[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Penn Forest 11-3-2003 by Ord.
No. 2003-03. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Street
Naming and Addressing Ordinance of the Township of Penn Forest, Pennsylvania."
This chapter is to enhance the effective and rapid location
of properties by public safety personnel, including law enforcement,
fire, rescue, and emergency medical services personnel within the
geographical area of Penn Forest Township. This chapter is further
designed to eliminate duplicate or phonetically similar street names,
to provide for the uniform marking of streets and roadways, and to
provide for the assignment of numbers for all properties and buildings
throughout the Township. The following are major objectives of this
chapter:
A.
To provide a means for expedient emergency response by fire, police,
rescue, medical and any other emergency services;
B.
To establish a property location that will serve as an Emergency
911 address;
C.
To assist in the proper delivery of mail, utility and other services;
D.
To provide property owners and the Township with a convenient, accurate
and systematic means of identifying property;
E.
To name new streets and rename old streets with conflicting or duplicate
names in order to provide for efficient emergency services; and
F.
To support the Township move to the Enhanced 911.
This chapter, the regulations, and the procedures contained
herein shall apply to and govern each and every lot, parcel or tract
of land and improvement thereof, within the Township of Penn Forest.
All residential, multifamily and commercial buildings existing as
of the time of adopting this chapter, or existing at any future time,
will be assigned a primary structure number.
This chapter shall be administered by the Penn Forest Township
Zoning Officer. The Penn Forest Township Zoning Officer shall be responsible
for the administration of these standards and the maintenance of all
maps and data relating to street naming and addressing. The Penn Forest
Township Zoning Officer shall process applications for street names
and address assignments and determine if the assignment of names and
numbers conforms to this chapter.
Words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Penn Forest Township Zoning Ordinance of 1991,
as amended,[1] except when the context clearly indicates a different
meaning.
The following standards and procedures shall be utilized when
naming streets:
A.
All streets that serve two or more properties under different ownership
will be named regardless of whether the ownership is public or private;
B.
A street name assigned by the Township shall not constitute or imply
acceptance of the street into the Township road system;
C.
No two streets shall be given the same name (e.g., Pine Road and
Pine Lane) in the same postal district;
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-01]
D.
No two streets should have similar sounding names (e.g., Beach Street
and Peach Street). It will help the public and children, in particular,
to pronounce the name in emergency situations;
E.
Each street will have the same name throughout its entire length;
and
F.
No street name shall be over 16 characters in length. In counting
characters spaces between words shall be included, but street name
suffixes (e.g., road, drive, lane, circle) shall not be included.
The following standards and procedures shall be used in assigning
numbers to buildings:
A.
Official property numbers shall proceed from a logical point of origin.
Each street will have a point of origin as a zero starting point for
address numbers;
B.
Allowances shall be made for vacant properties in order that numbers
may be properly assigned for future development;
C.
One property identification number shall be assigned, at an interval
of 52.8 feet (the equivalent of 100 addresses for each mile of roadway).
This is a widely used standard in assigning addresses throughout the
country;
D.
Numbers will be assigned along both sides of a road. Odd-numbered
addresses will be assigned on the north side of east-west streets
and on the west side of north-south streets. Even-numbered addresses
will be assigned on the south side and east side, respectively (odd
left/even right);
E.
Numbers shall be established based on the front entrance from the
street, from the center of the driveway;
F.
Mobile home park lots shall have unit numbers throughout the park;
G.
Numerals placed on mailboxes for U.S. Postal Service identification
shall not be a substitute for the building number assigned under this
chapter;
H.
The assignment of a building number is required prior to the issuance
of a zoning permit, and the building number must be installed before
a certificate of occupancy (CO) will be issued for a new home; and
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-01]
I.
The center of all streets shown on subdivision plans submitted to
the Township shall be marked, by line or dot, every 52.8 feet to aid
in the assignment of building numbers in the proposed subdivision.
Building numbers shall comply with the following specifications:
A.
Building numbers shall be depicted in Arabic numerals or alphabetical
letters;
[Amended 12-6-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
B.
Building numbers shall be made of durable materials;
C.
Each digit or letter shall be a minimum of four inches (102 mm) high
with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm.);
[Amended 12-6-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
D.
The color of the building numbers shall be in contrast with the immediate
background so as to be easily readable; and, the building numbers
shall be made of paint, metal or enamel, and shall be retro-reflective;
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-01]
E.
It shall be unlawful to cover or conceal or to permit the sight obstruction
of the building numbers;
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
F.
It shall be unlawful to post other numbers that may be confusing;
G.
All old numbers shall be removed when a new building number has been
assigned in accordance with this chapter; and
H.
The property owner shall maintain the building numbers in such a
manner that they continue to comply with the foregoing specifications.
A.
Building numbers shall be conspicuously located and placed so as
to clearly identify the building they relate to;
B.
The placement of building numbers must be such that they can be seen
and read with the naked eye from either side of the traveled portion
of the street;
C.
Except in the case of a mall or a shopping center (see Subsection D below), all building numbers shall be placed on a substantial permanent post or mailbox, located at the end of the driveway servicing the property identified by the building number, nearest the road, off of the road right-of-way, and at least three feet in height above the adjacent ground. No building numbers shall be placed on rocks, trees or other objects of nature.
[Amended 1-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-01]
D.
Additionally, the owner of each such business shall display the legally
assigned number on the rear door to the building in numbers which
shall be a minimum of four inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke
width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm).
[Amended 12-6-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04]
A.
Installation of street name signs.
(1)
In subdivisions existing on the effective date of this chapter, the
property owners' association (or other similar entity) representing
the property owners in the subdivision, or the property owners in
said subdivision (if there is no property owners' association or similar
entity) shall be responsible for installing street name signs with
the approved name of the street and the intersecting street.
(2)
In subdivisions which have not been approved prior to the effective date of this chapter, the developer shall be responsible for installing street name signs with the approved name of the street and the intersecting street prior to final approval of the subdivision plan; provided, however, that in accordance with Chapter 210, Subdivision and Land Development, of this Code and Section 509 of the Municipalities Planning Code,[1] said street signs may be treated as a required improvements
and in lieu of completion of the installation of said signs, the developer
can submit sufficient financial security to the Township to guarantee
said installation. In the latter event (i.e., final approval of the
subdivision plan is given prior to the installation of the street
signs), no occupancy permits for any building or buildings to be erected
shall be issued until such time as the street signs are installed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10509.
(3)
In all other cases, the property owners adjoining the street shall
be responsible for installing signs with the approved name of the
street and the intersecting street.
(4)
The Township will only be responsible to install street name signs
for Township-maintained roads.
B.
Maintenance of street name signs.
(1)
In subdivisions existing on the effective date of this chapter, the
property owners' association (or other similar entity) representing
the property owners in the subdivision, or the property owners in
said subdivision (if there is no property owners' association or similar
entity) shall be responsible for maintenance of the street name signs.
(2)
In subdivisions approved after the effective date of this chapter,
developers shall submit with the preliminary and final plan provisions
for the perpetual maintenance of the street name signs.
(3)
In all other cases, the street name signs shall be maintained by
the owners of property adjoining said street.
C.
Specifications for street name signs. Street name signs shall comply
with the following specifications:
(1)
Street name signs shall be of a durable metal construction.
(2)
Street name signs shall be at least six inches in height; the letters
of the principal street name shall be at least four in height; and
the letters of the street name suffix (e.g., road, drive, lane, circle)
or any abbreviations thereof (e.g., RD, DR, LN, CIR) shall be at least
1 1/2 inches in height.
[Amended 8-2-2004 by Ord.
No. 2004-2]
(3)
Street name signs shall be located at a height of at least seven
feet above the center of the street where they are located.
(4)
Street name sign colors shall be in sharp contrast with the immediate
background so as to be easily readable (e.g., green or white, blue
or white, red or white, or brown or white).
(5)
The letters on the street name signs should be of a reflective material
or coated with a reflective material.
(6)
The pole on which the street name sign is located shall be made of
a nonorganic durable material.
(7)
The pole on which the street name sign is located shall be located
no more than 10 feet from the cartway of the adjoining street and
the street name sign shall be clearly visible with the naked eye from
all directions of travel.
A.
Building numbering.
(1)
It shall be the duty of Penn Forest Township to notify by mail each
property owner and the post offices of the new addresses.
(2)
It shall be the duty of each property owner to install numbers on
the property owner's building or buildings in compliance with this
chapter within 90 days of notification. On new structures, numbering
must be installed prior to the first use or occupation of the building.
(3)
When an applicant applies for a moving permit, he/she must bring
the building numbers, including the location thereof, into compliance
with this chapter.
[Added 1-4-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-01]
B.
Street signs.
(1)
It shall be the duty of Penn Forest Township to notify by mail each
property owners' association (or similar entity) or the property owners
adjoining the street (in those cases where the property owners adjoining
the street are responsible for installing the street signs) of the
enactment of this chapter and their obligation to install street signs
in compliance with this chapter.
(2)
At locations where there are existing streets, but where there are no street name signs on the effective date of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the persons or entities responsible for installing such street name signs (see § 148-10A above) to install street name signs in compliance with this chapter within 90 days of notification.
(3)
At locations where there are existing street name signs on the effective date of this chapter, but which existing street name signs do not conform to the terms and specifications of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the person or entities responsible for maintaining said existing street name signs (see § 148-10B above), to bring said street name signs in compliance with the terms and specifications of this chapter within three years from the effective date of this chapter.
(4)
All street name signs installed after the effective date of this
chapter (whether being installed where there previously was no street
name sign, or replacing an existing street name sign), shall comply
with the terms and specifications of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs of prosecution and, in default
of payment thereof, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days.
Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted
to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section
of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate
offense.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed.
If any sentence, clause, section, or part of this chapter is
for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such
unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or
impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, sections
or parts of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the intent of the
Penn Forest Township Supervisors that this chapter would have been
adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence, clause,
section or part thereof not been included herein.
This chapter shall become effective as of November 10, 2003.
