[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Uwchlan 9-25-1989 by Ord. No. 89-15. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
The owners of all commercial, industrial or multifamily residential uses located more than 50 feet from a public street shall provide fire lanes extending to within 30 feet or less of said use; provided, however, that owners of said uses lawfully developed and in existence as of the effective date hereof shall be required to provide said fire lanes only when so required in accordance with Subsection G hereof.
B.
Fire lanes shall extend from existing and improved
public streets and shall have a minimum unobstructed right-of-way
width of 25 feet, within which there shall be constructed an all-weather
paved and well-drained cartway not less than 20 feet in width.
C.
Fire lanes which curve from or change direction shall
have a minimum radius of 55 feet and a minimum tangent length of 50
feet between curves.
D.
Dead-end fire lanes shall not exceed 400 feet in length
and shall be terminated with an unobstructed vehicular turnaround
or cul-de-sac with a minimum surface radius of 35 feet.
E.
Fire lanes shall be shown on all site plans and must
be reviewed by the Township's Engineer, Building Code Officer, Fire
Marshal and Chief of Police.
F.
Signage and pavement markings designating fire lanes
are required in accordance with standards set forth in the Uniform
Manual on Traffic Control Devices ("Manual"). Where physical characteristics
of the site dictate a need to vary from the Manual's recommendations,
the Board of Supervisors shall have discretion to waive strict compliance
with the Manual's recommendations in order to adapt them to the site,
provided that the changes will promote the public safety and welfare.
G.
The Township Fire Marshal and the Chief Fire Officer
shall have the power to investigate existing sites, and the Fire Marshal
may recommend to the Township Building Code Officer that a fire lane
be established or that an existing fire lane be changed when such
establishment or change is determined by the Fire Marshal to be in
the best interests of the safety and welfare of the public in light
of the existing emergency access(es) to the site. The establishment
of such a fire lane or the change of an existing fire lane shall be
completed in conformity with the provisions of the chapter within
90 days of receipt by the affected property owner of a notice from
the Building Code Officer requiring such establishment or change.
However, where such notice requires the application of paving materials
and the notice is received at a time which would require paving during
winter conditions, then said owner shall have until May 31 following
receipt of said notice to comply with said paving requirement. Property
owners aggrieved by such notice of the Building Code Officer may appeal
said notice to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of the property
owners' receipt of said notice.
H.
Fire lanes shall at all times remain unobstructed
except for emergency vehicles and equipment used in emergency situations
as provided in the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
J.
Applications for permits for the construction of fire
lanes as set forth in this chapter shall be made to the Building Code
Officer on forms supplied by the Township.
K.
Except as provided in Subsection L below, any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a criminal fine in an amount not to exceed $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, including reasonable attorneys' fees. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each twenty-four-hour period during which a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense. Enforcement of this chapter shall be by action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Township Solicitor may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the District Attorney.
[Amended 3-24-1997 by Ord. No. 97-05[1]]
L.
The parking of vehicles in fire lanes, officially
posted as such, shall be subject to the criminal proceedings, fines
and penalties set forth in the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 3352,
3353 and 3354.
M.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Township from seeking
enforcement of this chapter in any action at law or in equity.
