The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for the design,
location and construction of driveways and driveway openings within the Township
in order to provide for the safety and general welfare of the traveling public,
preserve municipal road surfaces and roadside drainage structures, ensure
adequate access for emergency vehicles and to minimize sedimentation and soil
erosion.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined
as follows:
MODIFIED DRIVEWAY
An existing driveway serving a residential dwelling which is proposed
to be resurfaced, widened or narrowed.
The geometric design of a driveway shall be governed by sound traffic
engineering principles and the ability of the driveway to provide adequate
access for motor vehicles and emergency service and fire apparatus in all
weather conditions. The following minimum standards shall be maintained:
A. Horizontal curves shall have a minimum center line radius
of 50 feet.
B. Vertical curves shall be flat enough to prevent the dragging
of any vehicle undercarriage.
(1) For sag curves, the maximum change in grade shall not
exceed 12% in a length of 10 feet.
(2) For crest curves, the maximum change in grade shall not
exceed 8% in a length of 10 feet.
C. All driveways shall be designed and constructed to the
following widths:
(1) Single-family residential driveways shall have a minimum
width of 10 feet. Where depressed curb is utilized, the curb opening shall
be a minimum of four feet wider than the driveway, but not less than 20 feet
in total width. Where no curb exists, additional pavement shall be provided
for turning having a radius not less than five feet or more than 10 feet.
(2) Commercial and industrial driveway widths shall be designed
to accommodate the volume and character of vehicles entering and leaving the
site. For two-way operation, the driveway shall have a minimum width of 24
feet and a maximum width of 40 feet. For one-way operation, the driveway shall
have a minimum width of 20 feet and a maximum width of 34 feet. Where depressed
curb is utilized, the curb opening shall be a minimum of four feet wider than
the driveway. Where a curb radius is utilized, the radius shall be not less
than 25 feet or more than 40 feet.
D. Maximum driveway grades shall conform to the following:
(1) Residential driveways shall be constructed at a profile
grade not exceeding 15%, except that within the road right-of way or within
25 feet of the center line of the road, whichever is greater, the grade shall
not exceed 4%.
(2) Commercial or industrial driveways shall be constructed
at a profile grade not exceeding 6% or 4% within 100 feet of the road right-of-way
line.
E. All driveways shall intersect perpendicular to the existing
road pavement or traveled way. Any curved or angular approach of the driveway
for aesthetic or topographical reasons shall be accomplished outside of the
road right-of-way or beyond 25 feet from the center of the existing pavement,
whichever is greater.
F. All new driveways shall be designed and constructed so
as to provide sufficient turning areas on site, in order that vehicles are
not required to back out onto any public street. Relocated, reconstructed
or altered driveways serving existing improved properties shall be required,
to the greatest extent practicable, to be designed and constructed so as to
provide sufficient turning areas on site in order that vehicles are not required
to back out onto any public street.
A driveway application shall consist of four copies of the completed
application form, four copies of a driveway plan and an application fee and
review and inspection deposit. Application forms shall be obtained from the
Township Clerk. The driveway plan shall contain the following information:
A. For modified driveways:
(1) Block and lot number of the property.
(2) The location of property lines, road right-of-way lines
and the name of the public roadway.
(3) Location of the edge of pavement of the public roadway.
(4) The location of existing curb and sidewalk in the public
roadway, if present, along with construction details for modification of the
curb and sidewalk.
(5) Location and dimensions of the existing driveway and
proposed widening or resurfacing.
(6) Driveway setback dimensions from property lines.
(7) Proposed driveway pavement material and thickness.
(8) Location of dwelling or garage.
B. For new driveways:
(1) All of the information required for a modified driveway.
(2) Center line radius of any curved portion of the driveway.
(3) Profile of the entire driveway showing tangent grades
and vertical curve data.
(4) Grading plan showing existing and proposed two-foot contours.
(5) Utility lines or septic systems in proximity to the driveway.
(6) Location and size of turnaround area.
(7) Location of existing gutters, swales, ditches or storm
drainage structures in the public roadway or along the course of the driveway
along with any proposed measures necessary to comply with the storm drainage
requirements of the this chapter.
(8) The plan shall indicate the posted speed limit of the
public roadway or that the roadway has no posted speed limit.
(9) The plan shall show and provide dimensions of the clear sight areas required in §
130-5B. The plan shall also contain a note providing that the property owner shall be responsible to maintain the clear sight area free from any obstructions from 20 inches above the center line grade of the public roadway to a point 120 inches above the center line.
(10) The plan shall indicate the existing sight distance,
in feet, in both directions from the proposed driveway location. The issuing
authority may require additional information, including a profile of the public
roadway extending to the limits of the required sight distance, a plan showing
grading or removal of vegetation necessary to achieve the required sight distance
and profiles from the driver's eye to the object along the sight lines
required in this chapter, if deemed necessary to verify that adequate sight
distance is provided.
C. Plans for modified driveways may be prepared by the property
owner, so long as the plans are accurate and provide the required information.
Plans for new driveways shall be prepared by an engineer licensed to practice
in the State of New Jersey.
The fees required to be submitted for review of driveway applications shall be in accordance with Chapter
45, Land Use Procedures, of the Pohatcong Township Code.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this chapter which results in damage to or obstruction of any municipal
roadway, gutter, storm drain, ditch, basin, inlet or culvert either during
or subsequent to construction shall be responsible for all expenses incurred
by the Township in repairing said damage or removing said obstruction, in
addition to the penalty provided herein.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not to
exceed $500 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days, or both. Each
and every day that a violation continues after notification thereof shall
constitute an additional, separate and specific violation.
All means of ingress and egress used, as of the effective date of this
chapter, exclusively by farm machinery and equipment to access lands used
solely for agricultural purposes, shall be exempt from the provisions of this
chapter; provided, however, that compliance with the provisions hereof and
issuance of a permit pursuant hereto shall be required for any new accessway
to farmlands, whether or not the accessway is used exclusively for that purpose.