Township of Valley, PA Part 6 DESIGN STANDARDS

§ 22-601 General.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, 8/15/1989, § 601]

The standards and requirements contained in this Part shall apply as minimum design standards for subdivision and/or land developments. Whenever other Township ordinances or regulations impose more restrictive standards and requirements than those contained herein, the more restrictive shall apply.

§ 22-602 Streets, Access Drives and Driveways.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 602; as amended by Ord. 99-5, 11/3/1999]

1. Conformance with Adopted Plans. The proposed street pattern shall be properly related to existing streets, official maps and such Township, county and state highway plans as have been duly adopted.

2. Private Streets. Private streets are prohibited unless they are approved by the Board of Supervisors and meet the design standards of these regulations. Applications for a private street must include a written explanation as to why a private street is more beneficial than a public street. Private streets are prohibited unless they meet the design standards of these regulations. Applications which propose a private street shall be accompanied by a right-of-way agreement which shall be submitted for review by the Township and recorded with the Chester County Recorder of Deeds on the same date as the recording of the final plan. This agreement shall establish the conditions under which the street will be constructed and maintained, as well as conditions controlling an offer of dedication.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

3. Improvements to Existing Streets. All existing streets at the perimeter and/or through the development shall be improved according to Township specifications. If an existing street is located at the perimeter of the development, it shall be improved to the center line of the street. If an existing street is located within the development, it shall be improved to the full width of the street as required by such specifications.

4. Arterial Street Design. The design standards for arterial streets shall be as specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and based upon the projected average daily traffic and speed limit.

5. Arrangement.

A. Streets shall be designed with consideration to both existing and planned streets.

B. All streets shall be arranged to conform as closely as possible to the original topography.

C. New streets shall be connected with streets of similar function to form continuations thereof.

D. Local streets shall be laid out to discourage use by through traffic. Streets shall be laid out to provide convenient and safe access to the property.

E. The rigid rectangular street pattern need not be adhered to; the use of curvilinear streets may be provided when their use will result in a more desirable layout.

F. Where a development abuts a collector or arterial street, the Township may require the use of marginal access streets, reverse frontage lots or such other treatment that will provide protection for abutting properties, reduce the number of intersections with the major street and separate the local and through traffic.

6. Street Provisions for Future Development.

A. Where appropriate, areas shall be reserved for future street usage in conjunction with the development of adjacent tracts. Areas reserved for future street usage will not be required to be improved; however, the right-of-way for these areas shall be reserved for street improvements to be provided by the developer of the adjacent tract.

B. Wherever there exists a dedicated or platted area reserved for future street usage along the boundary of a tract being developed, the adjacent street shall be extended into the proposed project, provided this use is not adverse to the man-made or natural features of the site.

7. Street Names. Continuations of existing streets shall be known by the same name. Names for new streets shall not duplicate or closely resemble names of existing streets within the same postal area. All new street names are subject to approval by the Township.

A. Street Signs. Street signs, including name and traffic controls, shall be installed by the developer. The design and placement of such signs shall be subject to approval by the Township.

8. Vertical Alignments. Vertical street alignments shall be measured along the center line. The minimum grade of all streets shall be 0.75%. The maximum grade shall not exceed 10%.

A. Vertical curves shall be used in changes of grade exceeding 1%. The minimum lengths, in feet, of vertical curves shall be 15 times the algebraic difference in grade. For example, if a 3% upgrade is followed by a 4% downgrade, the algebraic difference in grade is 7 [+3-(-4)=7]; the minimum length of the vertical curve would then be 105 feet [15x7=105].

B. Where the approaching grade exceeds 7% on any or all streets at a four-way intersection or the terminating street at a three-way intersection, a leveling area shall be provided. Such leveling area shall have a maximum grade of 4% for a minimum length of 100 feet measured from the intersection of the center lines.

C. The grade within the diameter of a turnaround at the terminus of a permanent cul-de-sac shall not exceed 5%.

D. All areas with the street right-of-way shall be graded substantially consistent with the street center line. The maximum slopes of banks within the street right-of-way, measured perpendicular to the center line of the street, shall be 2:1. Slope of disturbed banks, located outside of the street right-of-way, shall not exceed three to 3:1 for fills and 2:1 for cuts.

9. Horizonal Alignments.

A. Horizontal street alignments shall be measured along the center line. Horizontal curves shall be used at all angle changes in excess of 2°.

B. Single, long-radius curves shall be used rather than a series of curves with varying radii and/or a series of short curves separated by short, straight segments.

C. The minimum horizontal curve radius for collector streets shall be 300 feet, and for all other streets shall be 150 feet. All curves shall be tangential arcs.

D. A minimum one-hundred-foot tangent shall be provided between reverse curves on collector streets.

E. Perimeter Streets. Street locations along the perimeter of a property shall be required to provide building setback lines and clear sight triangles within the adjacent properties; permission for these encroachments shall be obtained from the adjacent landowner.

F. Cartway Alignment. The center line of the street cartway shall correspond with the center line of the street right-of-way.

10. Street Right-of-Way and Cartway Widths. The minimum street rights-of-way and cartway widths shall be as follows:

Classification*	Minimum Right-of-Way** (feet)	Minimum Cartway** (feet)
Collector street	60	32
Minor and cul-de-sac street	50	28
Marginal access street, service street or alley	28	24
Turnaround	120	100

NOTES:
*	See § 22-203, Definitions, for explanation of individual street classifications.
**	Width/diameter.

11. Street Improvements. All streets shall be designed in accordance with PennDOT specifications, acceptable engineering standards and the following:

A. Subgrade. The subgrade shall be prepared as specified below:

(1) All rock shall be removed and covered with a six-inch cushion of suitable material meeting the physical placement and compaction requirements of Section 210 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Form 408.

(2) Preparation of subgrade shall conform to the construction requirements of Section 210 of PennDOT Form 408.

(3) For a BCBC base, subbase (Subsection 11B) shall be a layer of 2A stone, graded and compressed to three-inch thickness using a ten-ton vibratory roller, or its equivalent, when authorized by the Township, shall be placed on the prepared subgrade.

(4) One-quarter-inch per foot crown must be maintained when fine grading subgrade.

(5) No stone shall be laid on frozen ground.

(6) Geotextile fabric in accordance with the specific street design or at the direction of the Township Engineer.

B. Base. The base construction material shall be one of the following:

(1) Bituminous concrete base course with a minimum compacted thickness of four inches.

(2) Number 3A modified stone compacted to a minimum compacted thickness of eight inches.

C. Surface Courses. The Supervisors, in their discretion, may require any one of the following surface courses: CP-2, FB-1, FB-2, FB-3, ID-2. The surface courses shall not be less than two-and-one-half-inch binder and one-and-one-half-inch wearing course compacted with a ten-ton vibratory roller, or its equivalent, when authorized by the Township.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2008-07, 3/18/2008]

D. Finished Streets. All finished streets must maintain one-quarter-inch-per-foot crown, except on superelevations and areas approved by standard engineering practice.

12. Street Intersections.

A. All streets intersecting a state route shall be subject to the approval of the Township and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

B. Multiple intersections involving the junction of more than two streets are prohibited. Only four-way intersections are permitted.

C. The distance between the center line of streets opening onto the opposite sides of existing or proposed streets shall be no less than 150 feet between center lines measured along the center line of the street being intersected; however, intersections with arterial streets shall be located not closer than 800 feet measured from center line to center line along the center line of the arterial street.

D. Right-angle intersections shall be used whenever possible. No street shall intersect another at an angle of less than 75° or more than 105°.

E. Cartway edge arc.

(1) The cartway edge at intersections shall be rounded by a tangential arc with the following minimum radii:

Type of Street Intersection	Radii (feet)
Collector to arterial	55
Collector to collector	55
Collector to minor	30
Minor to minor	20

(2) The right-of-way radii at intersections shall be substantially concentric with the cartway edge.

F. Sight Triangles.

(1) There shall be provided and maintained at all intersections a clear sight triangle with a line of sight between points which are established along the center line of the intersecting streets. The minimum clear sight triangles are as follows:

Types of Street	Clear Sight Triangle Side (feet)
Arterial	150
Collector and minor	100

(2) Clear sight triangles shall be indicated on all plans. No building or other obstruction that would obscure the vision of a motorist shall be permitted within these areas. Obstructions, grading and/or plantings less than tree feet above the street grade shall be permitted.

13. Sight Distance. All streets shall be designed to provide adequate sight distance with regard to both horizontal and vertical alignment. The sight distance shall be measured along the center line of the street cartway from a height of 3 3/4 feet to the height of an object which is 1/2 foot above the street cartway. At intersections, the point shall be 15 feet from the edge of paving on the intersected street. The following are minimum sight distances:

14. Cul-de-Sac Streets.

A. A cul-de-sac will not be approved when a through street is more advantageous. Cul-de-sac streets shall not serve more than 20 dwelling units and/or exceed a center-line distance of 600 feet. The length of a cul-de-sac shall be measured from the center-line intersection with a street which is not a cul-de-sac to the center of the cul-de-sac turnaround.

B. All cul-de-sac streets shall be provided at the closed end with a fully paved turnaround to the specifications stated in Subsection 10.

C. All non-through streets shall be provided with an authorized sign stating "No Outlet."

[Added by Ord. No. 2008-07, 3/18/2008]

15. Future Access Strips. Future access strips are rights-of-way reserved for future street improvements. When, in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors, access to adjacent land is desirable, future access strips shall be provided and designed in conformance with the requirements for a street.

16. Service Streets (Alley). Service streets are prohibited unless the developer demonstrates a need. Service streets shall conform to the following standards:

A. No part of any dwelling, garage or other structure shall be located within 16 feet of the right-of-way of a service street.

B. Service streets shall be designed in accordance with the street standards in Subsections 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8 through 15.

C. Service streets shall not provide lot frontage.

D. On-street parking is prohibited along service streets and this prohibition must be acknowledged both on the plan and on the site.

17. Driveways. Driveways shall conform to the following:

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Driveways which intersect other than a minor street shall provide adequate turnaround within the lot so egress to the street is in a forward direction.

B. Driveway intersections shall conform with the sight distance requirement stated in Subsection 13.

C. Only one driveway connection per 100 feet of lot frontage is permitted; no more than two driveway connections per lot shall be permitted.

D. Driveways shall not connect with a public street within 40 feet of the right-of-way lines of any intersecting streets nor within five feet of a fire hydrant.

E. Driveways shall be located and constructed so that a clear sight triangle as depicted below is provided. Two apexes of the triangle shall be located in both directions along the street center line, 75 feet from a point where the center line of a driveway and street intersect. The vertex of the triangle shall be located along the center line of the driveway, on the site and 12 feet from the edge of paving on the intersected street. No permanent obstructions and/or plant materials above the height of 30 inches and below 10 feet shall be placed within the clear sight triangle.

[Amended by Ord. No. 08-2022, 12/20/2022]

F. A driveway shall not exceed a slope of 8% within 25 feet of the street right-of-way.

G. Driveway access shall be provided to the street of lesser classification when there is more than one street classification involved.

H. No driveway shall provide a curb cut exceeding 24 feet in width.

I. All driveways shall be set back at least two feet from any side lot lines.

J. All driveways shall be paved from the edge of the street cartway a minimum distance of 15 feet towards the lot.

18. Access Drives. Access drives shall be private drives and shall conform to the following provisions:

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Access drives do not require a specific right-of-way; however, the minimum cartway width shall be 24 feet.

B. The vertical and horizontal alignments of access drives shall conform to the specifications for minor streets as stated in Subsections 8 and 9.

C. Access drive intersections shall conform to the specifications for minor streets as stated in Subsection 12A through E and the sight distance specifications stated in Subsection 13.

[Amended by Ord. No. 08-2022, 12/20/2022]

D. Access drives which form a cul-de-sac shall not exceed 1,000 feet in length, measured from the center-line intersection of a street or access drive which is not a cul-de-sac. Access drive culs-de-sac which do not terminate in a parking compound shall be provided at the terminus with a fully paved turnaround with a minimum diameter of 100 feet.

E. Vehicular Parking is Prohibited Along Access Drives. This prohibition must be acknowledged on the plan and properly signed along the cartway.

F. The cartway of all access drives shall be constructed with a minimum six-inch crushed aggregate base course and a two-and-one-half-inch surface course of materials specified in the latest edition of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Manual 408. Additionally, all work procedure shall conform to the latest edition of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Manual 408.

G. Speed bumps constructed as part of access drives shall be in accordance with the requirements of § 22-603, Subsection 5, of this chapter.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

H. Access drives shall be located and constructed so that a clear sight triangle as depicted below is provided. Two apexes of the triangle shall be located in both directions along the street center line, 100 feet from a point where the center line of an access drive and street intersect. The vertex of the triangle shall be located along the center line of the access drive, on the site and 12 feet from the edge of paving on the intersected street. No permanent obstructions and/or plant materials above the height of 30 inches and below 10 feet shall be placed within the clear sight triangle.

[Added by Ord. No. 08-2022, 12/20/2022]

19. Parking. Angled or perpendicular parking shall not be permitted along public and private streets.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

20. Access Management.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Purpose. This subsection is intended to promote safe and efficient travel within Valley Township by limiting the number of conflict points, providing safe spacing standards between driveways and access drives, encouraging shared access between abutting properties, and ensuring safe access by emergency vehicles.

B. Applicability. This § 22-602, Subsection 20, of this chapter shall pertain to all applications for subdivision and land development approval, as well as for driveway, access drive, or building permits that are required by Chapter 27, Zoning, for lots with frontage along roadways classified as arterial or collector roads in § 27-316 of Chapter 27, Zoning.

C. Number of Access Points.

(1) Driveways. Driveways shall be in accordance with § 22-602, Subsection 17.

(2) Access Drives. One access drive shall be permitted per property. One additional access drive shall be permitted if the applicant demonstrates that:

(a) The design is in the best interest of safe and efficient traffic operations on the site, including but not limited to reducing delays at a single access point that would otherwise operate at worse than a Level of Service "C" and can improve safety.

(b) The frontage of the property is sufficient width to permit multiple access drives in accordance with the spacing requirements of § 22-602, Subsection 20E, of this chapter.

(c) All access drives on the property will be interconnected with an internal circulation network.

(d) The Township may restrict additional access to right-turn ingress and/or egress only.

(3) If the Township anticipates that a property may be subdivided and that subdivision may result in an unacceptable number or arrangement of driveways or access drives, or both, the Township shall require the property owner to enter into an access covenant to restrict future access.

D. Access Point Alignment.

(1) Driveway and access drive approaches used for two-way operation shall be positioned at right angles, that is, 90°, to the roadway or as near thereto as site conditions permit.

(2) When two driveways or two access drives are constructed on the same property frontage and used for one-way operation, each of these driveways or access drives may be placed at an angle less than a right angle, but not less than 75° to the roadway.

E. Access Point Spacing.

(1) Access point spacing is measured from the end of one driveway or access drive radius to the beginning of the next driveway or access drive radius.

(2) The following driveway and access drive spacing standards are desirable for arterial and collector roads:

(a) Arterial: 600 feet.

(b) Collector: 200 feet.

(3) Driveways and access drives shall be aligned with other driveways, access drives, and roadways on the opposite side of the intersecting roadway on arterial and collector roads in order to meet spacing requirements. If alignment is not possible, the intersections should be offset at least 200 feet measured from the center line for collector roads and 300 feet for arterial roads.

(4) The following are the maximum number of access points that are desirable for every half mile of arterial and/or collector roads:

(a) Arterial: 10 access points per half mile of road.

(b) Collector: 12 access points per half mile of road.

(5) In no case shall left turns into a driveway or access drive be made across a left turn lane serving another driveway, access drive, or street on the opposite side of the roadway.

(6) If these access point spacing standards cannot be met, a system of shared or cross access driveways, access drives, frontage roads, or service roads may be required.

F. Corner Clearance.

(1) The following driveway and access drive corner clearance spacing standards are desirable for arterial and collector roads:

(a) Arterial: 600 feet.

(b) Collector: 200 feet.

(2) Access shall be provided to the roadway where corner clearance requirements can be achieved.

(3) If the desired corner clearance spacing standards cannot be achieved due to constraints, the following shall apply in all cases:

(a) The distance from the nearest street line of an intersecting roadway to the beginning radius of a driveway shall be a minimum of 40 feet.

(b) The distance from the nearest street line of an intersecting roadway to the beginning radius of an access drive shall be a minimum of 100 feet.

(c) Access shall be taken from the intersecting roadway with the lesser functional classification.

(4) The Township shall require restrictions at the driveway or access drives if the Township Engineer determines that the location of the driveway or access drive and particular ingress or egress movements will create safety or operation problems.

G. Joint and Cross Access.

(1) The Township may require a shared driveway or access drive in order to achieve the following access point spacing standards that are desirable for arterial and collector roads:

(a) Arterial: 600 feet.

(b) Collector: 200 feet.

(2) The Township may require a shared driveway or access drive in order to have no more than the following maximum number of access points that are desirable for every half mile of arterial and/or collector roads:

(a) Arterial: 10 access points per half mile of road.

(b) Collector: 12 access points per half mile of road.

(3) Adjacent nonresidential properties shall provide a shared or cross access drive to allow circulation between sites wherever feasible along roadways classified as arterials in § 27-316 of Chapter 27, Zoning. The following shall apply to shared and cross access drives:

(a) The access drive shall have a design speed of 10 mph and have sufficient width to accommodate two-way traffic, including the largest vehicle expected to frequently access the properties.

(b) A circulation plan that may include common or shared parking shall be required.

(c) Features shall be included in the design to make it visually obvious that abutting properties shall be tied in to provide cross access, such as but not limited to signage, building location and/or landscaping.

(4) The property owners along a shared or cross access driveway or access drive shall:

(a) Prepare an access easement agreement allowing cross access to and from other properties served by the driveway or access drive that is executed by parties concerned, approved by and filed with the Township Solicitor and the Board of Supervisors, and recorded with the Chester County Office of the Recorder of Deeds.

(b) Record a joint agreement with the deed defining the maintenance responsibilities of each of the property owners served by the driveway or access drive.

H. Internal Access to Outparcels. For nonresidential developments comprised of more than one building site and under the same ownership at the time of application and consolidated for the purposes of development, the Township may require that the development, including all outparcels, be served by an internal drive that is separated from the main roadway. Outparcel access shall demonstrate safe, efficient ingress and egress and avoid queuing across other drives and parking aisles.

21. Traffic Calming. Traffic-calming features should be incorporated into the design of proposed project sites, particularly on residential streets, but also on other streets and access drives as may be applicable. Traffic-calming features may include but are not limited to: curb extensions/bulb-outs, chicanes, gateways, roundabouts, and other measures addressed in Pennsylvania's Traffic Calming Handbook (PennDOT Publication 383).

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

§ 22-603 Vehicular Parking Facilities.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 603]

1. Vehicular parking facilities for multiple users shall be designed in accordance with the following provisions:

A. Parking facilities shall not be permitted within 10 feet of a side or rear property line unless formal arrangements have been made for the establishment of a common parking facility.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection B, regarding park compound dimensions, which immediately followed this subsection.

2. Buffer planting shall be provided where parking compounds are adjacent to property and/or street lines. The buffer planting area shall be at least 10 feet wide. Such buffer planting shall include a combination of vegetative materials including ground covers, shrubbery and trees. Such material shall be so arranged as to not interfere with adequate motorist visibility at adjoining street intersections. Buffer planting between parking compounds and side property lines shall not be required if Chapter 27, Zoning, permits a side yard setback of less than 10 feet in the applicable zoning district and a common or shared parking lot is provided to serve the subject and respective adjacent parcel in accordance with Chapter 27, Zoning.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

3. Parking Lot Landscaping. Parking lot interior landscaping shall be in accordance with § 27-312, Subsection 15B, of Chapter 27, Zoning, as well as the following criteria:

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Plantings required within the parking areas are exclusive of other planting requirements such as street trees and buffers.

B. Landscaped islands provided at the end of parking space rows and between parking spaces shall be the length of the parking spaces in the row and at least nine feet in width.

C. Islands should be placed opposite each other in adjacent rows of parking, to reduce the number of islands, and to increase the area available for tree roots.

D. There shall be a landscape strip incorporated for at least every four rows of parking spaces. Such landscape strip shall run parallel to parking rows and should have a minimum width of 10 feet if there are parking spaces on both sides of the landscape strip, or seven feet if parking spaces are only on one side of the landscape strip.

E. Landscape areas and walkways should be designed to discourage pedestrians from walking on vegetative ground cover, shrubs, flowers, or other vegetation in landscape areas.

F. When shade trees are required, they shall be reasonably dispersed throughout the parking lot. This should be accomplished by providing one shade tree in each landscape island and at least one shade tree every 40 linear feet within landscape strips, although trees do not have to be evenly spaced apart. Shrubs and other plant materials are encouraged to be used to complement trees but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping.

G. Flowers, bushes, shrubs, and other landscaping materials within five feet of the end of any landscape/planting areas, strips, or islands must be less than three feet above pavement grade so as not to impede sight visibility for automobiles. This shall not preclude the use of taller materials elsewhere. Trees within five feet of the end of any landscape/planting areas, strips, or islands shall have a clear trunk (no branches) at least five feet above pavement grade.

H. Stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) are encouraged in landscape islands and landscape strips. Curb cuts may be provided for overland conveyance of stormwater into such BMPs.

I. Plantings shall be native and shall exclude invasive species as listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

J. Shrubs, ground covers and perennials used below shade trees within parking lots shall be of species able to withstand the harsh microclimate of a parking lot. Plant selection should take into consideration tree growth and canopy cover, and should be partially shade-tolerant species.

K. To prevent conflicts with the opening and closing of automobile doors and to reduce damage from automobile overhang, all shrub plantings in parking lot islands and landscape strips located adjacent to or abutting parking spaces shall be set back a minimum of 2 1/2 feet from the front face of curb or edge of pavement.

L. All periphery landscape areas, landscape/planting strips, and landscaped islands shall be perpetually maintained with ground cover that may include grass, flowers, mulch, shrubs, bushes, or other planting materials.

M. Vegetation must be manicured and maintained by the landowner to provide visibility for vehicular traffic throughout the parking lot.

N. The placement of light standards shall be coordinated with the landscape plan to avoid a conflict with utility lines and the effectiveness of light fixtures.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Former Subsections, 5, 6, and 7, which immediately followed this subsection, were repealed 3-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-01.

4. Pedestrian Accessibility.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Internal walkways shall be required in parking lots with more than 20 spaces. Such walkways shall be located, at a minimum, between the most central parking aisles aligned with the entrance of the building, largest anchor store, or largest entrance where there are multiple entrances.

B. Internal walkways shall have a minimum width of four feet, shall be paved, and shall be graded to have positive drainage.

C. Painted crosswalks with appropriate signs to promote identification of the crosswalk to automobiles shall be provided where the walkway crosses a traffic aisle. The use of textured or raised crosswalks is encouraged but not required.

D. ADA-compliant curb (aka "handicap") ramps shall be provided on internal walkways in accordance with ADA Standards, latest edition.

5. Speed Bumps.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Speed bumps, constructed as part of access drives or parking lots, shall be marked with permanent yellow diagonal stripes.

B. The speed bumps shall be in the form of mounds in the pavement and shall be designed to restrain motor vehicle speed.

C. There shall be a warning sign posted at each entrance to a parking area having speed bumps.

D. In no case shall the overall height (or depth) of speed bumps exceed three inches.

E. The speed bump shall have a minimum travel length of two feet.

6. Parking areas, main entrances and exits that are open to the public shall be lighted in accordance with § 22-615.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2010-03, 4/22/2010]

7. The location of waste storage areas, shopping cart storage areas and other nonparking facilities within the parking area shall be clearly labeled.

§ 22-604 Sidewalks and Curbing.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 604; Ord. 99-5, 11/3/1999; Ord. No. 2003-08, 9/16/2003; Ord. No. 2008-07, 3/18/2008; Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019; Ord. No. 2019-04, 8/20/2019; Ord. No. 09-2022, 12/20/2022; Ord. No. 07-2024, 11/19/2024]

1. Sidewalks shall be provided: (a) along all public or private streets, access drives and parking compounds/areas within multiple-family or townhouse developments; (b) within subdivisions or land developments in which the average lot area is less than one acre; (c) within subdivisions or land developments in which average lot width is 150 feet or less; and (d) within subdivisions or land developments containing 10 or more dwelling units. Sidewalks shall be provided in all residential projects with an average density in excess of four dwelling units per acre. Additionally, sidewalks and curbing shall be required in the following circumstances:

A. To continue existing sidewalks systems to the terminus of a service area or block.

B. To provide access to vehicular parking compounds.

C. To provide access to and/or within a commercial, industrial or community facility.

D. Sidewalks and curb shall be provided unless it can be shown to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors that pedestrian traffic does not follow or mix with vehicular traffic, in which the requirement of case sidewalks and/or curbs may be waived by the Board of Supervisors.

E. Within subdivisions and land developments with frontage along West Lincoln Highway.

2. Sidewalks which are provided as part of a "subdivision plan" shall be located along the side(s) of the street upon which lots front.

3. Sidewalks which are provided as part of a "land development plan" shall be located along the existing street frontage of the tract, along both sides of proposed streets throughout residential developments, along at least one side of proposed access drives in residential developments upon which buildings do not front, along both sides of proposed access drives in multiple-family residential developments upon which buildings front, along at least one side of proposed access drives in nonresidential developments, along the side(s) of proposed streets upon which buildings front throughout nonresidential developments, and adjacent to vehicular parking compounds. These sidewalk locations may be varied if, in the judgment of the Board of Supervisors, the proposed alternate system meets the projected need for pedestrian circulation.

4. Sidewalks located adjacent to public streets shall be constructed in accordance with the following specifications:

A. Sidewalks shall be constructed of concrete. Concrete used in sidewalk work shall conform to specifications for Class A concrete, as specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Publication 408, latest edition. Certification of the mix shall be furnished if requested by the authority accepting dedication. Concrete shall be placed in forms that are straight and securely braced. Care shall be taken to control the water content to prevent separation of the aggregates. The concrete shall have a broom finish and the edge shall be finished with an edging tool.

B. All concrete sidewalks shall be constructed on a four-inch-thick crushed stone or gravel base to insure proper drainage. The concrete shall be placed so that there is a separate joint every five feet. There shall be one-half-inch premolded expansion joints between every fifth section and between all points where the concrete sidewalk abuts a concrete curb.

C. All concrete sidewalks shall have a minimum thickness of four inches except where driveways cross sidewalks and for driveway apron areas. These areas shall have a minimum thickness of six inches and shall contain one layer of No. 6 wire forming six-inch squares. The wire shall be installed so that it is not closer than one inch from the top or bottom surface of the driveway.

5. Sidewalks located outside of the public right-of-way, adjacent to driveways, access drives and parking compounds may be constructed of any material acceptable to the Board of Supervisors.

6. Sidewalks shall have a minimum width of five feet unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.

7. Sidewalks shall be graded so as to discharge stormwater runoff with minimum slopes of 1/4 inch per foot, unless lesser slope is required to meet ADA standards.

8. Sidewalks along public streets shall be located one foot inside the street right-of-way and physically divided from the street cartway by curb or grass strip.

9. Maintenance and repair cost for sidewalks is the sole responsibility of the landowner.

10. Pedestrian easements which may be required by the Board of Supervisors to facilitate pedestrian circulation or to give access to community facilities shall have a minimum right-of-way width as set forth in the definition and a walkway width of at least five feet. This walkway shall be improved to the standards assigned by the individual or other entity which accepts the easements.

11. Curbing shall be provided on residential projects on both sides of all minor, cul-de-sac, and marginal access streets as required in § 27-604, Subsection 1, and as required by the Board of Supervisors on collector streets. Where no curb is provided, there shall be a stabilized shoulder consisting of 3A modified stone compacted to a thickness of six inches provided at a minimum width of four feet.

12. Curbs shall be provided on all new streets and parking lot compound located within a land development, unless demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors that § 27-604, Subsection 1D, applies. In areas where curb is not used, satisfactory provision must be made to avoid erosion.

13. All curbs shall conform to specifications for Class A concrete, as specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, with a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 pounds per square inch after 28 days. Curbing shall be constructed in ten-foot lengths. A premolded expansion material having a minimum thickness of 1/4 inch shall be placed between sections of curved curb and at intervals of not more than 120 feet. Intermediate joints between ten-foot sections shall be formed of two layers of single-ply bituminous paper. Curbs shall be constructed to the dimensions shown below, and at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.

Alternate Belgian Block Curbing

14. The depressed curb at driveways shall be no higher than 1 1/2 inches above the street surface. The length of this depressed curb shall not exceed 35 feet. Storm sewer grates or other appurtenances shall not be placed in the gutter of a driveway ramp.

15. Curb excavations shall be made to the required depth, and the material upon which the curb is to be constructed shall be a compact, firm, even surface. Where the subgrade is soft and spongy, a layer of crushed stone not less than four inches thick shall be placed under the curb.

16. ADA-compliant curb (aka "handicap") ramps shall be provided for continuous accessibility along all sidewalk systems in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 13M "Design Manual, Part 2" (DM-2), Publication 72M "Standards for Roadway Construction," and ADA Standards, latest editions.

§ 22-605 Blocks and Lots.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 605]

1. General. The configuration of blocks and lots shall be based upon the lot area requirements, the salient natural features, the existing man-made features and the proposed type of structure. Lot configurations should provide for flexibility in building locations while providing safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation.

2. Residential Blocks. All blocks in a residential subdivision shall have a maximum length of 1,600 feet. Where practical, the minimum width shall be 500 feet.

3. Nonresidential Blocks. Blocks in nonresidential areas may vary from the requirement of Subsection 2 when required by the nature of the use. Adequate provisions shall be made for off-street parking, loading areas and traffic circulation.

4. Lot Configuration.

A. Whenever practical, side lot lines shall be radial or perpendicular to street lines.

B. In order to avoid jurisdictional problems, lot lines shall, wherever feasible, follow municipal boundaries rather than cross them. Where a lot is divided by a municipal boundary, the minimum standards of both municipalities shall apply.

C. Lots with areas that are two or more times the minimum area requirements shall, wherever feasible, be designed with configurations which allow for additional subdivision.

D. All lots with a width of 60 feet or more shall contain a lot depth not less than 1/2 nor more than three times their width. All lots with a width less than 60 feet shall contain a lot depth not more than 180 feet. All lots shall contain a lot depth no less than 75 feet.

E. All lots shall front on a street.

F. Double frontage lots are prohibited. The Board of Supervisors may permit reverse frontage lots as provided in Subsection 4G.

G. Reverse frontage lots are limited to lots which have frontage on both a minor street and a street of greater classification with vehicular access solely from the minor street. All single-family reverse frontage lots shall have a rear yard with a minimum depth of 75 feet and have a planted buffer easement of at least 10 feet in width located immediately contiguous to the street right-of-way. Vehicular access shall be prohibited from the rear of reverse frontage lots. All reverse frontage lots shall include an identification of the frontage for use as a road access. The street designated for frontage must be consistent for all contiguous lots.

H. All remnants of land (areas remaining after subdivision) shall conform to the lot area and configuration requirements.

I. All lots shall be designed to provide sufficient building area based upon building setbacks, easements, floodplains, etc.

5. Lot Size and/or Intensity. Lot areas shall conform with the prevailing Valley Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27] requirements.

§ 22-606 Building Setback Lines and Building Separations.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 606]

The building setback lines and building separations shall conform with the prevailing Valley Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27] requirements.

§ 22-607 Easements.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 607; Ord. No. 07-2024, 11/19/2024]

1. Easements for sanitary sewer facilities, stormwater drainage facilities, public utilities or pedestrian access shall meet the following standards:

A. To the fullest extent possible, easements shall be adjacent to property lines.

B. Nothing shall be placed, planted, set or put within the area of an easement that would adversely affect the function of the easement or conflict with the easement agreement.

C. Pedestrian easements shall have a minimum width as set forth in the definition.

D. Utility easements shall have a minimum width of 20 feet.

E. The applicant shall reserve easements where stormwater or surface water drainage facilities are existing or proposed, whether located within or beyond the boundaries of the property. Easements shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and shall be adequately designed to provide area for: (1) the collection and discharge of water; (2) the maintenance, repair and reconstruction of the drainage facilities; and (3) the passage of machinery for such work. The easements shall clearly identity who has the right-of-access and responsibility of maintenance.

F. Where any electric or telephone transmission or petroleum product transmission line traverses a property, the applicant shall confer with the applicable transmission or distribution company to determine the minimum distance which shall be required between each structure and the center line of such petroleum or petroleum product transmission line. All applications shall include a letter from the owner of the transmission line stating any conditions on the use of the tract and the right-of-way width or a copy of the recorded agreement which shall contain the above data.

§ 22-608 Survey Monuments and Markers.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 608]

1. Permanent stone or concrete monuments shall be accurately placed at the right-of-way lines along at least one side of each street and on the property lines of the parent tract. These monuments shall be placed at the intersection of all lines forming angles, changes in direction and at the end of each curved line. An intermediate monument shall be placed wherever topographical or other conditions make it impossible to sight between two otherwise required monuments. Monuments shall be placed along the line of streets as may be determined by the Township to be necessary so that any street may be readily defined in the future.

2. Markers shall be placed on the property lines of subdivided lots at all points of intersection with street lines, lines forming angles, changes in direction, and at the end of each curved line. If a monument is required at the same location, a monument shall be provided instead of a marker.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

3. Monuments shall be of concrete or stone with a flat top having a minimum width or diameter of four inches and a minimum length of 30 inches. Concrete monuments shall be marked with a three-quarter-inch copper or brass dowel; stone or precast monuments shall be marked on the top with a proper inscription and a drill hole. Markers shall consist of iron pipes or steel bars at least 30 inches long and not less than 3/4 inch in diameter.

4. All monuments and markers shall be placed by a registered surveyor so that the scored or marked point shall coincide exactly with the point of intersection of the lines being monumented or marked. All monuments and markers shall be set flush with the grade.

5. All existing and proposed monuments and lot line markers shall be delineated on the final plan.

6. Within five days after completion of the placement of monuments and markers or completion of the replacement of any such monuments or markers destroyed during construction activities, the registered surveyor responsible for said work shall provide the Township with written certification of accurate placement thereof, substantially as follows:

"I, [surveyor's name] hereby certify that all of the monuments and pins shown on Section [Section number] of the [name of subdivision] Subdivision Plan have been accurately placed in accordance with the Plan."

§ 22-609 Stormwater Management.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 609]

All subdivision and land development applications shall include stormwater management data. The stormwater management data shall be prepared and stormwater facilities provided in accordance with the prevailing Valley Township Stormwater Management/Erosion Control Ordinance [Chapter 20.1]. This information may be provided on a sheet with other data or on separate sheets and need not be recorded with the final plan.

§ 22-610 Floodplain, Steep Slopes, and Riparian Buffers. [1]

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 610]

1. Floodplain. All subdivision and land development plans shall conform with the Official Floodplain Ordinance of Valley Township [Chapter 8], December 1985, as amended.

2. Protection of Steep Slopes. In those areas of the subject property containing slopes that exceed 15%, no structure shall be erected that will unduly disturb existing grade and natural soil conditions. If a structure is proposed upon these steep slopes, a statement must be prepared by a registered architect, engineer or landscape architect as to the means used to overcome building foundation problems, the maintenance of the natural watershed and the prevention of soil erosion.

3. Riparian Buffer Protection Standards.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. The first 50 feet of riparian buffer on each side of a water body (Zone 1) shall be protected in accordance with § 27-318, Subsection 6, of Chapter 27, Zoning.

B. For water bodies identified as impaired in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's "Integrated Water Quality Report," most current version at the time of application, an additional 100 feet of riparian buffer on each side of the water body (Zone 2) shall be protected, for a total protected area of 150 feet on each side of the water body. For water bodies identified as non-impaired in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's "Integrated Water Quality Report," most current version at the time of application, an additional 50 feet of riparian buffer on each side of the water body (Zone 2) shall be protected, for a total protected area of 100 feet on each side of the water body.

(1) The following uses or activities are permissible by right in Zone 2:

(a) Uses or activities permitted in Zone 1 in Chapter 27, Zoning.

(b) Timber-harvesting operations, when conducted in compliance with a timber harvesting plan prepared, submitted, and approved in accordance with § 27-318, Subsection 8, of Chapter 27, Zoning.

(c) Any other use or activity permitted in the underlying zoning district, provided that:

1) No more than 20% of Zone 2 shall be regraded, filled, or otherwise altered or subject to land disturbance.

2) With the exception of paved trails approved by the Board of Supervisors, no new impervious surfaces shall be created as a result of any permitted uses or activities.

3) The grazing of livestock or growing of agricultural crops provided existing forested riparian buffers in Zone 2 are not removed or otherwise impacted.

4. Riparian Buffer Restoration and Planting Requirements.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Impacted riparian buffer areas shall be restored by an applicant to a forested riparian buffer through removal of invasive species as listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and planting of a diverse mix of native tree and shrub species as follows:

(1) For water bodies identified as impaired by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the applicant shall restore the first 100 feet of the impacted buffer area.

(2) For all other water bodies, the applicant shall restore the first 50 feet of the impacted buffer area.

B. Restoration of the impacted riparian buffer shall occur as follows:

(1) Undisturbed native trees must occupy the first 50 feet of impacted buffer area (Zone 1) in its entirety. Predominant vegetation must be composed of a variety of native tree species planted in accordance with § 22-610, Subsection 4C, of this chapter.

(2) For restoration adjacent to impaired water bodies, in addition to the planting requirements for Zone 1, managed native trees and shrubs must occupy at least an additional 50 feet (Zone 2), beginning at the outer edge of Zone 1. Predominant vegetation must be composed of a variety of native riparian tree and shrub species planted in accordance with § 22-610, Subsection 4C, of this chapter.

C. Restoration Plantings.

(1) Restoration plantings shall be planted at a density sufficient to provide 300 trees per acre at maturity. To achieve this density, no less than 350 trees per acre should be planted initially at approximately ten-foot-by-ten-foot spacing. The following guide is recommended for tree spacing and density based on plant size at installation:

(a) Seedlings: six- to ten-foot spacing (approximately 700 seedlings/per acre).

(b) Bare root stock: fourteen- to sixteen-foot spacing (approximately 200 plants per acre).

(c) Larger and container: sixteen- to eighteen-foot spacing (approximately 150 plants per acre).

(2) Additional planting guidance may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Watershed Management Document Number 394-5600-001, entitled "Riparian Forest Buffer Guidance," November 27, 2010.

D. Applicants shall submit a planting and maintenance plan for the impacted riparian buffer. The plan shall be prepared by a registered landscape architect or professional plant ecologist. The plan shall identify the number, density and species of native trees and shrubs appropriate to the geographic location that will achieve a minimum of 60% uniform canopy coverage and describe the maintenance program to be conducted by the buffer owner for a minimum of five years, include measures to initially remove, and thereafter control, invasive species as listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), control deer and rodent damage, and require replacement of deceased trees for a minimum of the first three years.

E. Any riparian buffer that is included within a lot created after the effective date of this subsection shall include as a condition of approval of the subdivision creating the lot, a restrictive covenant approved by the Township Solicitor, and recorded with the final subdivision or land development plan and the deed for the lot. The restrictive covenant shall clearly define the riparian buffer area, shall include binding provisions for the adequate long-term functioning and integrity of the riparian buffer, and shall include a requirement for notification of all subsequent lot owners of its restrictive nature.

[1] Editor's Note: This section title was changed from "Floodplain and Steep Slopes" to "Floodplain, Steep Slopes and Riparian Buffers" 3-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-01.

§ 22-611 Landscaping.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 611]

1. Protection of Natural Features. The finished topography of the site shall adequately facilitate the proposed development without excessive earthmoving, tree clearance and destruction of natural amenities. Natural feature such as lakes, streams and wooded slopes shall be preserved and incorporated into the final landscaping of the development wherever possible and desirable. The applicant shall demonstrate the means whereby trees and other natural features shall be protected during construction. The location of such trees and other natural features must be considered when planning the open space, location of buildings, underground service, walks, paved areas and finished grade level.

2. Existing Wood Areas. Existing wooded areas shall be protected to prevent unnecessary destruction. Healthy trees with a caliper of six inches or more as measured at a height of 4 1/2 feet above existing grade shall not be removed unless they are located within 15 feet of any planned improvement. In areas where trees are retained, the original grade level shall be maintained, if possible, so as not to disturb the trees. Retained trees shall exclude invasive species as listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

3. Tree and Woodland Replacement.

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Where existing trees are removed along the street right-of-way, supplemental planting, in the form of appropriate street trees, shall be provided. Such trees shall be planted at intervals of between 50 feet and 100 feet and preferably in random patterns.

B. Where permitted, any woodland disturbance exceeding any of the following standards shall require woodland replacement in accordance with § 22-611, Subsection 3C, of this chapter.

(1) Woodland disturbance in excess of 10,000 square feet of existing area of woodland or hedgerow(s) on any lot or tract.

(2) Woodland disturbance in excess of 25% of any existing area of woodland or hedgerow(s) on any tract subject to subdivision, measured in its entirety, or on any single lot or tract subdivided prior to the enactment of this section, except as otherwise provided below.

(3) The extent of any area of woodland disturbance shall be measured to include the entire area within the dripline of any tree where any part of the area within the dripline of said tree is subject to woodland disturbance.

C. Where woodland disturbance exceeds any of the standards set forth in § 22-611, Subsection 3B, of this chapter, replacement plantings shall be installed in accordance with the standards set forth below. Replacement plantings shall be native and shall exclude invasive species as listed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

(1) At a minimum, for each 500 square feet of woodland disturbance area or fraction thereof in excess of the applicable standard set forth in § 22-611, Subsection 3B, and regardless of the character and sizes of the disturbed vegetation, one tree at least two inches in caliper and two shrubs at least 24 inches in height shall be planted.

(2) Except as required by § 22-611, Subsection 3C(3), below, replacement trees shall be of a minimum trunk caliper of two inches at a height of six inches above finished grade.

(3) In addition to trees required pursuant to § 22-611, Subsection 3C(1), above and regardless of any disturbance allowances, for each tree greater than 12 inches in diameter at breast height to be removed, replacement trees shall be planted in accordance with the following schedule. All replacement trees required under this subsection may be credited toward the total number of replacement trees required under § 22-611, Subsection 3C(1), above. For each tree 12 inches or greater to be removed, the minimum number and caliper at the following sizes of replacement trees shall be:

Number of Trees Removed; Size (inches of diameter at breast height)	Number of Replacement Trees; Size (inches caliper)
1; 12 to 18	1; 3 to 3 1/2
1; >18 to 24	2; 3 to 3 1/2
1; >24 to 36	3; 3 to 3 1/2
1; greater than 36	4; 3 to 3 1/2

(4) Required replacement plantings shall be in addition to any required street trees or other landscape material required under applicable provisions of this chapter or of Chapter 27, Zoning.

(5) To the maximum extent practical, replacement plantings shall be provided on the same lot from which they were removed. If the applicant proves that this is not feasible to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors, the following options are available:

(a) Where approved by the Board of Supervisors as a condition of subdivision or land development approval, some or all of the required replacement plantings may be installed at a site approved by the Board of Supervisors other than that subject to required replacement planting.

(b) In lieu of actual tree replacement, the applicant may place the equivalent cash value, as agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors, of all the required replacement trees that are not provided on the lot into a special fund established for that purpose. Such fund shall be utilized solely for the purchase and installation of trees or construction of a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) project elsewhere in the Township.

(6) The locations, selected species, and sizes of all replacement plantings, along with a planting schedule tied to the timing and/or phasing of the development, shall be indicated on the landscape plan of the final subdivision/land development plan(s) or building permit application, as applicable.

D. Plantings and their measurement shall conform to the standards of the publications "American or USA Standard for Nursery Stock," ANSI Z60.1, of the American Association of Nurserymen, as amended. All plant material used on the site shall have been grown within the same USDA hardiness zone as the site and shall be nursery grown, unless it is determined by the Township that the transplanting of trees partially fulfills the requirements of this section.

E. Species of replacement plantings and planting locations shall reflect careful site evaluation and, in particular, the following considerations:

(1) Existing and proposed site conditions and their suitability for the plant materials, based upon the site's geology, hydrology, soils and microclimate.

(2) Specific functional and design objectives of the plantings, which may include but not necessarily be limited to replacement of woodland area removed, enhancement of existing woodland or old field area(s), reforestation of riparian buffer areas, provision for landscape buffer, visual screening, noise abatement, energy conservation, wildlife habitats, and aesthetic values.

(3) Maintenance considerations, such as hardiness, resistance to insects and disease, longevity and availability.

(4) Because of the many benefits of native plants (ease of maintenance, longevity, wildlife habitat, etc.), the use of nursery-grown free-fruiting native trees and shrubs is strongly encouraged. Species selection should reflect species diversity characteristic of the native deciduous woodland.

4. Protection of Vegetation from Mechanical Injury and Grading Change. In areas of permitted woodland disturbance and areas adjacent to permitted woodland disturbance, care shall be exercised to protect remaining trees from damage. To the maximum extent practicable, the following procedures shall be utilized during construction in order to protect remaining trees:

[Amended by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. Where existing trees are to remain, no change in existing grade shall be permitted within the drip line of the trees. Prior to any land disturbance, appropriate fencing four feet in height shall be placed at the drip line of trees to remain, wherever adjacent to proposed construction. Such fencing shall be maintained in place throughout the duration of construction activity and shall be inspected by the Township prior to initial land disturbance. Roots shall not be cut within the drip line of any trees to remain.

B. Trees within 25 feet of a building, or bordering entrances or exits to building sites, shall be protected by a temporary barrier to be maintained in place throughout the duration of construction activity.

C. No boards or other material shall be nailed or otherwise attached to trees during construction.

D. Construction materials, equipment, soil and/or debris shall not be stored nor disposed of within the drip lines of trees to remain, except for mulched vegetative matter used to prevent soil compaction.

E. Tree trunks, limbs, and exposed roots damaged during construction shall be protected from further damage by being treated immediately in accordance with accepted professional landscape procedures.

5. In addition to trees required for landscape strips, parking lot interior landscaping, and buffers, plantings are required for all sides of multifamily and nonresidential buildings facing parking areas and for the front-facing building facade (predominant side of building facing the street line) to break up long stretches of facade and provide a more comfortable pedestrian environment in accordance with the following standards:

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-01, 3/19/2019]

A. At least one two-inch-caliper specimen deciduous tree of eight feet to 10 feet in height at the time of planting and one eight-to-ten-foot specimen evergreen tree shall be planted for every 50 feet of length of front-facing building facade and for every 50 feet of length of building facade facing parking lots if parking lots are in side and/or rear yards. Existing trees may be utilized to satisfy this requirement.

B. At least five small shrubs shall be planted for every 20 feet of length of front-facing building facade and for every 20 feet of length of building facade facing parking lots if parking lots are in side and/or rear yards.

C. On corner lots, plantings are required for each building facade that faces street lines. The planting requirements of § 22-611, Subsection 5A and B, shall be met individually for each building facade.

D. If part of a side of the building faces parking, only that portion is subject to these requirements.

E. Plantings are not required along the portions of sides of buildings containing service or loading areas. Loading areas must be appropriately screened according to the requirements of Chapter 27, Zoning. Loading area screening is in addition to the requirements of this section.

§ 22-612 Sanitary Sewage Disposal.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 612; as amended by Ord. 99-5, 11/3/1999]

1. When the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act 537 of 1966, as amended,[1] determines the necessity for a sewer facilities plan revision (plan revision module for land development), or supplement, the Board of Supervisors shall require that notice of approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection be submitted as a condition of final plan approval.

[1] Editor's Note: See 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.

2. The applicant shall provide the type of sanitary sewage disposal facility consistent with the planning module for land development. Whenever public sanitary sewer is planned in the foreseeable future, a capped sanitary sewer system shall be provided.

3. If sewage disposal is to be provided by means other than by an individual on-site sanitary sewage disposal facility(ies) (facility owned and maintained by each individual lot owner), the final plan application shall include:

[Amended by Ord. No. 09-2022, 12/20/2022]

A. Commitment from a certified public utility, municipal corporation, or authority to provide sanitary sewer service.

B. Approval of the sanitary sewer system design and any required financial guarantee from the sanitary sewer utility provider.

4. Where on-site sanitary sewage disposal facilities are to be utilized, each lot so served shall be of a size and shape to accommodate the necessary subsurface sewage disposal system and a replacement system at a safe distance from building and water supply in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Chester County Department of Health.

§ 22-613 Water Supply.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 613; as amended by Ord. 99-5, 11/3/1999]

1. Whenever feasible, a development shall connect to an existing public water supply system.

2. Wherever the water supply system contains sufficient capability or will in the foreseeable future, with or without developer assistance, fire hydrants shall be provided. Fire hydrants shall meet the specifications of the Middle Department Association of Fire Underwriters and the local fire company. Fire hydrants shall be located at street intersections, where possible, and shall be located no more than 10 feet from the curb. Fire hydrants shall be located so that the distance from any building shall not exceed 600 feet measured along the street. All fittings shall be National Standard threads. The large fitting shall face the street and be a minimum of 16 inches above the ground level. The minimum size of a main which supplies a fire hydrant shall be eight inches or a looped six inches.

3. Where a public system is not accessible, particularly where on-site sanitary disposal systems are to be used, a community water supply may be required. If such a system is provided, it shall be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and appropriate measures shall be provided to ensure adequate maintenance.

4. Where an individual on-site water supply system is to be utilized, each lot so served shall be of a size and shape to allow safe location of such a system in accordance with all applicable standards.

5. Where individual on-site water supply system(s) will be utilized, test wells and the hydrogeology should be carefully studied to assure a sound water supply.

6. If water is to be provided by means other than by an individual on-site water supply system (wells that are owned and maintained by the individual lot owners), the final plan application shall include:

A. Commitment from a certified public utility, a bona fide cooperative association of lot owners or by a municipal corporation or authority to provide water supply. A copy of a certificate of public convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or an application for such certificate, a cooperative agreement or a commitment or agreement to serve the area in question, whichever is appropriate, shall be acceptable evidence.

[Amended by Ord. No. 09-2022, 12/20/2022]

B. Notice of approval of the design, installation and possible financial guarantee from the provider of the water service.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection 7, regarding public water supply systems, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed by Ord. No. 09-2022, 12/20/2022.

§ 22-614 Street Address Numbers.

[Ord. 8/15/1989, § 614; as added by Ord. 95-5, 4/8/1995, § 1; as amended by Ord. 96-5, 6/4/1996, §§ 2–4]

1. Assignment of Numbers.

A. Street address numbers shall be assigned to each building, tract, lot or parcel of land, placed on file in the Township Office and assigned to the owners or occupants of such buildings, tract, lot or parcel of land by the Code Enforcement Officer or by such other person as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Once assigned, all such properties shall be designated for all purposes by the number assigned, and thereafter, all persons shall take due notice thereof and comply with the provisions of this section, when applicable.

B. The Code Enforcement Officer, or such other person as may be designated, shall have the power and duty to correct any errors with respect to assignment of street address numbers, as and when such errors are discovered. The Board of Supervisors shall have the right and power to change a street address number or numbers assigned to any property whenever it may deem such a change necessary and desirable, and require the owner or the occupant thereof to comply with the provisions of this section with respect to such change.

2. Application for Street Address Number. The owner or occupant of each tract, lot or parcel of land to which no street address number has previously been assigned shall, upon purchase, acquisition or occupancy thereof or within seven days of discovery that no such number has been assigned, make application to the Code Enforcement Officer or his designated agent for assignment of such number and thereon the Code Enforcement Officer shall assign a correct street number to the property.

3. Number of Subdivision Lots. The Code Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for assigning proper street address number sequences to each lot which is created as a result of a subdivision or resubdivision, said numbers shall be in proper municipal sequence in relation to the number assigned to other lots fronting on the same street and shall be properly recorded on the subdivision plan and the Township file.

A. When the assignments required under Subsection 3 hereof have been completed and signed by the Code Enforcement Officer, they shall be appended to the final subdivision plan and thereby incorporated therein by reference. No subdivider shall sell or convey any lot or dwelling unit or other building or structure upon said lot or lease or otherwise permit the use and occupancy thereof without first complying with all of the terms of this section.

B. The requirements for application for street address number and display thereof shall be a condition precedent to the submission of any applications for a certificate of occupancy.

4. Size and Location of Numbers. In order to comply with this section, street address numbers shall be Arabic in design, shall have a minimum height of three inches and shall be mounted in a secure fashion by one or more of the approved manners. The number shall be sufficiently legible as to contrasting background, arrangement, spacing, size and uniformity of numerals so that the numbers may be read with ease during daylight hours by a person possessing normal vision, if he views the numbers for the center line of the facing street. The numbers shall be so placed that trees, shrubs and other obstructions do not block the line of sight of the numbers from the center of the street to any appreciable degree.

5. Approved Manners.

A. Occupancies with mailboxes at the end of driveways shall display numbers on both sides of the mailbox or support post. When mailboxes are placed on the opposite side of the facing street from the occupancy, auxiliary numbers shall be provided in addition to the mailbox numbers. When two or more mailboxes are placed side by side together in a row then numbers shall be placed on the fronts of the mailboxes.

B. Occupancies without mailboxes at the end of driveways shall place numbers in the general vicinity of the main entrance or path of travel which leads to the main entrance and shall be visible from the center line of the facing street.

C. Those occupancies with no mailboxes which are built down long driveways or occupancies not visible from the street shall have a marker or post of noticeable size placed at the driveway entrance. If more than one occupancy shares the driveway, then each occupancy shall be so numbered.

D. Occupancies with shared driveways shall also display auxiliary numbers at or near the main entrance of the structure according to specifications herein.

6. Violations and Penalties.

A. The absence of street numbers, or the insecure fastening or absence of any numeral thereof, or the use of any street address number not assigned by the Code Enforcement Officer, or the failure of a street address number to meet the elevation requirements or the visibility requirements, shall be a violation of this section. Upon discovery of such violation, a notice of violation shall be sent by certified mail to the property or occupant, or shall be posted in a prominent place upon the property by the Code Enforcement Officer or his agent or shall be personally served on the property owner or occupant or his agent. Such notice shall specify the specific provisions of this section violated and shall require compliance with the provisions of this section within 15 days from the service or posting of the notice of violation.

B. Any person who shall fail to comply with the notice of violation shall be liable to the Township in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township in an amount not to exceed $600, together will all court costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Township in such enforcement proceeding.

C. Every violator of the provisions of this section or any of its subsections shall be subject to a separate civil enforcement proceeding for each and every day such violation shall continue and be subject to the penalty imposed by this section for each and every such offense.

D. After the issuance by the Code Enforcement Officer of a notice of violation of the provisions of this section or any of its subsections and the posting of such notice of violation on the premises, each day such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense subject to a separate civil enforcement proceeding.

7. The final authority for determining and assigning the street number or numbers to be used upon any particular property, as well as the enforcement of this section or any of its subsections, shall be in the office of the Code Enforcement Officer, his agent or such other person as provided for in Subsection 1A.

§ 22-615 Lighting.

[Added by Ord. No. 2010-03, 4/22/2010]

1. Purpose. To require and set minimum standards for outdoor lighting to:

A. Provide for and control lighting in outdoor public places where public health, safety and welfare are potential concerns.

B. Protect drivers and pedestrians from the glare of nonvehicular light sources.

C. Protect neighbors, the environment, and the night sky from nuisance glare and light trespass from improperly selected, placed, aimed, applied, maintained or shielded light sources.

D. Promote energy efficient lighting design and operation.

E. Protect and retain the intended visual character of the various Valley Township venues.

2. Applicability.

A. All uses within Valley Township where there is interior or exterior lighting that creates a nuisance or hazard as viewed from outside, including, but not limited to, residential, commercial, industrial, public and private recreational/sports and institutional uses, and sign, billboard, architectural and landscape lighting.

B. Temporary seasonal decorative lighting is exempt from all but the glare-control requirements of this section.

C. Lighting for special events, when approved by the Board of Supervisors, is exempt from all but the glare control requirements of this section.

D. Emergency lighting, as may be required by any public agency while engaged in the performance of their duties, or for illumination of the path of egress during an emergency as described in NFPA 75 and NFPA 101, are exempt from the requirements of this section.

3. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:

FOOTCANDLE

Unit of light density incident on a plane (assumed to be horizontal unless otherwise specified), and measurable with an illuminance meter, aka light meter.

FULL CUTOFF

Attribute of a luminaire from which no light is emitted at or above a horizontal plane drawn through the lowest light-emitting portion of the luminaire and no more than 10% of the lamp's intensity is emitted at or above an angle 10° below that horizontal plane, at all lateral angles around the luminaire. A full-cutoff luminaire, by definition, also is "fully shielded."

FULLY SHIELDED

Attribute of a luminaire from which no light is emitted at or above a horizontal plane drawn through the lowest light-emitting portion of the luminaire.

GLARE

Excessive brightness in the field of view that is sufficiently greater than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted, to cause annoyance or loss in visual performance and visibility, so as to jeopardize health, safety or welfare.

ILLUMINANCE

Quantity of light, measured in footcandles.

LIGHT TRESPASS

Light emitted by a luminaire or installation, which is cast beyond the boundaries of the property on which the lighting installation is sited.

LUMEN

As used in the context of this section, the light-output rating of a lamp (light bulb).

LUMINAIRE

A complete lighting unit including lamp, wiring, and all necessary parts.

SHIELDED

A luminaire from which direct glare is not visible at normal viewing angles by virtue of its being properly aimed, oriented, and located and properly fitted through the use of such devices as shields, barn doors, baffles, louvers, skirts or visors.

4. Criteria.

A. Illumination Levels.

(1) Lighting, where required or permitted by this section, or otherwise required or allowed by Valley Township, shall have illuminances, uniformities and glare control in accordance with the recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) as contained in the IESNA Lighting Handbook, latest edition, unless otherwise directed by Valley Township.

(2) Examples of intensities for typical outdoor applications that are within the recommended levels in the 9th Edition of the Lighting Handbook are presented below:

Use/Task		Maintained Footcandles	Uniformity Average Minimum
Streets, local residential		0.4 average	6:1
Streets, local commercial		0.9 average	6:1
Parking, residential, multifamily
	Low vehicular/pedestrian activity	0.2 minimum	4:1
	Medium vehicular/pedestrian activity	0.6 minimum	4:1
Parking, industrial/commercial/institutional/municipal
	High activity, e.g., regional shopping centers, fast-food facilities, major athletic/cultural/civic events	0.9 minimum	4:1
	Medium activity, e.g., community shopping centers, office parks, hospitals, commuter lots, civic/recreational events	0.6 minimum	4:1
	Low activity, e.g., neighborhood shopping, industrial employee parking, schools, church parking	0.2 minimum	4:1
Walkways and bikeways
	Adjacent to roadway, commercial	1.0 average	5:1
	Adjacent to roadway, intermediate	0.6 average	5:1
	Adjacent to roadway, residential	0.2 average	5:1
	Distant to roadway	0.5 average	5:1

NOTES:
1.	Illumination levels are maintained horizontal footcandles on the task (e.g., pavement or area surface).
2.	Uniformity ratios dictate that average illuminance values shall not exceed minimum values by more than the product of the minimum value and the specified ratio [e.g., for commercial parking high activity, the average footcandles shall not be in excess of 3.6 (0.9 x 4)].

B. Luminaire Design.

(1) Luminaires shall be of a type and design appropriate to the lighting application and shall be aesthetically acceptable to Valley Township.

(2) For the lighting of predominantly horizontal surfaces such as, but not limited to parking areas, roadways, vehicular and pedestrian passage areas, merchandising and storage areas, automotive fuel-dispensing facilities, automotive sales areas, loading docks, culs-de-sac, active and passive recreational areas, building entrances, sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and site entrances, luminaires shall be aimed straight down and shall meet full-cutoff criteria. Luminaires with an aggregate rated lamp output not exceeding 500 lumens (e.g., the rated output of a standard nondirectional forty-watt incandescent or ten-watt compact fluorescent lamp) are exempt from the requirements of this subsection. In the case of decorative streetlighting, Valley Township may approve the use of luminaires that are fully shielded or comply with IESNA cutoff criteria.

(3) For the lighting of predominantly nonhorizontal surfaces such as, but not limited to, facades, landscaping, signs, billboards, fountains, displays and statuary, when their use is specifically approved by Valley Township, luminaires shall be shielded, be field-adjustable, and shall be installed and aimed so as to not project their output into the windows of neighboring residences, adjacent uses, past the object being illuminated, skyward or onto a public roadway. Luminaires with an aggregate rated lamp output not exceeding 500 lumens (e.g., the rated output of a standard nondirectional forty-watt incandescent or ten-watt compact fluorescent lamp) are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

C. Control of Glare.

(1) All lighting shall be aimed, located, designed, fitted and maintained so as not to present a hazard to drivers or pedestrians by impairing their ability to safely traverse and so as not to create a nuisance by projecting or reflecting objectionable light onto a neighboring use or property.

(2) Directional luminaires such as floodlights and spotlights, when their use is specifically approved by Valley Township, shall be so shielded, installed and aimed that they do not project their output into the windows of neighboring residences, adjacent uses, past the object being illuminated, skyward or onto a public roadway or pedestrianway. Floodlights installed above grade on residential properties, except when motion sensor-actuated, shall not be aimed out more than 45° from straight down. When a floodlight creates glare as viewed from an adjacent residential property, the floodlight shall be required to be reaimed and/or fitted with a shielding device to block the view of the glare source from that property.

(3) NEMA-head fixtures, aka "barn lights" or "dusk-to-dawn lights," when a source of glare as viewed from an adjacent property, shall not be permitted unless effectively shielded as viewed from that property.

(4) (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection 4C(4), regarding floodlights and wall-mounted luminaires, was repealed by Ord. No. 09-2022, 12/20/2022.

(5) Parking facility and vehicular and pedestrianway lighting (except for safety and security applications and all-night business operations) for commercial, industrial and institutional uses shall be automatically extinguished no later than one hour after the close of business or facility operation. When safety or security lighting is proposed for after-hours illumination, it shall not be in excess of 25% of the number of luminaires or illumination level required or permitted for illumination during regular business hours. When it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of Valley Township that an elevated security risk exists, such as a history of relevant crime, an appropriate increase above the twenty-five-percent-limit may be permitted.

(6) Luminaires shall be automatically controlled through the use of a programmable controller with battery power-outage reset, which accommodates daily and weekly variations in operating hours, annual time changes, and seasonal variations in hours of darkness. The use of photocells is permitted when in combination with the programmable controller to turn luminaires off at the required time and also for dusk-to-dawn safety/security lighting when such lighting is specifically approved by Valley Township. The use of motion detectors is permitted.

(7) Illumination for signs, billboards, building facades and/or surrounding landscapes for decorative, advertising or aesthetic purposes is prohibited between 11:00 p.m. and dawn, except that such lighting situated on the premises for a commercial establishment may be operated while the establishment is actually open for business, and until one hour after closing.

(8) Vegetation screens shall not be employed to serve as the primary means for controlling glare. Rather, glare control shall be achieved primarily through the use of such means as cutoff luminaires, shields and baffles, and appropriate application of luminaire mounting height, wattage, aiming angle, and luminaire placement.

(9) The illumination projected from any use onto a residential use shall at no time exceed 0.1 footcandle, measured line of sight from any point on the receiving residential property.

(10) The illumination projected from any property onto a nonresidential use shall at no time exceed 1.0 footcandle, measured line of sight from any point on the receiving property.

(11) Except as permitted for certain recreational lighting and permitted elsewhere in this subsection, luminaires shall not be mounted in excess of 20 feet above finished grade of the surface being illuminated. Luminaires not meeting full-cutoff criteria, when their use is specifically approved by Valley Township, shall not be mounted in excess of 16 feet above finished grade of the surface being illuminated. Mounting height shall be defined as the distance from the finished grade of the surface being illuminated to the optical center of the luminaire. Where proposed parking lots consist of 100 or more contiguous spaces, Valley Township may, at its sole discretion, based partially on mitigation of potential off-site impacts, allow a luminaire mounting height not to exceed 25 feet above finished grade. For recreational lighting maximum mounting height requirements, refer to Subsection 6, Recreational Uses.

(12) When flags are to be illuminated all night, only the United States and the state flag shall be permitted to be illuminated past 11:00 p.m. Flag-lighting sources shall not exceed 7,000 aggregate lamp lumens per flagpole, measured at the source(s) of light. The light source shall have a beam spread no greater than necessary to illuminate the flag and shall be shielded so the light source (lamp and reflector) is not visible at normal viewing angles.

(13) Under-canopy lighting for such applications as gas/service stations, marquees and building entrances, fast-food/bank/drugstore drive-through lanes, shall be accomplished using flat-lens full-cutoff luminaires aimed straight down and shielded in such a manner that the lowest opaque edge of the luminaire shall be below the light source on all sides. The average maintained illumination in the area directly below the canopy shall not exceed 20 initial footcandles, and the maximum shall not exceed 30 initial footcandles.

D. Installation.

(1) Electrical feeds for lighting standards shall be run underground, not overhead, and shall be in accordance with the NEC Handbook.

(2) Poles supporting luminaires for the illumination of parking areas and located directly behind parking spaces, or where they could be hit by snow plows or wide-swinging vehicles, shall be placed a minimum of five feet outside paved areas, or placed on concrete pedestals at least 30 inches high above the pavement, or suitably protected by other Valley Township-approved means.

(3) Pole-mounted luminaires for lighting horizontal tasks shall be aimed straight down, and poles shall be plumb.

(4) Poles and brackets for supporting luminaires shall be those specifically manufactured for that purpose and shall be designed and rated for the luminaire and mounting accessory weights and wind loads involved.

(5) Pole foundations shall be designed consistent with manufacturer's wind load requirements and local soil conditions involved.

E. Maintenance. Luminaires and ancillary equipment shall be maintained so as to always meet the requirements of this section.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Former § 27-615, Subsection 4F, Billboards and Signs, added 4-22-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-03, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 3-19-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-01.

5. Residential Development Luminaire Placement.

A. For residential developments where lot sizes are or average less than 20,000 square feet, unless the Board of Supervisors approves otherwise, streetlighting powered at the development's expense shall be provided at:

(1) The intersection of public roads with entrance roads to the proposed development;

(2) Intersections involving proposed public or nonpublic roads within the proposed development;

(3) The apex of the curve of any road, public or nonpublic, within the proposed development, having a radius 300 feet or less;

(4) Cul-de-sac bulbs;

(5) Terminal ends of center median islands having concrete structure curbing, trees, and/or other fixed objects not having breakaway design for speeds of 25 m.p.h. or greater;

(6) Defined pedestrian crossings located within the development;

(7) Other locations along the street as deemed necessary by Valley Township.

6. Recreational Uses. The nighttime illumination of outdoor recreational facilities for sports, particularly baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, track and field, and football, typically necessitate higher than normally allowed luminaire mounting heights and aiming angles, utilize very-high-wattage lamps, and potentially produce unacceptable levels of light trespass and glare when located near residential properties. Permission to illuminate such facilities shall be granted only when Valley Township is satisfied that the health, safety and welfare rights of nearby property owners and Valley Township as a whole have been properly protected. When recreational uses are specifically permitted by Valley Township for operation during hours of darkness, the following requirements shall apply:

A. Recreational facilities, for such uses as but not limited to basketball, baseball, softball, football, soccer, miniature golf, tennis or track, shall not be illuminated if located within a residential district or sited on a nonresidential property located within 1,000 feet of a property containing a residential use.

B. Sporting activities, except events involving school-sanctioned teams, shall be timed to end at such time that all lighting in the sports facility, other than lighting for safe exit of patrons, shall be extinguished by 10:00 p.m., regardless of such occurrences as extra innings or overtimes.

C. Maximum mounting heights for recreational lighting shall be in accordance with the following:

(1) Basketball: 20 feet.

(2) Football: 70 feet.

(3) Soccer: 70 feet.

(4) Lacrosse: 70 feet.

(5) Baseball:

(a) Two-hundred-foot radius: 60 feet.

(b) Three-hundred-foot radius: 70 feet.

(6) Miniature golf: 20 feet.

(7) Swimming pool aprons: 20 feet.

(8) Tennis: 30 feet.

(9) Track: 20 feet.

7. Plan Submission. Lighting plans shall be submitted to Valley Township for review and approval for all proposed outdoor lighting, including but not limited to proposals which are part of a preliminary or final subdivision and/or land development plan, and shall include:

A. A site plan, complete with all structures, parking spaces, building entrances, traffic areas (both vehicular and pedestrian), existing and proposed vegetation, and adjacent uses that might be adversely impacted by the lighting. The lighting plan shall contain a layout of all proposed and existing luminaires.

B. A ten-foot-by-ten-foot illuminance grid (point-by-point) plot of maintained horizontal footcandles overlaid on the site plan, plotted out to 0.0 footcandles, which demonstrates compliance with the light trespass, illuminance, and uniformity requirements as set forth in this section or as otherwise required by Valley Township. When the scale of the plan, as judged by Valley Township, makes a ten-foot-by-ten-foot grid plot illegible, a more legible grid spacing may be permitted.

C. Light-loss factors, IES candela test-filename, initial lamp-lumen ratings, and specific lamp manufacturer's lamp-ordering nomenclature, used in calculating the plotted illuminance levels.

D. Description of the proposed equipment, including luminaire catalog cuts, photometrics, glare reduction devices, lamps, on/off control devices, mounting heights, pole foundation details, pole protection means, and mounting methods.

E. When landscaping plans are involved, they shall contain the luminaire locations and shall demonstrate that the site lighting and landscaping have been coordinated to minimize conflict between vegetation and intended light distribution, both initially and at vegetation maturity.

F. When requested by Valley Township, applicant shall also submit a visual-impact plan that demonstrates appropriate steps have been taken to mitigate potential consequences of on-site and off-site glare and to retain the intended character of Valley Township. This plan may require the inclusion of initial vertical footcandle values at specific off-site venues (e.g., bedroom windows of adjacent residential uses).

G. Plan Notes. The following notes shall appear on the lighting plan:

(1) Post-approval alterations to lighting plans or intended substitutions for approved lighting equipment shall be submitted to Valley Township for review and approval. Requests for substitutions shall be accompanied by catalog cuts of the proposed equipment and lighting plans, including a point-by-point plot, as required, that demonstrate full compliance with the Valley Township-approved plan.

(2) All exterior lighting, including building-mounted lighting, shall meet IESNA full-cutoff criteria unless otherwise specifically approved by Valley Township.

(3) Installer shall notify Valley Township to arrange for inspection and approval of all exterior lighting, including building-mounted lighting, prior to its installation.

8. Post-Installation Inspection. Valley Township reserves the right to conduct post-installation inspections to verify compliance with the section requirements and approved lighting plan commitments, and if deemed appropriate by Valley Township, to require remedial action at no expense to Valley Township.

9. Compliance Monitoring.

A. Safety Hazards

(1) If Valley Township judges a lighting installation creates a safety hazard, the person(s) responsible for the lighting shall be notified in writing and required to take remedial action.

(2) If appropriate corrective action has not been effected within 15 days of notification, Valley Township may take appropriate legal action including remedying, enforcing, and assessing penalties under §§ 10-206, 10-207, and 10-208 of Chapter 10, Health and Safety, of the Code of the Township of Valley.

B. Nuisance Glare and Inadequate Illumination Levels.

(1) When Valley Township judges an installation produces unacceptable levels of nuisance glare, skyward light, excessive or insufficient illumination levels or otherwise varies from this section, Valley Township may cause written notification of the person(s) responsible for the lighting and require appropriate remedial action.

(2) If appropriate corrective action has not been effected within 30 days of notification, Valley Township may take appropriate legal action including remedying, enforcing, and assessing penalties under § 22-805.

10. Nonconforming Lighting. Any luminaire or lighting installation existing on the effective date of this section that does not conform with the requirements of this section shall be considered as a lawful nonconformance.

A. A nonconforming luminaire or lighting installation shall be made to conform with the requirements of this section when:

(1) Minor corrective action, such as re-aiming or shielding, can achieve conformity with the applicable requirements of this section.

(2) It is deemed by Valley Township to create a safety hazard.

(3) It is replaced by another luminaire or luminaires or abandoned or relocated.

(4) The number of existing luminaires is increased by 50% or more.

(5) There is a change in use.

§ 22-616 Dumpsters.

[Added by Ord. No. 2019-04, 8/20/2019]

1. Location.

A. Dumpsters shall not be placed on streets, sidewalks, or within any public right-of-way.

B. Service vehicles must be able to lift dumpsters to empty them without obstruction from overhead wires or tree limbs.

C. Service vehicles, such as garbage and recycling collection trucks, must be able to enter, service a dumpster, back up, and depart without being obstructed by parked vehicles, medians, curbs, buildings or other obstructions. Dumpsters shall not be placed in locations where they would obstruct the view of flowing traffic.

2. Dumpster Pad.

A. Dumpsters shall be placed on a cement concrete pad with a minimum thickness of six inches reinforced with one layer of No. 6 wire forming six-inch squares. The wire shall be installed so that it is not closer than one inch from the top or bottom surface of the concrete pad. Concrete shall be PennDOT Class A. The concrete pad shall be constructed on a minimum four-inch-thick crushed stone base.

B. The top of the pad shall be sloped to provide positive drainage.

3. Enclosure.

A. Dumpsters shall be located within an enclosure that provides full screening on all sides. All enclosures shall have a height at least equal to the top of the dumpster or six feet above the top of the pad, whichever is greater, but shall not exceed the allowable height for enclosures, walls, or fences within the underlying zoning district. The enclosure shall be flush with grade on all sides except for the gate.

B. The enclosure material shall provide a full visual and trash containment screen through the use of a solid fence, block or brick wall, chain-link fence with full height slats, or other material approved by the Board of Supervisors.

C. The enclosure shall be of consistent material on all sides, including the gate(s), except the gates may be a different material if the enclosure walls are block, brick, or stone.

D. Gates shall be secured with a latch or other mechanism with or without a lock.

4. Bollards.

A. There shall be at least two bollards behind each dumpster within the enclosure to protect the enclosure. Bollards along the interior sides of the enclosure and outside the gate posts are recommended but not required.

B. Bollards shall be six-inch-diameter standard steel pipe filled with concrete with a domed top and shall be primed and painted. Paint shall be safety yellow for bollards outside the enclosure in vehicular traffic areas.

C. Bollards shall be set in minimum eighteen-inch-diameter PennDOT Class A cement concrete footings that extend three feet below grade. The bollard pipe shall be set to a depth of at least 2.5 feet in the footing with six inches of concrete below the bottom of the pipe.

D. The concrete footing for bollards in unpaved areas shall extend four inches above grade with a domed top for drainage away from the bollard pipe.

§ 22-617 West Lincoln Highway Overlay District.

[Ord. No. 07-2024, 11/19/2024]

1. Design Standards.

A. As provided for in § 27-211, West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District, of the Valley Township Code of Ordinances, the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District shall be a supplement to the Zoning Map. The design standards for the overlay district shall be in accordance with the provisions contained herein.

B. Any land development or a single residential building within the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District shall be required to follow the design standards outlined in this section in addition to the design standards for the underlying zoning district. Where conflict between the requirements of the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District and the underlying zoning district exists, the requirements of the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District will supersede the requirements of the underlying zoning district. A subdivision of land in which no improvements are proposed shall be exempt from the West Lincoln Highway Overlay District requirements.

2. Pedestrian accessways, sidewalk, shared use path, and crosswalks.

A. Sidewalk shall be constructed along the south side of West Lincoln Highway at the locations indicated on the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Master Plan adopted February 6, 2024. The sidewalk along the West Lincoln Highway corridor is intended to be parallel to the street cartway and generally run in a straight line. If necessary due to utility poles or other site limitations, the Board of Supervisors may approve jogs within the sidewalk alignment as a waiver.

B. The shared use path shall be constructed along the north side of West Lincoln Highway at the locations indicated on the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Master Plan adopted February 6, 2024.

C. The sidewalk and shared use path are intended to be within the West Lincoln Highway right-of-way. If the sidewalk or shared use path is not proposed completely within the right-of-way, the property owner shall grant the Township a pedestrian easement of a width as set forth in the definition.

D. Maintenance:

(1) The property owner shall be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of all sidewalks. This property owner responsibility shall be noted on the land development plan. If a land development plan is not required, the property owner responsibility shall be documented within an Operation and Maintenance Plan that is recorded prior to a building permit being issued.

(2) The Township shall be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of the shared use path with the exception of portions that cross driveways or access drives. The Township responsibility shall be noted on the land development plan or building permit (if a land development plan is not required) submittal.

(3) The property owner shall be responsible for the ongoing maintenance and replacement of the shared use path that crosses the property owner's driveway or access drive. This property owner responsibility shall be noted on the land development plan. If a land development plan is not required, the property owner responsibility shall be documented within an Operation and Maintenance Plan that is recorded prior to a building permit being issued.

E. Sidewalks shall conform to § 22-604, Subsections 4, 6, 7, and 9, of this chapter.

F. The shared use path shall be constructed in accordance with the following specifications:

(1) The shared use path shall be constructed with a minimum six-inch depth PennDOT 2A stone base, 2.5-inch thick asphalt binder course paving, and a 1.5-inch thick asphalt wearing course paving of materials specified in the latest edition of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 408. Additionally, all work procedures shall conform to the latest edition of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 408.

(2) Where the shared use path crosses driveways or access drives, the portion of the driveway or access drive within the shared use path extents shall be constructed of asphalt and aggregate base as specified in Subsection 2F(1) unless the existing driveway or access drive is constructed of concrete. If the existing driveway or access drive is concrete, then the shared use path that crosses these existing driveways or access drives may be constructed of concrete. The existing concrete may remain and be used for this purpose if the condition of the concrete is acceptable as determined by the Board of Supervisors.

G. The shared use path shall be of widths outlined in the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Master Plan adopted February 6, 2024.

H. The shared use path shall be graded so as to discharge stormwater runoff with minimum slopes of 1/4 inch per foot, unless lesser slope is required to meet ADA standards.

I. Crosswalks shall be provided for safe pedestrian crossing of roads and access drives for sidewalks and the shared use path. Crosswalks shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act[1] and its regulations.

(1) ADA-compliant curb ramps (aka "handicap ramps") shall be provided for continuous accessibility along all sidewalk and shared use path systems in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 13M "Design Manual, Part 2" (DM-2), Publication 72M "Standards for Roadway Construction," and ADA Standards, latest editions.

(2) Detectable warning surfaces shall be provided at the ends of the shared use path and sidewalks where they intersect with a street or access drive.

(3) Crosswalks shall be installed at approximately 90° to the street or access drive they cross and extend from curb ramp to curb ramp.

(4) If a stop sign exists at an intersection where a crosswalk is proposed, the stop bar shall be located at least four feet in advance of and parallel to the crosswalk lines.

(5) Crosswalks shall be the "Type C - Perpendicular" design consistent with PennDOT Publication 111, Traffic Control — Pavement Markings and Signing Standards, TC-8600, Sheet 6 of 13, as may be updated by PennDOT unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.

(6) Crosswalks for the shared use path shall be installed with the width of the "Type C — Perpendicular" pavement markings equivalent to the width of the shared use path.

(7) Crosswalks for the sidewalks shall be installed with the width of the "Type C — Perpendicular" pavement markings at a minimum of six feet wide.

(8) Crosswalk markings shall consist of hot thermoplastic pavement marking materials consistent with PennDOT Publication 408.

[1] Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

J. The applicant shall obtain a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit for any proposed improvements, such as curbing, sidewalk, or stormwater conveyance, within the West Lincoln Highway right-of-way.

K. The additional impervious surfaces for the sidewalk and shared use path shall be addressed in the stormwater management site plan and stormwater management report as part of the land development or building permit process.

(1) Any stormwater management structure or facility located within a PennDOT right-of-way shall comply with PennDOT minimum design standards and permit submissions and approval requirements.

3. Curbing.

A. At any location where the sidewalk or shared use path is within four feet of the West Lincoln Highway pavement shoulder, curbing shall be required between West Lincoln Highway and the sidewalk or shared use path.

B. Curbing shall conform to § 22-604, Subsections 13, 14, and 15, of this chapter.

C. Handicapped or disabled curb cuts and ramps shall be installed and maintained in order to promote pedestrian circulation. All curbing shall comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act[2] and its regulations.

[2] Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.

D. Maintenance and repair costs for the curbing is the sole responsibility of the landowner.

4. Driveways and Access Drives.

A. Sidewalks shall be concrete across driveways.

B. Any access drive that intersects a sidewalk or shared use path within the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Overlay District shall be paved within the extents of the sidewalk or shared use path or as directed by the Township Engineer.

5. Landscaping and Street Trees.

A. Street trees shall be planted in accordance with the West Lincoln Highway Corridor Master Plan adopted February 6, 2024 and § 22-611 of this chapter; whichever regulation imposes more restrictive standards and requirements shall apply.

B. No existing street trees shall be removed without prior approval of the Board of Supervisors.

C. If any parking is approved or existing within a front yard of a non-residential use, a continuous hedge consisting of evergreen shrubs or a continuous wall shall be installed between the shared use path or sidewalk and the parking area to soften and screen the appearance of development. The evergreen hedge or wall shall be no less than 24 inches in height and no more than 36 inches in height, provided that such wall or hedge does not obstruct safe sight distance. The evergreen hedge or wall shall be installed outside of the right-of-way and maintained by the property owner.

D. All landscape materials shall conform to the American or USA Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1, of the American Association of Nurserymen.

E. Street trees shall conform to the following list:

(1) Large Canopy Trees:

(a) Acer rubrum 'October Glory' — Red Maple.

(b) Gleditsia triacanthos inermis 'Skyline.'

(c) Nyssa sylvatica — Sourgum/Black Tupelo.

(d) Quercus phellos — Willow Oak.

(e) Platanus x acerifolia — London Planetree.

(f) Tilia americana 'Redmond' — Redmond Linden.

(g) Ulmus americana 'Valley Forge' — American Elm (disease resistant).

(h) Ulmus parviflora — Lacebark Elm.

(i) Zelkova serrata 'Village Green' — Japanese Zelkova.

(2) Large Canopy Trees near overhead wires or other obstructions:

(a) Acer rubrum 'Bowhall' — Columnar Red Maple.

(b) Fagus sylvatica 'Fastigiata' — Pyramidal Beech.

(c) Quercus robur 'Fastigiata' — Pyramidal English Oak.

(3) Small Ornamental Trees:

(a) Acer ginnala 'Flame' — Amur Maple.

(b) Acer tataricum - Tartarian Maple.

(c) Amelanchier laevis 'Cumulus' — Cumulus Serviceberry.

(d) Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Robin Hill' — Shadblow Serviceberry.

(e) Crataegus lavalleei — Lavalle Hawthorn.

(f) Crataegus viridis 'Winter King' — Winter King Hawthorn.

(g) Cercis canadensis "Appalachian Red" — Eastern Redbud.

F. Street trees shall be maintained and replaced by the property owner if they become damaged, diseased or otherwise die.

G. Street trees shall be at least 3.5-inch caliper at the time of planting, and the type of such trees shall be from the list in Subsection 5E or otherwise approved by the Township Board of Supervisors.

H. Street trees required under this section may be credited toward the number of replacement trees required for woodland replacement and landscape strips.