[Adopted as Ch. 1028 of the 1995 Codified Ordinances of Monroe]
All sidewalks, driveways, crosswalks and curbing (except when constructed in connection with paving) shall be constructed strictly according to the specifications of this article.
[Amended 3-15-2004 by Ord. No. 04-003]
All walks shall, when completed, conform accurately to grade and lines given by the Engineering Department and shall have a slope toward the curb of 3/16 inch to the foot, unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer.
A. 
All sidewalks shall be constructed to a minimum thickness of four inches. Sidewalks crossing driveway approaches shall be constructed to a minimum thickness of six inches.
B. 
All sidewalks shall be constructed with an approved grade of concrete.
C. 
If a citizen desires a sidewalk to be constructed of other paving material, i.e., paving bricks, cut stone, etc., prior approval by the City Engineer shall be obtained.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
A. 
No person shall construct or repair any sidewalk, except in accordance with the line, grade, slope and specifications established by the City Engineer, and without first procuring a permit therefor from the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance. Permits may be revoked for failure to comply with the line, grade, slope or specifications of the City Engineer.
B. 
No person shall construct or alter any crosswalk, driveway, driveway approach or opening in or through any curb in any street or other public way without first procuring a permit therefor from the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance.
C. 
This section shall not apply to a property owner who himself or herself constructs or repairs not more than 50 square feet of the sidewalk abutting his or her property.
[Amended 7-3-2006 by Ord. No. 06-011]
A. 
The Building Official, or his/her designee, shall refuse to issue a permit for any crosswalk, sidewalk, driveway, driveway approach or curb cut that does not conform to the requirements of this article. In addition, the Building Official, or his her designee, may refuse to issue a permit for any crosswalk, sidewalk, driveway, driveway approach or curb cut if, in the discretion of the Building Official, or his/her designee, the crosswalk, sidewalk, driveway, driveway approach or curb cut will unduly interfere with the movement of traffic or pedestrian safety.
B. 
All work done pursuant to any permit shall be inspected by the City Engineer or his or her authorized representative. Any permit so granted may be revoked where either the workmanship or materials used do not conform to the plans and specifications approved or required upon issuance of the permit, or when the terms of any work authorized by any permit cause any such work to be performed while that permit is suspended or revoked by the Building Official, or his/her designee.
C. 
If the Building Official, or his/her designee, shall refuse to issue any permit, the applicant may appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals, which shall grant a hearing thereon, and the decision of such Board shall be final. In granting a permit after such hearing, the Board may impose such conditions therefor as it may deem desirable to protect the safety of persons and property.
A. 
Excluding the exception of an abutting property owner who is doing not more than 50 square feet of work, and licensed and registered contractors, every applicant shall provide the Building Official's office with a cash bond, surety bond or affidavit from his or her insurance carrier stating that his or her insurance policy in effect covers the costs of the following requirements:
(1) 
Completing the crosswalk, driveway, driveway approach or sidewalk or restoring the curb to its original state.
(2) 
Relaying cables and moving hydrants, poles and other objects displaced by construction.
B. 
Contractors shall comply with the following:
(1) 
All contractors or subcontractors, including concrete brick pavers, who are not licensed or regulated by the City as general contractors and who are engaged in activities covered by this article, shall be licensed.
(2) 
By January 10 or whenever they start engaging in business, and every January 10 thereafter, contractors and subcontractors shall apply to the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance for a license.
(3) 
The license shall designate the name, address and telephone number of the contractor and such other information as is required by the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance. It shall also designate the responsible person for contact by the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance.
(4) 
The contractor shall provide a certificate of insurance, indicating insurance coverage in an amount to be established, from time to time, by resolution of Council, unless otherwise set by ordinance of Council.
(5) 
The annual license fee shall be $10, payable to the Clerk/Treasurer.
[Amended 7-3-2006 by Ord. No. 06-011]
A. 
A license may be denied or revoked where the Building Official, or his/her designee, finds:
(1) 
Noncompliance with the requirements of this article.
(2) 
Within one year, a series of three or more verified complaints against the contractor involving improper workmanship.
B. 
Any contractor denied a license by the Building Official, or his/her designee, may immediately appeal to the Construction Board of Appeals.
C. 
A fee shall be charged for such appeal, and the amount of said fee shall be determined by a resolution of Mayor and Council. The fee shall be returned if the contractor wins his or her appeal. If the license denial is upheld, then the fee shall go to pay the costs of the Construction Board of Appeals.
D. 
The Construction Board of Appeals shall conduct a hearing, listen to evidence and record testimony, and its decision will be the final administrative remedy.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
A. 
No person shall allow any sidewalk which adjoins property owned by him or her to fall into a state of disrepair or be unsafe. If any owner shall neglect to keep and maintain the sidewalk along the front, rear or side of the land owned by him or her in good repair and safe for the use of the public, such owner shall be liable to any injured party for damage sustained by reason of this failure. In any event, the owner shall be liable to the City for damages recovered, if any, against the City because of injury sustained by any person by reason of the sidewalk being unsafe and out of repair.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the owner of abutting property to notify the Engineering Department of any defect, depression, crack or other dangerous condition, immediately if during the working day, or the next working day if after working hours.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
Whenever the Engineering Department shall determine that a sidewalk is unsafe for use, written notice thereof shall be given to the owner of the abutting premises by mail, addressed to the last known address of said owner, or if the owner or his or her address is unknown, by delivering the notice and leaving the same with a person of suitable age and discretion at the premises, or if such person is not found, by posting such notice in some conspicuous place on the premises. The notice shall specify the construction of the sidewalk required and specifications therefor, in order for the condition to be repaired, and the nature of the repairs to be made. In the event such owner fails to repair or construct the sidewalk in 30 days, the City Engineer shall report the same to the Council, with the request that the Council pass a resolution directing the owner to repair the sidewalk within 10 days and stating that if such repair is not made within such period it will be done by the City and the expense thereof will be charged to the premises and the owner thereof and collected as provided in § C-253 of the City Charter. The City Engineer may dispense with the notice and report and request the City Council for authority to repair a sidewalk if, in his or her opinion, the sidewalk condition is unsafe and dangerous and requires immediate repair to assure public safety and to prevent the possibility of City liability for personal injury or property damage. Before the Council shall grant such authority to the City Engineer, it shall follow the procedure set forth in §§ C-252 and C-253 of the City Charter. The cost of repairs or construction hereunder, made by the City, shall be charged against the premises abutting such sidewalk and the owner thereof, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter relative to sidewalks.
The City shall repair any sidewalks and/or driveways damaged by trees that lie within the City right-of-way, or where the City has installed water service and damage results therefrom.
[Amended 5-14-1990 by Ord. No. 90-008]
Material and construction specifications for sidewalks, driveway approaches, driveways and private sidewalks and driveways utilizing concrete brick pavers shall conform to the current edition of a pamphlet entitled "City of Monroe Sidewalk, Driveway and Driveway Approach Specifications," a copy of which shall be available for public inspection in the office of the Building Official of the City of Monroe. Further, concrete paver and concrete brick paver specifications shall be those standards utilized by the National Concrete Masonry Association and the National Precast Concrete Association.
[Amended 5-14-1990 by Ord. No. 90-008]
Prior to the placement of concrete or concrete brick pavers on the prepared subgrade of any sidewalk, crosswalk, driveway or private sidewalk or driveway, there must first be an inspection by the City. Any person exempted under § 625-8 from the requirement of obtaining a permit shall also be exempted from the inspection requirement of this section.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
No permit to cut any curb along a paved street shall be issued unless the applicant shall agree, as a condition of the issuance of the permit, to install a driveway apron of concrete or an alternative material within 90 days after the completion of the cut.
A. 
The maximum cut for a residential driveway shall be 30 feet, and the minimum cut shall be 14 feet, except as otherwise approved by the City Engineer.
B. 
No curb cut shall extend beyond the property line (as extended to the curb of the street) unless written approval is obtained for encroachment on the adjacent property frontage from the owner.
C. 
The necessary adjustments to utility posts, light standards, fire hydrants, catch basins, street or railway signs, signals or other public improvements or installations shall be made at the expense of the property owner whose construction or repair has necessitated such adjustments.
D. 
For trees located within 12 inches of the proposed driveway approach:
(1) 
Upon request of the property owner, the Department of Public Services shall investigate for the best alternative routes or other possible placement of the driveway. This investigation and report shall be in conjunction with the Engineering Department.
(2) 
If, after due investigation, an alternative route or routes for the driveway placement are not found, and due to the necessity of the placement agreed upon between the property owner and the City as represented by the Department of Public Services and the Engineering Department, the homeowner may request that the City share equally in the cost of the removal.
E. 
For trees located within 12 inches of existing driveway approaches, in City-owned parkway terraces:
(1) 
Upon the request of the homeowner, such trees may be removed by the Department of Public Services with the concurrence of the Engineering Department.
(2) 
The property owner shall, if the tree removal is at his or her request, pay a fee to be determined from time to time by resolution of Council.
(3) 
Said fee shall be paid to the Clerk/Treasurer prior to removal.
F. 
The minimum distance between curb cuts, except those serving residential property, shall be 20 feet.
G. 
The maximum number of linear feet of sidewalk driveway crossings permitted for any lot, parcel of land, business or enterprise shall be 45% of the total abutting street frontage.
H. 
The minimum distance between any curb cut and a public crosswalk shall be 20 feet.
A. 
All sidewalks and driveway approaches to be constructed shall conform to the following standards:
(1) 
Sidewalk width shall be a minimum of four feet, unless otherwise required by state law.
(2) 
Residential driveway approaches shall be tapered three feet in width from the curb to the sidewalk on each side of the driveway.
(3) 
Residential driveway approaches shall be constructed so that they do not adversely affect the roadway drainage, and they shall conform to current Engineering Department standards, a copy of which shall be available for public inspection.
(4) 
A curved curb return may be used on residential driveway approaches upon approval of the City Engineer.
(5) 
Residential driveway approaches where the roadway is not curbed shall be paved without curbs.
(6) 
Commercial driveways shall be constructed in conformance with the standards of the Michigan Department of State Highways and Transportation.
(7) 
Any variation in standards must be approved by the City Engineer.
B. 
All driveways installed after the passage of this article, extending from the City's right-of-way line onto private residential property, shall be constructed according to the requirements of § 625-15.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
Every person who intends or plans to use any portion of the sidewalk as a private driveway shall, if the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance certifies that the sidewalk area is inadequate for vehicular traffic, reconstruct the sidewalk in such a manner that the sidewalk is capable of carrying vehicular traffic without creating pedestrian hazards and is in accordance with the specifications of this article in respect to slope, drainage, reinforcement, finish and other construction features.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015]
Any driveway approach abutting upon a paved street shall be paved with concrete, provided that driveway approaches presently paved with asphalt do not need to be repaved with concrete. All newly constructed driveway approaches shall be paved with concrete, unless alternatives are approved by the Engineering Department.
[Amended 8-16-1976 by Ord. No. 76-015; 1-4-2005 by Ord. No. 04-018]
A. 
The fee for a sidewalk, driveway or driveway approach permit shall be at the rates established by the Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance pursuant to the Michigan Building Code, as adopted in Chapter 275, Article III, Michigan Building Code. A summary of these rates and schedules shall be included in the pamphlet described in § 625-15.
B. 
Work contemplated under any permit must be completed within 180 days of the issuance of the permit.
C. 
The Department of Building, Zoning and Environmental Compliance must be notified at least 24 hours in advance of the commencement of any construction under the permit.