[Adopted 4-9-2001 by Ord. No. 1159]
A. 
The provisions of this article shall apply to any new construction, reconstruction, replacement or repair of any sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp in the Borough.
B. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CORNER
The point of intersection of the lines of two street curb faces extended into the street intersection.
CURB
The barrier at the edge of a roadway or driveway approach to allow separation of water flow from unpaved segments of the road right-of-way.
CURB PARKING SPACE
The length of curb equal to 20 feet where an automobile or other vehicle could legally park.
CURB PARKING SPACES BETWEEN DRIVEWAY APPROACHES
The distance available for parking between driveway approaches.
CURB RETURN
The portion of a curb next to a driveway approach which connects the driveway approach to the street curb.
DRIVEWAY
A place on private property for the operation of automobiles and other vehicles.
DRIVEWAY APPROACH
The area between the roadway of a public street and a parcel of land intended to provide access for automobiles and other vehicles from the roadway to the private property.
PARKING SPACE
A space 20 feet long by 10 feet wide.
The owner of any property abutting any sidewalk or curb within the Borough, together with any portion of the owner's property which has been used as a sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp in front of his property, shall construct and maintain a sidewalk, curb and curb-cut ramp in front of all lots abutting on all streets for use by the general public, in accordance with the requirements herein. Sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps, including the space between the property line and curbline or driveway (i.e., roadway), even though the entire space may not be paved as a walkway for pedestrians, shall always be maintained in a safe, unobstructed and usable condition by the property owner, except as otherwise provided by existing ordinance. This safety requirement shall apply to all trees, planting, structures and portable materials placed or permitted to exist under, on or in the space between the property line and driveway (i.e., roadway), including the adequate safeguarding of any work done within the side space. Sidewalks shall be kept clean and free of snow, ice, leaves and any other structure or substance which may obstruct the view of motorists or others or cause inconvenience, mishap or injury to pedestrians.
A. 
All existing integrated concrete or bituminous wedge curbs and gutters are the Borough's responsibility to maintain. The Borough reserves the right to replace the integrated curb and gutter with separate curb upon undertaking major road reconstruction projects for the purpose of eliminating its future responsibility to maintain or reconstruct the curb as herein described.
B. 
Curb-cut ramps for persons with disabilities are not limited to intersections and marked crosswalks, and curb-cut ramps should also be provided at other appropriate or other designated points of pedestrian concentration, such as loading islands, mid-block pedestrian crossings and locations where pedestrians could not otherwise recognize the proper place to cross the highway or street. Because nonintersection pedestrian crossings are generally unexpected by the motorist, warning signs should be installed and adequate visibility provided by prohibiting parking. Policies established by PennDOT and AASHTO shall be used as guidelines for reviewing curb-cut ramp requests. The cost of establishment of and removal of curb cuts shall be borne by the owner of the property. The Borough reserves the right to order the removal of a curb cut when it deems it appropriate due to a change of circumstances.
Notice to lay, relay or repair sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps shall be given to the property owner according to legal requirements by the Borough's authorized representative. The notice to construct or relay sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps shall be effective 45 days, and the notice to repair sidewalk, curb and curb-cut ramps shall be effective 30 days, upon receipt; except in the case of emergency repairs, when it shall be for 48 hours. Neglect or failure to comply shall result in a violation under § 265-26 of this article.
All paving of sidewalks on all local streets throughout the Borough shall be five feet wide, and the location varies according to width of street. Unless otherwise provided by resolution, all forty-foot streets shall have sidewalk paving adjoining the curb; all fifty-foot streets shall have sidewalk paving located three feet distant from the face of the curb; sixty-foot streets shall have the sidewalk paving located four feet distant from the face of the curb; sidewalk paving on all streets in the Commercial Zoning District shall occupy all space between curb and buildings, including full depth of corner lots on cross streets. The part of the sidewalk between the curb and the sidewalk pavement shall be concrete, paving brick and/or kept in grass strips. The owners of all property abutting upon any sidewalk shall keep the grass strip in front of their respective properties free from all weeds and neatly cut to the height of lawn grass.
A. 
All new and relaid sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps, whether laid by the abutting property owner or by the Borough as stipulated in § 265-24 of this article, shall be a minimum three-thousand-pounds-per-square-inch (psi) concrete in accordance with PennDOT Specifications Form 408, latest revision. Sidewalks shall be a minimum width of five feet and shall be at least four-inch minimum thickness with a cross slope of 1:4 per foot of fall. Handicap curb-cut ramps shall be constructed at all street and alley intersections in accordance with PennDOT Specifications Form 408, latest revision, for improved wheelchair accessibility and mobility under federal ADA regulations. All curbs shall be eight inches in thickness and 18 inches from top to bottom. The sidewalk shall be so set that it shall have proper drainage over the curb. The curbs shall be depressed at driveway intersections. Use of bituminous paving materials is prohibited, except as a temporary thirty-day path in sidewalks or in the case where bituminous wedge curbs already exist.
B. 
Every sidewalk, curb and curb-cut ramp constructed, reconstructed, modified or replaced shall be constructed in accordance with the specifications outlined in this article and in compliance with the standard details of construction which are made a part hereof and enacted as the Borough standard for construction of concrete sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps.
A. 
Upon mixing the concrete, it shall be transported, deposited in place and handled rapidly at the intended location, and under no circumstances shall concrete be used that has been partially set.
B. 
The concrete shall not be mixed or deposited at a freezing temperature, unless special precautions are taken to avoid the use of materials in freezing temperatures or on frost-covered ground or materials covered with frost or containing ice crystals. Special precautions must be utilized to protect and prevent fresh concrete from frost damage or from freezing after being placed until it has achieved its initial three-day strength and hardened sufficiently prior to removal of the form work.
C. 
Sidewalks, curbs and curb-cut ramps shall be laid in such a manner as to ensure the protection of the pavement from drainage due to changes in subbase foundation or from contraction or expansion.
D. 
Expansion joints 1/2 inch in width shall be provided against any existing concrete and at least every 20 feet, evenly spaced, and shall extend the full width and depth of the slab. After completion of the work, the joints shall be filled with a suitable strip filler or concrete caulking compound or liquid asphalt. Tooled, false-joint marking of sidewalk slabs or curbs shall be evenly spaced perpendicular or radial lines unless otherwise directed by the Borough Engineer. The sidewalk slabs and all joints shall be rounded on all surfaced edges to a radius of not less than 1/4 inch. This may be accomplished with the use of a wooden or metal grooving tool.
E. 
The finished texture of the concrete surfaces shall be roughened to provide a nonslippery condition. A light broom finish with patterned waves or swirls is acceptable. This may be accomplished by using a brush, broom, wooden or metal float or other suitable tool.
F. 
The application of a concrete curing compound or boiled linseed oil is recommended but not required for protection against the elements and salt degradation.
When work is completed, to lay, relay or maintain the sidewalks, curbs or curb-cut ramps the concrete shall be kept moist and protected from the elements or use for a period of three days. Upon removal of the form work, grading should be approximately one inch lower than the sidewalk on the curb side and not lower than the work on the property side to prevent a drainage condition and, in winter, to ensure the frost thawing evenly on both sides of the walk.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Borough Engineer to determine in the case of any individual property whether or not the sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp shall be reconstructed or repaired. The Borough Engineer may at times during the course of the work to lay, relay or repair any sidewalk or curb visit the site to ascertain whether such work is being done per the requirements set forth herein. The Borough Engineer shall visit the site for such purpose whenever requested by the property owner. Within two days upon completion of the work to lay, relay or repair any sidewalk or curb, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to notify the Borough Engineer of that fact so that he may inspect the sidewalk, curb and/or curb-cut ramp to determine if the work is acceptable and that the established grades were observed and followed.
It shall be unlawful for any person, property owner, firm or corporation to construct, reconstruct or repair any sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp without applying for and securing approval from the Borough Engineer.
The fee for such permit shall include charges for necessary surveying to properly locate the sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp to line and grade and for inspection to verify if the work is being done in accordance with the provisions of this article. The amount of the permit fee for properties abutting on all new or existing paved and unpaved streets shall be in accordance with the most recently adopted resolution.
Any person, property owner, firm or corporation who shall violate any provisions of this article and, upon receiving written notice as required under § 265-17, has failed to comply with this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
Upon failure or neglect of any person, property owner, firm or corporation to comply with this article, the Borough shall give notice as required under § 265-17 to the property owner, informing him of his responsibility, and should the property owner neglect or refuse to comply with such notice within the designated time limit, the Borough may cause necessary repair work to be done at the expense of said owner and assess a ten-percent penalty, either by action in assumpsit or by the filing of a municipal lien on the property, in addition to any penalties or fines levied under § 265-26, to collect all charges and costs to correct the unsafe condition of the sidewalk, curb or curb-cut ramp.
A. 
A driveway approach is intended to provide access to something definite on a parcel of land, such as a parking lot or a driveway. A driveway approach which will be used solely for the purpose of creating an off-street parking space will not be permitted. A driveway approach must reflect a net increase in the off-street parking space to be made available over the curbed parking space to be eliminated. All off-street parking must be located off of the street right-of-way. When a covered garage is available, the requirement for an increase in the off-street parking will not be required. Where more than one driveway approach is requested on a street front to serve a single parcel of land, a minimum of 60 feet of parcel frontage will be required. A minimum of 25 feet is required between driveway approaches. Except for common driveways between parcels of land, no driveway will be permitted within the minimum side yard requirement as defined in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 310). The sides, edges or curbs of a driveway approach must be at right angles to the street curb. No portion of a driveway approach, except the curb return, shall be constructed within 25 feet of corner. The maximum width of a driveway approach and curb return shall be 52 feet. No driveway approach shall interfere with any public facilities or utilities.
Zoning District
Maximum One-Way/Two-Way Driveway Width
(feet)
Minimum/Maximum Radius
(feet)
Residential
10/12
0/0
Commercial
20/40
5/10
Industrial
20/40
15/20
B. 
The location, distance between the minimum and maximum driveway widths and radius indicated are subject to the approval of the Borough Engineer and Police Chief, based on proposed use, existing conditions and published Local Road Design Criteria of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, latest edition.
C. 
After preliminary approval of the Borough Engineer and the Police Chief, the Borough will post the parcel of land requesting the driveway approach for a minimum of 10 days and review any public comment received prior to seeking Council approval.
D. 
No person, property owner, firm or corporation shall cut, chip, remove or alter any curb located on a public street, alley or highway of the Borough without first having obtained a permit from the Borough Engineer. All applications or requests for driveways and curb cuts are subject to review and recommendation of the Borough Engineer and the Chief of Police and must be approved by the elected Borough Council for issuance of a permit. The cost of a driveway and curb-cut permit shall be in an amount as established from time to time or as established yearly by resolution in the adoption of a fee schedule.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Added 1-22-2008 by Ord. No. 1224]
The owner of any property upon which a curb cut has heretofore been established and whereon the principal structure has been demolished, whether said demolition is due to fire, blight, structural deficiency or redevelopment, shall remove the curb cut within 30 days of the demolition by restoring the curb and restoring/repairing the curb gutter, sidewalk and/or road according to the specifications which are established in this article. Further, any owner of property who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty set forth in § 265-26 herein.