[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Pilesgrove as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Street names — See Ch. A229.
[Adopted 10-12-1959; amended in its entirety 7-12-1994 by Ord. No. 94-6]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or cooperation to disturb, tear up, obstruct, damage or destroy any Township road in any manner whatsoever, by any vehicle of any kind or by any drag attached thereto or by any other implement or appliance.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to fill up the gutters or ditches along any Township road or to obstruct or damage any Township road by spilling or throwing stones, dirt or other materials thereon.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANTENNA
Any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building or structure, utility pole (including within light poles and fixtures) and used in communications that radiate or capture electromagnetic waves, digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies (excluding radar signals), wireless telecommunications signals or other communication signals.
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM (DAS)
Are networks of cables and antennas that can be installed in high-traffic areas: stadiums, convention or shopping centers, office buildings, train stations, airline terminals, and outdoor urban areas where demand for signal is high.
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
REVIEWING BOARD
The duly appointed Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment.
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
ROAD
Any and all roads, highways, streets or avenues owned or under the control of the Township of Pilesgrove, for the full right-of-way or easement width thereof.
SMALL NETWORK NODE (SNN)
Small cells are like mini cell towers, smaller scale units generally deployed on lampposts, utility poles and building walls to relay cell phone signals through fiber optic cables. Small cells are used primarily to enhance localized capacity and coverage where there is concentrated traffic, such as in a business district, shopping mall or a college campus.
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
TOWER
Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for telephone, radio and similar communication purposes, including self-supporting lattice towers, guyed towers, or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures, and the like. The term includes the structure and any support thereto. This term shall not include an existing utility pole.
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
UTILITY POLE
A pole that supports public utility wires and cables and is separate and distinct from a tower, pole (monopole) that supports only telecommunications equipment and antenna. (See "tower.")
[Added 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall open or dig a trench in any public road, street or highway of this Township without having first done each of the following:
A. 
Made a written application therefor to the Township of Pilesgrove in the County of Salem, on forms to be provided by it, and supplied a map or sketch of the project.
B. 
Paid the proper fee to said Township for such opening or trench, in the amount specified by § 180-8.
C. 
Given the Township a cash or surety company bond, in the amount specified by § 180-7, to guarantee that the opening or trench made by the permittee will be properly closed. Upon completion of the work in a satisfactory manner, the performance bond or cash will be released in return for a maintenance bond or cash to guarantee that the road, street or highway over the opening or trench will remain in good condition for at least one year after the closing by the permittee. The minimum amount of each maintenance bond shall be 25% of the amount of the performance bond, but shall not be less than $500. A utility company may, in lieu of giving a separate performance bond and a separate maintenance bond on each project, keep in continuing effect and posted with the Township Clerk a combination performance and maintenance bond for $10,000 by the permittee and a surety company licensed to do business in New Jersey, which bond shall guarantee both performance and maintenance by the utility company in regard to street openings as required by this chapter and shall be approved as to form by the Township Solicitor.
D. 
Received from the Township a written permit for the specific opening or trench. However, in cases involving minimum disruption to streets and safety within the Township, the Road Supervisor may waive such above requirements and fees in whole or part and issue the permit in cases where the Township Engineer's services are not required.
[Amended 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
No person, firm, partnership or corporation shall direct or cause any employee, agent or contractor of such person, firm, partnership or corporation to locate or relocate any above or belowground public or private utilities, storm drains, trenches, curbing, driveways, fences or landscaping in any municipal public right-of-way, easement, road, street or highway until a written permit has been issued by the Township. Telecommunications facilities to be installed within the municipal right-of-way (ROW) shall be subject to the requirements of § 180-12.
Each permittee shall do each of the following things with respect to each opening or trench for which the permittee is responsible:
A. 
Have the trench or opening dug promptly after the permit aforesaid is granted.
B. 
Have the material which is taken from the opening or trench placed so as not to interfere with public use of the highway.
C. 
Have proper and ample guards, barricades, signs and lights maintained on the site to sufficiently warn users of the road, street or highway of the dangers attendant to the project, from the time the opening is completely restored and completely reopened to public travel and in accordance with the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
D. 
Assume full liability for any and all injuries caused by the negligence of the permittee or the employees or agents of the permittee in constructing such opening as well as in its maintenance or closing.
E. 
Keep said opening open a minimum period of time to accomplish the purpose of the permittee, and close such opening or trench as soon as possible thereafter.
F. 
Comply with the following standards hereby adopted in this Township for such openings in public roads, streets and highways:
(1) 
Protection for traveling public. The permittee shall keep such opening properly guarded and at night have lights placed thereat and, in doing the work, interfere as little as possible with the travel along the road and open no greater part of the road at any time than shall be allowed by the Road Supervisor.
(2) 
Protection from suits. The permittee shall also save harmless said Township of Pilesgrove, its officers and servants from and against any loss, injury or damage resulting from any negligence or fault of the permittee, his agents or servants in connection with the performance of the work covered by the permit.
(3) 
Time limit. The opening shall be backfilled and patched immediately, and the permanent pavement shall be restored within two weeks. In case the work has not been completed before the day of expiration as shown on the permit and the permittee has not requested an extension of the time, the Public Works Superintendent may, if he deems it advisable, take steps to backfill the trench and replace a permanent pavement over the opening for which the permit has been issued, and if any extension of time beyond said date is needed for the completion of the work, a new application must be filed, if required by the Township Engineer.
(4) 
Maintenance. The restoration of the opening or trench shall be maintained for one year after completion.
(5) 
Excavation.
(a) 
The applicant shall give a forty-eight-hour notice to the Road Supervisor and Township Engineer or his duly authorized assistant prior to making an opening, except in case of emergency.
(b) 
No opening shall be commenced on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, except in case of emergency.
(c) 
On a bituminous-surface-treated road, the edges of the opening shall be cut straight through the bituminous surface before the trench is excavated.
(d) 
The permittee shall notify and request of the utility companies a markout of underground utilities in the affected areas. No work shall begin without the markouts having been completed. All rock within five feet of a water main or other pipe which will be damaged thereby shall be removed without blasting. No excavation which will damage trees shall be made without the approval of the Township Engineer.
(6) 
Backfilling. The permittee shall completely backfill the excavation and replace as great a portion as possible of the material excavated, compacting it by using mechanical tamping equipment, and supply additional material when there is a deficiency. Whenever the Township Engineer or his duly authorized representative shall deem the material unsatisfactory for backfill, the permittee shall backfill the trench with select backfill material, Zone 3, compacted, and shall remove all excess material from the premises. The material shall be placed in layers not exceeding six inches in thickness, moistened where and as directed, and each layer mechanically tramped until thoroughly compacted.
(7) 
Restoration of the surface paving and surface paving foundation. After the backfilling of the opening or trench has been completed as above specified, the restoration of the pavement shall be governed by the following applicable rules:
(a) 
In the case of an opening or trench in the earth shoulder, the permittee shall restore the top four inches of the trench or opening with material capable of supporting the growth of grass and shall fertilize and seed the surface with grass seed.
(b) 
In the case of a gravel pavement, the permittee shall fill in the top 12 inches of the excavated trench or opening with compacted state-approved I-5 road gravel.
(c) 
In the case of a penetration macadam road which consists of broken stone of various sizes, the permittee may salvage the broken stone and replace it in the top of the trench similar to the original pavement and cover it with two inches of hot-mixed bituminous concrete.
(d) 
In the case of a gravel-based bituminous concrete road, the permittee shall restore the surface with eight inches of compacted state-approved I-5 road gravel covered with two inches of bituminous stabilized base, mix I-2, and two inches of FABC-1, mix 5, top pavement, or surface and base similar to the existing road, whichever is greater.
(e) 
In the case of a bituminous-treated gravel road, the permittee shall restore the surface with 12 inches of compacted state-approved I-5 gravel covered with two inches of FABA-1, mix I-5.
(f) 
In the case of a concrete surface, the permittee shall construct a concrete foundation and shall restore the reinforcement and the concrete pavement as directed by the Township Engineer.
(g) 
In the case of any special condition, the permittee shall restore the trench or opening as directed by the permitting authority. In any case, if the Township is required to restore the pavement, the final charges, based on the schedule of costs, shall be billed to the permittee on the completion of the work by the Township.
(h) 
All driveways shall be constructed in accordance with Chapter 145, Land Use, § 145-30.
A. 
Each applicant for a permit for such opening shall post a cash or surety company bond with the Township to cover the estimated costs of closing the particular opening for which the application is being made, according to the schedule of estimated costs as from time to time may be set by the Township Committee.
B. 
Each such surety bond shall be executed by the permittee as principal therein, and the surety company shall be the surety therein, which surety company shall be one licensed to do business in the State of New Jersey.
C. 
Upon completion of the project by the permittee and the restoration of the public road, street or highway in accordance with this chapter, the permittee shall receive back his said performance bond upon proper written application therefor and upon approval thereof by the Township Committee and upon posting of the maintenance bond or cash described in § 180-4C.
A. 
A schedule of fees from time to time may by resolution of the Township Committee be fixed, determined and established as being the fees to be paid the Township for the issuance of permits and for other municipal services in connection with the servicing of such permits and the proper restoration of such openings and trenches.
B. 
Such fees shall accompany the applications when filed with the Township or its representative.
C. 
The fees referred to in Subsection A hereof shall be paid to and become the property of the Township and shall be turned over by the Township Clerk to the Township Treasurer within 48 hours, accompanied by a written statement of the source of each fee.
Unless otherwise specified for the Township Engineer, the Public Works Superintendent shall be the agent and representative of this Township to:
A. 
Receive all applications, fees and bonds hereunder.
B. 
Inspect the sites of the proposed openings or trenches.
C. 
Inspect openings or trenches, warning guards, barricades, signs and lights maintained or to be maintained at the respective sites by the permittee.
D. 
Inspect the closing of openings or trenches and the restoration of public roads, streets and highways.
E. 
Notify the permittee or the Township, or both, of any failure, refusal or neglect on the part of the permittee or his employees or representatives to comply herewith.
F. 
Make complaint of and prosecute for and on behalf of the Township any offense under this chapter.
G. 
Administer the provisions of this chapter for and on behalf and in the name of this Township, under the direction of and for the Township Committee.
H. 
Inspect the opening at the end of the maintenance period and report any discrepancies. Upon receipt of a favorable report with respect to the condition of the opening from the Public Works Superintendent, the Township Committee shall discharge the maintenance bond or return the cash deposit, as the case may be.
Nothing in this chapter shall be understood or construed by any permittee or other person to absolve any permittee or his employees, agents or contractors of any responsibility for any damage done to any person or property in opening or digging a trench in any public road, street or highway.
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.
[Adopted 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 18-03]
A. 
Permit required. No person, company, firm or corporation shall construct, relocate, replace, or perform maintenance on any telecommunication facility that involves a DAS or SNN within the municipal right-of-way without first receiving permit approval (See Application Form 180-12.[1]) from the governing body.
[1]
Editor's Note: Form 180-12 is on file in the Township offices.
B. 
Permit duration. Unless the use or improvements have commenced within six months from the date of the issuance of the permit or prior to an ordinance change affecting the issuance of the permit, whichever occurs first, the permit shall be deemed void and of no effect. However, nothing shall prevent requesting the issuance of another permit which would then be evaluated in accordance with the existing land use regulations at the time application for said zoning permit is submitted. An applicant may request an approved unexpired permit be extended for up to six months when the applicant is the same and no changes have been made to the ordinance or the proposed improvements. The application fee must be paid: however, the governing body may approve a request to waive the review/inspection fee.
C. 
Outside agency approvals. All necessary construction permits and outside agency approvals must be obtained from the proper officials having jurisdiction prior to and subsequent installation.
D. 
Applications.
(1) 
Complete permit application. In the event that the application is not certified to be complete within 45 days of the date of its submission, the application shall be deemed complete upon the expiration of the forty-five-day period for purposes of commencing the applicable time period, unless the application lacks information indicated on a checklist adopted by ordinance and provided to the applicant; and the municipal agency or its authorized committee or designee has notified the applicant, in writing, of the deficiencies in the application within 45 days of submission of the application.
(a) 
At the discretion of the Township, the separate permit required for each location where work is being performed may be waived in the case of a public utility making numerous improvements.
(2) 
Applications for telecommunication improvements within the municipal right-of-way shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application (Form 180-12) and supporting documentation to the Township Administrative Officer, or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant.
(3) 
The application and sketch plan shall be reviewed by the Township Engineer and the temporary traffic control plan (TTCP) shall be reviewed by the Traffic Safety Division prior to the issuance of any permit by the governing body. The Township Engineer and Traffic Safety Division may assist in the determination of a complete application and prepare reports regarding approval or denial of the application.
E. 
Submission/checklist items. Submit 10 paper copies and two electronic copies on USB drive:
(1) 
Executed use agreement with owner of existing utility pole.
(2) 
Executed right-of-way agreement with the municipality.
(3) 
Completed Application Form 180-12 (telecommunications facilities within the municipal right-of-way) and the following:
(a) 
Survey showing property lines, existing conditions, including all underground utilities within 25 feet of the proposed improvements;
(b) 
Plans/s and construction details of improvements;
(c) 
Existing conditions site photos;
(d) 
Equipment specifications;
(e) 
Traffic safety control plan;
(f) 
Project description.
(4) 
Completed street opening permit application. (If needed, see Article I, Chapter 180.)
F. 
General requirements.
(1) 
Equipment and antennas shall meet the following requirements:
(a) 
To improve safety and reduce visual obtrusiveness, equipment cabinets and other facility improvements shall be located underground where sufficient space is provided within the ROW and outside the cartway. Any equipment installed on a utility pole or above existing grade shall be installed as to not obstruct any sight triangles at intersections or driveways. Equipment must not extend beyond the ROW.
(b) 
All cables/wires serving the wireless communications facility shall be installed in underground conduits.
(c) 
Antennas may be internally mounted; flush mounted; or mounted on top of the existing utility poles.
[1] 
Antennas mounted onto utility poles should not extend more than three feet from the utility pole.
[2] 
Antennas mounted on top of utility poles should not extend more than six feet from the top of the utility pole.
(d) 
The antenna and supporting electrical and mechanical equipment must be of a neutral color that is identical to, or compatible with, the color of the supporting structure so as to make the antenna and related equipment as visually unobtrusive as possible.
(e) 
As-built plans showing the location of all underground equipment and cables/wires serving the wireless communications facility shall be submitted to the Township upon completion of the installation.
G. 
Fees:
(1) 
Application fee.
(a) 
Application fee (per pole/installation): $100.
(2) 
Review/inspection fee.
(a) 
Review fee (per pole/installation): $750.
H. 
Notice of proposed telecommunications facilities; protection of existing structures. It shall be the duty of the permittee to give notice of the proposed improvements to any company whose pipes, conduits or other structures are laid in the portion of the street to be opened. Such notice shall be given at least 24 hours before commencing such opening. The permittee shall, at their own expense, carefully support, maintain in operation and protect from injury such pipes, conduits or other structures. If any damage is caused to such structures, the permittee shall restore them at their own expense in accordance with the standards set forth by the owner of the affected utility.
I. 
Road closing. Written permission to close a road to traffic must first be secured from the Township Clerk and the State Police, and such permission shall only be valid for the time specified. The permittee may be required to give notification of such closing to various public agencies and to the general public.
J. 
(Reserved)
K. 
Enforcement; violations and penalties.
(1) 
The provisions set forth under this article shall be enforced by the State Police, Township Code Enforcement Officer, Zoning Officer. Construction Code Official, authorized agents of the Township, or other official so designated by the Township Committee.
(2) 
Any person, contractor or utility committing a violation of this section shall be subject to a fine of $500 for a first offense; $1,000 for a second offense; $1,500 for a third offense. Any subsequent violation shall be subject to the penalty and, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the judge. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense.