home on the same location.
(Ch. 26, § 1, 12-1-69)
Editor's note— Chapter 18 has been repealed.
Sec. 9-73. - Procedure for applying for license.#
(a)
Application for a camping area license shall be made in writing to the town council and shall be filed with the town clerk at least four (4) weeks prior to the special or regularly scheduled town council meeting at which hearing on such application is sought.
(b)
Such application shall contain the following information:
(1)
The name and address of the applicant.
(2)
The name and address of the owner of the land on which the camping area is to be established.
(3)
A description of the facilities intended to be installed on the proposed camping area and the services to be available to the persons camping there.
(4)
Evidence that the applicant is owner or lessee of the land on which the camping area is to be established.
(c)
Such application shall be accompanied by the following:
(1)
A plat prepared and certified by a registered professional engineer in the state of the proposed camping area showing its area and the names and addresses of all property owners adjoining or within two hundred (200) feet of the proposed camping area.
(2)
Application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) to defray the expense of administering this article.
(3)
Certificate of the state department of health that the camping area meets state requirements.
(4)
Certificate of the town forest warden that the fire prevention facilities intended to be installed on the proposed camping area are adequate, that fire prevention measures intended to be followed at the proposed camping area are adequate and that the proposed camping area will otherwise present a safe environment for camping.
(d)
The town clerk shall refuse to accept any application not containing the information specified in (b) above or not accompanied by the plat, fee and certificates specified in (c) above.
(e)
Upon receipt of a proper application the town clerk shall send, by regular mail, notice of such application and the date, time and place of the hearing thereon to each of the property owners adjoining or within two hundred (200) feet of the proposed location, as shown on the plat accompanying the application. Such notice shall be sent at least three (3) weeks prior to the town council meeting at which such application is to be considered. The town clerk shall also cause the application to be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week during the two (2) weeks prior to the town council meeting at which such application is to be considered.
(Ch. 26, § 2, 12-1-69)
Sec. 9-74. - Standards to govern issuance of license.#
No license shall be granted under the provisions of this article unless the following standards are met: (1)
The proposed camping area must have an area of at least twenty (20) acres.
(2)
No facilities or campsites on the proposed camping area shall be located within two hundred (200) feet of any property not owned or leased by the applicant or any public highway.
(3)
No individual campsite within the camping area shall be less than fifteen hundred (1,500) square feet in area.
(4)
At least ten (10) percent of the total campground area shall be set aside for common recreation facilities for occupants of the camping area.
(5)
The camping area shall be separated from view from adjacent property not included in the camping area and from the public highways either by natural screening or by a stockade-type fence.
(Ch. 26, § 3, 12-1-69)
Cross reference— Fire prevention and protection, Ch. 6.
Sec. 9-75. - Hearing on issuance of license.#
A hearing on the issuance of a camping area license shall be held at a special or regularly scheduled town council meeting. After hearing, the license shall be granted forthwith if the standards outlined in this article are met and the proposed location of the camping area is found to be compatible with the character and land use of the surrounding neighborhood.
(Ch. 26, § 4, 12-1-69)
Sec. 9-76. - Terms of license.#
Any license granted under this article shall be on the following terms: (1)
The license shall not be transferable. A change of control of a corporation shall invalidate any license issued to such corporation and a new license must be acquired by the corporation if a change of control takes place.
(2)
The license shall be revocable by the town council for violation of any of the provisions of this article or upon evidence presented by the state health department or town forest warden that the camping area is unhealthy or unsafe or that adequate health and safety measures are not being followed.
(3)
The license shall also be revocable by the town council for any violation, committed on the premises, of the provisions of any other ordinance or statute or for maintaining or allowing the maintenance of a nuisance on the premises.
(4)
The licensee shall permit inspections of the camping area at reasonable times by the town police.
(Ch. 26, § 5, 12-1-69)
Sec. 9-77. - Expiration and renewal of licenses.#
All licenses issued under the authority of this article shall expire on December 31 of each year. Such licenses shall be renewed by following the procedure outlined in section 9-73 except that a new plat and certificate of the state health department and forest warden need not be filed unless there is to be a change in the facilities from the previous year.
(Ch. 26, § 6, 12-1-69)
Sec. 9-78. - Operation of licensed areas.#
(a)
Camping areas may be open and operated during the period March 1 to December 31 only and camping areas must be vacant during the months of January and February of each year.
(b)
The operator of a camping area shall not lease space for periods of longer than two (2) weeks, renewal at the option of the operator, provided, however, that no person may lease space in a camping area for more than six (6) months in each ten-month operating season unless such person first provides the town clerk's office with information pertaining to his, her or their number, age, and identity.
(c)
The operator of the camping area shall maintain appropriate boundary markers on the boundary of the camping area clearly designating such boundaries for the purpose of preventing trespassing on adjacent property by patrons of the camping area.
(Ch. 26, § 7, 12-1-69; Ch. 96, § 1, 4-4-88)
Sec. 9-79. - Existing camping areas.#
Any camping area existing on December 1, 1969 must be licensed in accordance with this article and must comply with all of the provisions of this article except sections 9-74(1) and 9-74(2). For purpose of this section, an existing camping area shall mean any camping area which has been approved by the state department of health under the provisions of applicable state law, of January 1, 1970.
(Ch. 26, § 8, 12-1-69)
Sec. 9-80. - Violations.#
(a)
Each day that any violation of this article shall continue shall be considered as a separate or distinct offense.
(b)
In addition to any penalties otherwise applicable for violations of this article, the town may bring an action against any property owner who fails to comply with the requirements of this article. Such actions shall be brought, at the election of the town, in the superior court having jurisdiction where the violation occurred or is likely to occur or in the Hopkinton Municipal Court. The town may seek restraining orders and injunctive relief to restrain and enjoin violations or threatened violations of this article.
(Ch. 26, § 11, 12-1-69; Ch. 206, § 2, 10-15-07)
Sec. 9-81. - Exception.#
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the storage of a camper or camping trailer by a person on his own property.
(Ch. 26, § 9, 12-1-69)