[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:
The portion of a street located outside the cartway, and
shall include paved footway, unpaved grassplot, curb and gutter.
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.
It shall be the full responsibility of every owner of property
which abuts any street to keep the sidewalk in a safe condition at
all times.
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.
Whenever any obstruction is made by either excavation or otherwise,
under or across any part of any footway or sidewalk for any purpose
whatever, a safe and convenient passage shall be provided around or
over the same for public travel, and the watercourses kept open for
the free passage of surface waters.
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.
