[Adopted 9-22-1924 by Ord. No. 229]
[Amended 12-11-2023 by Ord. No. P18-2023]
A uniform system of sidewalks and curbs along both sides of all streets and highways of Haverford Township is hereby established, said sidewalks and curbs to be installed at the width and pursuant to the other specifications prescribed in the Township Subdivision and Land Development chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 160, Subdivision and Land Development.
Such sidewalks and curbs shall be graded and constructed by the owners of lots fronting thereon in accordance with such specifications and at such grade as shall be prescribed by ordinance. No person shall hereafter lay out, construct or build any such sidewalk or curb except in compliance with the terms of this article and at the grade and in accordance with the specifications prescribed by the Highway Committee of this Board of Commissioners.
[Added 4-13-1925 by Ord. No. 243]
The sidewalks so designated shall be graded, curbed and paved at the grades and in accordance with specifications which shall be prescribed by the Highway Committee of this Board of Commissioners and from time to time altered, supplemented or changed by the same, and such specifications and grades shall be kept on file in the office of the Secretary of this Board of Commissioners for the inspection of all persons interested therein.
Whenever hereafter the grading, curbing and paving of any such sidewalk shall be prescribed by ordinance, written notice shall be given by the Highway Committee of this Board of Commissioners, acting through the Township Engineer, to the owners of property affected thereby to grade and construct said sidewalks and curbs in front of their respective properties within a period of not less than 30 days from the service of the notice in the manner prescribed by law and shall at the same time notify said owners of the grade, lines and specifications prescribed by such ordinance or by the Highway Committee of this Board of Commissioners.
It shall be the duty of each such owner to construct the same with such grading and filling as is necessary in front of the respective properties within the period above prescribed. Should any property owner fail to comply with the requirements of this article within the time specified in the notice, the Highway Committee of this Board shall cause the sidewalk and curbing in front of such property to be constructed in accordance with the requirements hereof, and the entire expense of the construction thereof, including grading, filling and curbing, shall be and is hereby charged against such properties.
Such cost, together with a penalty of 10% thereon, shall be assessed by the Township Engineer acting in conjunction with the Highway Committee, and bills therefor shall be sent to the property owners as herein before prescribed with respect to notices. In case of default in payment thereof within 30 days from the date of such bill, the same shall be collected against said property owners in the manner prescribed by law and shall constitute a lien against said property, and a municipal claim therefor shall be filed by the Solicitor.
All owners of property abutting upon such highways are hereby required to keep the sidewalks in front of, along or upon the premises or lots owned by them in good order and repair and at all times to keep level with said sidewalk all water, gas, sewer or drain stop boxes or vent boxes and to keep the sidewalk at all times free and clear from obstruction to safe and convenient passage. In the event of the failure of the owner so to do, the Highway Committee of this Board of Commissioners may, upon notice of such condition, cause such sidewalks to be repaired or any obstruction to be removed therefrom in accordance with the ordinances of this Township, and the cost and expense thereof, together with a penalty of 10%, shall be charged against said property owner in accordance with § 157-7 of this chapter.
[Amended 2-14-1972 by Ord. No. 1452; 6-11-1973 by Ord. No. 1522; 8-12-1974 by Ord. No. 1575; 2-12-1990 by Ord. No. 2075; 2-8-1993 by Ord. No. 2168]
From and after the passage of this article, no sidewalk or curb shall be laid or constructed or relocated in front of any property abutting upon any highway or street without first obtaining from the Board of Commissioners a permit therefor before such work is begun, except where a sidewalk or curb is directed to be laid and constructed or relocated by order of the Board of Commissioners as herein before provided. Before such permit is issued and said work begun, a written application, on a blank form to be furnished for that purpose by the Board of Commissioners, must be filed with the Secretary of said Board of Commissioners, setting forth the character and location of the proposed sidewalk and/or curb. The application must be signed by the owner of the property for whom such work is to be done, and the applicant for a permit shall pay, before the issuance of the permit, a permit fee as fixed by resolution of the Board of Commissioners. Before such permit is issued, the Highway Committee of the Board of Commissioners, acting through the Township Engineer, shall fix and establish the location, grade and specifications of such sidewalks and curbs and certify the same to said owner. When the permit is issued, the owner of the property shall construct said sidewalk and curb in accordance with the location, grade and specifications furnished by the Township Engineer as aforesaid.
[Amended 6-30-1986 by Ord. No. 1960; 6-13-1988 by Ord. No. 2019; 3-12-2012 by Ord. No. 2660]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall, upon summary conviction before any District Justice of the Peace, pay a fine not exceeding $1,000 and costs of prosecution; and in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term of not more than 90 days. Each and every day in which any person, firm or corporation shall be in violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense.