[Adopted 5-18-2015 by Ord. No. 982]
[Amended 6-18-2018 by Ord. No. 1011]
The owners of real property in the Borough of Pleasant Hills
are subject to the maintenance responsibilities for sidewalks, walkways
and driveways set forth in the International Property Maintenance
Code and as described herein. The owners of land within the Borough
on which sidewalks and/or curbs are constructed, and persons in possession
of any such premises, shall properly maintain, in accordance with
criteria developed by the Borough Zoning Officer and/or Borough Engineer,
such curbs and sidewalks, and shall be responsible for the repair
thereof in a manner satisfactory to the Borough. All sidewalks and
curbs or sections thereof hereafter constructed, reconstructed or
repaired, shall conform to the requirements of this article and the
International Property Maintenance Code. Pursuant to Section 302.3
of the 2018 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code,
all sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar
areas shall be kept in a proper state of repair, and maintained free
from hazardous conditions. The owners of the real property where these
areas are located shall be responsible to maintain these areas and
to repair defects and hazards located thereon.
No person or group of persons, partnership or corporation shall
commence the construction or reconstruction or repair of any sidewalk
or curb in the Borough without first making application for and securing
a permit from the Borough Zoning Officer. Applications for a sidewalk
and/or curb construction or reconstruction permit shall contain the
requisite information on a form issued by the Borough and the permit
fee must be satisfied. The fee for this permit may be amended from
time to time by the Borough Fee Resolution. In the case of new construction,
a plot plan showing the location of the proposed work in relation
to existing buildings, curbs and sidewalks is required. Permits shall
be issued by the Borough Zoning Officer in accordance with the provisions
and standards set forth herein and satisfaction of any engineering
concerns of the Borough Engineer. The following requirements exist
for the permits:
A.
A permit shall be required for patching or repair of existing sidewalks
and/or curbs.
B.
As used in this chapter, "reconstruction" shall mean the complete
replacement of a sidewalk and/or curb to either existing or new line
and grade.
C.
Permit fees shall be established from time to time by resolution
of Council.
D.
Any permit issued under this article shall be null and void unless
work is commenced within six months of its issuance. If work is commenced
within said six-month period and abandoned within one year of the
date of issuance of the permit, said permit shall be null and void.
One or more ninety-day extensions of time may be granted by the Borough
Zoning Officer for cause shown after written application therefore.
Curbs and/or sidewalks shall be constructed, repaired or reconstructed
in accordance with the specifications and requirements of the ordinances
of the Borough entitled Subdivision and Land Development.[1] The Borough Engineer shall determine if these standards
have been satisfied and what additional steps are necessary for satisfaction
thereof.
Notice to reconstruct, repair, and or replace existing sidewalks
and/or curbs, due to unsafe conditions, shall be provided in writing
by the Zoning Officer to the owners of property containing said sidewalks
and/or curbs. Such owners shall have six months in which to reconstruct,
repair or replace said unsafe conditions, except where repairs are
required, which in the opinion of the Borough Zoning Officer, are
of an emergency nature, in which event 48 hours' written notice
shall be given.
Upon the neglect of any owner or owners of property to reconstruct,
repair or replace existing sidewalks and/or curbs, in a safe and useable
condition, the Borough shall, after notice as herein provided, cause
the reconstruction. repair or replacement of said sidewalk and/or
curb to be done at the cost of such property owner or owners and shall
collect the cost thereof, together with all charges and expenses,
along with a penalty of 10% of the cost of repair/reconstruction,
from such owner and or owners, and may file a municipal lien therefore
in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County or collect the same
by filing a civil action according to the Acts of Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pertaining thereto.
If any sidewalk and/or curb shall be reconstructed, repaired
or replaced without conforming to the requirements of this article,
or of any other ordinance or law, the Borough Zoning Officer may require
the owner of the premises and other persons responsible for such construction
to remove the faulty curb or paving as a nuisance, and replace it
with conforming construction, and on failure of such person to do
so within such time as the Borough shall fix, the Borough may proceed
to do so and collect the cost thereof by entry of a lien with the
Department of Court Records of Allegheny County or by proceeding with
a civil action as set forth above.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this article, shall upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $300 per occurrence.
