Pursuant to Dorchester County MD Code, we request that the Dorchester County Planning and Zoning, Health Department, and Building Inspectors, investigate violations of County Zoning, Livability, and Building Codes at the property at the intersection of Old Route 50 and Bucktown Road--just in front of the Pep Up.

We believe the following ordinances apply:

Dorchester County, MD / The Code / Part II, Administrative and General Legislation / Zoning Article XI Parking And Loading The following requirements apply to parking areas for four or more vehicles, with the exception of parking areas serving single-family and two-family dwellings, and manufactured homes on single lots or in manufactured home parks: Parking areas shall be surfaced so as to provide a durable and dustless surface and shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water.

The property in question is parking tractor-trailers, dump trucks, trailers, limousines, and etc on the grass area off the lot and down towards the ditch that abuts the turning lane from 50 to Old Route 50 and Tates Bank Road. This parking area is unpaved and has no drainage.

Dorchester County, MD / The Code / Part II, Administrative and General Legislation Chapter 116 Nuisance Control The following specific acts, deeds or conditions shall constitute a nuisance within the meaning of this chapter: The deposit or accumulation of any foul, decaying or putrescent substance or garbage or refuse or rubbish or other offensive matter in or upon any land, street or highway, unless in a manner approved by the Health Officer or his designated agents.

Rubbish: All refuse other than garbage, whether combustible or noncombustible, which shall include but not be limited to the following: rubbish from building construction or reconstruction, dead trees, uprooted tree stumps, slash, rubble, street refuse, abandoned automobiles, household appliances, machinery, bottles, cans, wastepaper, cardboard, sawdust piles and slash remaining from abandoned sawmill operations and all other waste material and unsightly debris from any industry.

The property in question is strewn with rubbish—old tires piled up, construction materials, abandoned appliances, machinery—there is a tank that holds or did hold fuel sitting cockeyed on the grassy area just off the road next to our street and across from the Sanitary Department. This tank has a no smoking sign on it indicating it contains or did contain a flammable material.

Dorchester County, MD / The Code / Part II, Administrative and General Legislation / Chapter 110 Minimum Livability Code Article VIII Fire Safety Requirements

General.Garbage or rubbish shall not be allowed to accumulate in stairways, passageways, doors, windows, fire escapes or other means of egress.

Flammable matter. Highly flammable or explosive matter, such as paints, volatile oils and cleaning fluids or combustible rubbish, such as wastepaper, boxes and rags, shall not be accumulated or stored on premises except in reasonable quantities consistent with normal usage.

There is significant accumulation of combustible materials all over this property including tires, paper, rags, construction materials, and flammable liquids. Further: We are aware that the individual who is running this place is living on the second floor of the building which is accessed by a rolling steel staircase from the outside.

Dorchester County, MD / The Code / Part II, Administrative and General Legislation / Minimum Livability Code Article IX Responsibilities of Owners and Occupant A person shall not rent or lease to another person for occupancy or use any housing unit unless the structure and premises comply with the provisions of this code which include: a clean and sanitary condition; storage and disposal of rubbish and garbage in a clean and sanitary manner as may be required by applicable laws or ordinances etc and must be safe for human occupancy or use.

Dorchester County, MD / The Code / Part II, Administrative and General Legislation / Minimum Livability Code Article III Administration and Enforcement:

A. When a structure or part thereof is found by the Code Official to be unsafe or unfit for human occupancy or use, the Code Official may condemn the structure or part thereof and may order the structure or part thereof to be placarded and vacated pursuant to the provisions of this code. The structure or part thereof shall not be reoccupied without approval of the Code Official. Unsafe equipment may be condemned, placarded and placed out of service pursuant to the provisions of this code.

B. Unsafe structure. An unsafe structure is one which all or part thereof is found by the Code Official to be dangerous to life, health, property or the safety of its tenants by not providing minimum protection from fire or because it is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that it is likely to partially or completely collapse.

D. Structure unfit for human occupancy. A structure is unfit for human occupancy or use whenever the Code Official finds that it is unsanitary, vermin- or rodent-infested, contains filth or contamination or lacks ventilation, illumination, sanitary or heating facilities or other essential equipment required by this code.

We request that Zoning as well as Health and Building Inspectors inspect this property for Dorchester County code violations.

Thank you