[Adopted 9-12-1994 (Ch. 118, Art. IV of the 1971 Code)]
The purpose of this article shall be to improve
and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the community
by establishing traffic regulations within parking areas, apartment
complexes, supermarkets and any other private property devoted to
public use and access. The City of Middletown finds that improper
parking on certain private properties open to the public may impede
the accessibility of fire apparatus in fighting any potential fires
on private property. The purpose of this article is to keep fire lanes
open, so as to make private property accessible to Fire Department
and emergency service apparatus.
As used in this article, the following words
shall have the following meanings:
A passageway or roadway along which Fire Department equipment,
fire-fighting apparatus and emergency service apparatus may gain access
to private property to fight fires or give aid.
The prevention or hindrance of free movement along or over
a fire lane through some means other than a parked vehicle.
The standing or halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or
not, other than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually
engaged in, loading or unloading.
Every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or
corporation.
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or carried.
A.
Premises which are not readily accessible from public
roads, and which the Fire Department or an emergency service may be
called upon to protect in case of fire or other emergency, shall be
provided with access roads or fire lanes so that all buildings on
the premises are accessible to the Fire Department and emergency service
apparatus.
B.
Fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings that
are set back more than 150 feet from a public road or exceed 30 feet
in height and are set back over 50 feet from a public road.
C.
Fire lanes shall be at least 25 feet in width. Any
dead-end road more than 600 feet long shall be provided with a turnaround
at the closed end at least 60 feet in diameter.
A.
Signs shall be installed, together with any other
markings as may be deemed necessary by the Fire Prevention Bureau
to mark and designate fire lanes, in accord will applicable standards
of the New York State Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
B.
The City of Middletown, through the Police Department
or Fire Department, may require further delineation to indicate the
boundaries between the fire lane and any general parking area. These
indicators include, but are not limited to, signs, curbs, sidewalks,
grass areas, barriers and fences.
No person shall park a vehicle within any area
designated and established as a fire lane. Every person violating
this provision shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of $50.
No person, firm, or corporation shall erect,
place, or allow any obstruction or prohibit access thereupon to designated
fire lanes.
The Police Department and the Fire Department
are hereby authorized to cause the removal of any parked vehicle or
any obstruction when the parking of such vehicle or obstruction is
considered to be hazardous to the safe operation of traffic or to
interfere with emergency operations of the municipality or public
service organization.
A.
Campbell Plaza. The fire lanes shall extend from the
intersection of Dolson Avenue at the present traffic signal along
an easterly line to the northwest corner of the building presently
occupied by Shoprite a distance of 242 feet, there it shall extend
along the storefronts in a southeasterly direction along Shoprite
93 feet and turn west a distance of 207 feet, turning south across
the storefront a distance of 103 feet. An additional zone is established
from the entrance of Shoprite a northeasterly direction 375 feet turning
across the storefronts for 404 feet again turn in easterly direction
to the rear corner of the building a distance of 126 feet.
B.
Middletown Commons. The fire lane shall extend from
the termination of Abe Isaac Drive in an southerly direction to the
nearest corner of the building a distance of 69 feet, there it shall
extend along the storefronts and end at the rear front corner of the
building a distance of 344 feet.
C.
Playtogs Shopping Plaza.
(1)
The fire lane shall extend from the traffic signal
at the intersection of Dolson Avenue in a westerly direction in a
straight line and end in front of the present three-story building
a distance of 737 feet.
(2)
A second fire lane shall begin a point on Dolson Avenue
between the present Burger King and the donut shop and follow a westerly
line to a point at the rear of the present Waldbaum store a distance
of 737 feet.
(3)
Additional fire lanes shall be provided as follows:
(a)
A fire lane shall extend parallel to Dolson
Avenue in front of the present Shaker's and connecting the aforementioned
two fire lanes a distance of 222 feet.
(b)
A fire lane shall extend along the front of
the stores beginning at the location of the Middletown Savings Bank
and intersecting with the interior corner of the building a distance
of 318 feet turning east a distance of 207 feet and intersecting with
the fire lane which passes at the entrance to the Waldbaum Store.
(c)
A fire lane shall extend along the face of the
present Playtogs Store for its entire length a distance of 525 feet
and shall be provided with access thereto via the third lane through
the parking area and connecting with the fire lane established for
a distance of 290 feet.
D.
Highland Park Village Condominiums complex, certain fire lanes to
be designated by the property owner and approved by the Fire Chief.
[Added 10-15-2013]
Persons desiring further information on this
subject are referred to the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of
New York, § 1640-a.
