[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of
the Town of Belchertown as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-17-1986 STM by Art. 20; amended 5-12-1997 ATM by Art.
12]
This article is intended to preserve and enhance
the ability of the town's street network to accommodate traffic in
a safe and efficient manner and to provide adequate street capacity
to serve local development in the town.
The following curb cuts shall be subject to
the requirements set forth herein:
A.
Submission of application. The Select Board or its
designee shall be responsible for issuance and/or denial of curb cut
permit applications. A permit applicant shall request issuance of
a permit on a standard form furnished by the Select Board or its designee.
The application form shall be filed with the Select Board or its designee.
B.
Completeness of permit application. A permit application
shall be stamped by the Select Board or its designee as completed
only after the following items have been received and deemed acceptable
by the Select or its designee:
C.
Time limits for application processing.
(1)
Ten-day review period. Review and comment by the Select
Board or its designee will occur within 10 working days of said date
of receipt. Comments on deficient items will be returned to the applicant
upon completion of review, but not later than 10 days from the stamped
date, or the application must be stamped complete by the Select Board
or its designee.
(2)
Ten-day decision deadline. When an application is
deemed complete, the Select Board or its designee will stamp it as
completed, indicating the date of completion. Completed permit applications
shall be approved or denied by the Select Board or its designee within
10 working days of the completion date. The applicant may request
or consent to an extension of the ten-day time period for a decision.
D.
Denial of a permit application. The Select Board or
its designee may deny the issuance of a curb cut permit for the requested
use due to the failure of the applicant to provide sufficient roadway
improvements when necessary to facilitate safe and efficient roadway
operation or where the construction and use of the access applied
for would create a condition within the roadway that is unsafe or
endangers the public safety and welfare.
A.
Review of engineering plans. The Select Board or its
designee may require that engineering plans and specifications provide
for safe and efficient access which protects the operational integrity
of the public way. Plan review and approval shall be based on the
Town Department of Public Works standards.
B.
Permit conditions. The Select Board or its designee
shall condition an access permit to facilitate safe and efficient
traffic operations, to mitigate traffic impacts and to avoid or minimize
environmental damage during the construction period and throughout
the length of the permit. Such conditions may include, but not be
limited to:
(1)
Necessary limitations on turning movements;
(2)
Restriction on the number of access points to serve
the land parcel;
(3)
Vehicle trip reduction techniques;
(4)
Necessary and reasonable efforts to maintain existing
levels of service;
(5)
Design and construction of necessary highway improvements
by the permittee; and
(6)
Reimbursement by the permittee of costs of Department
of Public Works inspection of roadway improvement work.
C.
Variance. Where site or traffic conditions do not
allow the proposed access to meet Department of Public Works standards,
the Select Board or its designee may vary application of the design
standards set forth below on a case-by-case basis upon its finding
that:
(1)
There are no reasonable available alternatives which
would allow access in compliance with the standards. In this case,
the applicant must commit to provide measures to mitigate impacts
to traffic and operational safety which the Select Board or its designee
determines are necessary; or
(2)
As an alternative procedure for the municipal projects
only, the variance is necessary to accommodate an overriding community
or public interest, including the avoidance or minimization of environmental
impacts.
A.
General.
(1)
The entire area of the driveway approach within the
Town way is subject to the placement of bituminous concrete pavement
as specified by this article.
(2)
The holder of this permit shall provide all tools,
construction equipment, consumable construction materials and services
necessary for the performance of all operations required to accomplish
the specified activities.
(3)
Driveway aprons are not required on existing Town
ways that are dirt or gravel roads.
(4)
The driveway shall not extend onto the traveled way,
nor shall the existing gutter line be disturbed.
(5)
If a ditch exists within the area of the driveway
approach, a drainage pipe may be required. The size of the pipe will
be a minimum of 12 inches. All pipes will be kept clean by the homeowners
and have headwalls.
C.
Grading. The area of the driveway approach shall be
excavated to a minimum depth of 12 inches. The existing subgrade shall
be smoothed, shaped and graded as indicated on the drawing contained
herein[1] and/or as directed by the Highway Superintendent. The
gravel base material shall be compacted by at least four passes of
either a power roller or by pneumatic-tire-type roll.
(1)
In no instance shall a driveway apron have a pitch
toward the roadway greater than one inch per foot for the entire length
of the apron (10 feet). Driveways permitted prior to the adoption
of this amendment will be exempt from this requirement.
[Added 5-10-1999 ATM by Art. 22]
(2)
In no instance shall driveways be constructed to allow
the discharge of surface runoff into the town's right-of-way.
[Added 5-10-1999 ATM by Art. 22]
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Typical Driveway Construction
Details at the end of this chapter.
D.
Placement of pavement.
(1)
Bituminous concrete mixture shall be placed over the
gravel base in two layers. The bottom layer shall consist of Class
I binder mix with a minimum compacted thickness of 1 1/4 inches.
The top layer shall consist of Class I dense mix with a minimum compacted
thickness of 1 1/4 inches.
(2)
The mixtures shall have a minimum temperature of 250°
F. at the time of placement.
(3)
The mixtures shall be placed only when the air temperature
is above 40° F. and the gravel base is dry and adequately compacted.
(4)
The mixtures shall be spread by mechanical equipment
in strips not less than eight feet wide, unless otherwise accepted
by the Highway Superintendent.
(5)
Areas which are inaccessible by mechanical equipment
may be spread by hand.
E.
Compaction of pavement.
F.
Miscellaneous construction items.
(1)
On conclusion of the paving operations, the surfaces
adjacent to permanent edges shall be dressed by grading and smoothing
the earth surfaces to match the edge of the newly laid pavement.
(2)
Pavement shall be protected from vehicular traffic
until the mixture has cooled and hardened.
(3)
All equipment and excess waste materials shall be
removed from the job site immediately upon completion of the work.
G.
Schedule.
(1)
The grantee shall notify the Highway Department as
far in advance as possible so that an inspection can be made during
the construction process. The telephone number is 323-0415.
(2)
A copy of the approved driveway permit shall be presented
to the Inspector of Buildings at the time of application for a building
permit.
