City of Lancaster, PA Article V Curb and Sidewalk Regulations

§ 262-29 Curb and sidewalk required.

A. Sidewalks shall be required along both sides of all public streets in the City of Lancaster, except on narrow streets with limited right-of-way width as determined by the Bureau of Engineering.

B. Sidewalks shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the specifications published in the City of Lancaster Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications and Streetscape Design Guidelines, as amended.

C. Sidewalks shall be constructed of concrete, brick, or other materials as approved by the Bureau of Engineering.

D. Sidewalks shall be a minimum of four feet wide, not including space taken by poles, trees, steps or other appurtenances.

(1) Sidewalks less than five feet wide shall provide a minimum five-foot-by-five-foot passing space at intervals no more than 200 feet. Passing spaces may overlap pedestrian access routes.

(2) On blocks consisting of greater than 50% residential dwellings, sidewalks shall be a maximum five feet in width.

(3) Sidewalks in areas with high pedestrian traffic, as determined by the Bureau of Engineering, shall be no less than five feet wide.

E. Sidewalks shall be located within the street right-of-way, except where existing conditions dictate otherwise.

F. A planting strip shall be provided between the curb and sidewalk unless otherwise approved by the Bureau of Engineering. The width of the planting strip shall be dependent upon the width of the sidewalk area, alignment of existing sidewalk pavement and other circumstances particular to the location as determined by the Bureau of Engineering.

(1) In lieu of a planting strip, a twenty-five-square-foot tree well may be provided in accordance with the City of Lancaster Tree Manual.

(2) A planting strip or tree well shall be required when at least 50% of the sidewalk along the curb is being replaced at a property.

(3) When located within the streetscape district, additional requirements will apply pursuant to the City of Lancaster Streetscape Design Guidelines.

G. Where possible, sidewalks should be sloped towards adjacent pervious surfaces, not adjacent impervious surfaces.

H. ADA ramps shall be located, installed and constructed in accordance with the Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications.

I. Sidewalks within a land development shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 265, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the City of Lancaster in addition to the provisions herein.

§ 262-30 Curb and sidewalk construction, repair, replacement and maintenance.

A. All curb and sidewalk work shall be performed in accordance with the City of Lancaster Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications.

B. All new and reconstructed sidewalks within the Streetscape District, as amended, shall be constructed in accordance with the Streetscape Design Guidelines.

§ 262-31 Permit required; fee.

A permit for construction, replacement or repair of curbs and sidewalks shall be obtained from the Bureau of Engineering before work is started upon payment of the appropriate permit fee.

§ 262-32 Notice to construct, replace, repair and maintain curb and sidewalk.

A. Any owner of property in the City shall cause the construction, replacement, repair or maintenance of curb or sidewalk within a period of 90 days from the date of notice to do so.

B. Curb and sidewalk construction, replacement and repair on streets requiring reconstruction or resurfacing. When the City or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation proposes to reconstruct any street, the City Engineer shall first serve notice of all required curb or sidewalk construction, replacement or repair to all persons owning property abutting the street about to be improved. Within 90 calendar days of such notice, all property owners shall complete or cause to be completed all curb or sidewalk construction, replacement or repair as specified in the notice. Property owners shall also complete or cause to be completed all curb construction, replacement or repair proposed or anticipated by such owners within a five-year period after street reconstruction.

C. The City Engineer may deny permits for curb work within a five-year period after street resurfacing.

D. Curb and sidewalk notices. All notices required herein shall be issued by the City Engineer and shall specify the nature and extent of all work to be performed. Failure to comply with notice may result in the City performing the work or causing the same to be done and levying and collecting all costs for such work from the property owner, plus all other amounts due the City pursuant to Chapter 36. All notices shall be in writing and sent by certified mail to the property owner at the address as shown by the County Board of Assessments and shall be deemed effective on the date of mailing.

§ 262-33 Emergency repairs.

A. The City may make or cause to be made emergency repairs to sidewalks upon inspection that determines a substantial and immediate danger exists to public health, safety and welfare. Any owner of property in the City shall make emergency repairs to curb and sidewalk upon notification of such conditions when, in the opinion of the Bureau of Engineering, such repairs are necessary to remove a dangerous condition. Emergency repairs must commence within a period of 48 hours of notice.

B. If the owner fails to make the emergency repairs within the prescribed time, the City may make the emergency repairs to the sidewalk and levying and collecting all costs for such work from the property owner, plus all other amounts due the City pursuant to Article I herein.

§ 262-34 Pedestrian ramps.

Pedestrian ramps shall be installed at street intersections designated for ramps by the Bureau of Engineering, and at all access drives and driveways, as needed.

A. All new and reconstructed driveways and access drives shall include a driveway apron constructed in accordance with the City of Lancaster Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications.

B. Irrespective Subsection A above, the Bureau of Engineering may approve ADA compliant ramps with truncated dome detectable warning pads for reconstructed access drives when existing site conditions prohibit the construction of a driveway apron. Such ADA compliant ramps shall be constructed in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local standards.

C. Exact ramp locations and the number of ramps to be installed at specific street intersections will be determined by the Bureau of Engineering.

D. Ramps shall be located and constructed in accordance with the City of Lancaster Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications.

§ 262-35 Compliance with Bureau of Engineering's specifications.

All construction, replacement, repair or maintenance of curbs or sidewalks shall be done in accordance with the City of Lancaster Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications, as amended from time to time. The City Engineer is hereby authorized to promulgate from time to time the Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications for curb and sidewalk construction, repair, replacement and maintenance. Such specifications may be advertised in a newspaper with general circulation in the City. The advertisement shall contain a brief summary of such specifications and set forth information relative to the availability of the specifications for review purposes. The Curb and Sidewalk Construction Specifications shall become effective 30 calendar days after advertisement thereof.

§ 262-36 Compliance with Lancaster Streetscape Design Guidelines.

All construction, replacement, repair or maintenance of sidewalks within the Streetscape District, as amended, shall be done in accordance with the current City of Lancaster Streetscape Design Guidelines, which shall be available from the Department of Public Works. The City Engineer is hereby authorized to promulgate from time to time the Streetscape Design Guidelines. Such guidelines may be advertised in a newspaper with general circulation in the City. The advertisement shall contain a brief summary of such guidelines and set forth information relative to the availability for review purposes. The amended Streetscape Design Guidelines shall become effective 30 calendar days after advertisement thereof.