[Adopted 11-7-1996 by Ord. No. 1529 (Ch. 21, Part 3, of the
1986 Code of Ordinances)]
A.
OWNER
SIDEWALK
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall
have the meanings ascribed in this section, except in those instances
where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Of or belonging to oneself. To have/to possess something
tangible.
A concrete walkway along the side of any street.
On any street, alley or driveway in the City of Washington where
a sidewalk exists on any portion thereof at the time of enactment
of this article, the sidewalk width and line shall conform to the
average width and line of the existing sidewalks within that particular
block.
On any street, alley or driveway in the City of Washington where
no sidewalk exists at the time of enactment of this article and on
every new street, alley or driveway:
The specifications for all sidewalks hereafter laid or relaid
in the City of Washington, except those for the handicapped, shall
be as follows:
A.
The forms shall be placed firmly, set line and grade on a subgrade
that is firmly compacted and evenly graded.
B.
The sidewalk shall be four inches in thickness and shall be reinforced
with 6-6-5-6 wire mesh and be placed 1 1/2 inches from the bottom
slab and/or utilize one-half-inch rebar rods to extend around the
entire perimeter of each section. The concrete mix shall be 1:2:3
properly graded cement concrete, and said surface shall be broom-finished.
C.
The sidewalk shall have a fall of 1/4 inch for every five feet in
width. The sidewalk shall fall towards the street surface.
D.
One-half-inch approved expansion shall be placed where needed within
said sidewalk.
E.
The sidewalk shall be cut or marked to make even, uniform slabs.
Where a sidewalk is to be placed over a filled ditch, the specifications shall be the same as prescribed in § 310-15 of this article.
A.
In compliance with the American With Disabilities Act, along with
the handicapped ordinance and the Building Code regulations for and
of the City of Washington, and after the effective date of this article,
there shall be constructed upon any new street, alley or driveway
or sidewalk throughout the City a minimum of one ramp for the handicapped
at each curb radius between the intersection of a street, alley or
driveway and existing sidewalk.
B.
If additional ramps are necessary, they shall be installed only upon
the recommendation of the City Engineer. Where ramps with gradients
are necessary, they shall conform to the following specifications:
(1)
The ramp shall not have a slope greater than one-foot rise in 12
feet or 8.33% or 4° 50 feet.
(2)
The ramp shall be at least 32 inches wide, inside clear measurement,
and have a surface that is nonslip.
(3)
The ramp shall meet the grade of the existing or proposed street;
but in no case shall water drainage be such as to allow the ponding
of water at the foot of the ramp.
(4)
The ramp shall have either a textured surface or rumble strips not
exceeding a height as to provide adequate warning for the blind.
(5)
Where handicapped ramps are to be placed, at least 10 feet shall
be reserved on each side of the ramp for sight distance. No parking
shall be permitted for sight distance.
(6)
All handicapped ramps shall be clearly marked with signs.
(7)
For any ramp beyond eight feet in length, standard ANSI A117.1 shall
apply.
From the curbline in each sidewalk, there shall be a rise in
the grass plot of one inch to the lineal foot.
Curb reveal for any driveway shall be no less than one inch
and no greater than two inches. That portion of all concrete driveways
within the property lines of the street shall be six inches in thickness.
[Amended 1-10-2013 by Ord. No. 1854]
No person, utility company or corporation shall cause any excavation
to be made in a sidewalk area without first obtaining a permit as
covered by this article. All applications involving excavations of
sidewalks that total less than 150 square feet shall pay a permit
fee to the City of $50. All applications involving excavations of
sidewalks that total more than 150 square feet shall pay a permit
fee of $150. The application for permit will be needed to instruct
the contractor or property owner of the specifications needed to comply
with the implementation of constructing the sidewalks within this
City.
No sidewalk shall be laid when the temperature of the atmosphere
is less than 35° F. In the laying of sidewalks, proper and approved
measures shall be taken to keep the concrete from freezing. A solution
of 1% to 2% of calcium chloride shall be used in the aggregate when
there is danger of freezing, During hot weather, the concrete shall
be kept moistened for a period of 48 hours.
Whenever the City of Washington shall have given notice, in
the manner prescribed by § 38002 of the Third Class City
Code,[1] to any property owner to construct, pave, curb, repave,
recurb or maintain any sidewalk abutting such property, such property
owner shall have 20 days in which to comply with such notice, and
if any property owner shall not have complied with such notice before
the end of such period of 20 days, such property owner shall be deemed
to have failed to comply with such notice, and the City may proceed
as authorized by § 38002 of the Third Class City Code to
cause the required work to be done, and may collect the cost of thereof,
with the penalty allowed by law, from the owner of such property,
as authorized by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 11 Pa.C.S.A. § 13002.
The City of Washington or its authorized representatives reserve
the right to accept or reject any work performed under this article
and to enforce any violations associated therewith.
A.
Any individual, person, firm, corporation or other entity who shall
violate any provision of this article shall, upon being held liable
in any civil proceeding or upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to
pay a penalty, fine or charge of no less than $100 nor more than the
maximum amount permitted by law, but not to exceed $1,000, and in
default of payment or any failure to pay any fine or penalty, upon
a summary or other criminal conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment
for a period not to exceed 30 days, or both.
[Amended 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
B.
Each day that a violation of this article shall continue shall constitute
a separate offense, subject to the fines, costs, penalties and charges
set forth above for each offense.
[Added 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
C.
Nothing herein shall limit, prevent or preclude the City of Washington
from taking any and all legal action or exercising any other remedy
available to the City by law, including but not limited to the initiation
of civil or criminal proceedings or injunctive relief in order to
enforce or ensure compliance with this article. As an additional remedy,
the City of Washington may abate any nuisance, dangerous or hazardous
condition by any means permitted by law, which shall include, but
not be limited to, an action in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington
County, Pennsylvania for injunctive relief; the use of any City of
Washington personnel, equipment and materials or that of an authorized
agent or contractor hired by the City to remove or abate any nuisance,
dangerous or hazardous condition and with all costs thereof or related
thereto to be charged against the property owner(s) and/or person
or entity who has violated the article or portion thereof; said costs
shall include all actual costs and expenses, including all costs of
collection and reasonable administrative costs of the City, incurred
in enforcing the provisions of the article.
[Added 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
D.
The City of Washington Administrator reserves the right to deny the
issuance of future sidewalk openings or other requirements of this
article to any person who violates the provisions of this article.
This provision in no way shall prohibit or limit the right of the
City to bring legal action against the permittee or property owner.
