As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DRAINAGEWAY
Any stream, watercourse, pond, swale, swamp, depression or
ditch that shall be crossed in connection with the construction of
a driveway.
DRIVEWAY
A defined paved or unpaved surface providing vehicular access
from one or more lots to a street.
STREET
Any traveled way which is an existing state, county or municipal
roadway; or which is shown on a plat approved pursuant to law; or
which is shown on a plat approved by the Planning Board or Zoning
Board; or which is shown on a plat duly filed and recorded in the
office of the County Recording Officer prior to the appointment of
a planning board or a zoning board.
TOWNSHIP DRIVEWAY OFFICIAL
The Township Zoning Officer and/or any other individual(s)
designated by the Township Committee to enforce the provisions of
this chapter.
The Township Construction Official shall have available for
use by the applicant suggested standards for building, driveway and
parking lot drainage as well as designs for proper runoff and techniques
for prevention of soil erosion.
All new or relocated driveways shall be constructed in accordance
with the following minimum requirements:
A. All drainage from newly constructed or relocated driveways, parking
lots and structures must either be charged back into the ground of
the applicant or owner or conducted to a natural stream or drainageway
in a manner not to damage or pollute private or public property.
B. Driveway curb return radius:
(1)
Single-family residential: two feet minimum; five feet maximum.
(2)
Commercial: 15 feet minimum; 25 feet maximum.
C. Sight distance.
(1)
Required sight distance:
Design Speed of Road
(miles per hour)
|
Required Sight Distance
(feet)
|
---|
25
|
250
|
30
|
250
|
35
|
300
|
40
|
350
|
45
|
400
|
50
|
450
|
(2)
The sight distance shall be taken 3 1/2 feet above a point
in the center line of the proposed driveway, 10 feet from the edge
of the road, to a point 3 1/2 feet above the center line of the
approaching lane. There shall be a one-foot sight clearance between
the sight line and finish grade. All necessary grading and removal
of vegetation within the sight triangle shall be indicated on the
plans.
D. In all cases, a minimum cleared distance of 50 feet measured along
the right-of-way line shall separate the closest of any two driveways.
E. Only one driveway will be permitted on lots with widths of 250 feet
or less.
F. The beginning of the driveway shall have a grade of not more than
4% for a distance of 25 feet from the edge of pavement and not more
than 15% for any other portion of the driveway.
G. Where curbs exist, a full section of curb shall be entirely removed
and depressed curb constructed in accordance with the New Jersey Department
of Transportation, Standards for Road and Bridge Construction 2001,
as amended. Curb radii of existing curb shall not be broken or depressed.
No driveway shall be located closer than 50 feet from the end of the
radius of an intersection.
H. Where concrete sidewalks exist or are proposed to be constructed
as part of the project, a concrete ramp not less than six inches in
thickness shall be built connecting the inner edge of the depressed
curb with the outer edge of the sidewalk.
I. In cases where drainage exists along the Township road, a reinforced
concrete or ADS-HDPE Type N-12 pipe of a size determined by the Rational
Method of runoff calculation shall be installed beneath the drive
by the owner and inspected by the Driveway Official. If more than
one driveway is constructed, a continuous storm drain pipe shall be
installed between the driveways or connected to an intervening storm
drainage system. If the proposed drainage pipe connects with an existing
storm drainage system, a catch basin shall be constructed.
J. All construction within the Township right-of-way shall be in accordance
with the New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications
for Road and Bridge Construction 2001, as amended, or Township standards.
K. The work shall be conducted so that there will be no interference
with the drainage or cross section of the Township road, nor any structures
over or under the road except as indicated in the approved plans.
L. The applicant shall make certain that all appropriate erosion control
measures are adhered to during and after construction of the driveway.
M. Grass areas disturbed shall be restored to a stable condition in
preparation for topsoiling and seeding. There shall be no evidence
of stones, roots, debris or depressions, and the surface shall be
clean and even. The subgrade immediately prior to the application
of topsoil shall be raked or otherwise loosened.
N. The sidelines of the proposed driveway shall be no closer than 10
feet from the property line.
O. All residential driveways constructed or modified shall have a minimum
driving width of 10 feet and a maximum width of 15 feet.
P. All banks shall not exceed six feet or side slopes steeper than exceeding
a ratio of 4:1 without guide rail.
Q. Where driveways are at a higher elevation than the street and where
the driveway grade exceeds 8% for a distance of more than 50 feet
within 250 feet of the public right-of-way, the following shall be
performed:
(1)
The pavement shall extend from the right-of-way to a point at
which the grade is less than 8% or for 250 feet, whichever is less.
(2)
The above pavement shall be in addition to the required pavement
for the first 25 feet.
R. Where any driveway passes a culvert, said culvert shall extend at
least five feet beyond the edge of the driveway.
S. The Driveway Official may impose such other construction requirements
within the Township road right-of-way as the Township Engineer deems
appropriate in order to properly protect the traveling public and
the Township road and drainage facilities.
T. A driveway must access a public road from each lot on which a single-family
dwelling is constructed.
U. The first 25 feet of the driveway, as measured from the edge of the
pavement of the existing street, shall be constructed with a minimum
thickness of four inches of dense graded aggregate base materials
and a wearing surface of asphalt pavement, type FABC-1, minimum thickness
of two inches or a thickness of four inches of lime fly ash stabilized
base or a thickness of six inches of concrete.
V. The driveway grade shall not exceed a maximum slope of 15%. The center-line
profile of the driveway shall conform to the typical sections for
driveway entrances shown on Figure 1, which is an appendix to this
chapter and declared to be part of this chapter.
W. Every driveway design shall provide for an off-street turnaround
in order to facilitate the forward entry of a vehicle onto the roadway.
Common driveways providing access to two or more single-family
residential lots are prohibited unless a variance is granted by the
Stillwater Township Planning Board or Zoning Board. A common driveway,
if permitted, shall comply with the provision of this chapter with
the exception of the following design standards:
A. The width shall be 20 feet.
B. That portion of the driveway, to both lots, shall be paved for its
entire length.
In the event that the Township Driveway Official shall deny
an application for a driveway permit, the applicant may appeal the
Township Driveway Official's decision to the Stillwater Township Zoning
Board. Any appeal must be filed within 20 days of receipt of a written
denial of the application by the Township Driveway Official.
Driveways accessing county roads will require Township driveway
permits in addition to the required county driveway permit, with the
following modifications:
A. Sussex County standards will apply to that portion of the driveway
within the county's jurisdiction (25 feet from edge of pavement).
Township standards will apply for the balance of the driveway.
B. No Township fees or deposits will be required for driveways accessing
a county road, provided that applicable fees and deposits have been
deposited with the county for the first 25 feet.
The following shall apply to all driveway inspections and permits:
A. Driveway permits shall be valid for only one year from date of issuance.
B. Any person or persons violating any provision of this section which
results in inconvenience to the public or damage to or obstruction
of any Township road, gutter, storm drain, catch basin, inlet or culvert
shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by the Township
of Stillwater in repairing the damage or removing said obstruction,
in addition to any penalties provided herein, and shall be responsible
for damage to any persons so inconvenienced.
C. Prior to the issuance of the permit, the applicant shall present
satisfactory proof to the Township Driveway Official that he or she
had notified the utility company of his or her intent to excavate.
D. If an applicant for subdivision or site plan approval can clearly
demonstrate that, because of peculiar or unusual conditions pertaining
to his or her land, the literal enforcement of one or more of these
regulations is impracticable or will exact undue hardship, the approving
board hearing the application may permit such minor deviation as may
be responsible and within the general purpose and intent of these
regulations and standards.
E. By signing the application the owner and/or applicant agrees to hold
the Township of Stillwater, its officers and agents harmless from
and against any loss, injury or damage resulting from any negligence
or fault of the owner or his or her agents, employees or assigns in
performance of the work covered by an approved permit.
Any individual or entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable, upon conviction, to a penalty as provided in Chapter
1, Article
III, General Penalty, and Article
II of Chapter
248 of the Code of the Township of Stillwater.