Borough of East Greenville, PA Article II Construction and Repair of Curbs and Sidewalks

[Adopted 9-21-1964 by Ord. No. 7-64]

§ 83-7 Compliance required.

From and after the effective date of this article, it shall be and is hereby required of every owner or owners and their respective agents, employees or contractors who or which construct, reconstruct or repair any curb or sidewalk within the Borough of East Greenville, to comply with and follow the regulations and requirements hereinafter set forth.

§ 83-8 Curb specifications.

The regulations pertaining to curbs are as follows:

A. Foundation. The foundation for the base of the concrete curb shall be on firm subsoil. All soft and yielding materials shall be removed and replaced with materials to give a firm bearing or curb shall be extended to such depth as will give firm bearing.

B. Materials. The curbs shall be constructed of three-thousand-pound concrete and shall be placed in accordance with the prescribed standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Highways.

C. Dimensions.

(1) The width of the curb at the top shall be a minimum of seven inches and the base eight inches and the curb shall have a depth of 24 inches or to a firm bearing, whichever is greater.

(2) It shall be poured in alternate blocks of maximum length of 10 feet, with expansion joints at least every 30 feet.

(3) The taper shall be on the street side of the curb, except that where existing adjacent curbs in then excellent condition have a vertical face on the street side, then the taper may be on the pavement side of the curb.

D. Curb returns. The minimum curb radius at street intersections shall be 20 feet; provided, however, where buildings or other existing conditions shall make it impracticable, the radius may be reduced, at the discretion of the Borough Council or its authorized representative, to a radius of not less than 10 feet.

E. Depressed curbs for driveways.

(1) Where the curb is to be depressed for driveways or other type of private cartways, there shall be a maximum depression on the street face of the curb of 5 1/2 inches based on the overall height of seven inches from gutter to top of curb, and when being depressed along a state highway where the standard height from gutter to top of curb is eight inches, the maximum depression shall be not more than 6 1/2 inches. The depression on the rear face of the curb, shall be 1 1/2 inches less than that on the street face of the curb.

(2) The width of the depressed portion of curbing shall be governed by the approval of the Council of the borough or its authorized representative, in conformity with building and zoning regulations. However, no curb may be depressed at a curb return or at street or alley intersections, nor may the length of the depressed curb exceed 35 feet.

§ 83-9 Sidewalk specifications.

The regulations pertaining to sidewalks are as follows:

A. Foundation. The foundation for the bed of the sidewalks shall consist of two inches of compacted stone, wetted as directed. All soft and yielding or other unsuitable material shall be removed and replaced with suitable materials, thoroughly compacted.

[Amended 10-3-1977 by Ord. No. 4-77]

B. Materials. The sidewalks shall be constructed of three-thousand-pound concrete and shall be placed according to acceptable Pennsylvania Department of Highways standards, using standard materials.

C. Drainage. Satisfactory outlets for drainage of abutting structures or subsoil conditions shall be provided, but under no conditions shall depressed gutters be constructed transversely to the concrete walk.

D. Joints. The sidewalk shall be constructed in separate slabs of not more than 30 feet. The slabs between the expansion joints shall be divided into blocks five feet in length by scoring transversely. The minimum width of the slab shall be four feet, and, further, all projects on the same block shall be of uniform width and location with respect to the existing curbline, but in no case shall the width be less than four feet.

E. Elevations.

(1) All curbs and sidewalks to be constructed, reconstructed or repaired shall be constructed in accordance with grades and elevations approved by the Borough Engineer, and not otherwise.

(2) The surface of the sidewalk shall be pitched toward the curb on a gradient of 1/4 inch to the foot, with the plane of the curb juncture to the curbline.

(3) At such places on the points where an existing adjacent sidewalk was poured as an integral part of the curb, the plane of the walk shall be made to conform to such existing walks if in good condition.

F. Finish. The concrete surface shall be given a granular finish by rubbing with a wood float without the addition of cement to the surface. An edger having a one-fourth-inch radius shall be used for edging all joints. The depth of the sidewalk concrete shall be a minimum of four inches.

§ 83-10 General regulations for construction and repairs.

General regulations pertaining to construction or repair of sidewalks and curbs are as follows:

A. Forms.

(1) The forms for curbs shall be of an approved metal type, except that wood forms consisting of one-and-one-half-inch surface planks may be used, with the approval of the Borough Engineer, on sharp curves and short tangent sections. Forms for sidewalks shall be of metal or of wood consisting of two-inch planks surfaced on the inside and top. All forms shall be cleaned thoroughly and treated with approved material to prevent the concrete from adhering thereto. Material which will adhere to or discolor exposed face of concrete shall not be used. All forms shall extend for the entire depth of the concrete and shall be set accurately to grade in such a manner as to prevent settlement, displacement or springing due to pressure of the concrete. Forms that have become worn, bent or otherwise damaged shall not be used. Any written determination by the Borough Engineer that any such forms are unsuitable shall be final, and any use of such forms subsequent to such designation for construction of curbing or sidewalks within the borough shall be considered a separate offense and punishable after summary conviction as hereinafter provided.

(2) Forms shall remain in place for a minimum of 24 hours after the concrete has been placed. Brush finishing or plastering will not be permitted and all such concrete sections shall be removed and replaced. Minor defects, upon approval of the Borough Engineer, may be filled with mortar composed of one part cement and two parts sand.

B. Structures. Where existing structures such as utility poles, light or sign standards and fire hydrants are within sidewalk area, the concrete shall be scored in a block eight inches wider than maximum dimension at sidewalk elevation around such structures. Expansion joint material shall be placed around all structures within or adjacent to the sidewalk area prior to placing of the concrete. Where expansion joint material is required by this and other sections of this article, it is understood to be a premolded expansion joint 1/4 inch in thickness and is to extend the entire length of the concrete.

C. Curb returns and inlets. Where a curved curb joins a tangent curb and where an inlet joins other curb, two reinforcing bars 1/2 inch in diameter and 24 inches in length shall be placed in the center of the concrete curb and three inches and nine inches below the top, respectively, in such a manner as to extend equal distances on each side of the joint.

D. Fixing elevations and locations by Borough Engineer. The initial fixing of elevation and location of curbing shall be by the Borough Engineer without expense to the owner; but upon repair or reconstruction whenever fixing of elevation or location may be required, the same shall be fixed by the Borough Engineer at the property owner's expense.

§ 83-11 Permit required; fee.

[Amended 8-7-1989 by Ord. No. 9-89]

Before any curb or sidewalk shall be constructed or reconstructed, the owner shall apply to the Code Official for a permit. Permits shall not be required for repairs only. The fee for such permit shall be $10, to be paid to the borough at the time of application.

§ 83-12 Variances.

A variance from the provisions of this article may be granted, in the discretion of Borough Council, in those cases where, because of the grade, elevation or location of streets, adjoining land or other improvements, unnecessary and substantial expense or inconvenience to the public or to owners or tenants will result from a strict and literal application of the terms of this article.

§ 83-13 Violations and penalties.

Any persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article, upon summary conviction before any District Justice having jurisdiction, shall be subject to a fine or penalty for the use of the borough of not less than $50 and not more than $300 and costs, as in other cases of summary conviction. The failure to obtain a permit before commencing construction or reconstruction and the violation of each regulation set forth above shall be construed as a separate offense, subjecting the person responsible to the fine and penalty herein provided.