[Ord. No. 2018-12; amended 5-26-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-13]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
BICYCLE BOULEVARD
A traffic-calmed street where bicyclists are afforded an enhanced level of safety and comfort.
BICYCLE LANE OR BIKE LANE
A portion of roadway that has been designated for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists by pavement markings and, if used, signs. It is intended for one-way travel, usually in the same direction as the adjacent traffic lane, unless designed as a contra-flow lane.
DEBRIS
Leaves, branches, logs, ashes, dirt, litter or other material, including but not limited to bulky household waste, tires and construction debris as defined in Section 10A-5 of the "Code of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, 1974", and yard waste.
DISTRIBUTOR
Any person, association of persons, firm or corporation, responsible, in whole or in part, jointly or severally, for placing, locating, installing or maintaining a newspaper vending machine in a public right-of-way or public place in the municipality of Princeton.
ENGINEER OR MUNICIPAL ENGINEER
The municipal engineer of the municipality of Princeton, or other person designated by the Mayor and Council of the municipality to act in that capacity.
HIGHWAY
Every way or place of whatever nature open to the use of the public as a matter of right for purposes of travel, including sidewalks, curbs and gutters.
NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE
Any machine, rack, self-service or coin-operated box, stand, rack, container, storage unit or any other dispenser installed, utilized and maintained for the purpose of offering for sale and distribution newspapers, news periodicals, news magazines and any other similar publications.
NEWSPAPER, NEWS PERIODICAL AND NEWS MAGAZINE
Any newspaper, periodical or magazine of general circulation as defined by general law; any newspaper, periodical or magazine duly entered with the Post Office Department of the United States, in accordance with federal statute or regulation; and any newspaper periodical or magazine filed and recorded with any recording officer as required by general law.
OWNER
A person who holds the legal title to the premises, or in event the premises are the subject of an agreement of sale or lease, whereby the control of the premises is vested in the vendee or lessee, such vendee or lessee shall be deemed the owner for the purposes of this Chapter.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this State subject to municipal jurisdiction.
PRINCETON ENGINEERING DESIGN STANDARDS
The design standards as described in Section 19-1.3 hereafter.
ROADWAY
As used in this Chapter, that portion of any street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.
SHARED LANE
A lane of a roadway that is open to both bicycle and motor vehicle travel.
SHARED USE PATH
A bikeway physically separated from motor vehicle traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way. Shared use paths may also be used by pedestrians, skaters, wheelchair users, joggers, and other non-motorized users. Most shared use paths are designed for two-way travel.
SIDEWALK
Any surface provided for the exclusive use of pedestrians, including the area between the curb of any street and the property line adjacent thereto, or, if there is no curb, the area between the edge of the street and the property line adjacent thereto, and shall include the public right-of-way along such street or sidewalk.
STREET
Any road, highway, public way, public alley, easement, sidewalk, shared use path or other right-of-way accepted or maintained by the municipality as a public street and dedicated to public use, as well as any state or county road or highway over which the municipality has acquired jurisdiction by agreement.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported upon a highway.
[Ord. No. 2018-12]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, place, maintain or continue, or cause to be placed, maintained or continued, any debris or obstruction of any kind upon any part of the public streets, sidewalks, shared use paths, curbs and gutters, of the municipality for any length of time whatsoever, unless as may be specifically permitted in accordance with this Code or other municipal ordinance, or upon receipt of the approval of the Mayor and Council. Such approval may be revoked at any time by the Mayor and Council. A change of ownership of the subject property will not require re-approval of the encroachment by the Mayor and Council. Particular restrictions shall be placed upon awnings, retaining walls, vaults, flower tubs, trash receptacles, exhaust vents and air-conditioning vents as set forth below. Any outdoor displays or advertisements in existence at the time of adoption of this ordinance must comply with the standards set forth herein, regardless of any prior approval which may have been given by the Mayor and Council for same.
(1) 
Awnings must meet all requirements of the Uniform Construction Code. No sign, advertisement or object of any kind may be hung from an awning. Applicants seeking approval for awning installation at properties located in an Historic Preservation District must also make application to the Historic Preservation Commission;
(2) 
Applicants seeking approval for the installation of retaining walls, vaults, flower tubs, air-conditioning units, exhaust units and trash receptacles at properties located in an Historic Preservation District must also make application to the Historic Preservation Commission. A change of ownership of the property will not require reapproval of the existing encroachment.
(b) 
Exceptions. An approval from the Mayor and Council shall not be required in the following circumstances:
(1) 
Outdoor displays of books, flowers, plants, vegetables and newspapers shall be permitted provided that the display shall not exceed a total length of 30 feet along the principal frontage or facade of the area occupied by the business, shall be placed within a distance of no more than 36 inches from the building face at any point along the building and that a minimum of five feet of an unobstructed sidewalk area must be maintained;
(2) 
Where such obstruction is temporary and caused by the loading or unloading of goods, wares and merchandise to or from vehicles, and when such obstruction exists for no longer space of time as necessary and unavoidable for the purposes of transportation, a reasonable portion of the right-of-way may be so occupied;
(3) 
Receptacles for garbage, refuse and recycling from property in the municipality when placed in accordance with the standards set forth in Chapter 15 of the "Code of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, 1974";
(4) 
Trash receptacles installed by establishments open to the public in accordance with this Code or other ordinance shall be permitted;
(5) 
Temporary obstructions as may be placed or maintained by public utility corporations, or their agents or employees, in the maintenance, adjustment, repair or replacement of their service facilities pursuant to state law and existing easement agreements; and
(6) 
Placement of a temporary free-standing advertisement sign in accordance with the appropriate provisions of this Code, including but not limited to Section 17A-368 of the "Code of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, 1974".
(c) 
The following procedures shall apply in cases where any person has violated subsections 19-1.2(a) or (b):
(1) 
Issuance of summons and complaint (prior written notice not required):
a. 
In the event the debris creates a traffic or public safety hazard, or violates the provisions of the "Stormwater Management Planning Regulations," N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.1 et seq., the municipality may issue a complaint and summons returnable in municipal court without any prior notice to the violator; and
b. 
In such cases the debris may be removed by or under the direction of the municipal engineer, director of public works, or designee of one or both, and the cost of same shall be charged to the violator.
(2) 
Issuance of summons and complaint (prior written notice required):
a. 
In the event of any violation of subsections 19-1.2(a) or (b) other than one identified in subsection 19-1.2(c)(1)a above, the municipality shall provide written notice to the violator that there is a violation of subsection 19-1.2(a) or (b) as appropriate prior to issuing a complaint and summons returnable in municipal court; and
b. 
Only if the violator shall refuse or neglect to remove the debris within seven days of the date of the written notice may the municipality issue a complaint and summons returnable in municipal court, without any required further notice to the violator; and
c. 
In such cases the debris may be removed by or under the direction of the municipal engineer, director of public works, or designee of one or both, and the cost of same shall be charged to the violator.
(3) 
For each violation of this Section, the violator shall be subject to such fines and other penalties as provided in Section 1-6 of this Code. Repeat offenders shall be subject to additional fines and other penalties as provided in Section 1-6 of this Code.
[Ord. No. 2018-12]
(a) 
The Princeton Engineering Department is authorized to use the current editions of the AASHTO Design Guides, NACTO Design Guides, "NJDOT Roadway Design Manual" and "State of New Jersey Complete Streets Design Guide," and their included reference publications, for the design of geometric improvements within the public right of way (collectively referenced in this Section as the "Design Manuals"). As used in this Section and Chapter, the phrase "Princeton Engineering Design Standards" shall refer to the Design Manuals.
(b) 
The Princeton Engineering Design Standards are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this Code. Said documents shall also be maintained in the office of the engineer for review and/or copying during the normal business hours of the municipality.