Unsightly Construction Sites

A readers called our attention to a stalled building site at 2 Cooper Road on the corner of Murray Hill Road and Cooper Road. She said that fallen trees and debris have been scattered at the site for almost a year. She alerted the Building Department twice but had not received a response.

We took a look at Scarsdale Village Code which clearly states that construction sites need to be maintained. It says,

Construction Sites

In instances when work is being performed under a building permit or a demolition permit or when a building or structure has been damaged by fire, flood, windstorm or other cause, or in the event of substantial interruption of work on a building as a result of a stop-work order or revocation, suspension or expiration of a building permit, the premises shall be maintained free from the accumulation of rubbish, water and all other conditions which may endanger the life, health or safety of the public, debase the community or adversely affect the value, use and enjoyment of surrounding properties.

Under the conditions described in § 132-36A, the premises shall be safeguarded, altered or dismantled in a manner ordered by the Building Inspector, which may include, among other requirements, the removal of walls, the covering of areas between walls and the partial or complete removal from the site of any or all buildings or structures.

Failure to act upon written order
If the property owner fails to comply with a written order from the Building Inspector within the time specified therein or within such extended period as may be granted by the Board of Appeals on an appeal, the Building Inspector may employ such labor and materials and other services as may be necessary to perform the work and, as appropriate, notify the Board of Appeals. All costs and expenses so incurred by the Village shall be paid by the owner or may be assessed against the land. Filing of an appeal prior to the time specified in the Building Inspector's order or within 10 days of the date of the order, whichever is earlier, shall stay all proceedings pending determination of the appeal.

After inquiring, we learned from Frank Diodati, head of the Building Department that a violation has been issued.

He said, “Please be advised that the Building Department issued a Property Maintenance violation to the property owner on May 23, 2023. We are currently working with the property owner to have the site cleaned up.”