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City of Hudson, NY
Columbia County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Hudson 12-13-1973 by Ord. No. 30-1973 (Ch. 100 of the 1973 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Department of Public Works — See Charter, Art. XXII.
Brush, grass and weeds — See Ch. 86.
Conduct at fires — See Ch. 140.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 143.
Gasoline stations — See Ch. 161.
Noise — See Ch. 210.
Peddling and soliciting — See Ch. 217.
Railroads — See Ch. 228.
Signs — See Ch. 244.
Snow and ice removal — See Ch. 253.
Snowmobiles — See Ch. 257.
Taxicabs — See Ch. 279.
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 300.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 305.
Curb, sidewalk and street requirements — See Ch. A330.
Depressed curb driveways — See Ch. A331.
The following words, when used in this chapter, shall have the meaning herein stated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
CURB
The boundaries of a roadway, whether marked by curbstone or not so marked.
PEDESTRIAN
All persons making use of public streets for foot passage.
SIDEWALK
That portion of a street outside of the roadway, used or set aside for the use of pedestrians.
STREET
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
Sidewalks in the City of Hudson shall hereafter be constructed as follows:
A. 
All sidewalks must be set to the slope, grade, width, pitch and location established by the Commissioner of Public Works, which specifications shall, at minimum, comply with the 2010 Americans with Disability Act Standards for Accessible Design.
[Amended 6-15-2021 by L.L. No. 3-2021]
B. 
Subbase. The subbase shall be thoroughly rammed and all soft spots removed and replaced by hard materials.
(1) 
When a fill exceeding one foot in thickness is required, it shall be thoroughly compacted by tamping in layers not exceeding six inches.
(2) 
The top of all fills shall extend at least 12 inches beyond the sidewalk.
C. 
Construction materials mix.
(1) 
All sidewalks hereafter constructed or reconstructed shall be of one course with the following mix per cubic yard:
(a) 
Cement: 564 pounds.
(b) 
Sand: 1,413 pounds (damp weight).
(c) 
Gravel: 1,906 pounds (damp weight).
(d) 
Course aggregate to be 3/4 inch to No. 4 sieve.
(2) 
This mix is set up using washed lake aggregates. Should other aggregates be used, the weights shall be adjusted to their true specific gravity.
(3) 
No material other than the mix above specified shall hereafter be used for the construction or reconstruction or repair of sidewalks in the City of Hudson, unless permission in writing is granted by the Commissioner of Public Works.
(4) 
All excavated material shall be removed from premises where sidewalk is constructed, reconstructed or repaired.
D. 
Protection. When completed, the sidewalk shall be kept moist and protected from traffic and the elements for at least one day. The forms shall be removed with great care, and upon their removal, earth shall be banked against the edges of the walk. The walk must have a pitch of at least 1/8 inch per foot toward the curb or street.
E. 
All sidewalks shall be not less than four inches in thickness, except that portion which is across a driveway, which shall be six inches in thickness; all sidewalks shall be four feet in width; provided, however, that the Commissioner of Public Works shall have the power to modify the above in all cases.
F. 
No fill excepting dirt shall be placed between the sidewalk and the curb or roadway without first securing the permission and approval of the Commissioner of Public Works.
No person, firm or corporation shall construct, reconstruct or grade a sidewalk or any street, avenue or alley until he shall have obtained the slope, grade, width, pitch, location and details of construction of the walk, in writing, from the Commissioner of Public Works.
A. 
The owner or occupant of any premises adjoining any street where a sidewalk has been laid shall keep the sidewalk on such street in good repair and free and clear of snow, ice, dirt and any other material or substance. For the purpose of snow and ice removal, such sidewalk shall be cleared the entire length and width thereof. In the event that such snow and ice is frozen so hard that it cannot be removed without material difficulty or injury to such sidewalk, such owner or occupant shall cause sufficient ashes, sand, sawdust, salt or other suitable material to be spread thereon so as to provide a safe path at least two feet in width the entire length thereof. As soon thereafter as weather permits, such owner or occupant shall thoroughly clean said sidewalk.
B. 
The owner and the occupant shall be jointly and severally responsible for compliance with the provisions hereof.
No person, firm or corporation shall plow, shovel, sweep, heap up or in any other manner deposit or place snow, ice, slush or any other material or substance on any street or any other public place in the City of Hudson.
No building material shall be placed upon any street without a permit from the Commissioner of Public Works. Such permit shall be for a period no longer than three months and shall not authorize the obstruction of any sidewalk or gutter or of more than 1/3 of the roadway immediately opposite the lot upon which the building is to be erected, and shall be revocable for cause by the Commissioner of Public Works. The holder of such permit shall so guard such material with red lights at night as to avoid accidents. Upon revocation of such permit, all materials deposited pursuant to such permit shall be removed within 48 hours and the street restored to its original condition.
[Added 4-15-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
A. 
Purpose. The Common Council of the City of Hudson has determined that the obstruction of the public sidewalk is a nuisance and cannot be tolerated and yet recognizes that certain businesses can, on occasion, display their goods upon the public way in front of their place of business without impeding pedestrian traffic and that such displays, when properly maintained and controlled, can be a public convenience and will not adversely affect the surrounding area. The following regulations shall apply.
B. 
Encumbrances or obstructions on sidewalks.
(1) 
No person, firm or corporation operating an establishment that owns or is the tenant of a building adjoining a public sidewalk shall vend, sell, dispose of or offer to vend, sell or dispose of or display any goods, wares or merchandise on the portion of the public sidewalk in front of his or her or its premises, unless there is a minimum of four feet clear space on the sidewalk. A minimum of a twenty-four-inch clearance must be maintained between the outer edge of the sidewalk forming the curb and any items placed on the sidewalks. No merchandise or sign shall be displayed upon or affixed against or between any parking meter, fire hydrant, telephone or utility lines and/or poles, other than what is allowed by the New York State Public Service Commission and with written authorization by the Mayor of Hudson.
(2) 
No flags or banners maybe hung over sidewalks unless there is a minimum of six feet six inches clearance from the ground.
C. 
Inspections. The Department of Code Enforcement shall make or cause to be made sufficient inspections to ensure compliance with the provisions of the City Code.
No person, firm or corporation shall drive, ride or leave any vehicle, as defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, upon any portion of any sidewalk, except crossing the same for the purpose of entering or leaving any premises.
[Amended 10-28-1999 by L.L. No. 5-1999]
A. 
No person, firm or corporation shall dig into or under any sidewalk, of remove, displace or carry away any dirt, soil, plant, concrete or other material of which the sidewalk may be constructed, except when the Commissioner of Public Works shall have approved the same.
B. 
The Commissioner of Public Works shall also be authorized to permit the installation of snow and ice control systems into the sidewalk base or concrete. Such system shall be identified to the Commissioner of Public Works by as-built construction drawings. The adjacent property owner shall assume all liability for the repair and maintenance of such system and shall hold the City of Hudson harmless from any cause or cause of action arising from the installation and operation of such system. This agreement shall be included in a written easement to be prepared by the Legal Advisor, executed by the Mayor on behalf of the City of Hudson, and recorded in the indices of deeds in the Columbia County Clerk's office by the adjoining property owner.
No person, firm or corporation, unless authorized by the Commissioner of Public Works, shall paint, mark, write, print or stencil any letters, figures, pictures or characters of any kind upon any street, public building or any other public property.
No person shall attach or string any electric or other wire or adjust or carry the same into or over any street, road, highway or public place except with written permission from the Commissioner of Public Works.
All owners, tenants and/or occupants in charge of premises at any corner formed by the intersection of streets shall, within 15 days of the receipt from the Commissioner of Public Works of written notice to do so, trim, prune and, if necessary, remove all hedges, brush, shrubs and overhanging limbs of trees or any obstacle upon such part of the premises as specified in said notice, to the end that persons driving vehicles upon either of such intersecting streets shall have clear and unobstructed vision for a distance of at least 20 feet from such intersection, measured along such street.
A. 
The Commissioner of Public Works may grant permission, on an application by the owner or occupant of any lot or property abutting upon a public street, highway or road of the City, or any individual, firm, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of plumbing and who retains a current plumbing license in the City of Hudson, to open the right-of-way or such portion as lies between the property line and the edge of the paved street, road or highway for the purpose of laying gas, sewer or water pipe from the edge of paving in said street, highway or road to the line of said lot or property, or for the purpose of repairing such pipe or sewer.
B. 
The person receiving such permit shall cause the work to be completed within such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Public Works shall direct, and shall cause any opening made in such portion as lies between the property line and the edge of the paved street, highway or road to be restored in as good a condition as it was before such opening was made.
A. 
The Commissioner of Public Works may grant permission, upon application by any individual, firm, partnership, public utility service or corporation engaged in the business of communications, electric power transmission or service, or selling water or gas and maintaining pipelines therefor, to open such street, highway or road for the purpose of laying gas or water pipe, communications conduit, electric conduit, etc., or for the purpose of repairing or maintaining such pipe, conduit or mediums of transfer, or to any individual, firm, partnership or corporation engaged in the business of plumbing and who retains a current plumbing license in the City of Hudson, for the purpose of laying sewer or water pipe from the main pipe or sewer in said paved portion of street, highway or road, or for the purpose of repairing such pipe or sewer.
B. 
The person receiving such permit shall cause the work to be completed within such time and in such manner as the Commissioner of Public Works shall direct, and shall cause any opening made in such street, highway or road to be restored to as good a condition as it was before such opening was made.
No person, firm or corporation shall cut the curb or binder of any street pavement in the City unless authorized by the Commissioner of Public Works.
Every such street, highway or road opening shall be backfilled, and such backfill shall be of such materials as shall be directed by the Commissioner of Public Works.
If at any time after any street, highway or road opened for any of the purposes mentioned in §§ 266-13 and 266-14 hereof shall have been replaced, it shall appear that the work of replacing or repaving the same was imperfectly performed, the Commissioner of Public Works shall notify said applicant, owner or occupant to put the same in as good condition as it was before opened; and if said applicant, owner or occupant, after receiving such notice, shall neglect or refuse to repair said street, highway or road within 48 hours thereafter, then the Commissioner of Public Works may cause the necessary repairs to be made and report the expense thereof to the City of Hudson.
The location of all utilities within a street, except lateral connections, shall be approved by the Commissioner of Public Works.
No person shall open, expose or interfere with any electric conduit, water pipe, hydrant, basin pool or other construction except by permission of the Commissioner of Public Works.
[Amended 5-21-2013 by L.L. No. 4-2013]
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation punishable as follows: by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days or by a fine not exceeding $2,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of an offense against the provisions of this chapter shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued, a separate and distinct offense hereunder.