The Board of Supervisors finds that it is in the public interest to regulate the design, location and construction of access driveways in such a manner so as to facilitate the safe and unobstructed movement of vehicular traffic on Township Roadways.
The following words and phases when used in these regulations shall, for the purpose of these regulations, have the following meanings, respectively, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Any means for passage of vehicles between property abutting on a Township roadway and the roadway. It shall be deemed to include only that part of the driveway that lies within the established right-of-way limits of the Township roadway. It will also include such drainage structures as may be necessary for the proper construction and maintenance thereof.
The area, and only that area, within the permittee's property or property line extended.
Any use other than residential, including but not limited to commercial, industrial, public and quasi-public.
The distance, at an intersection of two roadways between the near edge of the access driveway approach and the point of intersection of the pavement edges or the curbline extended.
That section of the roadway right-of-way between the pavement edge or curb and the property line, which occurs between driveways.
The edge of the main travelled portion of any street or roadway, exclusive of shoulder or berm.
Any natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.
The distance measured along the pavement edge or curb between the property frontage boundary line and the near edge of the driveway.
Any public way generally not less than 20 feet in width, located within a municipality, which affords access to the side or rear of buildings in such block.
That section of curb forming an arc beginning at the end of the driveway and continuing to the throat of the driveway.
A structure or structures containing a living unit or units, providing independent living facilities including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
An area where roadways have been built to typical rural highway standards without sidewalks and curbs.
The lateral distance between the right-of-way line and the roadside business building, liquid fuel pump island, display stand or other object, the use of which will result in space for vehicles to stop or park between such facilities and the right-of-way line.
The intersection of the shoulder slope with the side slope or ditch slope.
A permanent hard paved walkway, continuous for a reasonable distance and integral part of the roadway development, solely for the use of pedestrians.
Any aggregate, such as gravel, stone, slag, or mixtures of such aggregates placed in such a manner as to provide a smooth, stable, all-weather surface not subject to undue raveling.
All roads and highways taken over by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as state highways under provision of any act of Assembly. The term shall include any street in any city, borough of incorporated town that has been taken over as a state highway.
All roads taken over by the Township under any acts of Assembly, Township ordinance, or court order.
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.
A.
These regulations shall apply to all access driveways that enter Township Roadways.
B.
Permit required; application.
(1)
No person, firm or corporation shall hereinafter construct, build, establish or maintain any driveway without first having submitted a written application to the Township having jurisdiction over the roadway to be intersected for approval as to the location, design and mode of construction of such driveway and for permission to proceed.
(2)
Application for permit must be made in writing upon forms furnished by the Township. Said application shall contain the name and address of the person, firm, or corporation making the application, the name of the contractor or person who is to construct said driveway and the proposed location and dimensions of said driveway. Complete plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Township at the time of application. Prior to the issuance of any permit, the driveway site for which application is made shall be inspected by the Township Supervisors or their agents.
(3)
The construction layout of a proposed driveway will not be started prior to receipt of a written permit approving the location, design, and mode of construction thereof, signed by the designated representative of the Township and containing such reasonable terms and conditions as the Township may deem necessary to impose.
(4)
In addition to any other applicable fee(s), the applicant shall furnish financial security in the amount of $250, unless applicant has already posted financial security. The financial security for the driveway shall be returned by the Township within a reasonable amount of time after inspection and approval by the Township roadmaster as set forth in § 295-709 below.
[Added 10-10-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-2]
A.
All driveways, adjacent areas, and areas between such driveways including, but not limited to, channelization, paving, and drainage, shall be located, designed and constructed in such a manner as to be consistent and compatible with the design, maintenance and drainage of the Township roadway and shall incorporate into the driveway design and mode of construction elements that will accomplish this compatibility. No driveway may interfere with or be inconsistent with the design, maintenance and drainage of the Township roadway.
C.
To avoid the causation of the above-listed situations, driveways shall be located where the roadway alignment and profile are most favorable. Factors determining the favorability of road alignment and profile include, but are not limited to, the following:
E.
The location of a driveway near a signalized intersection that has an actuated traffic signal may include a requirement that the permittee provide (without expense to the Township) additional detectors for the control of traffic movements from the permittee's establishment or for the relocation of existing detectors.
F.
Where roadway curbs exist, driveway approaches shall be installed two inches above the adjacent highway or gutter grade to maintain the proper drainage.
G.
In order to enable vehicles to turn around before entering the highway, a "loop" or "tee" must be constructed to facilitate the vehicle turning around.
A.
The permissible number, arrangement and width of driveways shall be governed in part by the roadway frontage of the abutting private property. The number of driveways permitted shall be the minimum number required to adequately serve the needs of the abutting property.
B.
Frontages of abutting private property of 50 feet or less shall be limited to one driveway.
C.
No more than two driveways may be provided to any single property, tract, or business establishment, except where the frontage of the abutting private property exceeds 300 feet in length or where the frontage of the abutting private property is along a divided highway.
D.
All second or subsequent driveways for an abutting private property shall be only with the approval of the Township Board of Supervisors.
[Amended 5-10-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-2]
A.
The location and angle of an access driveway approach in relation to the highway intersection shall be such that a vehicle:
B.
Where the access driveway approach and roadway pavement meet, flaring of the approach may be necessary to allow safe, easy turning of the vehicle when entering or approaching from the driveway, with a minimum radius of five feet on both sides or along the chord of said radius.
[Amended 5-10-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-2]
C.
No part of any access driveway shall be constructed outside of the applicants frontage.
D.
Each roadside business establishment shall provide sufficient parking or storage space off the right-of-way to prevent the storage of vehicles on the driveway or the backing up of traffic on the travelled roadway.
E.
No part of the roadway right-of-way shall be used for servicing of vehicles, displays or conducting a private business. The area between the edge of the pavement and the right-of-way line shall be kept clear of all buildings, sales exhibits, business signs, parking areas, service equipment, etc.
F.
Location of improvements.
(1)
Improvements on private property adjacent to the right-of-way shall be so located that parking, stopping and maneuvering of vehicles on the right-of-way will not be necessary in order for vehicles or patrons to be served properly. For example, liquid fuel pump islands installed to service stations adjacent to the roadway shall be located not less than 35 feet outside of the right-of-way line, when a driveway is established and the permit is issued.
(2)
This subsection is not intended to imply that, should the Township roadway be widened at a later date, that the fuel pumps have to be moved back in order to comply with the thirty-five-foot minimum distance from the right-of-way line. However, a greater distance is recommended to provide sufficient space for larger vehicles.
A.
Access driveways relative to limited access rights-of-way. No access driveway shall be located within 30 feet of the terminus of a limited access highway or within 30 feet of a limited access highway right-of-way line measured along the pavement edge.
B.
Angle of access driveway approach.
(2)
Single access driveway approaches shall be positioned at right angles (90°) to the highway or as near thereto as site conditions permit. When two access driveways are constructed on the same property frontage and used for one-way operation, each of these driveways may be placed at an angle less than a right angle, but not less than 45° to the highway, except that along divided highways where no openings are allowed in the median the minimum angle may be 30°.
C.
Property line clearance. No access driveway shall be located within five feet of the property frontage boundary line, except in those cases where an access driveway is common to two adjacent properties.
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D.
Intermediate island between multiple driveways.
(2)
An intermediate island shall separate all multiple driveways opening upon the same highway. The island area shall extend from the shoulder line, ditch line or curbline to the right-of-way line. The minimum length for an intermediate island measured along the right-of-way line shall be 10 feet. The minimum length measured along the shoulder line, ditch line, or curbline shall be 20 feet in residential areas or 15 feet in commercial areas.
(3)
Intermediate island area shall be clearly defined. Intermediate islands of 20 feet or less measured along the shoulder line, ditch line or curbline, shall be defined by a permanent-type curb. This curb shall be placed two feet back of the shoulder line or ditch line on uncurbed highways and shall be extended to the right-of-way line.
(4)
Additional curbing may be required at the discretion of the Township Engineer.
E.
Radius curb.
[Amended 5-10-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-2]
F.
Setback.
(2)
It is recommended that all liquid fuel service stations, business establishments and other roadside developments other than private residences shall be located at sufficient distances from the right-of-way line as to provide ample driving area and parking off the right-of-way, prevent storage of vehicles on the access driveways and the backing up and turning of vehicles on the highway pavement.
G.
Width of access driveway approaches.
[Amended 7-12-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-2]
(2)
The width of access driveways shall not exceed the above dimensions when measured at right angles to the center line of driveways. Where a commercial access driveway approach and the highway pavement meet, flaring of the driveway shall be required to allow safe and easy turning of the vehicle either into or out of a commercial development. Service station driveways shall not have a flared width greater than 65 feet.
H.
Curb (when required or installed).
(2)
In urban or rural areas where curb exists, the existing type of curb shall be matched. The line and grade of the existing curb shall be maintained.
(3)
Where the property abutting roadway right-of-way will be used for parking area the Township may require curb to be placed along the right-of-way line. This curb will be required to confine the traffic movement to the access driveway and to prohibit encroachment upon sidewalks or shoulder area.
I.
Sight distance. Access driveways shall be located as indicated on the attached charts (Figures 1 and 2)[1] at a point of optimum sight distance along the roadway within the property frontage limits. The profile of the driveway and the grading of the right-of-way area shall provide maximum sight distance so that the operator of a vehicle departing from such driveway will have optimum visibility in either direction along the roadway as provided in the attached chart (Figure 3).[2]
[Amended 5-10-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-2]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Figures are included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: Figure 3 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
J.
Slope of access driveway.
(1)
All driveways shall be constructed in such a manner as not to impair drainage within the roadway right-of-way, alter the stability of the roadway subgrade or materially change the drainage of adjacent areas. Where open shoulders or berms exist the grade of a paved access driveway(s) shall slope away from the highway pavement at the same rate as the existing shoulder (unless advised to the contrary by the Township Engineer) for the prevailing width of the shoulder. The gradient of a driveway beyond this point (within the highway right-of-way) shall be not less than 1/2 inch per foot.
(2)
Driveway ramps may extend from the face of the curb up to the outer edge of the sidewalk area in those cases where a planted area occurs between multiple driveways.
(3)
The rate of slope for such driveway ramps preferably should not exceed one inch per foot. Where conditions are such that the one inch per foot slope is not obtainable the sidewalk area of the driveway may be lowered sufficiently to obtain the allowable ramp slope and the sidewalk may be warped up to meet the normal sidewalk grade, at a rate of slope not to exceed 3/8 inch per foot.
(4)
Where a drainage ditch or swale exists, adequate pipe shall be installed under the driveway (by the permittee) in accordance with Township specifications. Minimum diameter of such drainage pipe shall be 15 inches unless otherwise specified by the Township Engineer.
[Amended 7-12-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-2]
K.
Access driveway pavement. Access driveway shall be appropriately surfaced between the travelled road and the business or service area with 10 inches of compacted stone, gravel or slag constructed according to the specifications set forth in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Form 408, or a higher material when specified by the Township Engineer.
L.
Deceleration and acceleration lanes.
(1)
The shoulder or berm area leading to the entrance driveway of a business establishment or other roadside development in rural areas may be paved for a suitable distance, to permit vehicles to decelerate or accelerate in safety when entering or leaving the property. Such paving shall be limited to the area in front of the abutting property and shall be done by the property owner, at his expense, in accordance with Township specifications.
(2)
Special attention will be given to permit requests for the construction of access driveways to large business establishments, shopping centers, outdoor theaters, etc., particularly when the volume of traffic generated may necessitate acceleration and deceleration lanes, standby lanes, "jughandles," channelization, etc. In all such cases, the permittee will be advised that costs incident to the construction of such additional roadway improvements shall be at no expense to the Township. Such work shall be constructed under the supervision and inspection of the Township Engineer and/or the Township Board of Supervisors.
M.
Removal of median barriers.
(1)
It is the policy of the Township to refuse requests for permits to remove median barriers along any divided highways except in special cases considered to be in the best interest of the public in general, such as a public highway crossing or the construction of a fire or police station adjacent to the divided highway. Requests for the removal of median barriers at schools, public buildings, business establishments, etc., shall not be considered as an exception to this general policy. Particular attention is directed to those individuals who plan to locate a business establishment along a divided highway. They should not anticipate the cutting of a median barriers in order for them to tap the business potential of traffic traveling in the opposite direction.
(2)
Concrete barriers, asphalt barriers and/or earth barriers or separations are included in the above.
All driveways, adjacent areas and areas between such driveways, including but not limited to channelization, paving and drainage installed by the permitted, shall be maintained by the property owner in such a manner as originally designed and in a manner compatible with the design, maintenance and drainage of the Township roadway and the safe and convenient passage of traffic upon the Township roadway.
A.
Work authorized by a Township occupancy permit for construction of an access driveway shall be performed at such time and in such a manner as to conform to all requirements and standards specified therein. Such work will be inspected by a representative of the Township immediately upon receipt of the completion notice from the permittee or at date of expiration of the permit.
B.
If an inspection of the work discloses that it is not being or has not been property performed, the permittee will be notified, in writing, by the Township to take immediate steps, at his own expense, toward placing the work in such condition as to conform to said requirements and standards.
[Amended 5-10-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-2]
Fees for the administration of Article VIII of this chapter shall be as established by the Board of Supervisors by resolution and are subject to change at any time by the Board of Supervisors by further resolution.