[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Andover 4-13-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-10.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 10.
Building construction — See Ch. 30.
Land use procedures — See Ch. 74.
Site plan review — See Ch. 131.
Soil erosion — See Ch. 136.
Soil removal — See Ch. 140.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 150.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 155.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 159.
Zoning — See Ch. 190.
The purpose of this chapter is to assure the proper installation
and alteration of all private driveways in the Township of Andover,
to minimize erosion and flow of soil and debris from driveways, to
prevent increased runoff onto adjoining properties, to ensure adequate
gutter flow, and to promote safe and comfortable roadway conditions.
This chapter requires design criteria and professional supervision
during construction to ensure that new driveways be located and constructed
in a manner to minimize the foregoing problem areas.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
That use of lands and premises as defined under the Farmland
Assessment Act of 1964 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-23.1), as provided under N.J.S.A.
54:4-23.1 and 54:4-23.4, independent of acreage for compliance.
A driveway is altered within the meaning of this chapter when the horizontal or vertical alignment of it's center line is relocated by more than two feet, or when its dimensions are enlarged beyond those specified in § 45-10A of this chapter. Normal maintenance, such as replacing stone, patching asphalt, and repaving, or improvements to an existing driveway (subject to the limitations set forth in the previous sentence hereof), such as paving or widening, shall not be considered as "altering a driveway."
One providing access to an office, retail or institutional
building or to an apartment building having more than five dwelling
units or any other use classified as commercial or institutional in
the Andover Township Land Use Ordinance,[1] but not by way of limitation thereof. Industrial plant
driveways whose principal function is to serve administrative or employee
parking lots are considered "commercial driveways."
A jointly owned roadway that provides entry to more than
one dwelling or place of business from a public road or street.
In addition to its regularly accepted common meaning, also refers to any lane, way, field entrance or privately owned road, except as hereinafter exempted in § 45-3.
One directly serving substantial numbers of truck movements
to and from loading areas of an industrial facility, warehouse or
truck terminal.
A construction plot plan prepared by a licensed professional
engineer in the State of New Jersey; or prepared by the owner containing
sufficient detail and determined to be acceptable by the Township
Engineer that complies fully with all provisions of this chapter.
One providing access to a single- or multifamily residence
or to an apartment building containing five or fewer multifamily residences
or to an apartment building containing five or fewer dwelling units.
The portion of a public road right-of-way on which travel
is conducted.
The New Jersey State Department of Transportation Specifications
for Road and Bridge Construction, 1989, and amendments thereto.
All lands and premises used for agricultural and horticultural purposes and served by a driveway solely for access to fields and woods for said agricultural or horticultural purposes and not for residential or commercial uses in conjunction therewith are hereby deemed exempt from the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of the provisions of § 45-11 and § 45-12.
A.
No person or persons, corporation or corporations, industry or commercial
establishment shall cut or construct or alter any driveway from private
property to a public road without first having secured a driveway
permit from the Andover Township Engineer.
B.
The owner, or the authorized agent of the owner who is constructing
or altering a driveway that enters onto a Township road shall submit
an application for a driveway permit to the Township Construction
Official. Major and minor subdivisions shall not be exempt from permit
requirements regardless of whether the driveway construction is by
the owner, subdivider or his successor.
C.
The Township Construction Official shall transmit the application
for a driveway permit to the Township Engineer, within five days of
the Construction Official's receipt of a completed application. The
Township Engineer shall review and advise the Construction Official
with regard to compliance or noncompliance of the proposed driveway
with the provisions of this chapter within 10 days of the Township
Engineer's receipt of said application. If the Township Engineer shall
fail to inspect and review the application for a driveway permit and
so advise the Construction Official within 10 days of the Engineer's
receipt of same, the Construction Official shall have the right to
either approve or reject the application for a driveway permit without
having received comments from the Township Engineer. At such time
that the Township Engineer is satisfied that the design requirements
have been met, he will direct the Construction Official to issue a
permit.
D.
The application for such permit shall include a plot plan or sketch
(minimum scale at one inch = 50 feet), submitted in triplicate, including
the location of the proposed driveway. The plot plan or sketch shall
include the following:
(1)
The name and address of the owner and applicant, Tax Map sheet, block
and lot number.
(2)
Property lines.
(3)
Setback and location of structures.
(4)
Curb, if any.
(5)
Utility installments affecting the driveway.
(6)
Sidewalk, if any.
(7)
Trees and other obstructions within proposed sight triangles for a minimum distance as described in § 45-6E in each direction of the proposed driveway location.
(8)
Advisory, directional, regulatory and advertising signs within sight
triangles.
(9)
Location of existing driveways on the lot in question and adjoining
lots.
(10)
Driveway width, slope and proposed driveway cross section. Additional
information may be required for driveways in excess of eight-percent
slope.
(11)
Driveway angle with the existing roadway.
(12)
Curbline opening.
(13)
Center-line profile for drives over 8% at any point along the driveway.
(14)
Sight-line profiles in each direction.
(15)
For other than single-family residential, the estimated number of
cars and trucks using the driveway each day.
(16)
Type of storm drainage to be constructed at the driveway entrance
to the public road (i.e., dish-type gutter, pipe or culvert). Sizes
of pipes, culverts and gutters, grades, elevations, typical cross
sections, construction details and any other information deemed necessary
for the proper analysis of the drainage design. (See Figure 1.[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
E.
The Township Engineer may require that additional information, such
as a driveway plan and profile and a drainage plan, be prepared by
a professional engineer licensed in the State of New Jersey in those
instances where the Township Engineer has determined that conditions
are such that the driveway design and drainage plan will require the
application of engineering expertise.
F.
Upon receipt of an application, together with said drawings, the
Township Engineer shall inspect and study the site of the proposed
driveway, lane or other entrance, and in the event that, in his opinion,
there are changes or additions to be made in order to comply with
the requirements of this chapter, they shall be so stated and outlined
on the application and drawings and be made known to the applicant
by the Township Engineer.
G.
If a driveway existed at the date of the adoption of this chapter
and the owner proposes to alter the same, then the owner shall file
an application with the Township Construction Official on forms provided
for existing driveway improvement. The Township Engineer shall inspect
the premises and review the application as to the proposed improvement,
and, if it is his determination that the proposed improvement complies
with the standards of this chapter, then in that event the Township
Engineer shall issue a permit to said applicant. If the determination
is that the proposed improvement of the driveway does not comply with
the standards of this chapter, then the applicant will receive written
notice to comply with the provisions of the chapter as to which the
application is deficient.
H.
The Construction Official shall not issue a building permit until
an approved driveway permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter.
I.
For properties with frontage on a county road, the applicant shall
apply for and receive a driveway entrance permit from the county Engineering
Department. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all aspects
of the driveway not under County jurisdiction.
There shall be submitted with an application for a driveway
permit, the following fees, payable to the Township of Andover:
A.
Nonrefundable permit application fee: $25.
B.
Driveways up to eight-percent slope, engineering review and inspection
escrow fee: $500.
C.
Where driveway slopes exceed 8%, an additional fee of $300 shall
be deposited with the application to defer the costs associated with
review of the increased complexities of design and construction.
D.
Where the review and inspection costs exceed, or are anticipated
to exceed, the initial escrow deposit, the applicant shall pay the
additional amount prior to the issuance of a certificate of approval
(CA).
E.
Where the anticipated review and inspection costs do not exceed the
initial escrow deposit, the applicant shall be refunded any amount
that is not expended by the Township for such costs.
All entrance and exit driveways to a Township road shall be located to afford maximum safety to traffic on said Township road in accordance with the following requirements and standard specifications as defined in § 45-2 and the New Jersey State Department of Transportation Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 1989, and amendments thereto. (Note: Certain requirements may be superseded for driveways along county or state roads.)
A.
Driveways shall be not less than 75 feet from any street intersection.
B.
No part of any driveway shall be located within 10 feet of a side
property line unless one driveway serves two lots.
C.
Where two or more driveways connect a single site to any one Township
road, a minimum clear distance of 150 feet measured along the right-of-way
line shall separate the closest of any two such drives.
D.
New driveways shall be so designed as to allow motor vehicles to
turn around on the site in order to make it unnecessary to back any
motor vehicle onto the street.
E.
Whenever possible, all driveways shall be designed in profile, grade,
and location to permit a minimum sight distance in accordance with
the following table. Roads which are not posted for speed limits shall
be considered to be 50 miles per hour, unless, in the opinion of the
Township Engineer, the applicant's engineer can demonstrate in writing
that the horizontal geometric considerations, or location, dictate
otherwise. The sight distance measurement shall be from a sight point
on the center line of the driveway and 10 feet behind the curbline
of the thoroughfare, or if no curbline exists, a minimum of 10 feet
from the edge of the road. The sight line, equal to the required sight
distance, shall be between sight points set at an eye height 3 1/2
feet to an object of equal height and shall not be less that six inches
above any obstruction other than planted areas. In planted areas,
the sight line shall be no less than one foot above grade. A clear
sight triangle shall be established connecting the sight points described
above, and shall be graded and otherwise kept free of trees, shrubbery,
fences, structures, etc., in order to maintain clear vision between
sight points. All driveways, including exit or entrance driveways,
shall be located to afford maximum safety to the traffic on the Township
road.
|
Allowable Speed on Township Road
(mph)
|
Required Sight Distance
(feet)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
25
|
240
| |
|
30
|
275
| |
|
35
|
315
| |
|
40
|
350
| |
|
45
|
420
| |
|
50
|
475
|
|
NOTE: In no instance shall the sight distance be less than 200
feet.
|
(1)
All applicants shall take the required action to obtain the required
sight distance immediately after receipt of initial driveway permit
approval and during the commencement of the drive's construction.
In no instance will a temporary or a permanent certificate of approval
be granted until the required sight distance on the approved plan
is verified in the field. The Township Engineer may require a statement
by the applicant's engineer, on the engineer's letterhead, attesting
that the required sight distance has been met.
(2)
Any and all actions taken to obtain the required minimum sight distance
shall be done in a lasting and permanent manner.
(3)
Any trees shall be removed within the sight triangle.
The Land Use Board must approve common driveways. If the Land
Use Board approves a driveway utilized by more than two residential
units, it shall be in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
A.
All common driveways within the Township shall have deeded provisions
for maintenance, parking, and snow removal; however, the Township
will have the power but not the duty to enforce this provision. For
new subdivisions, the Land Use Board Engineer and Attorney must approve
the deeded provisions.
B.
The driveway shall have a minimum width of 14 feet and a graded width
of not less than 18 feet.
C.
Common driveways which exceed 300 feet in length shall have one or
more passing areas, within sight of each other and not more than 500
feet apart. Such passing areas shall be cleared and graded to a width
of 20 feet and shall be improved to a width of 16 feet. The minimum
length of this widened area shall be 20 feet, with ten-foot tapers
on each end.
All driveways to be constructed, or existing driveways to be
altered, which intersect with the right-of-way line of any public
road shall be constructed or altered in accordance with the following
minimum requirements:
A.
Within the right-of-way limits, the finished grade of the driveway
shall be no greater than 6%.
B.
In instances where the driveway to be constructed or altered intersects
a roadway with a shoulder, the driveway grade shall be the grade of
the shoulder.
C.
The driveway shall slope upward or downward from the gutter line
on a straight slope of a maximum of 6% at least 25 feet long for residential
driveways and 40 feet long for commercial and industrial driveways,
unless otherwise specified by the Township Engineer. (See Figure 1.[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
D.
At no point shall the finished grade of the driveway be greater than
15%.
E.
Changes in center-line grades of 2% or more shall be made with smooth
vertical curves not less than 25 feet in length.
F.
All side slopes shall not exceed a six-foot vertical change in elevation
with side slopes exceeding a ratio of three to one without a wooden
guide rail, boulder or other approved method of protection.
A.
Two-way operation. All driveways, constructed or altered, shall meet
the abutting roadway at a horizontal angle of between 75° and
105° off the road center line or, in the case of curved roads,
15° off a line radial to the road center line. Any curved or angular
approach of the driveway shall be accomplished outside of the public
road right-of-way, or a projected right-of-way of 50 feet in total
width, whichever is wider.
B.
One-way operation.
(1)
Right turn only. Driveways shall not form an angle smaller than 45°
with a street unless acceleration and deceleration lanes are provided.
(2)
Both left- and right-hand turn. Driveways shall intersect the street
at a horizontal angle of between 75° and 105° off the road
center line or, in the case of curved roads, 15° degrees off a
line radial to the road center line.
C.
Commercial and industrial driveways. Industrial driveways shall be
designed for their particular situation, using turning templates to
test truck movements to and from both directions of travel. Flat angles
and one-way drives should be utilized whenever feasible to facilitate
the movement of trucks on and off the traveled way without impeding
through traffic. Driveway exits for one-way operation shall be at
an angle not less than 30°.
D.
All curves along the course of any driveway of over 100 feet in length,
to be constructed or altered, shall have radii of sufficient length
to allow standard fire-fighting vehicles to negotiate the driveway
without difficulty. For the purpose of this determination, the American
Association of State Highway Officials SU design vehicle shall be
used for design purposes.
E.
Driveways of 400 feet or more in length shall have facilities suitable
for fire engine turnaround consisting of the following:
A.
Driveways shall be designed to accommodate adequately the volume
and normal character of vehicles anticipated to be traveling the driveway.
The required maximum and minimum dimensions for driveways are indicated
in the following table. Driveways serving large volumes of daily traffic
or industrial driveways as defined herein (Twenty-five percent of
traffic is truck traffic.) shall be required to use the maximum dimensions
as shown on the following table.
|
Driveway Dimensions
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Type of Driveway
|
Driveway Width
(feet)
|
Depressed Curb
(feet)
|
Curb Return Radius
(feet)
| ||
|
Residential (single-family)
| |||||
|
One-way operation
|
10 to 15
|
16 to 21
|
5 to 15
| ||
|
Two-way operation
|
10 to 16
|
16 to 21
|
5 to 15
| ||
|
Commercial
| |||||
|
One-way operation
|
10 to 15
|
16 to 21
|
15 to 40
| ||
|
Two-way operation
|
24 to 30
|
30 to 36
|
15t to 40
| ||
|
Industrial
| |||||
|
One-way operation
|
12 to 24
|
18 to 30
|
25 to 50
| ||
|
Two-way operation
|
24 to 30
|
30 to 36
|
25 to 50
| ||
B.
All driveways shall be cleared and graded to a width of two feet
beyond each edge of the driveway.
A.
All driveways shall be constructed and maintained at all times in
such a manner as to prevent erosion of soil and debris from them and
land adjoining them. Soil and debris shall be prevented from running
onto the public roadways and adjoining properties, and from entering
road gutters, catch basins, inlets or drainage pipes.
B.
The owner of any existing driveway that causes public safety problems
in connection with soil erosion or excess runoff within the public
right-of-way or on adjoining property shall, upon written notice from
the Township Engineer, correct the conditions causing said problems
within 14 days of said notification. Failure to make such corrections
shall be in violation of this chapter.
C.
The owner of any existing driveway that causes the depositing of
soil and debris upon the roadway shall immediately remove the same
therefrom, but, in any event, the same shall be removed within 24
hours of written notice by the Township Engineer. Failure to make
such corrections shall be a violation of this chapter.
A.
All driveways constructed or altered within the public road right-of-way
shall be constructed in such a manner as not to interfere with the
drainage along the existing pavement or traveled way. Under no circumstance
shall the driveway be allowed to extend beyond the edge of the existing
gutter line of a public roadway and create a hump or uneven driving
surface on the pavement or traveled way or shoulder. In certain situations,
as determined by the Township Engineer, the driveway may be constructed
to have a sufficient rise above shoulder level to prevent excessive
runoff from the roadway onto other properties.
B.
The construction of a properly sized dish-type gutter will be permitted,
provided that existing water flow will not be blocked, altered or
changed in any manner. (See Figure 1.)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
C.
The installation of a suitable-sized reinforced concrete pipe culvert
or approved equivalent shall be required in the event the existing
flow line or ditch cannot be crossed with a shallow dish-type gutter.
The pipe or culvert required shall be sized to accept flow from a
twenty-five-year storm determined by the rational method of runoff
calculation and shall be installed beneath the driveway by the owner.
If the proposed drainage pipe connects with an existing storm drainage
system, a catch basin shall be constructed. Such pipes shall extend
to allow a flat graded area at least five feet beyond the edges of
the driveway. No pipe or culvert shall be less than 15 inches in diameter.
(See Figure 1.)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
D.
The installation of suitable-sized cross drains shall be required
at points along the driveway as deemed necessary by the Township Engineer
in order to prevent the accumulation of large quantities of runoff
waters and effects of soil erosion on the public right-of-way or adjoining
property.
E.
The Township Engineer may require that measures be taken to limit
runoff rates from the proposed driveway necessary to prevent increased
runoff from affecting downstream properties. In such instances, runoff
rates in the post development condition shall be modified to equal
those existing before development.
Driveways shall be constructed of the following materials:
A.
Residential driveways entering unpaved roads: six inches (compacted
thickness) of one-and-one-half-inch quarry process (blend) stone,
three-fourths-inch dirty road stone or soil aggregate Type 5, Class
A, or Type 2, Class B, thoroughly rolled and compacted at the specified
width.
B.
Residential driveways entering paved roads.
(1)
Driveways with slopes less than 8% shall be constructed with a base
course six inches (compacted thickness) of one-and-one-half-inch quarry
process (blend) stone, three-fourths-inch dirty road stone or soil
aggregate Type 5, Class A, or Type 2, Class B, thoroughly rolled and
compacted at the specified width. The first 25 feet from the edge
of the roadway shall be paved with two inches of bituminous concrete
Type F FABC-1, Mix I-5, thoroughly compacted.
(2)
All driveway slopes in excess of 8% at any point within 250 feet
of the public right-of-way shall be paved with two inches thoroughly
rolled and compacted thickness of bituminous concrete Type FABC-1,
Mix I-5, over a four-inch soil aggregate Type 5, Class A, or Type
2, Class B, stone or dense graded aggregate thoroughly rolled and
compacted from the right-of-way to the end of the eight-percent grade.
C.
Commercial driveways.
(1)
Surface course: two inches (compact thickness) of bituminous concrete
Type FABC-1, Mix I-5; over
(2)
Base course: four inches (compacted thickness) of plant-mixed bituminous
concrete, Mix I-2, thoroughly rolled and compacted; over
(3)
Sub-base course: four inches (compacted thickness) of one-and-one-half-inch
quarry process (blend) or soil aggregate, Type 5, Class A, or Type
2, Class B, stone or dense graded aggregate thoroughly rolled and
compacted.
D.
Driveways entering curbed roads.
(1)
Curbs crossing driveways shall be constructed or reconstructed to
provide a depression with a two-inch curb height relative to the edge
of the roadway pavement. The top of the depressed curb shall be sloped
down toward the roadway to provide a one-and-one-half-inch curb face.
(2)
The total depth of concrete shall be maintained across the depression.
(3)
Transitions from the depressed curb to the full-faced curb shall
be over a maximum length of 18 inches. If an existing expansion joint
is within four feet of a new depressed concrete curb, the existing
curb shall be replaced to that control joint.
A.
Upon notice to the Township Engineer of the completion of the construction
of the driveway, the Township Engineer shall inspect the same and
shall determine if the driveway construction is in compliance or noncompliance
with standards specified herein. The construction of the driveway
shall not be deemed in accord with the provisions of this chapter
unless and until the Township Engineer issues a certificate of approval
(CA).
B.
No certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the Construction Official
unless all driveways on the lot or site have been completed in accordance
with the approved plan and a certificate of approval (CA) has been
issued. Inspection to assure compliance will be done by the Township
Engineer.
C.
If, due to inclement weather conditions, it is not feasible in the
judgment of the Township Engineer to complete the driveway, a cash
bond or certified check in the amount of 120% of the cost of the remaining
improvements as determined by the Township Engineer, but in no case
less than $1,000, may be submitted to the Township thereby allowing
the Township Engineer to release a temporary certificate of approval
(TCA) which would allow the Construction Official to release a temporary
certificate of occupancy (TCO).
D.
In the event that the remaining driveway improvements are not completed within one year after the TCO was issued and, if the permittee, upon 15 days' notice, does not complete the improvements required by the approved plans under this chapter, the Township may complete the outstanding improvements using the funds available from the bond referenced in § 45-14C.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Township Engineer, in his review of an application for a driveway permit, determines that strict adherence to any of the requirements in this Chapter 45 would impose a severe hardship on the owner without any corresponding benefit to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Andover Township, the Township Engineer, may (but shall not be obligated to) grant waivers from the strict application of the provisions of this Chapter 45. The Township Engineer shall not, however, approve any such waivers if the requirements for same are included in any of the ordinances of the Township of Andover, so that a waiver of same would mandate that the applicant seek a waiver or variance from any board or body having jurisdiction over such provision. In such event, any such board or body, upon proper application and notice as provided by law, may grant the requested waivers. It is the intention of this section to vest in the Township Engineer the discretion to grant waivers from the strict requirements, provided same does not impact the health, safety and welfare of persons traversing driveways and roadways in the Township of Andover.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any provision
of this chapter which results in deteriorated aprons, broken pipes
or debris in the roadway caused by debris flow from driveways or results
in damage to or obstruction of any public road, gutter, storm drain,
ditch, basin inlet or culvert shall be responsible for all expenses
incurred by the Township in repairing said damage or removing said
obstruction, in addition to the penalty herein provided. Further,
in the event that property-owner negligence in driveway construction
or maintenance has contributed to said damage or obstruction, the
Township Public Works Supervisor shall notify, in writing, said property
owner of the specific conditions requiring correction and request
driveway repair. If, in the opinion of the Township Public Works Supervisor,
said repairs are not completed in a timely manner, then the Township
shall cause said repairs to be completed at the property owner's expense.
If any person shall be aggrieved by an action of the Township
Enforcement Officer/Engineer/Public Works Supervisor under this chapter,
appeal therefrom in writing to the Township Committee may be taken
within 10 days after the date of such action. The Township Committee
shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal, giving
due notice thereof to the appellant. Said appellant shall, at least
10 days to the time appointed, notify by certified mail all owners
of property within 200 feet of the extreme limits of the property
to be affected by such appeal, measured along both sides of the public
road, as they appear on the current municipal tax records. Said notice
shall state the time and place of the hearing and the matter being
appealed. The appellant shall also cause notice of the hearing to
be published in the official newspaper or a newspaper of general circulation
in the Township at least 10 days prior to the hearing. The appellant
shall, by affidavit, present satisfactory proof to the Township Committee
at the time of the hearing that said notices have been duly mailed
and published as required by this section.
A.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any section
of this chapter, which violation results in damage to or obstruction
of any public road, gutter, storm drain, ditch, basin, inlet or culvert,
shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Township of
Andover for repairing said damage or removing said obstruction, in
addition to the penalties herein provided.
B.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation who violates any section of this chapter, in addition to the provisions of Subsection A, shall be subject to the penalties for violations in accordance with Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty, of this Code. Each and every day that a violation continues after notification thereof shall constitute an additional, separate and specific violation.
