[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Upper Hanover as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Municipal claims and liens — See Ch. 302.
Flood damage control — See Ch. 240.
Stormwater control — See Ch. 415.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 421.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 425.
ATTACHMENTS
196a App to Ordinance196b Detail Drawings
[Adopted 6-10-1980 by Ord. No. 80-1[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of Ord. No. 80-1 were repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
All driveways to be constructed within the Township shall meet the following design and construction standards:
A. 
Location and design.
(1) 
Location. Driveways shall be so located as to provide reasonable sight distance at intersections with streets. A stopping area measured 20 feet behind the right-of-way line shall be provided, not to exceed a four-percent grade.
(2) 
Intersections. Driveways shall be located not less than 40 feet from the street intersection and shall provide access to the street of a lesser classification when there are streets of different classes involved.
(3) 
Pavement widths and grade. Driveway paving width and grades shall be as follows:
Land Use
Minimum Paving Width
(feet)
Minimum Radius at Curb
(feet)
Maximum Grade
(%)
Single-family residential
10
5
9%
Multifamily residential
12 (one-way)
24 (two-way)
10
10
10%
10%
Commercial and industrial
12 (one-way)
24 (two-way)
15
15
7%
7%
(4) 
All driveways shall be located, designed and constructed in such a manner as not to interfere or be inconsistent with the design, maintenance and drainage of the highway.
(5) 
Access driveways should be located in such a manner that they will not cause the following:
(a) 
Interference to the traveling public;
(b) 
A hazard to the free movement of normal highway traffic; or
(c) 
Areas of undue traffic congestion on the highway.
(6) 
Frontages of 100 feet or less shall be limited to one driveway. Normally not more than two driveways need to be provided to any single property tract or business establishment. Exceptions may be made where the frontages exceeds 300 feet in length or where the internal vehicular pattern requires.
(7) 
Provisions for drainage and stormwater runoff shall be approved by the Township Engineer.
(8) 
Where a property abuts a state, county or Township right-of-way and where a driveway extends from that right-of-way to the interior of the property, the applicant must obtain a permit from PennDOT, Montgomery County or the Township indicating compliance with all applicable standards and criteria.
B. 
Construction standards.
(1) 
Single-family residential developments. The driveways and parking areas for a single-family residential development shall have a thickness of not less than six inches, the base of which shall consist of four inches base course of 2A modified stone as compacted, and a surface which shall be two inches compacted thickness of ID-2A wearing course. The paving shall be constructed both as to materials and workmanship in accordance with specifications and standards promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation now in force or hereafter revised and on an approved firm subgrade.
(2) 
Multifamily, commercial and industrial driveways and parking areas. All driveways and parking areas in multifamily dwellings, commercial and industrial areas shall have a thickness not less than 10 1/2 inches, the base of which shall consist of two layers of crushed aggregate base course (PennDOT standard) as compacted and a surface of which shall be 1 1/2 inches of ID-2A binder course and one-inch ID-2A surface course as compacted. The paving shall be constructed both as to materials and workmanship in accordance with specifications and standards promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation now in force or hereafter revised and on an approved firm subgrade.
C. 
Construction inspection.
(1) 
The construction of all driveways and parking areas will be subject to the inspection and approval of the Township. The Township shall be notified a minimum of 48 hours in advance of construction.
(2) 
Failure to follow these rules and regulations will prevent use and occupancy of the structure until it can be proven that the driveway was constructed properly.
[Adopted 2-10-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
It is the purpose of this article to prevent and, where existing, to alleviate blockages of or impediments to the flow of surface water along public roads due to the existence of private lanes or driveways opening onto such public roads. Further, this article's purpose is to prevent surface water issuing from such private lanes and driveways from entering onto or otherwise deleteriously affecting the integrity or safety of such public roads.
Every private lane or driveway constructed after the date of this article shall, at its intersection with a public road, have such drains, culverts, gutters or other devices for the purpose of facilitating storm drainage as the Township or its authorized agent shall determine to be required.
A. 
Where a driveway or private lane slopes downward toward its intersection with a public road, a structure shall be installed to intercept and collect the rainwater runoff from the driveway. In general, this structure shall be located at the point of intersection of the driveway and the roadside drainage swale; however, where special circumstances so dictate, the Township may require a different location.
B. 
Drainage interceptor structures shall be of the following three types:
(1) 
Type A: concrete trench drain with welded steel crate.
(2) 
Type B: slotted drainpipe.
(3) 
Type C: concrete epoxy prefabricated drain trench.
(4) 
Type of structure to be used shall be according to Appendix Table 1. Construction details shall be as shown in appendix.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix Table 1 and Detail Drawings are included at the end of this chapter.
C. 
Where driveways are level with the road surface or slope downward away from the road, a standard culvert of corrugated steel pipe, reinforced concrete pipe, or similar material approved by Township shall be used at roadway swale. Size shall be as required by Township to carry the flow in roadway swale, or such larger size as may be required by swale invert elevation.
D. 
Where the Township determines that groundwater seepage from a property will cause moisture problems in the roadway base, subsurface drains shall be installed. No additional measures are required if the driveway utilizes Type A or C interceptors. Where either a slotted drainpipe or a standard drainage culvert is to be used, said pipe or culvert shall be perforated and bedded in six inches of Type 2B crushed aggregate. Where an existing unperforated culvert is presently installed, an aggregate trench drain may be installed on the property owner's side of the existing culvert, constructed as shown in the detail drawings at the end of this chapter.
E. 
Minimum length for all driveway entrance culverts or other structures shall be 27 feet.
F. 
The Township may, at its sole discretion, waive the requirement for a Type A, B or C structure and allow the driveway to be constructed with a standard culvert as in Subsection C above and a swale constructed across the driveway to intercept runoff. Such waiver shall only be allowed under the following conditions:
(1) 
Maximum slope of driveway is 5% for a distance of 50 feet from roadway swale.
(2) 
Applicant can demonstrate to Township's satisfaction that the cross-swale can be effectively constructed and drained away from the driveway in a manner which will not fill up and eliminate the swale.
(3) 
Swale, when constructed, shall have sides with a maximum slope of 12.5%, and a minimum depth of two feet below the intersection of the drive with the roadway.
(4) 
Swale invert shall be minimum of 15 feet from roadway edge.
In the case of any new private lane or driveway opening onto a Township road, the person constructing such driveway shall first obtain from the Township a permit for road occupancy. This permit shall state the requirements to be met by the driveway at its intersection with the roadway, including, but not limited to, location, type of drainage device(s) and time limits for the work to be completed.
A. 
The obtaining of such permit and the installation of the required drainage device(s) shall be a precondition to the issuance of a zoning permit for any new building or structure served by the new driveway.
B. 
The Township may, at its sole discretion, waive this precondition so as to permit the installation of the drainage device(s) to be delayed until the possibility of damage by construction equipment is past. In such case, the applicant shall post with the Township financial security sufficient, in the Township's opinion, to defray costs of construction if applicant should fail to construct the required improvements. Such financial security shall be in the form of an escrow account, a letter of credit or such other instrument as the Township shall find acceptable.
Every owner of a private driveway or lane opening upon the public roads of Upper Hanover Township shall, upon written notice from the Board of Supervisors, construct, install, alter or reconstruct such conduits, drains, interceptors or gutters required to correct the drainage problem referred to in the notice. Such repair or reconstruction shall include the installation of the above-mentioned improvements and/or the alteration of grades and lines of the drive or lane and shall be done to the specifications of the Township or its authorized agent.
Written notice shall be given to all affected property owners to construct, reconstruct or install drainage facilities under or around their private driveways. Service of notice shall be considered as made on the date when said written notice is either mailed to said owners, if they be known, or posted on the premises of said owners or published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Said notice shall include a statement of the times and place at which said owner may obtain from the Township the specifications, line and grade of the pipes, drains and gutters required to be installed.
If any owner of a private lane or driveway shall fail to construct or to arrange with the Township to construct pipes, gutters, conduits or drains within 90 days of service of notice to do so, the Township of Upper Hanover may construct or cause the same to be constructed and charge the cost thereof to the owner of the lane or driveway, along with any additional penalty authorized by law.
The cost of any such construction or installation done by the Township of Upper Hanover shall be a lien upon the premises from the time of the commencement of the work. Any such lien may be collected by an action in assumpsit or by lien filed in the manner provided by law for filing and collection of municipal claims.
Any person who shall fail, neglect or refuse or cause any person to fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the terms or provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof before any Magisterial District Judge, be sentenced to pay costs and a fine not exceeding $300 or to imprisonment in the county jail for a term not to exceed 30 days for each offense, or to both such fine or imprisonment.