[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Jefferson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 182.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 429.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 435.
Zoning — See Ch. 490.
[Adopted 6-20-1990 by Ord. No. 5-90 (§ 24-3.2 of the 1967 Code)]
In order to protect traffic upon the public thoroughfares within the Township of Jefferson, the Township deems it necessary to regulate the grade, materials and design standards of driveways for single-family residences which provide entrances to and exits from the public thoroughfare. The following standards are applicable for driveways which service single-family residences.
A. 
All driveways constructed or modified shall be constructed so as to be as near perpendicular to the existing pavement or traveled way. Any curving alignment of the driveway for aesthetics or topographic reasons shall be accomplished beyond the Township right-of-way.
B. 
All driveways shall be constructed and maintained in such a manner as to prevent erosion of the soil and its deposit upon the street or road, gutters, catch basins, inlets, drains or traveled way. The owner of the property shall be responsible for removal of any debris, soil, water or ice accumulating on the roadway as a direct result of the construction of the driveway.
C. 
All driveways constructed or altered shall be constructed in such a manner so as to not interfere with the drainage along the proposed or existing pavement or traveled way, nor shall runoff from a driveway discharge beyond an existing ditch onto the traveled way. Under no circumstances shall the driveway be allowed to extend beyond the edge of the existing pavement and traveled way, thereby creating an uneven driving surface on the pavement of traveled way. The low point of the driveway is to be at the location of the existing ditch.
D. 
The construction of a properly sized dish-type gutter will be permitted, provided that the existing gutter flow line will not be blocked, altered or changed in any manner.
E. 
The installation of a suitably sized pipe or culvert will be required in the event that the existing flow line or ditch cannot be crossed with a dish-type gutter. The size of the pipe or culvert required shall be determined by the Director of the Department of Public Works or the Township Engineer or his authorized agent.
No driveway for a single-family residence shall be constructed or existing driveway altered for a single-family residence without first obtaining an approved driveway construction permit from the Township Director of Public Works. Nothing herein shall require a permit for the pavement of an existing driveway or stoning of an existing driveway.
A. 
Applications for new driveways or modifications shall be directed to the Township Director of Public Works and profiles as required below for the proposed driveway prepared in a workmanlike and professional manner shall be submitted to the Director with a completed application.
B. 
Design criteria. All driveways shall conform to the following criteria:
(1) 
No portion of the grade of any driveway may exceed 15%.
(2) 
Driveways shall be constructed with a minimum of four inches of dense graded aggregate material conforming to New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications Section 901.08.
(3) 
Any driveway, a portion of which exceeds a grade of 10% for 50 feet, shall be paved for its entirety using a minimum four-inch base material of the dense graded aggregate as set forth in the subsection above and shall be finished with a surface material of a minimum two-inch thickness of FABC-1.
(4) 
To prevent erosion, the side slopes of driveways shall be topsoiled, seeded, fertilized and mulched in accordance with the Morris County Soil Conservation District standards. If banks exceed a one-foot rise in a two-foot horizontal grade, retaining walls shall be required.
(5) 
Turning radii measured on the inside curve of the driveway shall not be less than 25 feet.
(6) 
Within 20 feet of the edge of pavement of an existing roadway, the finished grade of a driveway shall not exceed 4%.
(7) 
Profiles of the center line of the driveway, both existing and proposed, shall be submitted for the entire length of the driveway from the center line of the roadway on which the driveway will exist to the garage floor for an existing slope in excess of 10%.
(8) 
Within 20 feet of the garage or terminus of driveway, the grade shall not exceed 3%. Downhill grades must have the drainage directed away from the dwelling.
(9) 
The Director of the Department of Public Works shall have the authority to reasonably direct the owner to construct the driveway at such a location as to maximize sight distance.
(10) 
The plan must indicate the method of disposal of stormwater drainage from the driveway into the Township drainage system.
(11) 
All driveways shall have a minimum width of 10 feet for single-family homes.
(12) 
Any driveway in excess of 100 feet, measured from the end of pavement of the roadway, must have clearance on either side of at least four feet for a height of at least 13 feet.
(13) 
Adequate vertical transition for all grade changes shall be provided.
(14) 
Where a site occupies a corner of two intersecting roads, no driveway entrance or exit shall, where possible, be located within 100 feet of the center-line intersection, and it shall, where possible, connect to the less trafficked street.
(15) 
Driveways shall be located to avoid drain inlets and, where possible, positioned so that no drain inlet is within three feet of the driveway.
[Added 4-1-1998 by Ord. No. 11-98]
C. 
With reference to new home construction, a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued by the Construction Official until the driveway construction is completed, in accordance with the approved application, to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.
[Amended 2-16-2005 by Ord. No. 4-05]
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28]
The property owner may apply to the Land Use Board of the Township for an exception from provisions of this article if the lateral enforcement of such provisions is impracticable or will exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land. Such application shall present an alternative which is in accordance with the general purpose of the article.
There shall be a fee paid at the time of application for a new driveway in accordance with this article of $50 per application. This fee shall be in addition to any other fees which may have been paid with reference to new construction.
Any person or persons violating the provisions of this article shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500. Each day that a violation continues shall be considered as a separate violation.