[Adopted 5-4-2006 by Ord. No. 1139]
In this article, the following words shall have the meanings hereby ascribed thereto, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
SIDEWALK
The portion of a street located outside the cartway, and shall include paved footway, unpaved grassplot, curb and gutter.
STREET
Includes any public street, lane, alley or way in the Borough of Northampton.
Every owner of property which abuts any street in the Borough of Northampton shall, upon notice from the Borough Council, grade, construct, drain, pave or repave the sidewalk in the manner stipulated in such notice, in compliance with the provisions of this article, and within the time specified in such notice. Property owners have the option or hiring a contractor to do the required curbing and sidewalk work or to do the work themselves.
All curbing and sidewalk must be in strict accordance with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation Form 408 specifications. Concrete shall have a minimum twenty-eight-day strength of 3,000 psi (Class A). The Borough Inspector shall have the authority to require a slip for each load of concrete which states the strength of the concrete from the supplier.
A. 
Curbing specification.
(1) 
Standard curbing shall be a minimum of 18 inches in depth, seven inches in width at the top, eight inches in width at the bottom, and placed on suitable, unfrozen native ground. If unsuitable, curb shall be placed on compacted 2A stone, replacing the excavated unsuitable material.
(2) 
All curbs must be backfilled and tamped with either 2-A Modified Stone or 2-B Stone to a depth of 14 inches unless otherwise stated by the Borough Inspector.
(3) 
All curbs shall have all voids and holes filled in with concrete.
(a) 
Minor curb repair not to exceed two linear feet is permitted with approved patching material.
(4) 
All street and road cuts necessary for the installation of curbing must be restored to the original condition by the property owner or their agent unless otherwise directed by the Borough Inspector.
(5) 
Removal of forms on curbing shall be in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Form 408 specifications.
(6) 
All newly installed curbing shall be cured in conformance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Form 408 specifications.
(7) 
Form or saw contraction joints at 10 feet intervals. Place 3/4 inches pre-molded expansion joint material conforming to the cross-sectional area of the curb where indicated and at the end of the workday.
B. 
Sidewalk specifications.
(1) 
All sidewalks shall be of no less than four inches in depth of concrete and shall be no less than 10 feet in length with a construction joint every five feet. All sidewalks shall have no less than five inches of tamped 2-A modified stone or 2-B stone underneath the sidewalk.
(2) 
Sidewalk width shall be five feet unless the right-of-way width along a street shall be less than five feet. If the right-of-way width is less than five feet, then the width of the sidewalk shall conform with the right-of-way width.
(3) 
Expansion joints shall be installed between curbs and sidewalks where sidewalks abut curbs, opposite expansion joints in adjacent curb, and between the sidewalk and rigid structures.
A permit is required prior to the replacement or installation of any curbing and sidewalk that is located within the right-of-way of any street within the Borough of Northampton. The permit fee shall be as established from time to time by resolution of Borough Council, and shall be paid to the Borough at the time that the permit is issued. If there is 15 linear feet or less of curbing or 50 square feet or less of sidewalk, there is no charge for the permit. The Borough Manager is hereby authorized to issue said permits and to collect the appropriate permit fee. In the case of new construction, there shall be a separate permit issued for each lot. Permits are valid for a period of 30 days unless extended or renewed by the Borough Manager.
Inspections by the Borough are required before and after backfilling curbs and pouring sidewalks for each permit issued.
All curbing and sidewalks shall be constructed in a workmanlike manner to assure good appearance and in the event that it is not installed in such manner the Borough Inspector can require the replacement of the curbing and sidewalk.
A. 
Handicapped ramps. When constructing new curbing and sidewalk at a street intersection or when reconstructing both curbing and sidewalk at a street intersection, handicapped ramps shall be provided for the safe and convenient movement of physically handicapped persons in accordance with the Federal Highway Safety Act of 1983 including any subsequent amendments. The handicapped ramps shall be installed in accordance with the latest design standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
B. 
The curbing and handicapped ramps may be poured monolithically upon approval of the Borough Manager.
It shall be the duty of every property owner or their agent who is grading, constructing, draining, paving or repaving the sidewalk abutting his property, to provide and maintain adequate guards, barriers and lights to prevent accidents, and such owner or their agent shall assume all risks and liability for all damages by reason of such work, and by reason of any failure to properly fill such area.
If any property owner shall neglect to comply with any of the provisions of this article, the Borough shall have the authority to do the grading, paving, repairing, curbing and/or guttering, or in the case of improper work, to have the work redone at the expense of the owner and the Borough may collect the cost of any work done plus 10% additional together with all charges and expenses, from the owner in a manner provided by law.
The curbing and sidewalk shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this article. In the event that any property owner would desire to have an exception to these regulations, the property owner must appeal in writing to Borough Council listing the section of this article for which he wishes to have an exception and stating the reasons for the exception. Any exception to the regulations must be approved by the majority of Borough Council at a public Council meeting.
Any property owner who shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall upon conviction be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 plus cost of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days. Each day that a violation of this part continues shall constitute a separate offense.