[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Union 6-19-2013 by L.L. No.
1-2013. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Public Works — See Ch. 48.
Filling and grading — See Ch. 114.
Erosion and sediment control — See Ch. 171.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 178.
Truck route system — See Ch. 189.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 191
Sidewalk, curb and gutter specifications — See Ch. A208.
This chapter shall be cited as the "Local Road Use and Preservation
Law."
The Town Board of the Town of Union has determined that certain
high-intensity traffic associated with large construction projects
can damage and significantly reduce the life of Town highways, which
must then be repaired at the expense of the Town's taxpayers.
The Board has further determined that such damage can be reliably
measured using recognized engineering standards. In addition, the
Board has determined that the strength and capacity of Town highways
may in some cases be inadequate to meet the demands of traffic for
large construction projects and that upgrades to Town highways may
be necessary to accommodate such traffic. The Board finds that it
is in the best interest of the citizens and taxpayers of the Town
to have the developers of such large construction projects bear responsibility
for making any necessary upgrades to Town highways and repairing any
damage caused to Town highways at the expense of such developers.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a mechanism by which the
developers of large construction projects that will generate traffic
likely to require upgrades or cause damage to Town highways shall
ensure that such upgrades are made and such damage is repaired at
the developer's own expense.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to New York Vehicle and Traffic
Law § 1650, New York Municipal Home Rule Law § 10,
New York Statute of Local Governments § 10, and New York
Highway Law §§ 320 and 326 and New York Town Law § 130.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth herein:
Recurring ambient traffic presented on an annualized basis.
It includes typical daily activities on Town highways (hereinafter
defined) such as passenger vehicles, school buses, delivery vehicles,
garbage trucks, and normal commuter and business traffic. Baseline
traffic is the cause of normal wear and tear for which a Town highway
is constructed. baseline traffic does not include concentrated traffic
occurring on a temporary basis for construction activity (hereinafter
defined).
Traffic intended to travel upon or traveling upon Town highways
to or from the site of construction activity which:
Any activity occurring or to occur in the Town or outside the
Town that requires the use of Town roads that results in land disturbance
or the improvement of a parcel of one acre or more and requiring the
issuance of a SWPPP permit. Evidence of construction activity includes,
without limitation, those activities which are also being undertaken
subject to:
Federal permits and approvals, including, without limitation,
approvals subject to the (NWP's) National Environmental Policy
Act and activities subject to the following nationwide permits as
amended and issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers: NWP
8 (oil and gas structures), NWP 12 (utility line activities), NWP
13 (bank stabilization), NWP 16 (return water from upland contained
disposal areas), NWP 17 (hydropower projects), NWP 21 (surface coal
mining operations), NWP 29 (residential developments), NWP 33 (temporary
construction, access, and dewatering\), NWP 38 (cleanup of hazardous
and toxic waste), NWP 39 (commercial and institutional developments),
and NWP 44 (mining activities); or
State permits and approvals, including, without limitation,
highway work permits, waste transporter permits, SPDES general permit
for stormwater discharges from construction activity, overweight/oversize
vehicle permit, authority to transport property (except household
goods), divisible load overweight permit, special hauling trip and
annual oversize/overweight loads permit, LCV/tandem trailer permit,
and special hauling permit; or
Local permits and approvals, if applicable, including, without
limitation, aquifer protection permit, sludge disposal permit, mining
permit, gravel mining permit, permit for well in aquifer area, overweight/oversize
vehicle permit, zoning change, special use permit, and site plan approval.
Construction activity shall not include land clearing activity
or the improvement of a parcel related solely to "farm woodland" or
"land used in agricultural production," as those terms are defined
pursuant to New York Agriculture and Markets Law § 301.
Any person, persons, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or other entity.
The currently approved Road Use and Preservation Program
Manual, prepared by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors,
P.C., a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this chapter
as Appendix 1.[1]
Road and Preservation Technical Manual, Version 1.0, prepared
by Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, P.C., a copy
of which is attached to and made a part of this chapter as Appendix
2.[2]
Those roads and highways and related appurtenances of the
Town which are owned or maintained by the Town or otherwise exist
as Town highways by dedication or use, including, without limitation,
roadways, shoulders, guide rails, bridges, tunnels, culverts, sluices,
ditches, swales, sidewalks, or any utilities or improvements therein,
thereon, or thereunder. A map of all highways of the Town is and shall
be maintained by the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner
of Public Works.
The Superintendent of Highways or his or her designee.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Road Use and Preservation Program
Manual, Version 1.0, is available for inspection at the Town of Union
Town Hall, 3111 East Main Street, Endwell, NY.
[2]
Editor's Note: The Road Use and Preservation Technical
Manual, Version 1.0, is available for inspection at the Town of Union
Town Hall, 3111 East Main Street, Endwell, NY.
This chapter shall apply to any person who, individually or
in concert with another person, undertakes construction activity that
will result in concentrated traffic on Town highways.
A.
Any person identified under § 193-5 of this chapter shall, prior to undertaking such construction activity or allowing, directing, or inducing concentrated traffic to travel upon Town highways, submit a haul route application form and project traffic worksheet to the Town Highway Superintendent in accordance with the forms and procedures set forth in the Program Manual.
B.
The Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works
shall review such application and worksheet in accordance with the
Program Manual and the Technical Manual. Within no more than 30 days
after receipt of a complete haul route application and project traffic
worksheet, the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of
Public Works shall notify the applicant whether the use of Town Highways
will result in concentrated traffic.
A.
If the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public
Works determines that traffic generated by an applicant's construction
activity will result in concentrated traffic, the applicant shall
be required to comply with the following provisions:
(1)
The applicant shall be required to set forth a haul route declaration
as set forth in the Program Manual.
(2)
The Town's engineering consultant shall examine each segment
of the proposed haul route in order to:
(a)
Evaluate the Town highways on the proposed haul route for design,
geometric, or health and safety deficiencies, as those deficiencies
are defined more fully by the Program Manual; and
(b)
Estimate the costs and procedures necessary to upgrade such
Town highways on the proposed haul route if the Town's engineering
consultant determines that the Town highways on the proposed haul
route must be upgraded to accommodate the applicant's concentrated
traffic; and
(c)
If available, propose an alternate haul route if required due
to design deficiencies or if desired by the applicant to minimize
estimated upgrade or repair costs to the haul route.
(3)
The Town's engineering consultant shall design or approve, in conjunction with the Town Highway Superintendent, Commissioner of Public Works or the Town Engineer, all structural, geometric, and roadbed upgrades to Town highways necessary to accommodate the applicant's concentrated traffic, which upgrades shall be made at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A(8) of this § 193-7. An applicant that has completed upgrades to Town highways in accordance with this Subsection A(3) will not be responsible for repairing Town highways on the applicant's haul route, provided that the applicant's actual traffic does not exceed the scope, volume, weight, or trips reported on the applicant's haul route declaration.
(4)
The Town's engineering consultant shall conduct all pre-use
testing and threshold evaluation of each segment of a haul route that
is a Town highway in accordance with the methods set forth in the
Program Manual and the Technical Manual.
(5)
If no upgrades have been required and/or made to the Town highways on the proposed haul route and the Town's engineering consultant determines that the applicant's concentrated traffic is expected to cause damage to Town highways, the Town's engineering consultant shall provide the Town Highway Superintendent and the applicant with an estimate of the cost to repair such damage. Prior to the use of any haul route segment on Town highways, the applicant shall agree to make all such repairs at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A(8) of this § 193-7 (including the posting of appropriate security). If any haul route segment is on unpaved Town highways, the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works may require, upon the recommendation of the Town's engineering consultant, that such Town highways be subject to weekly monitoring and that any damage be repaired within five days at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A(8) of this § 193-7.
(6)
The Town's engineering consultant shall conduct all post-use testing and damage assessment of each segment of a haul route that is a Town highway in accordance with the methods set forth in the Program Manual and the Technical Manual. The Town's engineering consultant shall provide an estimate of the cost of repairing any actual damage to Town highways caused by the applicant's concentrated traffic. Upon receiving the estimate, the applicant shall make all such repairs at the applicant's expense in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A(8) of this § 193-7. Upon the satisfactory completion of the repairs and the approval of such repairs by the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works, any unused security shall be returned to the applicant.
(7)
Any security for performance and/or payment required under this chapter
shall be in an amount set by the Town Board upon the recommendation
of the Town's engineering consultant. Any such security shall
be provided pursuant to a written security agreement with the Town,
approved by the Town Board and also approved by the Town Attorney
as to form, sufficiency, and manner of execution. At the Board's
discretion, the security may be in the form of:
(8)
An applicant shall be permitted to undertake upgrade or repair work only if the Town Highway Superintendent determines that the applicant, or a contractor hired by the applicant, has the capability and experience to make the necessary repairs or upgrades. All work shall be performed pursuant to an agreement in writing between the applicant and the Town, which shall require, among other things, the applicant or its contractor to complete the work in a timely fashion, post security in accordance with the requirements of Subsection A(7) of this § 193-7, indemnify the Town against all liability stemming from the applicant's work, and provide the Town with satisfactory evidence of insurance as determined by the Town, including liability insurance naming the Town as additional insured. All repairs or upgrades to Town highways shall be made in accordance with the specifications established by the Town Highway Superintendent and must be approved by the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works. In addition, the applicant shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to applicable prevailing wage requirements of New York Labor Law. The applicant or its contractor shall obtain all governmental permits and approvals and obtain any private land rights that are necessary to make any required repairs or upgrades to Town highways. If the applicant does not wish to make such repairs or upgrades to Town highways, or is determined by the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works not to have the necessary capability to make such repairs or upgrades, then the applicant shall agree in writing to pay the Town for the cost of such repairs or upgrades to Town highways and post security in accordance with the requirements of Subsection A(7) of this § 193-7.
(9)
The applicant shall pay the Town for all of the Town's reasonable costs and expenses in implementing the requirements of this § 193-7, including, without limitation, the fees of the Town's engineering consultant in conducting all activities required hereunder and under the Program Manual and Technical Manual. The Town may in some cases provide the applicant with an estimate of such costs and expenses, and the Town Board may require the applicant to place funds in escrow to cover such costs and expenses before the Town incurs any such costs and expenses.
(10)
The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold the Town harmless
from all losses resulting from injury or death of persons or damage
to property arising from the applicant's upgrades and repairs
to Town Highways.
(11)
If an applicant disagrees with any decision by the Town Board,
the Town Highway Superintendent, Commissioner of Public Works, or
the Town's engineering consultant in the administration of this
chapter, including, without limitation, the extent or method of a
proposed highway upgrade or repair, any cost imposed upon the applicant,
or an estimate of the amount of security to be held by the Town, and
the applicant and the Town are unable to resolve their dispute through
negotiation, the applicant may make a written request to the Town
Board appealing such decision and requesting a public hearing at which
the applicant shall have the right to appear and be heard. The Town
Board shall hold such public hearing not fewer than five days nor
more than 30 days after such request. The Town Board may reverse,
modify, or affirm, wholly or partly, the decision appealed from and
shall make such decision as in its opinion ought to have been made
in the matter and, to that end, shall have all the powers of the board,
official, or consultant from whose decision the appeal is taken. The
Town Board shall issue a determination on the applicant's request
within 15 days of the public hearing, but if the Town Board does not
issue a determination within said 15 days, the determination shall
be deemed as affirmed. In view of the Town's obligation to provide
its residents with safe and properly maintained highways, the Town
Board's determination shall be final.
B.
In order to comply with the requirements of this § 193-7, an applicant shall have the option of entering into a road use agreement with the Town. A sample form of road use agreement meeting all the requirements set forth herein is attached to and made a part of this chapter as Appendix 3.[1] The applicant may ask to modify such form or propose a
different form of road use agreement, but any such agreement must
be in a form approved by the Town Board and also approved by the Town
Attorney as to form, sufficiency, and manner of execution.
[1]
Editor's Note: The sample road use agreement is on file
in the Town offices.
From time to time, updates to the Program Manual and the Technical
Manual may be published. The Town Board may from time to time update
or replace any manual set forth as an appendix to this chapter by
adopting a local law referencing and attaching such new or updated
manual, and thereafter, the new or updated manual shall be binding
on all persons subject to this chapter.
The Town Board may establish a schedule of fees relating to
applications, approvals, inspections, and enforcement under this chapter.
The Town Board may by resolution except an applicant from the
requirements of this chapter, provided that the Town Board makes a
finding that the Town Highways to be used by the applicant will be
adequately protected and any damage to Town Highways will be adequately
repaired by virtue of the requirements or conditions imposed upon
the applicant in connection with any federal, state, or local permit
or approval, including, without limitation, mitigation measures imposed
under the National Environmental Policy Act[1] or the State Environmental Quality Review Act.[2]
A.
In addition to the following penalties and punishment, the Town Attorney
may maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a
court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or restrain
any violation of this chapter.
B.
The Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of Public Works,
and County Sheriff are hereby authorized to issue and serve appearance
tickets with respect to any violation of this chapter. The Town Attorney
shall prosecute all such violations.
C.
Any person or persons convicted of violating any provision of this
chapter shall be guilty of a violation. A conviction of a first violation
is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment not
to exceed three months, or both. A conviction of a second violation
occurring within a period of five years is punishable by a fine of
not less than $500 nor more than $800 or imprisonment not to exceed
six months, or both. A conviction of a third violation occurring within
a period of five years is punishable by a fine of not less than $800
nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed nine months, or
both. Each week that a violation continues uncorrected or is resumed
shall constitute a separate additional violation.
D.
In addition to the penalties prescribed herein, if any use of Town
highways is made or threatened in violation of the New York Highway
Law, the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, or other local law or ordinance
of the Town, the Town Highway Superintendent and/or Commissioner of
Public Works may, in the name of and on behalf of the Town, seek all
remedies allowed pursuant to such laws or ordinances.
The time periods prescribed herein in which the Town Board,
the Town Highway Superintendent, the Commissioner of Public Works,
other Town official, or the Town's engineering consultant shall
act are not of the essence and shall not be construed as imposing
a limitation on the time to act.
In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of
this chapter and the provisions of the Program Manual and the Technical
Manual, the provisions of this chapter shall control. All ordinances,
local laws, and parts thereof inconsistent with this chapter are hereby
repealed.
If any part or provision of this chapter or the application
thereto to any person or circumstance shall be adjudged invalid by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined
in its operation to the part or provision or application directly
involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been
rendered and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder
of this chapter or the application thereof to other persons or circumstances.
This chapter shall take effect upon filing with the New York
Secretary of State.
