[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
1.
The purpose of this Part is to provide vehicular access to properties
and land development in a manner that preserves the safety and efficiency
of the transportation system within the Borough of Doylestown.
2.
Access management encompasses the careful planning of the location,
design and operation of driveways, and street connections. If access
drives and systems are not properly designed and maintained, drives
connected to the Borough's street and primary transportation
network, including arterials and highways, will be unable to safely
accommodate the access needs of persons and traffic from properties
and for development; and to retain their primary transportation function.
3.
This Part is intended to promote safe and efficient travel within
the Borough of Doylestown by limiting the number of conflict points,
providing safe spacing standards between driveways, encouraging shared
access between abutting properties, and ensuring safe access by emergency
vehicles.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
This Part shall apply to all access to streets within the Borough
of Doylestown. Access to state highways, streets or roads is regulated
by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
This Part is authorized by Section 1202(12) of the PA Borough
Code,[1] which provides that the Borough Council has the specific
power to regulate the streets, sewers, public squares, common grounds,
sidewalks, curbs, gutters, culverts and drains, and the heights, grades,
widths, slopes and their construction, and to prohibit the erection
or construction of any building or other obstruction to the convenient
use of the same; conforms with the requirements of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code;[2] and meets or exceeds the standards contained in Title
67, Chapter 441, of the Pennsylvania Code, titled "Access to and Occupancy
of Highways by Driveways and Local Roads."
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The speed, in miles per hour, which is exceeded by only 15%
of the drivers traveling on a section of highway.
The queue exceeded at some point during 5% of the signal
cycles.
A driveway, street, or other means of passage of vehicles
between the highway and abutting property, including acceleration
and deceleration lanes and such drainage structures as may be necessary
for proper construction and maintenance thereof.
Access driveways shall be appropriately surfaced with a stabilized
material between the traveled way and the right-of-way line unless
a higher type material is specified by the permit. Low-, medium-,
and high-volume driveways which provide access to paved highways shall
be paved within the right-of-way. Materials used in the construction
of driveways shall meet the requirements of PennDOT Form 408. The
driveway pavement shall be at least four inches thick within the right-of-way.
The portion of the roadway adjoining the through lane that
is used for speed change, turning, storage for turning, deceleration,
acceleration, weaving, and other purposes supplementary to through
traffic movement.
The total volume of traffic during a number of whole days
(more than one day) and less than one year divided by the number of
days in that period.
A driveway used or expected to be used by more than 750 vehicles
per day.
A driveway used or expected to be used by more than 15 but
less than 100 vehicles per day.
A driveway used or expected to be used by more than 100 but
less than 750 vehicles per day.
A residential or other driveway that is used or expected
to be used by not more than 15 vehicles per day.
The maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a section
of roadway when conditions are so favorable that the design features
of the road govern.
Every entrance or exit used by vehicular traffic to or from
properties abutting a highway. The term includes proposed streets,
lanes, alleys, courts, and ways.
Driveway throat length is the distance available for vehicles
measured from the outer edge of the traveled roadway to the point
where the driveway meets conflicting vehicular traffic movements.
A queue, a waiting line of vehicles. Throat length applies to arterial
roads.
The exit of vehicular traffic from abutting properties to
a street.
Any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or other similar
material is dug into, cut, carried, uncovered, removed, displaced,
relocated, bulldozed, including the use of hand tools. It shall include
the conditions resulting therefrom.
The area beyond the physical intersection that comprises
decision and maneuver distance, and the required vehicle storage lengths.
Any highways, roads, or streets identified on the legally
adopted municipal street or highway plan or the official map that
carry vehicular traffic, together with all necessary appurtenances,
including bridges, rights-of-way and traffic control improvements.
The term shall not include the interstate highway system.
The entrance of vehicular traffic to abutting properties
from a street.
Site-generated trips that occur between two or more land
uses on the subject site without exiting onto the intersecting street.
A qualitative measure describing the operational conditions
within a section of roadway or at an intersection that includes factors
such as speed, travel time, ability to maneuver, traffic interruptions,
delay, and driver comfort. Level of service is described as a letter
grade system (similar to a school grading system) where delay (in
seconds) is equivalent to a certain letter grade from A through F.
Every public highway other than a state highway. The term
includes existing streets, lanes, alleys, courts, and ways.
The Borough of Doylestown.
Those public capital improvements that are not on-site improvements
and that serve the needs of more than one development.
All improvements constructed on the applicant's property,
or the improvements constructed on the property abutting the applicant's
property necessary for access, ingress and egress to the applicant's
property, and required to be constructed by the applicant pursuant
to any municipal ordinance, including, but not limited to, the Municipal
Code, Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, planned residential
development regulations, and Zoning Ordinance.[1]
A lot that is adjacent to the roadway that interrupts the
frontage of another lot.
A variety of materials and designs can be used for permeable
surfaces for driveways, parking areas, patios or walkways. The permeable
surface can be poured in place or laid in a pattern upon a subbase
of material designed and installed to permit water to infiltrate the
surface, subsurface and land. The surface material can be designed
and installed with gravel or stone filled within the gaps of the material
to create a permeable surface. Concrete and asphalt can be mixed to
allow water to drain through the surface and into the subsurface and
land. Other building materials such as stone, concrete or brick designed
and manufactured as permeable pavers can be used and laid with spaces
between the pavers for gravel or stone to allow water to flow between
them. Plastic or metal grids designed for permeable surfaces can also
be used with stone or loose soil and vegetation installed within the
grid to allow water soak and pass through.
Permitted driveways in place at the time of the adoption
of this Part that do not conform to the standards herein.
An area of land, measured from the center line of the cartway,
that can be used by the public for travel and the location of utilities.
The acquisition of an area of land, through dedication or
easement, needed to accommodate the future widening of the roadway.
The construction, enlargement, expansion, or improvement
of public highways, roads, or streets.
The minimum distance from the street right-of-way line to
the lot line that establishes the area within which no structure can
be erected.
The distance required by a driver traveling at a given speed
to stop the vehicle after an object on the roadway becomes visible
to the driver.
Lane footage needed for a right or left turn lane to store
the maximum number of vehicles likely to accumulate during a peak
period of travel.
Includes street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, freeway,
parkway, lane, alley, viaduct, and any other ways used or intended
to be used by vehicular traffic or pedestrians, whether private or
public, including the right-of-way for the same.
The widening of the roadway to allow the redirection or transition
of vehicles into or around an auxiliary lane.
A one-directional vehicular trip to or from a site.
The total number of vehicular trips going to and from a particular
land use on a specific site during a specific time period.
An area of land beyond the legal or dedicated right-of-way
needed to accommodate future widening of the roadway, measured from
the center line.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
1.
Number of Driveways.
A.
Single-Family Residence. Only one access shall be permitted for a
single-family residence. An additional access drive for a single-family
residence shall be permitted if the applicant demonstrates that an
additional access is necessary to accommodate traffic to and from
the residence and it can be achieved in a safe and efficient manner.
An additional access drive for a single-family residence located on
a street cul-de-sac may be permitted if the applicant provides a plan
design that is necessary to accommodate traffic to and from the residence;
and the Council determines that the additional access drive can be
located and function in a safe manner and not create any unsafe conditions
for the neighboring properties or the pedestrian or vehicle traffic
on the cul-de-sac.
B.
Occupancies and uses for property other than a single-family residence.
The number, location, size and features of such driveway access shall
be determined by Council if an applicant demonstrates that such access
or additional accesses are necessary to accommodate traffic to and
from the site and it can be achieved in a safe and efficient manner.
C.
The municipality shall restrict access to right-turn-only ingress
and egress to a road if safe and efficient left-turn movements cannot
be accommodated or interfere with LOS or safety of a Borough street.
D.
For a property that abuts two or more roadways, the municipality
may restrict access to only that roadway that can more safely and
efficiently accommodate traffic.
E.
If the municipality anticipates that a property may be subdivided
and that the subdivision may result in an unacceptable number or arrangement
of driveways, or both, the municipality shall require the property
owner to enter into an access covenant to restrict future access.
2.
Corner Clearance.
A.
Corner clearance shall meet the following driveway spacing standards
that are desirable for arterial and major collector roads:
B.
Access shall be provided to the roadway only where corner clearance
requirements can be achieved.
C.
If no other reasonable access to the property is available, and no
reasonable alternative is identified, the driveway shall be located
the farthest possible distance from the intersecting roadway. In such
cases, directional connections (i.e., right-in/right-out only, right-in
only or right-out only) may be required.
D.
The municipality shall require restrictions at the driveway if the
municipal engineer determines that the location of the driveway and
particular ingress or egress movements will create safety or operational
problems.
E.
Existing driveways shall comply with this Part when the land use
that said driveway serves changes and is intensified or the driveway
increases to a higher driveway use category according to the definition
section herein.
3.
Safe Sight Distance.
A.
Safe sight distance shall be available for all permitted turning
movements at all driveway intersections.
B.
PennDOT's Pub. 441 and Pub. 282 for driveways or Pub. 70 for
local roads shall be referenced to determine minimum driveway and
roadway intersection safe sight distance requirements.
C.
All driveways and intersecting roadways shall be designed and located
so that the sight distance is optimized to the degree possible without
jeopardizing other requirements such as intersection spacing, and
at least minimum sight distance requirements are met.
4.
Driveway Channelization.
A.
For high- and medium-volume driveways, channelization islands and
medians shall be used to separate conflicting traffic movements into
specified lanes to facilitate orderly movements for vehicles and pedestrians.
B.
Where it is found to be necessary to restrict particular turning
movements at a driveway, due to the potential disruption to the orderly
flow of traffic or a result of sight distance constraints, the municipality
may require a raised channelization island.
C.
Raised channelization islands shall be designed with criteria consistent
with the latest AASHTO publication entitled "A Policy on Geometric
Design of Highways and Streets."
5.
Joint and Cross Access.
B.
Adjacent nonresidential properties shall provide a joint or cross
access driveway to allow circulation between sites wherever feasible
along roadways classified as major collectors or arterials in accordance
with the functional classification contained in the municipal comprehensive
plan. The following shall apply to joint and cross access driveways:
(1)
The driveway shall have a design speed of 10 miles per hour
and have sufficient width to accommodate two-way traffic including
the largest vehicle expected to frequently access the properties.
(2)
A circulation plan that may include coordinated or shared parking
shall be required.
(3)
Features shall be included in the design to make it visually
obvious that abutting properties shall be tied in to provide cross
access.
C.
The property owners along a joint or cross access driveway shall:
(1)
Record an easement with the deed allowing cross access to and
from other properties served by the driveway.
(2)
Record an agreement with the municipality so that future access
rights along the driveway shall be granted at the discretion of the
municipality and the design shall be approved by the municipal engineer.
(3)
Record a joint agreement with the deed defining the maintenance
responsibilities of each of the property owners located along the
driveway.
6.
Access to Outparcels.
A.
For multifamily residential, commercial and office developments under
the same ownership or phased developments comprised of more than one
building site, the municipality shall require that the development
be served by an internal road that is separated from the main roadway.
B.
All access to outparcels shall be internalized using the internal
roadway.
C.
The driveways for outparcels shall be designed to allow safe and
efficient ingress and egress movements from the internal road.
D.
The internal circulation roads shall be designed to avoid excessive
queuing across parking aisles.
E.
The design of the internal road shall be in accordance with all other
sections of this Part.
G.
The municipality may require an access covenant to restrict an outparcel
to internal access only.
7.
Driveway Design Elements.
A.
Driveway Throat Length.
(1)
For minimum use driveways, the throat length shall be a minimum
of 20 feet.
(2)
For low-volume driveways, the throat length shall be a minimum
of 50 feet or as determined by queuing analysis.
(3)
For medium-volume driveways, the throat length shall be a minimum
of 120 feet or as determined by a queuing analysis.
(4)
For high-volume driveways, the throat length shall be a minimum
of 150 feet or as determined by a queuing analysis.
B.
Driveway Throat Width From Edge of Pavement or Curb Through the Road
Right-of-Way.
(1)
A driveway throat for the principal driveway for a single-family
residence, or a minimum use driveway, that is perpendicular from the
connection point of the street pavement to the garage or carport,
shall have a minimum width of 12 feet; and a maximum width of 1.25
feet for every one foot of the width of the garage door(s) or carport
accessed from the driveway. In no instance shall the driveway throat
exceed 30 feet in width. For a driveway that is not perpendicular
from the connection point of the street pavement to the garage or
carport (e.g., a side entry or rear entry garage or carport), the
driveway throat shall not exceed 15 feet. For a driveway that is not
connected to a garage or carport, the driveway throat shall not exceed
15 feet.
(2)
Low- and medium-volume driveways shall have a minimum width
of 15 feet for one-way operation and a minimum width of 30 feet for
two-way operation.
(3)
The design of high-volume driveways shall be based on analyses
to determine the number of required lanes.
(4)
The municipality may require additional driveway width to provide
turning lanes for adequate traffic flow and safety.
C.
Driveway Radius. The following criteria shall apply to driveway radii:
(1)
For minimum use driveways, the radii shall be a minimum of five
feet.
(2)
For low-volume driveways, the radii shall be a minimum of 25
feet.
(3)
For medium-volume driveways, the radii shall be a minimum of
25 feet.
(4)
For all driveways, the radii shall be designed to accommodate
the largest vehicle expected to frequently use the driveway.
(5)
Except for joint driveways, no portion of a driveway radius
may be located on or along the frontage of an adjacent property.
D.
Driveway Grade Requirements.
(2)
The driveway grade shall not exceed 8% within 10 feet of the
edge of travel lane for minimum use driveways and within 40 feet for
low-, medium-, and high-volume driveways.
(3)
If a planted area exists between the sidewalk and curb, the
following shall apply:
(a)
The grade of the planted area shall not exceed 8%.
(b)
If the driveway grade would exceed 8% in the area between the
curb and the sidewalk, the outer edge (street side) of the sidewalk
may be depressed to enable the driveway grade to stay within 8%. A
maximum sidewalk cross slope of 8% must be maintained.
(c)
If the sidewalk cross slope exceeds 2%, the entire sidewalk
may be depressed. The longitudinal grade of the sidewalk may not exceed
6%.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
Permit issuance fees, renewal fees, inspection fees, and professional
services escrow shall be as established and set forth in the Doylestown
Borough Fee Schedule adopted by resolution of Borough Council as amended
from time to time.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
1.
General Rule. Upon application filed with the Borough, payment of
the required fee and review and approval of the application and compliance
with this Part, a permit will be issued by the Borough Manager, subject
to conditions contained on the permit and its attachments and supplements.
The permit will be the authority for the applicant to proceed with
the work.
2.
Design and construction of medium- and high-volume driveways on municipal
roads shall be reviewed by the municipal engineer, who will advise
the municipality on permit issuance and acceptance of improvements.
3.
Permit Issued Only to Property Owner. Permits will be issued only
to the owners of the property. Permits will only be issued to contractors
if the property owner also signs the application.
4.
Permit Requiring Agreement. Where the Borough determines that certain
conditions must be met, the applicant will be required to execute
an agreement with the Borough as a prerequisite to issuance of the
permit.
5.
Requesting Permit Time Extension. A permit shall be valid for a six-month
period. If the permittee has not completed all authorized work by
the completion date specified on the permit, a renewal application
shall be submitted to the Borough requesting a time extension. If
approved, a supplement may be issued by the Borough, authorizing work
to continue for an additional six-month period.
6.
Work Completion Notification. When all permitted work and conditions
have been completed, inspected and approved by the Borough, the permittee
shall be provided with a written completion notification.
[Ord. No. 2024-1, 2/26/2024]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than
$1,000, plus costs, together with reasonable attorney fees; and, in
default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
