This Part shall be known and may be cited as the “Smithfield
Township E-911 Street and Building Number Sign Ordinance.”
This Part is adopted pursuant to the provision of the Pennsylvania
Second Class Township Code, Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L. 103, No. 69),
as reenacted and amended November 9, 1995 (P.L. 350, No. 60), as amended.
1.
The purpose
of this Part is to enhance public safety and security, and generally
protect the public health, safety and welfare by improving the ability
of emergency response personnel to navigate and locate dwellings and
other structures in the Township, and to enhance the convenience of
the general public.
2.
This Part
provides the authority to the Township Board of Supervisors to assign
street names to all public and private streets in the Township to
eliminate duplicates and prevent confusion; requires conformance to
the street addressing system established by Monroe County for 911
emergency call system; and, establishes a uniform system for street
names and building number signs.
1.
Street
Names Required. All public and private streets, driveways and access
streets in the Township which serves two or more principal structures
shall be named and posted with a street name sign in accordance with
this Part.
2.
Street
Name Assignment. The Board of Supervisors shall have the sole authority
to assign names to all public and private streets, driveways and access
streets in the Township and to change such names if deemed necessary
to achieve the purposes of this Part. In the case of new subdivisions
and land developments, the street names shall he included on the plans
required by the Township for review.
3.
Street
Name Duplication. No street name sign shall be posted on any public
or private street, driveway or access street unless the Township has
approved such name in order to avoid duplication of names.
All street addresses in Smithfield Township shall conform to
the street addressing system established by Monroe County for the
911 emergency call system and all principal structures shall have
a building number sign conforming to the requirements of this Part.
1.
All street
name sign standards in this Part are intended to conform to the recommendations
of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices published
in March 2011 and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
requirements per 67 Pa. Code § 212.118 or as hereafter amended,
including the use of the term “street name sign.”
A.
The Township
shall initially install all new street name signs on Township and
private roads with the requirements of this Part
(1)
The sign and pole on which the sign is mounted shall be made of a
material and installed in a manner approved by the Township and shall
meet the approved current Township and/or PennDOT standards and specifications
for street and/or road signs as set forth within the current edition
of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as amended (MUTCO).
(2)
The text of the sign shall be six inches in height, all capital letters
and spaced in a manner so it is identifiable and readable from both
sides of the roadway. The sign face shall be eight inches in height
exclusive of the border, if any.
(3)
The text shall be in reflective white letters and/or numbers in accordance
with the minimum retro reflectivity requirements of MUTCO, as amended,
with green background.
(4)
The sign shall be located on a 10 feet tall pole.
(5)
The background of the sign shall be green in color so that the text
of the sign is more visible in accordance with MUTCO, as amended.
(6)
The signs shall be mounted at each roadway intersection in accordance
with MUTCO, as amended.
(7)
Signs naming the roadways at the intersection shall be installed
with their faces parallel to the roadways they name.
(8)
The sign shall be retro reflective or illuminated to show the same
shape and color both day and night.
B.
Private
Roads. After the initial installation of a street sign on a private
road by the Township, the owner(s) of the private road shall be responsible
for the repair or replacement of the street sign.
(1)
If a private roadway sign is knocked down and/or removed and/or otherwise
damaged or destroyed for any reason the owner(s) and/or maintainer
of the private roadway shall repair and/or reinstall the roadway sign
within 30 calendar days of the occurrence.
(2)
The owners of any new roadways shall procure the official roadway
name assignment and complete the requisite sign installation as part
of the normal subdivision and land development process. New roadways
shall be assigned a name and the requisite sign shall be installed
within 30 calendar days after completion of the roadway.
(3)
The signs may be obtained from either the Township or any other entity
provided the signs conform to the specifications and requirements
of this Part.
1.
All principal
structures in the Township shall have a building number sign containing
the address assigned by Monroe County for the 911 emergency call system.
A.
Building
numbers shall be depicted on both sides of the building number sign
in Arabic numerals in four inch tall reflective white lettering on
a dark green background made of reflective sheeting.
B.
All building
number sign blades shall be six inches by 18 inches.
D.
The building
number sign shall be installed at a location where the driveway intersects
with the private roadway and/or the Township roadway right-of-way
and/or State roadway right-of-way.
(1)
Be mounted on a stand-alone post or pole. Such signage should optimally
be erected six to eight feet from the edge of the road pavement.
(2)
Be mounted on top of a mailbox, only if the mailbox is located on
the same side of the street as the driveway/entrance and only if the
mailbox is located at the intersection of the street and the driveway.
(3)
Contains the building number and no other information.
E.
The building
number sign shall be easily visible by at least 50 feet by emergency
responders as they approach the subject property from either direction
on the roadway.
F.
The height
of the building number sign installed on the approved post or mount
shall be at least four feet from grade to bottom of sign but no greater
than eight feet from grade to top of sign.
G.
The property
owner shall be responsible for the removal of all obstructions (including
snow) to permit the sign to be visible from the roadway.
2.
All property
owners shall purchase building number signs from either the Township
or any other entity provided the signs conform to the specifications
and requirements of this Part.
3.
No additional
street number signage is required to be erected on the building itself.
4.
If the
building number sign post and/or mount is knocked down and/or removed
and/or otherwise covered by an unforeseen occurrence, the owner of
the property shall repair and/or reinstall the building number sign
within 10 days of the occurrence.
1.
The provisions
of this Part are intended as a minimum standard for the protection
of the public health, safety and welfare. If literal compliance with
this Part is shown (by a person responsible for the installation of
a sign) to be unreasonable or to cause an undue hardship as it applies
to a particular sign, the Board of Supervisors may grant a waiver
from such provision(s). However, the granting of a modification shall
not have the effect of making null and void the intent and purpose
of this Part.
2.
In granting
modifications, the Board of Supervisors may impose such conditions
as will, in its judgment, secure the objectives of the standards of
this Part.
3.
All requests
for modifications shall be in writing and shall include the specific
sections of the ordinance in question, provisions for alternatives
to the ordinance requirements and documentation including (but not
limited to) photographs of said proposed sign. The Board of Supervisors
shall make a determination (in writing) within 30 calendar days following
the date of submission of the application in question (unless an extension
is granted by the Applicant to the Township). Failure of the Supervisors
to timely act shall be considered a deemed approval of the request.
1.
This Part
shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer and such other officials as
may be designated by the Board of Supervisors.
2.
No certificate
of compliance shall be issued for any existing or proposed structure
until a building number sign has been installed on the property in
accordance with this Part.
1.
All street
name signs placed, replaced, modified or maintained after the effective
date of this Part shall conform to the requirements of this Part.
2.
All building
number signs shall be installed in compliance with this Part within
90 calendar days after the effective date of this Part, and all nonconforming
building number signs shall be brought into compliance within 90 calendar
days after the effective date of this Part.
1.
A violation
of this Part shall constitute a summary offense and any person who
violates this Part shall, upon conviction before a District Justice,
be subject to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $750.
In default of payment of the fine, the violator will be subject to
a sentence of imprisonment up to 30 days. Each day a violation continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
2.
In addition to fines and penalties prescribed in Subsection 1 above, the Township may enforce this Part by, equitable, injunctive or other remedies, whether at law or in equity, and shall recover from the violator(s) reasonable attorney’s fees, witness fees, court costs and other costs incurred by the Township in enforcing this Part.
The Township Board of Supervisors and/or its servants, agents,
officers, officials, boards, committees, employees or representatives
shall not, under any circumstances, be liable or responsible for damages
(whether property, injury or death) caused to or suffered by any person
or entity by reason of the provisions of this Part or by reason of
the assignment of street names and/or the placement of street signs
and/or building numbers in compliance (or noncompliance) with the
terms, conditions and provisions of this Part. Moreover, compliance
with this Part shall not constitute a representation, guarantee or
consent of any kind by the Township (and/or any of its servants, agents,
officers, officials, boards, committee, employees or representatives)
of the practicality, safety or fitness of any particular purpose of
or for any kind regarding, the assignment of street names and/or the
placement of street signs and/or building numbers.
