From and after the effective date of this article, it shall
be and is hereby required of every owner or owners of real property
within the Borough of Green Lane, their respective agents, employees
or contractors who or which construct, reconstruct or repair any such
curb or sidewalk, to comply with and follow the regulations and requirements
hereinafter set forth.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord.
No. 92-3]
The following regulations pertaining to curbing shall represent
the minimum standards for the construction of such facilities:
A. Foundation. The foundation for the base of the concrete curb shall
be on firm subsoil. All soft and yielding materials shall be removed
or replaced with materials to give a firm bearing or curb shall be
extended to such depth as will give firm bearing.
B. Materials. The curbs shall be constructed of cement concrete having
a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 3,000 pounds per square inch
and shall be placed in accordance with the prescribed standards of
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
C. Dimensions.
(1) The width of the curb at the top shall be a minimum of seven inches
and the base eight inches and the curb shall have a depth of 22 inches
or to a firm bearing, whichever is greater.
(2) Expansion joints shall be installed at least every 30 feet using
3/4-inch premolded expansion joint material. Contraction joints shall
be either hand formed or sawed and shall be installed at uniform lengths
no less than four feet and no greater than 15 feet.
(3) The taper shall be on the street side of the curb, except that where
existing adjacent curbs in then excellent condition have a vertical
face on the street side, then the taper may be on the pavement side
of the curb.
D. Curb returns. The minimum curb radius at street intersections shall
be 20 feet; provided, however, where buildings or other existing conditions
shall make it impracticable, the radius may be reduced, at the discretion
of the Borough Council or the Borough Engineer as its authorized agent,
to a radius of not less than 10 feet.
E. Depressed curbs for driveways.
(1) Where the curb is to be depressed for driveways or other type of
private cartways, there shall be a maximum depression on the street
fact of the curb of 5 1/2 inches based on the overall height
of seven inches from gutter to top, and when being depressed along
a State highway where the standard height from gutter to top of curb
is eight inches, the maximum depression shall be not more than 6 1/2
inches less than that on the street face of the curb.
(2) The width of the depressed portion of curbing shall be governed by
the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough, in conformity
with building and zoning regulations. However, no curb may be depressed
at a curb return or at street or alley intersections, nor may the
length of the depressed curb exceed 35 feet.
F. Facilities for the handicapped.
(1) Whenever curbing in constructed or reconstructed, there shall be
installed, at each point where such curbing intersects a crosswalk
in the abutting cartway a ramp from the surface of the roadway to
the top of the curb so as to make the transition from the street to
sidewalk easily negotiable for handicapped persons in wheelchairs
and for other persons who may have difficulty in making the required
step up or down from curb level to street level.
(2) All such ramps shall be constructed or installed in accordance with
design specifications therefore prepared by the Department of Transportation.
The design standard for such ramps, as prepared by the Department
of Transportation. The design standards for such ramps, as prepared
by the Department of Transportation shall be maintained by the Borough
Secretary who shall provide copies thereof to any property owner whose
property abuts a crosswalk in any Borough street and applies for a
permit to construct or reconstruct curbing.
[Amended 8-10-1993 by Ord. No. 93-12]
The following regulations pertaining to sidewalks shall represent
the minimum standards for the construction of such facilities:
A. Foundation. The foundation for the bed of the sidewalk shall consist
of four inches of compacted stone wetted as directed. All soft and
yielding or other unsuitable material shall be removed and replaced
with suitable materials, thoroughly compacted. The foundation shall
be inspected by the Borough Engineer or other authorized Borough official
prior to the placement of concrete.
B. Material. The sidewalk shall be constructed of cement concrete having
a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 3,000 pounds per square inch
and shall be placed in accordance with the prescribed standards of
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
C. Drainage. Satisfactory outlets for drainage of abutting structures
or subsoil conditions shall be provided, but under no condition shall
depressed gutters be constructed transversely to the concrete walk.
D. Joints. Expansion joints shall be installed at least every 30 feet
and at junctions with existing sidewalk, using 3/8-inch premolded
expansion joint material. The slabs between the expansion joints shall
be divided into blocks five feet in length by scoring transversely.
The minimum width of the slab shall be five feet.
E. Elevations.
(1) All curbs and sidewalks to be constructed or repaired shall be constructed
in accordance with grades and elevations approved by the Borough Engineer,
and not otherwise.
(2) The surface of the sidewalk shall be pitched toward the curb on a
gradient of 1/4-inch to the foot, with the plane of the curb juncture
to the curbline.
(3) At such places on the points where an existing adjacent sidewalk
was poured as an integral part of the curb, the plane of the walk
shall be made to conform to such existing walk, if in good condition.
F. Finish. The concrete surface shall be given a granular finish by
rubbing with a wood float without the addition of cement to the surface.
An edger having a 1/4-inch radius shall be used for edging all joints.
The depth of the sidewalk concrete shall be a minimum of four inches.
G. Mailbox supports. Property owners shall be permitted to bore holes
in the sidewalk fronting their homes and businesses for the insertion
of galvanized pipe designed to hold a postal mailbox. In addition
to meeting all criteria imposed upon such structures by the United
States Postal Service, the pipe utilized shall in no instance exceed
three inches in diameter, the center of the hole bored into the sidewalk
for acceptance of this pipe shall not be located more than 18 inches
inward from the line where the curb meets the street and the borehole
shall be sealed around the pipe with material identical to that removed
from the hole during the boring process.
General regulations pertaining to construction or repair of
sidewalks and curbs are as follows:
A. Forms.
(1) The forms for curbs shall be of an approved metal type, except that
wood forms consisting of 1 1/2-inch surface planks may be used,
with the approval of the Borough Engineer, on sharp curves and short
tangent sections. Forms for sidewalks shall be of metal or of wood
consisting of two-inch planks surfaced on the inside and top. All
forms shall be cleaned thoroughly and treated with approved material
to prevent the concrete from adhering thereto. Materials which will
adhere to or discolor exposed face of concrete shall not be used.
All forms shall extend for the entire depth of the concrete and shall
be set accurately to grade in such a manner as to prevent settlement,
displacement or springing due to pressure of the concrete. Forms that
have become worn, bent or otherwise damaged shall not be used. Any
written determination by the Borough Engineer that any such forms
are unsuitable shall be final, and any use of such forms subsequent
to such designation for construction of curbing or sidewalks within
the Borough shall be considered a separate offense and punishable
after conviction as hereinafter provided.
(2) Forms shall remain in place for a minimum of 24 hours after the concrete
has been placed. Brush finishing or plastering will not be permitted
and all such concrete sections shall be removed and replaced. Minor
defects, upon approval of the Borough Engineer, may be filled with
mortar composed of one part cement and two parts sand.
B. Structures. Where existing structures such as utility poles, light
or sign standards and fire hydrants are within sidewalk area, the
concrete shall be scored in a block eight inches wider than maximum
dimension at sidewalk elevation around such structures. Expansion
joint material shall be placed around all structures within or adjacent
to the sidewalk area prior to placing of the concrete. Where expansion
joint material is required by this and other sections of this article,
it is understood to be a premolded expansion joint 1/4-inch in thickness
is to extend the entire length of the concrete.
C. Curb returns and inlets. Where a curved curb joins a tangent curb
and where an inlet joins other curb, two reinforcing bars 1/2-inch
in diameter and 24 inches in length shall be placed in the center
of the concrete curb and three inches and nine inches below the top,
respectively, in such a manner as to extend equal distances on each
side of the joint.
D. Fixing elevations and locations by Borough Engineer. The initial
fixing of elevation and location of curbing shall be by the Borough
Engineer without expense to the owner; but upon repair or reconstruction
whenever fixing of elevation or location may be required, the same
shall be fixed by the Borough Engineer at the property owner's
expense.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord.
No. 92-3]
If an owner of property within the Borough of Green Lane who
has been served with a notice to construct in accordance with the
terms hereof fails to comply with the mandate of such notice, then
the Borough may proceed in either or both of the following manners:
A. The Borough may cause the mandated construction, reconstruction or
repair of curbing and/or sidewalk to be done at the cost of such noncomplying,
abutting property owner and may collect the cost thereof, together
with all charges, expenses and 10% additional by action in assumpsit
or by the filing of a municipal claim therefor against the benefited
property.
B. The Borough may, by its Code Enforcement Officer, or by any police
officer serving the Borough, institute proceedings before the Magisterial
District Judge for the magisterial district within which the Borough
is situated, against such noncomplying, abutting property owner, who,
upon conviction at a summary trial shall be subject to a fine for
violating this article in the amount set forth in § 383-14
hereof. Each day of noncompliance after termination of the period
as set forth in the notice to construct shall be considered a separate
violation hereof.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord.
No. 92-3]
Before any curb or sidewalk shall be constructed or reconstructed,
the owner shall apply to the Code Enforcement Officer for a permit.
Permits shall not be required for repairs only.
A variance from the provisions of this article may be granted,
in the discretion of Borough Council, in those cases where, because
of the grade, elevation or location of streets, adjoining land or
other improvements, unnecessary and substantial expense or inconvenience
to the public or to owners or tenants will result from a strict and
literal application of the terms of this article.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord.
No. 92-3; 6-12-1995 by Ord. No. 95-4]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions
of this article, shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine
of not less than $50 and not more than $600 plus costs and, in default
of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to
exceed 30 days. The failure to obtain a permit before commencing construction
or reconstruction and the violation of each regulation set forth above
shall be construed as a separate offense, subjecting the person responsible
to the fine and penalty herein provided.