[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Doylestown 5-27-1986 by Ord. No. 149. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 65.
Soil erosion and sediment control — See Ch. 145.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 151.
Driveways in subdivisions — See Ch. 153.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 164.
Zoning — See Ch. 175.
A. 
Prior to the construction of any private driveway where said driveway leads to a road owned or to be dedicated to Doylestown Township, a permit shall be obtained for said purpose from the Township Manager or his designated representative. The fee for said permit shall be determined by the Board of Supervisors of Doylestown Township by resolution from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A180, Fees.
B. 
The application for a permit shall be subject to the following requirements:
(1) 
The application shall be submitted in person or by mail on a properly completed Township form provided for that purpose.
(2) 
The application shall be signed by the owner and the contractor who proposes to do the improvements, if someone other than the owner proposes to make said improvements.
(3) 
The application shall include five sets of plans detailing the location and pertinent dimensions of both the proposed installation and related highway features.
(4) 
The application shall be submitted to the Township at least 30 days prior to the anticipated start of work and shall contain proof of ownership by the applicant.
A. 
All private driveways hereafter constructed and leading to a road owned or to be dedicated to Doylestown Township shall be of a width of not less than 12 feet nor more than 20 feet, and in the event that such driveway crosses an existing road berm, such cut shall be curved back to the edge of the Township road on a radius of five feet. Furthermore, in order to adequately manage stormwater, the Township may require private driveways leading to a road owned or to be dedicated to Doylestown Township to have a culvert pipe or other such device so as to aid water runoff and drainage in the general area. The need for the installation of the culvert pipe shall be determined by the Township Manager or his designated representative in accordance with the conditions in the area, and the minimum diameter for such culvert pipe shall be 15 inches. In addition to the installation of a culvert pipe, it is further required that a prefabricated end section for each end of the pipe shall be installed using the same material as the culvert pipe. The width and length of such pipe shall be determined by the Township Manager in consultation with the Township Engineer and/or Township Roadmaster.
B. 
If the Township Manager or his designated representative, following consultation with the Township Engineer and/or Roadmaster, shall determine that drainage of stormwater is a problem in the general area where the proposed driveway is to be constructed, then the Township may require the preparation of a drainage control plan which shall be prepared in accordance with the following guidelines:
(1) 
If it can be reasonably anticipated that there will be an increase in the flow of water onto the highway or into highway drainage facilities as a result of the action by the applicant or that there will be an increase in the flow of water onto the property of some other person as a result of any action authorized by the permit, a drainage control plan shall be submitted with the application, which said drainage control plan shall contain the following:
(a) 
The source of water.
(b) 
The existing flow in cubic feet per second.
(c) 
The predicted flow in cubic feet per second.
(d) 
Where the drainage currently flows.
(e) 
Where the drainage ultimately outlets.
(f) 
A hydraulic computation showing effective additional flow on existing highway drainage system.
(2) 
Issuance of a driveway permit shall be conditioned upon the Township's approval of the drainage control plan.
C. 
If the Township Manager or designated representative in consultation with the Township Engineer or Township Roadmaster shall determine that the installation of the driveway will require the closing of a portion of a lane of vehicular traffic in order to perform the permitted work, then the applicant shall submit a traffic control plan with the application. In addition, the Township may require the applicant to submit a traffic control plan if it is anticipated that a potential hazard or interference to vehicular or pedestrian traffic will result from performance of the work. The traffic control plan shall be either of the following:
(1) 
A detailed drawing showing all traffic control devices; or
(2) 
Reference to a standard drawing found in Publication 43 or Publication 90 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, provided that the referenced standard drawing properly depicts the work area to be addressed as related to the need for traffic control.
A. 
The Township will not approve the construction of a driveway unless the following criteria are satisfied by the applicant:
(1) 
Sight distance is adequate to safely allow each permitted movement to be made into or out of the access driveway.
(2) 
The free movement of normal highway traffic is not impaired.
(3) 
The driveway will not create a hazard.
(4) 
The driveway will not create an area of undue traffic congestion on the highway.
B. 
The following specific location restrictions shall apply to any application for a driveway permit:
(1) 
Access driveways shall not be located at interchanges, ramp areas or locations that would interfere with the placement and proper functioning of highway signs, signals, detectors, lighting or other devices that affect traffic control.
(2) 
The location of a driveway near a signalized intersection may include a requirement that the applicant provide new or relocated detectors, signal heads, controller and the like for the control of traffic movements from the driveway.
(3) 
Access to a property which abuts two or more intersecting streets or highways may be restricted to only that roadway which can more safely accommodate traffic.
(4) 
The Township may require the applicant to locate an access driveway directly across from a highway, local road or access driveway on the opposite side of the roadway if it is judged that offset driveways will not permit left turns to be made safely or that access to the roadway from one access to another will create a safety hazard.
(5) 
Only one drive will be permitted for a residential property and not more than two driveways will be permitted for a nonresidential property unless the Board of Supervisors of Doylestown Township, upon application, shall waive the provisions of this section.
C. 
Driveway approaches shall conform to the following standards:
(1) 
The location and angle of an access driveway approach in relation to the highway intersection shall be such that a vehicle entering or leaving the driveway may do so in an orderly and safe manner and with a minimum of interference to highway traffic.
(2) 
Where the access driveway approach and pavement meet, flaring of the approach may be necessary to allow safe, easy turning of vehicular traffic.
(3) 
Where the highway is curbed, driveway approaches shall be installed 1 1/2 inches above the adjacent highway or gutter grade to maintain proper drainage.
[Amended 11-4-1991 by Ord. No. 208]
Any person who shall construct a driveway or cause any such driveway to be opened onto or lead to a road owned by or to be dedicated to Doylestown Township in violation of the requirements of this chapter may be ordered by the Township to remove the improper work and replace the same in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Notice to remove and replace the improper work shall be given to the person, firm or corporation by certified mail, return receipt requested, which said notice shall require the person, firm or corporation to correct the deficiencies within 14 days of receipt of the notice of the violation. If the person, firm or corporation shall fail or refuse to accept notice, then the Township shall have the right to send notice to the last owner of record by ordinary mail advising said owner that he shall have 14 days within which time to correct the violations. Upon noncompliance with the notice received from the Township, the Township may do or cause the necessary repairs to be done and levy the costs of such work on the owner and may cause a lien to be filed of record against the property and collect the same in any manner provided by law.
Each property owner shall have the responsibility of maintaining his driveway and the culvert pipe in an open and clear manner.
[Amended 11-4-1991 by Ord. No. 208]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall fail to obtain a permit before constructing a driveway shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable as provided in § 1-13 of Chapter 1, General Provisions. Each day that a violation of this chapter is continued shall constitute a separate offense.
All ordinances, resolutions or parts of ordinances or resolutions which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, except for any provisions of Chapter 153, Subdivision and Land Development; Chapter 175, Zoning; or Chapter 65, Building Construction, in which case the provisions of the aforementioned chapters shall prevail.