Township of Easttown, PA Driveways

Driveways shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard Details.

All driveways and related improvements within a Township road right-of-way shall be constructed and located in such a manner so as not to impair drainage or maintenance within said road right-of-way area, alter the stability of a roadway subgrade, materially change the drainage of adjacent areas, interfere with the traveling public, present a hazard to the free movement of normal street traffic or create areas of undue traffic congestion on the Township road. All surface runoff shall be detained on the applicant's property, and in no case shall the applicant direct or allow such surface runoff to exceed the requirements of Chapter 388, Stormwater Management, of the Township's Code.

Sight distance requirements. Driveway entrances shall be located so as to provide reasonable and safe sight distances to the operator of a vehicle departing from a driveway onto a Township road. The location of all driveways is subject to the approval of the Township Engineer or his designee. A clear sight triangle shall be provided at all intersections of a driveway with a Township road. The clear sight triangle shall conform to AASHTO standards based upon approach grades and posted speed limits.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Repairs. Any repairs to an existing driveway within the Township road right-of-way, under this chapter, shall not change the original design and specifications for the driveway, unless the new design and specifications are first submitted to the Township for approval and are approved by the Township Engineer or his designee. The Township Engineer or his designee shall require the payment of the application and inspection fees established by the Board of Supervisors.

(1)

The Township Engineer or his designee may require the replacement of existing improvements (including but not limited to depressed curb, sidewalk, and storm sewer pipes) located within the area of proposed work that are deemed deficient or defective by the Township Engineer or his designee with new improvements that meet the requirements established elsewhere within these public improvements specifications.

(2)

In a case where an existing driveway is proposed to be resurfaced with asphalt within the Township road right-of-way, the paving transition of the driveway into the Township road shall be smooth and even.

Pavement requirements. New (proposed) driveways shall be paved from the edge of the Township road (including roads intended to be dedicated to the Township under the auspices of an approved subdivision and/or land development plan) paving to, at a minimum, the road right-of-way line. The minimum paving cross section shall consist of 1.5 inches 9 mm superpave wearing course over three inches 25.0 mm superpave base course and four inches of PADOT 2A modified aggregate. Where sidewalks cross driveways and reinforced concrete aprons are used, such aprons, as well as the sidewalks adjacent thereto, shall consist of at least six inches of reinforced concrete on four inches of PADOT 2A modified aggregate. Where sidewalks cross driveways and asphalt aprons are used, the asphalt cross section shall be as specified above for proposed driveways, and the sidewalks adjacent to the apron shall be as previously specified.

Dimensional requirements. The minimum driveway width shall be 10 feet, and the minimum driveway radius shall be five feet.

Location and separation. Unless otherwise provided in Chapter 455, Zoning, driveways shall not be located less than 10 feet from a property line (as measured at the Township road right-of-way line).[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

The entire driveway entrance shall be located within the frontage of the property that is to be served by the driveway.

Corner lot driveway requirements.

(1)

All driveways on corner lots or lots that have frontage on more than one road shall be located on the road that is anticipated to have the least traffic or on the road designed by the Township Engineer or his designee.

(2)

All driveways on corner lots and on lots facing a T-intersection shall maintain a minimum distance, measured from the center line of the intersecting road to the center line of the driveway, of 100 feet, and in the case of townhouses, 64 feet. Modification of these requirements may be approved by the Township Engineer.

Common access driveways. Common access driveways are not encouraged and shall only be permitted when approved by the Township Engineer. The Township Engineer may require driveway materials of construction and dimensions beyond those specified for typical driveways and may further require an access and maintenance agreement among the involved property owners.

Secondary driveways. No single lot or parcel of land shall have more than one driveway, except where the frontage exceeds 300 feet in length or where the frontage is along a divided highway. In such instances, a second driveway is permissible.

Drainage requirements. Unless curb exists along the Township road, the intersection of all driveways with the paved edge of a Township road shall be constructed by incorporating a drainage gutter across the width of the driveway in accordance with the Standard Details. An HDPE or RCP pipe, 15 inches minimum diameter, may be used in lieu of the drainage gutter if approved by the Township Engineer.

Approach. The angle of a driveway as it intersects a street shall be such that a vehicle entering the driveway may do so in an orderly and safe manner with a minimum of interference to other street traffic and, in the case of driveways on lots of 1/2 acre or more, such that a vehicle leaving the driveway may enter safely into the lane of traffic moving in the desired direction. Driveways shall intersect streets as nearly as possible at right angles, and in no case at an angle of less than 75° or more than 105°.