[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of West Brandywine 3-1-1979 by Ord. No. 79-02. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter is to govern the
design, location, construction and maintenance of driveways within
the right-of-way of Township roads in order to facilitate the safe
and unobstructed movement of vehicular traffic in the Township.
A.
Any person desiring to construct or lay out a driveway
shall make application to the Land Development Officer of said Township
for a road occupancy permit prior to the commencement of construction
of any access drive to any public road in said Township. Application
forms will be available at the Township Office to any applicant upon
request. The construction or layout of a proposed driveway shall not
be commenced prior to receiving a written permit approving the location,
design and mode of construction thereof, signed by the Land Development
Officer of the Township and containing such reasonable terms and conditions
as the Township may deem necessary to impose, and paying the applicable
fee therefor. Said fees shall be set by a schedule adopted by the
Township from time to time.
B.
This chapter shall apply to all access driveways that
enter Township roads.
A.
All driveways shall be located, designed and constructed
in such manner as not to interfere with or be inconsistent with the
design, maintenance and drainage of any Township road.
B.
Access driveways should be located in such manner
that they will not cause the following:
(1)
Interference to the traveling public,
(2)
A hazard to the free movement of normal highway traffic,
or
(3)
Areas of undue traffic congestion on the highway.
In accordance with this principle, driveways shall be located where
the road alignment and profile are favorable; that is, where there
are no sharp curves or steep grades, and where sight distance in conjunction
with the driveway access would be adequate for safe traffic operation.
C.
Access driveways shall not be located at interchanges,
ramp areas, or locations that would interfere with the placement and
proper functioning of road signs, signals, detectors, lighting or
other devices that affect traffic control. The location of a driveway
near a signalized intersection that has an actuated traffic signal
may include a requirement that the permittee provide (without expense
to the Township) additional detectors for the control of traffic movement
from permittee's premises or for relocation of existing detectors.
D.
Where road curbs exist, driveway approaches shall
be installed 1 1/2 inches above the adjacent roadway or gutter
grade to maintain the proper drainage.
The permissible number, arrangement and width
of driveways shall be governed in part by the road frontage of abutting
private property. The number of driveways permitted shall be the minimum
number required to serve adequately the needs of the abutting property.
Frontages of 50 feet or less shall be limited to one driveway. Normally
not more than two driveways shall be provided for any single property
tract or business establishment. Exception may be made where the frontage
exceeds 300 feet in length.
A.
The location and angle of an access driveway approach
in relation to the roadway intersection shall be such that a vehicle
entering the driveway may do so in an orderly and safe manner and
with a minimum of interference to through road traffic, and leaving
the driveway may enter safely into a lane of traffic moving in the
desired direction.
B.
Where the access driveway approach and highway pavement
meet, flaring of the approach may be necessary to allow safe, easy
turning of the vehicle when entering or departing from the driveway.
C.
No part of any access driveway shall be constructed
outside of the applicant's frontage.
D.
Each roadside business establishment shall provide
sufficient parking or storage space off the right-of-way to prevent
the storage of vehicles on the driveway or the backing up of traffic
on the traveled roadway.
E.
No part of the road right-of-way shall be used for
servicing of vehicles, displays or conducting any private business.
The area between the edge of the pavement and the right-of-way line
shall be kept clear of all buildings, sales exhibits, business signs,
parking areas, service equipment, etc.
F.
Improvements on private property adjacent to the right-of-way
shall be so located that parking, stopping and maneuvering of vehicles
on the right-of-way will not be necessary in order for vehicles or
patrons to be served properly. For example, liquid fuel pump islands
installed in service stations adjacent to the roadway shall be located
not less than 12 feet outside of the right-of-way line, when a driveway
is established and the permit is issued. This subsection is not intended
to imply that should the road be widened at a later date the fuel
pumps have to be moved back in order to comply with the twelve-foot
minimum distance from the right-of-way line. However, a greater distance
is recommended to provide sufficient space for large vehicles.
A.
Access driveways relative to limited access right-of-way.
No access driveway shall be located within 30 feet of the terminus
of a limited access highway or within 30 feet of a limited access
highway right-of-way measured along the pavement edge.
B.
Angle of access driveway approach.
(a)-2.tif.png)
(2)
Single access driveway approaches shall be positioned
at right angles to the roadway or as near thereto as site conditions
permit. When two access driveways are constructed on the same property
frontage and used for one-way operation, each of these driveways may
be placed at an angle less than a right angle, but not less than 45°
to the road.
(b).tif.png)
D. 
Property line clearance. No access driveway shall
be located within 10 feet in rural areas, or within five feet in urban
areas, of the property frontage boundary line, except in those cases
where an access driveway is common to two adjacent properties.
E.
Intermediate island between multiple driveways.
(b).tif.png)
(2)
An intermediate island shall separate all multiple
driveways opening upon the same road. The island area shall extend
from the shoulder line, ditch line or curb line to the right-of-way
line. The minimum length for an intermediate island measured along
the right-of-way line shall be 10 feet. The minimum length measured
along the shoulder line, ditch line, or curb line shall be 20 feet
in rural areas or 15 feet in urban areas.
(3)
The intermediate island area shall be clearly defined.
Intermediate islands of 20 feet or less measured along the shoulder
line, ditch line or curb line shall be defined by a permanent type
curb. This curb shall be placed two feet back of the shoulder line
or ditch line on uncurbed roads and shall be extended to the right-of-way
line. Additional curbing may be required at the discretion of the
Township Engineer.
F.
Radius curb.
(1)
Control dimensions. The maximum and minimum length
for radius curbs shall be as follows:
(d).tif.png)
G.
Setback.
(1)
Recommended control dimensions.
(a) (a).tif.SM.png)
Fuel pump islands: 12 feet minimum outside the right-of-way
line.
(a).tif.png)
(2)
It is recommended that all liquid fuel service stations,
business establishments and other roadside developments other than
private residences shall be located a sufficient distance from the
right-of-way line as to provide ample driving area and parking off
the right-of-way, prevent storage of vehicles on the access driveways
and the backing up and turning of vehicles on the road pavement.
H.
Width of access driveway approaches.
(b).tif.png)
(2)
The width of access driveways shall not exceed the
above dimensions when measured at right angles to the center line
of driveway. Where a commercial access driveway approach and the road
pavement meet, flaring of the driveway shall be required to allow
safe and easy turning of the vehicle either into or out of a commercial
development. Service station driveways shall not have a flared width
greater than 65 feet.
I.
Curb.
(1)
All curb must be of a permanent type.
(3)
In urban or rural areas where curb exists, the existing
type of curb shall be matched. The line and grade of the existing
curb shall be maintained.
(4)
Where the property abutting road right-of-way will
be used for parking area, the Township may require curb to be placed
along the right-of-way line. This curb will be required to confine
the traffic movement to the access driveway and to prohibit encroachment
upon sidewalks or shoulder area.
J.
Sight distance.
(1)
Access driveways shall be located at a point of optimum
sight distance along the road within the property frontage limits.
The profile of the driveway and the grading of the right-of-way area
shall provide a maximum sight distance so that the operator of a vehicle
departing from such a driveway will have optimum visibility in either
direction along the road.
(2)
Where adequate sight distances cannot be attained,
the location of the driveway will be at the discretion of the Land
Development Officer of the Township.
K.
Slope of access driveway.
(1)
All driveways shall be constructed in such a manner
as not to impair drainage within the road right-of-way, alter the
stability of the road subgrade or materially change the drainage of
adjacent areas. Where open shoulders or berms exist, the grade of
a paved access driveway(s) shall slope away from the road pavement
at the same rate as the existing shoulder (unless advised to the contrary
by the Township Engineer) for the prevailing width of the shoulder.
The gradient of a driveway beyond this point (within the road right-of-way)
shall be not less than 1/2 inch per foot.
(2)
Driveway ramps may extend from the face of the curb
up to the outer edge of the sidewalk area in those cases where a planted
area occurs between multiple driveways. The rate of slope for such
driveway ramps preferably should not exceed one inch per foot. Where
conditions are such that the one-inch foot slope is not obtainable,
the sidewalk area of the driveway may be lowered sufficiently to obtain
the allowable ramp slope and the sidewalk may be warped up to meet
the normal sidewalk grade, at a rate of slope not to exceed 3/8 inch
per foot.
(3)
Where a drainage ditch or swale exists, adequate pipe
shall be installed under the driveway (by the permittee) in accordance
with specifications as determined by the Township Engineer. Minimum
diameter of such drainage pipe shall be 15 inches unless otherwise
specified by the Township Engineer. Under no circumstances shall the
diameter of such drainage pipe be less than 12 inches.
L.
Access driveway pavement.
(1)
Access driveways shall be appropriately surfaced between
the traveled road and the business or service area with a stabilized
material or a higher material when specified by the Township Engineer.
Along paved roads, access driveways shall be paved.
(2)
NOTE: All materials used in the construction of driveways
shall meet Pennsylvania Department of Highways specifications and
be purchased from a source of supply approved by the Township.
M.
Deceleration and acceleration lanes.
(1)
The shoulder or berm area leading to the entrance
driveway of a business establishment or other roadside developments
in rural areas may be paved for a suitable distance, to permit vehicles
to decelerate or accelerate in safety when entering or leaving the
property. Such paving shall be limited to the area in front of the
abutting property and shall be done by the property owner, at his
expense, in accordance with PennDot specifications.
(2)
Special attention will be given to permit requests
for the construction of access roads to large business establishments,
shopping centers, outdoor theaters, etc., particularly when the volume
of traffic generated may necessitate acceleration and deceleration
lanes, standby lanes, "jughandles," channelization, etc. In all such
cases, costs incident to the construction of such additional roadway
improvements shall be at no expense to the Township and the permittee
shall be so advised. Such work shall be constructed under the supervision
and inspection of the Township.
All driveways, adjacent areas and areas between
such driveways including channelization, paving, drainage, etc., installed
by the permittee shall be maintained by the property owner in such
a manner as not to interfere or be inconsistent with the design, maintenance
and drainage of the Township road, or the safe and convenient passage
of traffic upon the road. The term "adjacent area" shall apply only
to that area within the permittee's property or property line extended.
A.
Work authorized by a "road occupancy permit" for construction
of an access driveway shall be performed at such time and in such
a manner as to conform to all requirements and standards specified
therein. Such work will be inspected by a representative of the Township
immediately upon receipt of the completion notice from the permittee
or at date of expiration of the permit.
B.
If an inspection of the work discloses that it is
not being or has not been properly performed, the permittee will be
notified, in writing, by the Township to take immediate steps, at
his own expense, toward placing the work in such condition as to conform
to said requirements and standards. Proper distribution of the completion
report shall be made immediately following the inspection.
[Amended 2-6-1997 by Ord. No. 97-01[1]]
Any person who violates or permits a violation
of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought
before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal
Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and punishable by a fine
of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of
payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for
a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such
violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a
separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated
shall also constitute a separate offense.
