[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Edgewater Park as Title 8, Ch. 8.20, Sections 8.20.020 through 8.20.070, of the 1998 Township Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 7-28-2003 by Ord. No. 8-2003; 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. 21-2005]
A. 
Fire lanes shall be designated as set forth in this chapter, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-53, as amended, on all plans and specifications for the construction or remodeling of any public or quasi-public structure where deemed necessary by the Township Fire Marshal/Fire Official.
B. 
The owner of any property on which there is presently located a public or quasi-public structure which has no fire lanes or on which the fire lanes presently existing are deemed inadequate by the Fire Marshal/Fire Official shall be required, upon 10 days' notice, to provide, locate and designate appropriate lanes in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 7-28-2003 by Ord. No. 8-2003; 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. 21-2005]
Each fire lane shall be constructed to a minimum width of 18 feet, 12 feet of which shall be paved, graveled or constructed of an appropriate, stable base. Construction of the fire lane can be combined with a pedestrian path if appropriately located and constructed. All fire lanes shall be visually designated either by their form or by the material used in their construction. When determining the type of construction which is appropriate for the fire lane, consideration shall be given to the aesthetics of the site. Fire lanes must be able to support a vehicle with gross weight (GVW) of 80,000 pounds and any designed turning radius must be able to handle a fifty-four-foot-long fire truck.
[Amended 7-28-2003 by Ord. No. 8-2003; 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. 21-2005]
Fire lanes shall be located as to serve the entire building from the building site so as to provide the most direct means of access for all emergency vehicles; to be sufficiently close to the building to provide the means to provide protection for the structure while being far enough removed so as to provide safety for the emergency vehicle using the fire lane in the event of collapse of the building. However, the ultimate authority with respect to the determination for the location of the fire lane shall lie with the Fire Marshal/Fire Officials of the Township. The Fire Marshal/Fire Official shall make the aforesaid determination after reviewing recommendations of both the Township Engineer and Township Planner.
[Amended 7-28-2003 by Ord. No. 8-2003; 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. 21-2005]
Fire lanes shall be appropriately posted with signs indicating the words NO PARKING - FIRE LANE in red letters on a white background, with a red line bordering the perimeter of the sign, said sign to be 12 inches by 18 inches, made of metal with rust-resistant reflectorized coating, posted at the ends of each fire lane, and at one-hundred-foot intervals therein. Fire lanes shall also be designated by covering the face and top of the curb of the prohibited area with a solid yellow color of paint. The above criteria for the painting of fire lanes is to be considered a minimum, and additional painting may be placed on the site consisting of crosshatches, solid yellow areas, or such designations, in addition to the curb painting, as may serve to act as a deterrent to parking in fire lanes.
The owner of the site upon which a fire lane is located shall be responsible for constructing, designating and marking fire lanes as required by this chapter. All maintenance and repair of the signs and pavement markings, if any, shall remain the responsibility of the owner and any successor. The maintenance and repair shall be a continuing condition of any approval conferred with respect to the construction, remodeling or occupancy of the building or structure on the premises. Any failure to maintain or repair said signs or pavement markings shall be a basis for voiding the prior approval. Approvals which shall be conditional under this section shall include, but not be limited to, final site plan approval and certificates of occupancy. No such approval shall be held to be void unless a hearing by the issuing officer or agency has been held on due notice to the owner of the premises.
[Amended 7-28-2003 by Ord. No. 8-2003; 12-27-2005 by Ord. No. 21-2005]
A. 
No unauthorized vehicles shall be allowed to park, stand or stop in any fire lane except where there is a fire lane in front of and 100 feet to either side of the only means of ingress and egress to a commercial establishment and no other alternate means of ingress and egress can be feasibly established; then and in that event, limited stopping, standing and parking shall be permitted for the purposes of loading and unloading to that commercial facility only. The foregoing exception to the enforcement of fire lanes shall be limited to the specific criteria as set forth above and be further limited to actual loading and unloading only, not to exceed 15 minutes. Nor shall any person in any manner obstruct any fire lane except as provided above. Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter or part thereof shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty in Chapter 1, Article II, General Penalty, of the Code of the Township of Edgewater Park. "Unauthorized vehicle" shall be interpreted to mean a vehicle other than emergency vehicle as well as such other vehicles as may be designated by the Fire Official as being authorized and trucks loading or unloading pursuant to this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
B. 
Any unoccupied vehicle parked, stopped or standing in violation of this chapter in any fire lane shall be deemed a nuisance and the Fire Marshal/Fire Official may provide for its immediate removal, and any subsequent storage which may be required shall be paid by the owner of the vehicle before he may be allowed to regain possession of same.
C. 
The Fire Marshal/Fire Official, the inspector, the Code Enforcement Officer and the Township Police Department shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this section.
D. 
A fire lane violation citation shall be established in coordination with the Police Department; when a Fire Official or Fire Inspector determines a summons should be issued, the Fire Official or Fire Inspector shall notify the Police Department accordingly.