[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
The following land subdivision principles, standards and requirements
shall be applied by the Forward Township Planning Commission in evaluating
the plans for proposed subdivisions and land development and shall
be considered as minimum requirements.
2.
Subdividers shall be required to show that adequate consideration
has been given to the provision of adequate rights-of-way and paving
on existing streets, sidewalks, and improvements to existing roads
and streets that border the proposed subdivision, and reserving areas
and easements for facilities normally required in residential sections,
including parks, playgrounds and playfields, open space, common areas,
schools, libraries, churches, and other public buildings; shopping
and local business centers; rights-of-way and easements for storm
and sanitary sewer facilities in those areas that cannot be immediately
joined to the existing storm and sanitary sewer systems of the municipality.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
Land shall be suited for the purpose for which it is to be developed
in accordance with the interest and the purpose of the Township and
local Comprehensive Plans. Land subject to hazards of life, health
and safety shall not be subdivided until such hazards have been reviewed
or corrected.
2.
Land susceptible to flooding, exceptionally high water table, unstable
subsurface conditions, steep or unstable slopes, the presence of high
voltage or high pressure overhead or underground utilities, etc.,
shall not be approved for subdivision or development unless the hazards
have been eliminated or unless the proposed plan shows adequate safeguards
to protect the proposed use of the land. These safeguards include
proof of ability to obtain the necessary permit for sewage disposal,
proof that an adequate source of water supply exists, proof that any
and all structures are sufficiently elevated above the floodplain
elevation for the property, and adequate means of ingress and egress
exists in the event of flooding.
3.
All proposed subdivisions, land developments, and mobile home parks
which lie within an identified 100-year floodplain or which contain
an existing watercourse or identified wetland shall strictly comply
with all state and/or federal laws and regulations, including, but
not limited to, the Flood Plain Management Act.[1] Floodplains, wetlands, and watercourses which are located
within any proposed development shall be clearly delineated on the
plan.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 32 P.S. § 679.101 et seq.
4.
Subdivisions and land developments shall be laid out so as to avoid
the necessity for excessive cut or fill unless specifically warranted
by terrain or location.
5.
Subdivisions shall be laid out so as to have a sufficient amount
of open space or common areas within the development.
6.
Whenever possible, applicants shall preserve trees, groves, watercourses,
scenic points, historic spots and other community assets and landmarks.
7.
All portions of a tract being subdivided or developed shall be taken
up in lots, streets, public lands or other proposed uses so that remnants
and landlocked areas shall not be created.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
Adequate easements or dedications for public service utilities shall
be provided for sewer, water, electric power and gas lines, and similar
services, and no structure or obstruction of any kind shall be placed
or allowed to be placed where it will interfere in any way with an
easement.
2.
No development plan shall be approved or construction commenced unless
the public service utility involved has had ample time to review and
approve the plan. It is the developer's responsibility to contact
and provide the plan of the development to the utility. Exact details
of service and easement requirements shall be supplied by the utility.
3.
Electric Utilities.
A.
The developer shall comply with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
(PUC) order of July 8, 1970, which requires the electric service to
residential developments to be placed underground. All subdivision
and land developments in Forward Township shall comply with this order.
B.
The electric utility easement shall be in accordance with the right-of-way
specifications set forth by the electric utility that is to serve
the development.
4.
Natural Gas, Petroleum Products.
A.
The minimum distance from a natural gas line to a dwelling unit need
be only such distance as required by the applicable transmission or
distributing company. In general, there shall be a minimum distance
of 50 feet, measured in the shortest distance between each proposed
dwelling unit and the center line of any petroleum or petroleum products
or natural gas transmission line which may traverse the subdivision
or development. This requirement may be waived or reduced where topographic
conditions decrease the hazards involved.
B.
The transmission line easement shall be in accordance with the right-of-way
specifications set forth by the transmission or distributing company
serving the development.
5.
Drainageway. Where a subdivision or development is traversed by drainageway,
watercourse, channel or stream, there shall be provided a drainage
easement conforming substantially with the waterline of such drainageway,
watercourse, channel or stream, and of such width as will be adequate
to preserve the unimpeded flow of natural drainage, or for the purpose
of widening, deepening, relocating, improving or protecting such drainage
facilities or for the purpose of installing a storm sewer.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
The developer may be permitted to have installed, in his subdivision
or land development, streetlights as the development is opened. The
developer shall be responsible for the payment for the streetlighting
installation as determined by the electric utility. The streetlighting
installation shall conform to accepted engineering safety standards
and the available equipment used by the electric utility.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
All restrictions, including private covenants, affecting the
uses of the property shall be detailed upon the plan.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
The character and relationship of streets one to the other shall
be consistent with the accompanying illustration of "Representative
Street Types."
|
|
REPRESENTATIVE STREET TYPES
| |
|---|---|
|
1
|
Major street
|
|
2
|
Collector street
|
|
3
|
Local street
|
|
4
|
Marginal access street
|
|
5
|
Cul-de-sac
|
A.
General.
(1)
Local or minor streets in a new development shall be designed
to discourage through traffic.
(2)
Streets shall be extended to the boundaries of the development
where such extension will connect to an existing or recorded street
in an adjacent subdivision or development or represents a logical
connection into undeveloped adjacent land because of the topography
or shape of the adjacent land.
(3)
Streets shall be logically related to the topography so as to
produce usable lots or areas for development, reasonable grades and
preserve the amenities of the site.
(4)
Where a subdivision or development abuts or contains an existing
or proposed major street, the Planning Commission may require marginal
access streets, reverse frontage lots or such treatment as will provide
protection for abutting properties, reduction in the number of intersections
with the major traffic streets, and separation of local and through
traffic.
(5)
If the lots in the development are large enough for resubdivision,
or if a portion of the tract is not subdivided, suitable access and
street openings for such resubdivision shall be provided.
(6)
In general, local and minor streets and collector streets shall
not adjoin into the same side of a major or arterial street at intervals
of less than 800 feet.
(7)
Half streets or partial streets shall be prohibited, except
where a proposed development abuts property along such a street on
the abutting property, the proposed development shall complete the
street and it shall be recorded in the plan.
(8)
Developments of more than 10 acres shall have a minimum of two vehicular
access points to a public road. The same two access points cannot
be over a common waterway or railroad.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
B.
Design criteria.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-2, 10/13/2020]
|
Street Type
|
Minimum Right-of-Way
(feet)
|
Minimum Cartway Width
(feet)
|
Maximum Grade
(percent)
|
Minimum Grade
(percent)
|
Minimum Sight Distance(2)
(feet)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Major arterial
|
As prescribed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
| ||||
|
Collector street(1)
|
50
|
30
|
8%
|
0.75%
|
300
|
|
Local street(1)
|
50
|
24
|
12%
|
0.75%
|
250
|
|
Marginal access(1)
|
50
|
24
|
12%
|
0.75%
|
250
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|
(1)
|
No parking is permitted on the street.
|
|
(2)
|
Sight distance measured along center line of street
at a height as described by PennDOT design manuals.
|
(1)
The Township may permit the maximum grade to exceed 12% where
it is clear that no traffic hazard will be created.
(2)
The right-of-way of existing roads shall be shown by dotted
lines; the area between the existing and proposed right-of-way lines
should be marked "road widening." Where an existing street traverses
or abuts the development, the entire right-of-way required by these
regulations shall be provided. The right-of-way must be measured from
the center line of the existing roadway.
C.
Cul-de-Sac. Cul-de-sac streets shall be permitted only when it is
clear that through traffic at such a street end is not essential to
the street system in that area. In general, cul-de-sac streets shall
not exceed 1,000 feet in length where public water and hydrants are
available and 600 feet in length where no public water system exists.
In all cases, a minimum turning radius of 50 feet with a paved turnaround
must be provided. A vehicle turnaround must be constructed within
75 feet of the entrance of the cul-de-sac over 600 feet in length.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
 |
D.
Intersections.
(1)
Street Intersections. Where two streets intersect a third street
from opposite sides, the distance between the center lines of the
two streets shall be not less than 200 feet, as depicted on the accompanying
illustration. No more than two streets shall intersect at one point.
(2)
Angle of Street Intersections. Streets shall intersect at ninety-degree
angles, except where this may be impractical. Angles less than 90°
may be designed, subject to the approval of the Forward Township Planning
Commission. However, no streets shall intersect at an angle of less
than 60°.
|
(3)
Intersection Curve Radii. The design of curb or edge of pavement
must take into account such conditions as types of turning vehicles,
likely speeds of traffic, angle of turn, number of lanes, and whether
parking is permitted. However, curb or edge of pavement radii must
not be less than the following:
|
Intersections
|
Minimum Simple Curve Radii
(feet)
|
|---|---|
|
Arterial with arterial
|
50 or more determined after consultation with PennDOT
|
|
Arterial with collector
|
35
|
|
Collector with collector
|
35
|
|
Collector with local
|
25
|
|
Local with local
|
20
|
(4)
Clear Sight Triangle. At the intersection of two or more streets,
the driver of a vehicle shall have an unobstructed view, to both his
right and left, of at least 200 feet at arterial streets and 150 feet
on collector and local roads, as measured along the center lines of
the intersecting streets.
|
(5)
Vertical Curves. All changes in street grade for local streets
shall be connected by a vertical curve having a minimum length of
not less than 100 feet. Changes of street grade for collector streets
shall be connected by a vertical curve having a minimum length of
not less than 200 feet, while changes of street grade for major streets
shall be connected by a vertical curve having a minimum length of
not less than 400 feet.
 |
(6)
Street Names. Streets that are extensions, or obviously in alignment
with existing named streets, shall bear the name of the existing streets.
All street names shall be subject to the approval of the Township.
(7)
Additional Right-of-Way Required. Provisions for additional
street width (right-of-way) may be required by the Township in specific
cases for public safety and convenience, for parking in commercial
and industrial areas and in areas of high-density residential development;
and for widening existing streets (right-of-way) where the width does
not meet with the preceding requirements. This also applies to areas
along recreational locations and mailbox clusters.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
(8)
Private Lanes and Driveways.
(a)
Private lanes and driveways shall be permitted only when the
subdivider submits sufficient evidence to the Planning Commission
that there can be no public interest in such private lane or driveway
and when lots have no other feasible access to a public street. The
Planning Commission shall require a statement on the final recorded
plan that the lanes and driveways are to be opened and maintained
at the expense of the subdivider. The minimum right-of-way width shall
be 25 feet.
(b)
Private lanes and driveways shall serve no more than one lot.
No more than one private lane or driveway shall be permitted on any
property existing at the date of adoption of this Part. Subsequent
subdivisions shall not create new opportunities for private lanes
and driveways. Private lanes and driveways entering public streets
shall be graded to prevent stormwater flowing from the driveway or
lane onto the paved portion of the street. The street's gutter line
shall be maintained across the driveway or lane, or stormwater may
pass under, provided the gutter alignment is not compromised and the
pipe under the driveway or lane is of sufficient size to carry the
stormwater flow without creating ponding on the upstream end.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
Lot and block requirements for proposed subdivisions and land developments
submitted to the Planning Commission shall be in conformance with
the following requirements:
A.
Lot Requirements.
(1)
Lot Boundary Lines. Lot boundary lines shall be perpendicular
to, parallel to, or radial to street lines, as the case may be.
(2)
Lot Areas. The size of lots shall conform to the following requirements:
(a)
In all sections of the Township not served by a community sewage
system or a community water system, each lot shall have a minimum
width of 100 feet at the building line and an area of at least two
acres. A second dwelling unit may be permitted. Each dwelling unit
shall have its own separate on-lot sewage treatment system, provided
they meet the provisions of 25 Pa. Code Chapter 73. Standards for
Onlot Sewage Treatment Facilities. No lot shall have more than two
dwelling units.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
(b)
In all sections of the Township where either a community sanitary
sewage system or a community water system, but not both, are provided
or officially authorized to be installed, each lot shall have a minimum
width of 100 feet at the building line, and an area of at least one
acre with one dwelling unless it is an apartment or rental space with
a common property owner. A second dwelling unit on the lot shall not
be permitted.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
(c)
In all sections of the Township served by community sewerage
and water systems, either existing or officially authorized to be
installed, each lot shall have a minimum width of 100 feet at the
building line, and an area of at least 21,780 square feet. A second
dwelling unit on the lot shall not be permitted.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-2, 9/12/2023]
(d)
Multifamily Residential and Nonresidential Lots. Lots intended
for multifamily residential (two or more dwelling units) or nonresidential
use and not served by both a community sewage system, and a community
water system shall have a minimum lot size of 32,670 square feet plus
5,000 square feet per dwelling unit after the first unit with a minimum
yard width of 100 feet at the building line. Lots intended for multifamily
residential (two or more dwelling units) or nonresidential use where
either a community sewage system or a community water system, but
not both, are provided or are officially authorized to be installed
shall have a minimum lot size of 21,750 square feet plus 5,000 square
feet per dwelling unit after the first unit with a minimum yard width
of 100 feet at the building line. Lots intended for multifamily residential
(two or more dwelling units) or nonresidential use and served by a
community sewage system and a community water system, shall have a
minimum lot size of 14,375 square feet plus 5,000 square feet per
dwelling unit after the first unit with a minimum yard width of 100
feet at the building line.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-2, 9/12/2023]
(e)
Minimum Parking Standards.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-4, 9/12/2023]
1)
All multifamily residential and nonresidential commercial and industrial
buildings and developments shall provide off-street parking as required
in the following table of minimum parking standards. If a specific
off-street parking standard is not covered in the table below, then
parking must meet the standards set for by the Institute of Transportation
Engineers (ITE) or other industry recognized and accepted authority.
Any variance requested by a developer/builder to the standards below
must be accompanied by data from the ITE or similar facilities to
validate the variance request.
|
Table of Required Off-Street Parking Spaces
| |
|---|---|
|
Use
|
Parking Spaces Required
|
|
Multifamily Dwelling (Townhouse, Duplex, Quad with 3 or more
bedrooms)
|
3.0 spaces per dwelling unit
|
|
Multifamily Dwelling (Townshouse, Duplex, Quad with 2 or less
bedrooms)
|
2.0 spaces per dwelling unit
|
|
Multifamily dwelling (apartment with 3 or more bedrooms)
|
3.0 spaces per dwelling unit
|
|
Multifamily dwelling (apartment with 2 or less bedrooms)
|
2.0 spaces per dwelling unit
|
|
Retail commercial sales and services
|
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
|
|
Office and business services providing on-site customer services
|
1 space for each employee plus 1 space for each 400 square feet
of floor area
|
|
Office and business services not providing on-site customer
services
|
1 space for each 600 square feet of floor area
|
|
Restaurant with eat-in facilities only
|
0.5 spaces per seat
|
|
Restaurant with drive-in facilities for fast food and banking
with automatic banking machines and drive-in windows
|
1 space per employee plus 5 spaces for each drive-in window
|
|
Medical, dental, eye, clinic offices
|
1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area
|
|
Personal services
|
1 space per 400 square feet of gross floor area
|
|
Industrial, including warehousing, freight terminals, manufacturing,
research, testing, etc.
|
0.5 spaces per employee plus 1 space per 1,000 square feet of
gross floor area
|
|
Institutional
|
3 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area
|
|
Church
|
1 space per full time employee plus 0.25 spaces per seat in
worship area
|
|
Hotel, motel, other lodging
|
1.5 spaces per room
|
|
Self-storage warehouses
|
1 space per 50 storage units plus 1 space per 300 square feet
of office space
|
|
Indoor places of public assembly
|
1 space per 4 seats
|
2)
Each parking space shall be nine feet by 20 feet in size. In
the case of multifamily dwelling unit criteria shown in the table
above, parking spaces inside an unit garage do not count as required
parking spaces above. If driveway parking spaces do not meet the requirement
listed in the table above, then off-street parking spaces must be
provided within the development to achieve the required space minimum.
Access to off-street parking areas shall be limited to well-defined
locations and shall not allow unrestricted access along a street.
Off-street parking areas shall be owned, maintained, and regulated
by the development homeowners' association or similar to identify
and regulate spaces between residents and guests (visitors).
3)
Additionally, off-street parking areas must be provided to serve
parks, green spaces, and open spaces within the development and created
to afford residents of the development a safe place to park without
parking on the street.
(f)
Handicapped Parking Standards. The minimum number of required
accessible parking spaces shall be as shown in the following table.
A minimum of 25% of the required accessible parking spaces shall be
van accessible. The minimum number of van accessible parking spaces
shall be one.
|
Total Parking Spaces in Lot
|
Minimum Accessible Spaces
|
|---|---|
|
1 to 25
|
1
|
|
26 to 50
|
2
|
|
51 to 75
|
3
|
|
76 to 100
|
4
|
|
101 to 150
|
5
|
|
151 to 200
|
6
|
|
201 to 300
|
7
|
|
301 to 400
|
8
|
|
401 to 500
|
9
|
|
501 to 1,000
|
2% of total
|
|
Over 1,000
|
20 plus 1 per 100 spaces over 1,000 spaces
|
(4)
Corner Lots. Corner lots shall, in addition to the preceding
building line requirement, provide a side yard building line of not
less than 20 feet, except in the rear, where a minimum building line
of 25 feet shall be required. Corner lots should be approximately
20% larger in area to accommodate the building lines and provide sufficient
yard area.
(5)
Double Frontage and Reverse Frontage Lots. Double frontage and
reverse frontage lots should be avoided, except where essential to
provide separation of residential development from traffic arteries
or to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation.
A planting screen easement of at least 10 feet, and across which there
shall be no right of access, shall be provided along the line of lots
abutting such a traffic artery or other disadvantageous use.
(6)
Lots on a Curve or Cul-de-Sac. The arc distance on the street
right-of-way shall be not less than 35 feet and the minimum lot width
may be measured along the building line.
(7)
Front on Public Street. All residential lots in subdivisions
shall front on a public street or another officially approved way.
(8)
Minimum side yard shall be 15 feet and minimum rear yard shall
be 20 feet.
(9)
Flag Lots. Flag lots shall not be created when lots can be designed
to provide the full required minimum lot width directly along a public
street. When flag lots are intended, they shall adhere to the following:
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
(a)
The subdivision or resubdivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land
resulting in the creation of more than six lots is permitted to have
one flag lot in the entire subdivided lot, tract or parcel of land.
(b)
The "pole" segment, or access portion, of the flag lot shall maintain
a minimum width of 50 feet and shall not change direction more than
once. The area of the pole segment shall not be included with the
"flag" segment or the body of the lot in satisfying the minimum area,
yard and dimensional requirements. The cartway located within the
pole segment shall maintain a six-foot setback from the property line.
No portion of the pole segment shall be used for on-site sewage disposal
or improvements other than for access.
(c)
The lot line which is most parallel to the street that provides access
shall be designated as the front yard of the flag segment.
B.
Block Requirements.
(1)
In general, all blocks in a subdivision shall have a maximum
length of 1,600 feet, and shall be not less than 250 feet in length.
Blocks subdivided into lots shall be two lot depths in width, except
lots along a major arterial which fronts on an interior street.
(2)
In commercial development or areas, the block layout shall conform,
with due consideration to site conditions, to the best possible layout
to serve the buying public, to permit good traffic circulation and
the parking of cars, to make delivery and pickup efficient, to minimize
the number of traffic entrances and exits on the property, and to
reinforce the best design of the units in the commercial areas.
(3)
The block layout in industrial areas shall be governed by the
most efficient arrangement of space for present and future expansion,
with due regard for worker and customer access parking and site conditions.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
Land proposed for subdivision and land development shall not be developed
or changed by grading, by excavating, or by the removal or destruction
of the natural topsoil, trees or other vegetative cover until an erosion
and sedimentation control plan, as required by Chapter 102 of the
Rules and Regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, "Erosion and Sedimentation Control," has been prepared.
The erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be submitted to the
Forward Township Planning Commission and the Butler County Conservation
District for review and approval, unless a determination has been
made by the Forward Township Board of Supervisors and the Butler County
Conservation District that a plan is not required.
2.
In addition to preparing an erosion and sedimentation control plan,
all persons undertaking an earthmoving activity for a subdivision
or land development shall obtain a land disturbance permit before
commencing any earthmoving activity, as required by Chapter 102 of
the Rules and Regulations of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, "Erosion and Sedimentation Control." Where an earthmoving
activity involves 25 acres or more, a land disturbance permit shall
be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
after review of the permit application by the Forward Township Planning
Commission and the Butler County Conservation District. Where an earthmoving
activity involves more than five acres but less than 25 acres, a land
disturbance permit shall be obtained from the Butler County Conservation
District.
3.
In order to ensure that all earthmoving activities within Forward
Township are conducted in such a way as to prevent accelerated erosion
and the resulting sedimentation of waters of the commonwealth, thereby
preventing pollution of such waters from sediment, and from fertilizers,
pesticides and other polluting substances carried by sediment, the
following standards shall apply:
A.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan.
(1)
The erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be designed
to prevent accelerated erosion and sedimentation and shall consider
all factors which contribute to erosion and sedimentation, including,
but not limited to, the following:
(a)
The topographic features of the project area;
(b)
The types, depth, slope and area extent of the soils;
(c)
The proposed alteration to the area;
(d)
The amount of runoff from the project area and the upstream
watershed area;
(e)
The staging or timetable of earthmoving activities;
(f)
Temporary control measures and facilities for use during earthmoving;
(g)
Permanent control measures and facilities for long-term protection;
(h)
A maintenance program for the control facilities, including
disposal of materials removed from the control facilities or project
area; and
(i)
Stream relocation or channelization.
(2)
The erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be prepared
by a person trained and experienced in erosion and sedimentation control
methods and techniques.
B.
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Measures and Facilities. Erosion
and sedimentation control measures and facilities shall, as a minimum,
meet the standards and specifications of the Butler County Conservation
District, as contained in the "Handbook for Earthmoving Activities
and Erosion and Sedimentation Control in Butler County," and the standards
and specifications of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, "Rules and Regulations for Erosion Control." Considerations
for erosion and sedimentation control measures and facilities shall
include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
(1)
Grading shall be completed so as to carry surface waters away
from buildings and to the nearest street, storm drain or natural watercourse,
and shall prevent the pooling of water on a lot.
(2)
Where drainage swales are proposed, their grade shall be not
less than 1% nor more than 4%. Swales shall be sodded, planted or
lined with materials and vegetation proper for such use.
(3)
No final grade, cut or fill shall be permitted with a cut face
steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical, except under
one or more of the following conditions:
(4)
The materials into which the excavation is made are sufficiently
stable to sustain a slope of steeper than two horizontal to one vertical,
and there shall be a written statement to that effect from a Pennsylvania
licensed civil engineer with experience in erosion control, which
shall be submitted to the County Engineer or designated representative
and approved by same. This written statement shall state that the
site has been inspected and that the deviation from the slope specified
hereinbefore shall not result in injury to persons or damage to property.
(5)
A concrete or stone masonry wall with an upslope drainage system
shall be constructed according to sound, accepted engineering standards
for which a plan shall be submitted to the County Engineer or his
or her designated representative for review, and for which written
approval is provided to the Butler County Planning Commission.
(6)
The top and/or bottom edges of slopes shall be a minimum of
three feet from any property or right-of-way lines, streets or alleys
in order to permit the normal rounding of the edge without encroachment
on the abutting property, street or alley.
(7)
All property lines or right-of-way lines, where walls or slopes
are steeper than one horizontal to one vertical and the change in
elevation is five feet or more, shall have a protective fence no less
than three feet in height installed in stable ground, at least two
feet beyond the top of the slope, and shall be approved by the County
Engineer or his or her designated representative.
C.
Restoration. Upon completion of the earthmoving project, all areas
which were disturbed by the project, including off-site borrow areas,
shall be stabilized so that accelerated erosion will be prevented.
Any erosion and sedimentation control facility required or necessary
to protect areas from erosion during the stabilization period shall
be maintained until stabilization is completed. Upon completion of
stabilization, all unnecessary or unusable control facilities shall
be removed, the areas shall be graded and the soils shall be stabilized.
D.
Responsibility of the Developer. It shall be the responsibility of
the developer to submit the application for a land disturbance permit,
accompanied by an erosion and sedimentation control plan and such
other documents as may be required, and, in addition:
(1)
Whenever sedimentation is caused by stripping vegetation, regrading
or other development, it shall be the responsibility of the developer
causing such sedimentation to remove it from all adjoining surfaces,
drainage systems and watercourses and to repair any damage at his
expense as quickly as possible;
(2)
Maintenance of all drainage facilities and watercourses within
any subdivision or land development is the responsibility of the developer
until they are accepted by the municipality or some other official
agency, after which they become the responsibility of the accepting
agency;
(3)
It is the responsibility of the developer doing any act on or
across a stream, watercourse or swale, or upon the floodplain or right-of-way
thereof, to maintain as nearly as possible in its present state the
stream, watercourse, swale, floodplain or right-of-way during the
pendency of the activity and to return it to its original or equal
condition after such activity is completed;
(4)
No developer shall block, impede the flow of, alter, construct
any structure, or deposit any material or thing, or commit any act
which will affect normal or flood flow in any stream or watercourse
without having obtained prior approval from the Department of Environmental
Protection and/or the Pennsylvania Fish Commission;
(5)
Where a subdivision or land development is traversed by a watercourse,
there shall be provided a drainage easement or right-of-way conforming
substantially with the line of such watercourse and of such width
as will be adequate to preserve natural drainage; and
(6)
Each developer which makes any surface changes shall be required
to:
(a)
Collect on-site surface runoff and dispose of it at a stabilized
point of discharge into the common natural watercourse of the drainage
area.
(b)
Handle existing and potential off-site runoff through his development
by designing to adequately handle stormwater runoff from a fully developed
area upstream.
(c)
Provide and install at his expense, in accordance with the approved
erosion and sedimentation control plan, all erosion and sedimentation
control measures and facilities.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
The Forward Township Supervisors may authorize and approve departures
from any of the provisions and requirements set forth in this section
when, in the opinion of the Board, such departure is necessary and
desirable.
[Ord. No. 82-1, 8/15/1982; as amended by Ord. No. 1988-2,
12/13/1988; Ord. No. 2006-1, 6/20/2006]
1.
General.
A.
All construction, materials and workmanship shall be in accordance
with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Form 408, latest
edition, and with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended,[1] and shall be subject to review and approval by the Township
and Township Engineer.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
B.
All work, including grading, drainage, and paving, shall be under
the direct supervision of the Township Engineer or his authorized
representative, and all costs for supervision shall be paid by the
owner/developer prior to final acceptance by the Township.
C.
A performance bond in the amount of 110% of the construction cost
shall be delivered to the Township prior to the beginning of construction.
D.
The owner/developer shall provide the Township with an eighteen-month
maintenance bond for 15% of the construction costs of the project
as surety against defective materials or workmanship which may develop
during the one-year period after completion and acceptance of the
work performed.
E.
Contractor must submit to subdivider and/or developer weight slips
for all materials, which will in turn be transferred to the Township
Supervisors.
F.
The owner shall furnish record plans of all streets as actually constructed
for the files of the Forward Township Supervisors, the cost of this
to be paid by the owner/subdivider/developer.
2.
Design.
A.
Paving of cartway shall be a minimum of 24 feet in width, including
eighteen-inch-wide by six-inch-high asphalt wedge curbs. Other curbing
may be approved at the option of the Township Engineer. Township Supervisors
reserve the right to grant a variance on curbing requirements upon
visual inspection and recommendation by the Township Engineer.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-2, 10/13/2020]
B.
Road grades shall be designed to provide adequate drainage. The minimum
grade shall be 0.75% (0.75 feet/100 feet) on any street. Maximum grades
shall not exceed 12% (12 feet/100 feet), except for short lengths
which shall have prior approval of the Township and Township Engineer.
All roads shall have a minimum crown of three inches.
3.
Grading and Backfilling.
A.
All fills within the roadway section shall be thoroughly compacted
in eight-inch layers (uncompacted thickness). Rock utilized as fill
material shall be broken prior to placement. Fills shall be rolled
with a ten-ton (minimum) roller prior to placement of the succeeding
layer of fill; slopes shall be a maximum of two horizontal to one
vertical unless a variance is approved by the Township. All areas
within the fifty-foot-minimum right-of-way shall be graded to the
satisfaction of the Township.
B.
Shoulders of berms shall be constructed so that they will be five
inches higher than the subbase.
C.
Subgrade shall be properly compacted prior to placement of base course.
Unsuitable subgrade material shall be excavated and replaced with
approved material and thoroughly compacted in accordance with these
specifications.
D.
Backfills for sewers, water lines and all other utilities shall be
placed in four-inch layers and thoroughly compacted throughout the
roadway section.
4.
Paving.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-2, 10/13/2020]
A.
The subgrade/subbase shall consist of eight inches of AASHTO #3 choked
with two inches of 2A limestone.
B.
A base course shall be constructed of four inches of 25 mm Superpave
asphalt mixture design.
C.
A binder course shall be constructed of two inches of 19 mm Superpave
asphalt mixture design.
D.
A wearing course shall be constructed of 1 1/2 inches of 9.5 mm Superpave
asphalt mixture design.
5.
Storm Sewer Systems.
A.
On the design of storm sewer installations, special consideration
shall be given to avoidance of problems which may arise from concentration
of stormwater runoff discharging to adjacent properties.
B.
Storm sewers shall be 15 inches (minimum) reinforced cement concrete
pipe with a minimum slope of 1%. Inlets, endwalls and related structures
shall be provided.
C.
Design of sewers shall be such:
(1)
To permit unimpeded flow of natural watercourses.
(2)
To ensure adequate drainage of streets.
(3)
Drainage calculations based upon Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation Design Manual, Part 2, shall be prepared and submitted
to the Township. This requirement may be waived by the Township on
smaller projects.
D.
Storm inlets shall be spaced a maximum of 300 feet. Inlets at intersections
shall not be placed on radii of curbs, but on tangent sections only.
Inlets shall be Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Type M.
Type C or Type S inlets may be required when conditions warrant.
E.
Storm manholes shall be of reinforced precast concrete construction
and spaced a maximum of 300 feet. Manhole covers shall be stamped
"storm."
F.
Bridges and culverts shall be designed to support anticipated loads
and carry expected flows unimpeded. Design of these structures shall
conform to current PennDOT specifications, and where necessary, permits
shall be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection for stream encroachment.
6.
Sidewalks. Sidewalks may be required on one or both sides of the
street in all land developments if the Township feels it is desirable
to continue sidewalks that are existing in adjacent subdivision, or
to provide access to community facilities, such as schools, shopping
areas, and recreation areas.
7.
Sidewalks and curbs shall be constructed in full compliance with
the PennDOT specifications and with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).
8.
Snow chutes.
Snow chutes shall be provided at the ends of culs-de-sac and other
locations deemed necessary by the Township for storing snow. These
snow chutes shall be located within a public easement.
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-6, 8/9/2022]
