Blight/Traffic Control Rules Slated For Overhaul In Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The town's top elected body is conducting public hearings Monday, June 23, on two ordinance overhauls, one dealing with blight and the other traffic control at event/job sites.

The hearings will take place at the regular meeting of the Southington Town Council on Monday, June 23, at 7 p.m. at the John J. Weichsel Municipal Center, 200/196 S. Main St., Southington.

During those hearings, the public will be able to comment on significant changes being proposed to the ordinances.

After the hearing is closed, the full council could vote and decide those proposed changes that night.

Traffic Control

One local law up for tweaking is the ordinance regarding traffic control at construction/work sites as well as special events.

Currently, those conducting such operations must notify the Southington police and fire departments at least 24 hours in advance of any project/event that would reduce roadway access by 50 percent.

Such work requires one or more flagmen to control traffic at the site, according to the current reules.

The new rules would broaden those definitions of what type of work requires traffic control and, in many circumstances, mandate that local police be responsible for traffic control at the cost of those doing the project.

Also, the revised ordinance allows the town's police chief to mandate officers to conduct traffic control at special events in town at the expense of the organizer/sponsor.

Blight

In addition, the town council is also looking to rewrite Southington's blight ordinance with broadened definitions and more finite procedures relative to enforcement and appeal.

One example is an expansion of the definition of "blight."

Under the current rules, "blight" is defined as property being in decay, dilapidated, inoperable (buildings and motor vehicles), a person's inability to maintain property or premises, and items simply being "unsightly."

The proposed "blight" definitions are expanded and include many specific examples of what constitutes "blight" and give the town's blight officer leeway to determine that the operations of one property negatively impact operations at surrounding sites.

Other language changes in the blight ordinance deal with penalties and appeals procedures, offering more finite rules and regulations compared to the current ordinance.

The Town of Southington has posted the full current and proposed blight and traffic control ordinances on the town's website.

For more information on the current and proposed blight and traffic control ordinances, click on this link.