[Adopted 4-13-1982 by Ord. No. 600 (Ch. 21, Part 2, of the 1990 Borough Code of Ordinances)]
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Sidewalk and Curb Ordinance of the Borough of Royersford."
[Amended 12-14-1982 by Ord. No. 618; 8-29-1989 by Ord. No. 701]
A. 
All sidewalks shall have a minimum width of four feet.
[Amended 8-30-2022 by Ord. No. 914]
B. 
In residential areas, the edge of the sidewalks furthest from the street shall be six feet, one inch from the curb, or as the Borough Council may by resolution, otherwise provide. Between each curb and sidewalk of all residential properties, a grass plot, a minimum of 18 inches wide, extending from the side property line to the other side property line, exclusive of driveway area, shall be installed, provided for and maintained by the property owner.
C. 
Every owner of property in the Borough of Royersford who shall hereafter commence construction of any residential, commercial or industrial structure upon said property or upon a property where a residential, commercial or industrial structure exists, shall construct or reconstruct a sidewalk and curb on said property, which shall conform to all applicable requirements of this and other applicable ordinances, in front of or along side of such property. Borough Council may, upon due cause shown, grant a property owner an exception from the provisions hereof for a specific period of time.
A. 
Sidewalks for the use of pedestrians shall be built, maintained and kept in repair as provided in this article and any other applicable ordinances of the Borough and state law. Curbs, gutters and drains may be required in conjunction with existing or hereafter constructed sidewalks, as Borough Council may from time to time require, and at all intersections of streets and/or public alleys the curb shall be rounded at the intersections, having a minimum radius of three feet except where the Council shall specifically require a curb of different radius.
B. 
Existing brick sidewalks which require the replacement of more than 20% of the total area shall be entirely replaced by a concrete pavement or sidewalk. In the case of concrete sidewalks, in the event any concrete block thereof requires replacement of more than 25% of the total area of said concrete block, then said concrete block in need of repair shall be replaced in its entirety; provided, however, where a portion of such a concrete block is removed for installation or repairs to utilities, then said block shall be replaced in its entirety.
C. 
Curb and sidewalk shall be constructed along the front of each lot within the Borough on which a new building or structure, other than a private garage is constructed, where said lot adjoins a public street, road or highway. In the case of a corner lot, curbing and sidewalk shall be constructed along both the front of the lot and the side of the lot adjacent to the public street, road or highway. In the case of industrial or commercial development, the Council of the Borough of Royersford may, by resolution, waive any or all of the requirements in this subsection if, in its opinion, said development is located in an area of the Borough where curb and/or sidewalk is neither desirable or necessary. Such curb and sidewalk shall be constructed within 60 days after such a new building or structure is completed and/or ready for occupancy.
[Amended 8-30-2022 by Ord. No. 914]
Commercial driveways, such as those at gasoline service stations, shall be a maximum width at the sidewalk of 35 feet, and in cases where there are multiple driveways, an eighteen-foot safety island must be maintained between the driveways. In residential areas, the width of the driveway at the street line shall not exceed 12 feet. No driveway shall exceed the widths stated above except upon approval by resolution of Borough Council. All driveways, residential or commercial, shall be constructed of asphalt paving or concrete materials.
[Amended 12-14-1982 by Ord. No. 618; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The construction of any sidewalks, curbs, gutters and/or drains following any other specifications or using any other materials than those specified herein or as shown on Exhibit B is hereby forbidden.[1]
A. 
Concrete walks. All new sidewalks shall be one-course concrete construction. All sidewalks and curbs shall be constructed in accordance with grades and lines as established by the Borough Council other than that established in an approved subdivision. Said grades and lines will be established in the field one time, by the Borough Engineer, at no expense to the owner. Any replacement of field grades will be established at the cost of labor and materials to be paid by the owner.
B. 
Expansion joints. Expansion joints shall be 3/8 inch thick preformed, nonextruding and resilient bituminous joint filler, shall be placed every 20 feet to the full depth of curb and sidewalk and where the sidewalk meets the outside face of a wall and/or curbing. Sidewalks shall be scoured every four feet and curbs shall be scored at ten-foot intervals.
C. 
Subgrade. All sidewalks, curbs and driveway entrances shall have a three-inch to four-inch base of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation No. 2B limestone material.
D. 
Rainwater conductors.
(1) 
All underground rain conductors shall be of pipe material such as cast iron, wrought iron, asbestos cement, clay, or approved plastics, constructed under the sidewalk and through the curb to the gutter. No open gutters for conducting rain water or drainage of any kind will be permitted to run over top of the sidewalk or curbs.
(2) 
All subsurface rainwater conductors shall be placed in such a manner that the top of pipe will not be less than three inches from top of curb with expansion joints placed vertically to the center line of pipe.
E. 
Thickness and depth of sidewalk, driveways and curbs. All curbs, sidewalks, and driveways shall be in accordance with Exhibit B.
F. 
Removal of existing blacktop. Removal of existing blacktop necessitated by curb removal and replacement shall be done with hand-operated pneumatic tools, hydraulically operated equipment or by a power saw to furnish a clean straight cut in the pavement 12 inches from and parallel to the curbline. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to remove all excavated material.
G. 
Backfilling of cartway area. All areas of excavation within the cartway area shall be backfilled in accordance with Exhibit A.
H. 
Concrete specifications and finishing.
(1) 
All sidewalks, curbs and driveways entrances shall be constructed of air-entrained structural concrete having an ultimate strength of 3,000 pounds per square inch at 28 days and containing 6% air by volume. The sources of concrete materials and the mix design shall be subject to the approval of the Borough Engineer.
(2) 
The top surfaces of all sidewalks, curbs and driveway entrances shall receive a wood-floated finish, and the finish tolerance shall be a true plane within 1/4 inch in 10 feet. The exposed vertical surfaces of curbs and driveway entrances shall be repaired of all honeycombed and defective areas, and shall receive a smooth-rubbed finish. This finish shall be produced by wetting the surfaces and rubbing with a carborundum brick, or other abrasive, until a uniform color and texture are produced. The finishing shall be completed before the concrete is 36 hours old.
(3) 
Immediately after finishing, all concrete shall be cured by using either an approved, impervious, light-colored plastic covering placed and maintained in contract with the concrete surface, or an approved, impervious light-colored liquid curing compound sprayed on the concrete surface. The curing shall be continued for at least five days.
(4) 
The Building Code Official may reject any new construction of concrete sidewalks, curbs and driveway entrances which do not conform to the requirements of this article or the generally accepted standards of the American Concrete Institute.
(5) 
Mortar shall be used only in case of patching honeycombed concrete and then shall be one part cement and two parts of sand or its equal.
(6) 
All individual home services for public utilities (excluding gas services) shall be raised and/or lowered to proper curb elevation by the person, firm or corporation installing concrete curb, driveways and sidewalks.
(7) 
All traffic signs and lampposts removed during construction of concrete curb, sidewalk and/or driveways shall be replaced by the person, firm or corporation performing installation.
(8) 
Expansion material shall be placed around existing and/or proposed utility poles. The capping of the defective curbs is prohibited.
I. 
Safety and warning measures required. The contractor must furnish and shall be responsible for placing the proper barriers and warning signs during construction.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit B is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the owner of the land abutting upon any curbs, and/or sidewalks to keep them in such repair and condition that they do not become dangerous to the welfare and safety of the traveling public. The Borough Council of the Borough of Royersford is hereby empowered to notify property owners when sidewalks and curbs are in need of repair or renewal and the repair or renewal thereof shall be made by the property owner within 30 days after said written notice is given to said property owner. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to place the responsibility of determining when sidewalks may become dangerous to the welfare and safety of the traveling public upon the Borough. At all times, such responsibility shall be solely upon the property owner whose land abuts the curb or sidewalk.
B. 
Upon neglect of any property owner to comply with any of the requirements of this article, the Borough may, 10 days after notice to the property owner, cause the grading, paving, repairing, curbing and/or guttering to be done at the cost of such owner, and may collect the cost thereof and 10% additional, together with all charges and expenses, from such owner, and may file a municipal claim therefor or collect the same by action in assumpsit.
C. 
Any such notices to be served upon a property owner hereunder shall be served upon the owner of the premises if such owner is a resident of the Borough. If the owner is not a resident, then the notice may be served upon the agent or tenant of the owner, or upon the occupant of such premises. If the owner has no agent or tenant or there is no occupier of such premises, then service shall be by notice posted upon the premises.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
In addition to the remedies now vested in this Borough to make repairs to sidewalks pursuant to the Borough Code and other applicable statutes and ordinances, the Borough of Royersford shall have the power to make emergency repairs to any sidewalks located within the Borough of Royersford, where, in the opinion of the Building Code Official, a dangerous condition exists that can be repaired by an expenditure of not more than $1,000. Before any such repairs are made, a notice to make the repairs within 48 hours shall be served upon the owner of said property. If the owner cannot be served within the county, notice may be served upon the agent of the owner or the party in possession, or if there is no agent or party in possession, the notice may be served by posting the same upon such premises. Upon completion of such work, the cost thereof shall be charged against the owner of the property, and shall be a lien, until paid, upon the abutting property, provided a claim is filed therefor in accordance with the law providing for the filing and collection of municipal claims. Any such charge may also be collected by action of assumpsit. The certificate of the Building Code Official in charge of repairs or sidewalks shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of the emergency justifying the repair under the terms of this section.
A. 
No person or persons, firm or corporation shall construct or repair any sidewalk, curb or gutters, without first applying for and obtaining from the Building Code Official of the Borough of Royersford a permit for the same. The application for such permit shall set forth:
(1) 
The full name and address of the owners of the land affected;
(2) 
The name and address of the contractor, or the person to perform the work;
(3) 
The precise location of the property upon which the work is to be done;
(4) 
The length of the proposed project; and
(5) 
Such other pertinent information as may be considered necessary.
B. 
No permit will be required for new curbing, gutters, or sidewalk to be constructed in an approved subdivision which is to be installed by the developer.
[Amended 10-30-1990 by Ord. No. 715]
The cost of obtaining a permit to repair existing curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be the sum as established from time to time by the Borough Council by resolution and the cost of obtaining a survey permit to stake out line and grade of new curbs, gutters and sidewalks, other than that established in an approved subdivision plan required to be surveyed by the developer shall be the sum as established from time to time by the Borough Council by resolution.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The current Fee Resolution is on file in the office of the Borough Secretary.
Any person, firm or corporation applying for any permit under this article shall indemnify and hold harmless the Borough of Royersford against all liability of whatever nature arising during the performance of work or as a result of work for which a permit is granted, whether or not said liability arises as a result of the negligence or acts of the person, firm or corporation to whom the permit was issued or resulted from the negligence or acts of any other party including the Borough of Royersford, its agents, servants, workmen or employees.
[Amended 6-28-1988 by Ord. No. 694; 10-30-1990 by Ord. No. 715]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership or corporation to violate any provision of this article and any such person, association, partnership, or corporation so violating any provision hereof shall, upon conviction thereof before a Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution and in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days. For the purposes of this article, each day's violation of any provision thereof shall be deemed a separate offense.
B. 
The Borough Council may revoke any permit issued to any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article.
C. 
The imposition of penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the Borough from instituting an appropriate action or proceeding to prevent the performance of work or acts declared to be unlawful under the provisions of this article, or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation, or seek relief by a Complaint in Equity or any other appropriate remedy.