Sidewalks and curbs constructed in the business, commercial and industrial zones as defined and set forth in Chapter
300, Zoning and Land Use, shall be constructed of concrete, except that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen may allow substitute materials such as brick pavers, when the following requirements are met:
A. The Town Engineer has determined in writing that the proposed sidewalk will be equal in quality and durability to concrete sidewalks constructed in accordance with the specifications required in §
254-28 hereinbelow.
B. The proposed sidewalk meets all other applicable sidewalk construction
standards set forth in this chapter.
C. In projects requiring site plan or subdivision approval from the
Planning Board, the use of substitute materials shall be subject to
the Board's approval.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Sidewalks, driveway aprons and curbs shall be constructed strictly
in accordance with specifications hereinafter set forth.
A. Concrete sidewalk, general. The following specifications provide
for the construction of sidewalks to be of Class "B" concrete, air
entrained, and to be of the single-course type. They shall have a
minimum width of four feet and a minimum thickness of four inches.
B. Concrete sidewalk and curb construction.
(1) Excavation. All grass, roots, sod or other materials, including but
not limited to the existing or old sidewalk and curb, that are unsuitable
for a foundation shall be removed together with such earth and rock
as is necessary to permit the surface of the sidewalk to be laid to
the proper grade. Where sidewalk has to be placed on fill, the fill
shall be deposited in six-inch layers and rolled and tamped. All excavation
materials cannot be disposed onto the owner's property, any street,
sidewalk or right-of-way.
(2) Drainage. Where the subgrade is wet or apt to be frequently water
soaked, provision shall be made to secure adequate drainage by excavating
the unsuitable material, and filling in with tamped cinders, sand,
gravel or crushed stone, and if necessary by laying drain pipes.
(3) Subbase. All sidewalks shall be laid on a firm and unyielding base
which has been thoroughly compacted by tamping, ramming and/or wetting.
The base shall have a minimum thickness, measured after compacting,
of four inches.
(4) Slope. All finished sidewalks shall be at least one inch above the
finished curb and have a side slope of 1/4 inch per foot of width
towards the curb and shall be free from waves, depressions and projections
deviating more than 3/16 inch. Unsatisfactory portions of the sidewalk
shall be replaced to the satisfaction of the Department of Public
Works Superintendent.
(5) Protection of surface. When completed, all walks shall be kept moist
and protected from traffic and the elements for three to four days
according to weather conditions. The forms shall be removed with great
care and upon their removal the edges of the walks shall be protected
in a suitable manner.
(7) Drains under sidewalks. No leader pipe or other drain shall discharge
over the sidewalk but must be carried under the sidewalk to the gutter
in a cast-iron pipe or bituminized fiber pipe. The hole in the curb
must be round, neatly cut, leaving at least one inch of solid stone
or concrete over the hole, doing no other damage to the curbing, and
shall be of no larger diameter than necessary. When the sidewalk is
but four feet wide, the pipes must be so laid that the hubs will not
come under the sidewalk. In the place of a cast-iron pipe or bituminized
fiber pipe a trough of masonry may be constructed and covered with
a suitable cover having its top surface flush with the surface of
the sidewalk and of a rough character to prevent slipping. No trough
shall be wider than six inches.
(8) Concrete curbs. The face and top of the curb shall be struck off
with an edging tool. The surface shall be smooth finished by means
of a wooden float.
(9) Dimensions. All concrete curbs shall be 18 inches in depth, six inches
wide at the top, and eight inches wide at the base.
C. Driveway aprons. Driveway aprons shall be considered to consist of
that portion of the driveway extending from the curbline to the edge
of the sidewalk nearest the curb. The edge of the sidewalk nearest
the curb shall not be higher than the top line of the curb if projected,
and the apron shall run in a straight grade from the edge to the bottom
of the driveway opening or gutter and shall not project past the curbline.
D. All new sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the following
minimum depths and widths:
(1) Residential areas:
(a)
Concrete: depth four inches, width four feet.
(2) Residential areas at driveways, including but not limited to driveway
aprons, ramps and sidewalks crossed by driveways:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
(3) Commercial/industrial areas:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
(4) Commercial/industrial areas at driveways:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
E. The Town Building Department shall be given at least 48 hours'
prior notice of the intention to begin construction, reconstruction,
repair, alteration, replacement or maintenance of driveway aprons,
curbs and sidewalks. Once the construction, reconstruction, repair,
alteration, replacement or maintenance of driveway aprons, curbs and
sidewalks has been started, the work shall be carried to completion.
In the event the construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration,
replacement or maintenance of driveway aprons, curbs and sidewalks
is delayed for a period in excess of five days, the Town Building
Department shall be given notice of such delay and, in addition, shall
be given at least 24 hours' notice prior to resumption of the
work.
Any residential property owner in the Town may apply to the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen to have his/her/its sidewalk or curb removed
by the Public Works Department, providing that the property owner
enters into an agreement with the Town wherein the sidewalk or curb
will be replaced by the property owner and constructed in accordance
with the Town specifications. This program will not be offered to
a property owner unless at least 50% of the sidewalk or curb is to
be removed by the Town and replaced by the property owner. This program
shall not apply to or be available to owners of commercial, industrial,
or institutional property. Condominium and apartment complexes (two
or more buildings) and sidewalks not within a public right-of-way
shall be excluded from this program as well.
A. Any property owner entering into an agreement with the Town will
be required to have a new sidewalk constructed in accordance with
the Town specifications within 30 days of the old sidewalk or curb
being removed by the Department of Public Works. If the property owner
fails to have the new sidewalk constructed within 30 days, the Town
may construct the sidewalk and the total cost incurred by the Town
will be placed as a lien against the property owner.
B. The property owner will be required to provide insurance coverage
indemnifying the Town against any claims or losses in connection with
the sidewalk or curb replacement work to be done. A certificate of
such insurance must be filed with the Town Administrator prior to
any work commencing.
C. The Department of Public Works Superintendent shall schedule the
removal of any sidewalks or curbs at times that best fit into the
work schedule of the Department of Public Works. The Department of
Public Works Superintendent shall notify the property owner at least
48 hours in advance of when the Department of Public Works will remove
the existing sidewalks or curbs. To avoid any conflicts with snow
and leaf removal, sidewalk or curb replacement shall be scheduled
only during the period March 1 through October 31.
D. All new sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the following
minimum depths and widths:
(1) Residential areas:
(a)
Concrete: depth four inches, width four feet.
(2) Residential areas at driveways, including but not limited to driveway
aprons, ramps and sidewalks crossed by driveways:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
(3) Commercial/industrial areas:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
(4) Commercial/industrial areas at driveways:
(a)
Concrete: depth six inches, width four feet.
Any person who shall construct, reconstruct, repair, alter,
replace or conduct maintenance of driveway aprons, curbs and sidewalks
or portions thereof, shall do so strictly in accordance with the specifications
of this chapter. Inspection by the Department of Public Works Superintendent
or his agents for compliance shall be requested at least 48 hours
in advance.
A person violating any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter
1, General Provisions, Article
III, General Penalty, in addition to the penalties of §
254-31. Every day that such violation continues shall be deemed to be a separate offense.