The following shall apply to the design and construction of streets associated with subdivision and land development applications, and are intended as the minimum standards for the promotion of the public health, safety and welfare. In the case where it can be clearly demonstrated by the applicant to the satisfaction of the Board that, because of peculiar conditions pertaining to a tract of land, the literal enforcement of these standards would cause undue hardship, such variations from their literal interpretation may be permitted as may be reasonable and consistent with the purpose and intent of this chapter.
A. 
Proposed streets shall be properly related to such street plans or parts thereof as have been officially prepared and adopted by the Township, including recorded subdivision plans and the Comprehensive Plan of the Township,[1] and shall be classified according to their function.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A206, Comprehensive Plan.
B. 
Proposed streets shall further conform to such Township and state road and highway plans as have been prepared, adopted, and filed as prescribed by law.
C. 
Thoughtful and site sensitive design of streets and their relationship to the arrangement of lots is required. Streets shall be logically related to the topography so as to produce optimum access to lots, reasonable grades, proper alignment and drainage and to provide for adequate vision.
D. 
Insofar as possible, streets on which structures are proposed to front shall be oriented in a general east-west direction, so as to provide the maximum number of structures with southern exposure and to provide the opportunity for solar utilization. Street layout shall maximize south facing slope.
E. 
Streets shall be designed according to the function they are to serve. The existing function of all public streets is defined in the Appendix.
F. 
Local streets shall be laid out so as to discourage through traffic, but provisions for street connections into and from adjacent areas may be required by the Board where circulation patterns warrant such connection.
G. 
If lots resulting from original subdivision are large enough to permit resubdivision, or if a portion of the tract is not subdivided, adequate street rights-of-way to permit further subdivision shall be provided as necessary, to be no less than the rights-of-way then required for collector or local streets.
H. 
Where a subdivision or land development abuts or contains an existing or proposed collector or arterial street, the Board may require dedication of additional right-of-way to provide the minimum right-of-way specified hereinafter, as well as marginal access streets, rear service alleys, reverse frontage lots, or such other treatment as will provide protection for abutting properties, reduction in the number of intersections with the major street, and separation of local and through traffic. Where warranted because of additional traffic, drainage, or comparable problems/conditions, said public street is to be improved as a responsibility of the applicant himself, or by means of sufficient funds escrowed for use by the Township to execute such improvement as per the conclusion of the traffic impact study.
I. 
New half or partial streets shall not be permitted.
J. 
The applicant shall be required to provide standard traffic control signs for all streets within the subdivision. The proposed location of said signs must be shown on the final plans.
K. 
Public streets shall be required within subdivision and land development proposals to serve internal lots within a tract, where such streets will provide the most efficient and safe access.
A. 
The minimum right-of-way and cartway widths for all new streets in the Township shall be as follows:
[Amended 10-27-1993 by Ord. No. 93-07; 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 96-02; 12-21-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-04]
Cartway Width
Street Function
Right-of-Way Width
< 7% Grade
> 7% Grade
Nonresidential street
60
36
36
Minor street
50
22
24
Collector street
60
36
36
Arterial
*
*
*
Permanent cul-de-sac
50
22
24
Marginal access street
33
22
22
Service street
20
20
20
NOTES:
*As specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
+When all portions of any proposed road system have grades of 7% or less, a minimum cartway width of 22 feet will be permitted.
++If any portion of any proposed road system grade exceeds 7%, a cartway width of 24 feet shall be provided for the entire road system within a subdivision.
B. 
Additional right-of-way and cartway widths may be required by the Township for the following purposes:
(1) 
To promote public safety and convenience.
(2) 
To provide parking space in commercial districts and in areas of high-density residential development.
(3) 
To accommodate special topographic circumstances which may result in cut/fill slopes extending beyond the standard right-of-way in all circumstances to assure accessibility for maintenance operations.
C. 
Rights-of-way of lesser width than prescribed in this section shall not be permitted.
D. 
Subdivisions abutting existing streets shall provide, the minimum right-of-way widths for those streets in accordance with the provisions of this section for dedication.
E. 
Where a subdivision abuts an existing street of improper cartway or right-of-way width or alignment, the Township Supervisors shall require the dedication of land sufficient to widen the street or correct the alignment and require the escrow of money where deemed necessary in order to improve said cartway.
A. 
There shall be a minimum centerline grade of 3/4%.
(1) 
Centerline grades shall not exceed the following:
Street Function
Maximum Grade
Minor street
10%
Collector street
6%
Arterial street
6%
Street intersection
5%
(2) 
Grades up to 12% may be permitted for short distances on a through minor street where access to the street is possible over streets with grades of 10% or less.
B. 
All streets shall be graded in accordance with Township regulations. The slope ratio of banks along street right-of-way lines shall not exceed 3 to 1 horizontal to vertical for fills, and 2 to 1 for cuts, the measurement of which shall be made perpendicular to the street right-of-way line.
C. 
At all changes of street grades where the alegbraic difference exceeds 1%, vertical curves shall be provided to permit the following minimum sight distances:
(1) 
Minor street: 200 feet.
(2) 
Collector street: 300 feet.
(3) 
Arterial street: 400 feet.
D. 
Under no circumstances shall maximum grades be permitted using the minimum curve radii.
A. 
Whenever street lines are deflected in excess of 5°, connection shall be made by horizontal curves.
B. 
To ensure adequate sight distance, minimum centerline radii for horizontal curves shall be as follows:
(1) 
Minor street: 150 feet.
(2) 
Collector street: 300 feet.
(3) 
Arterial street: 500 feet.
C. 
A tangent of at least 100 feet shall be introduced between all horizontal curves on collector and arterial streets and between reverse curves on minor streets.
D. 
Super elevation shall be required when curve radii are less than 600 feet on a major street.
A. 
Right angle intersections shall be used whenever practicable especially when minor residential streets empty into collector or arterial streets. There shall be no intersection angle of less than 60°, or more than 120° measured at the centerline.
B. 
No more than two streets shall cross at the same point.
C. 
To the fullest extent possible, intersections with collector and arterial streets shall be located not less than 1,000 feet apart, measured from centerline to centerline. Exceptions shall be those cases deemed by the Board to require close spacing without endangering the public's safety.
D. 
Streets entering from opposite sides of another street shall either be directly across from each other or offset by at least 150 feet on local and collector and 300 feet on arterial streets, measured from centerline to centerline.
E. 
Street curb intersection shall be rounded by a tangential arc with a minimum radius of:
(1) 
Twenty-five feet for intersections involving only minor streets;
(2) 
Thirty feet for all intersections involving a collector street or internal street used for industry;
(3) 
Forty feet for all intersections involving an arterial street;
(4) 
Street right-of-way lines shall be parallel to (concentric with) curb arcs of intersections.
F. 
Clear sight triangles shall be provided at all public street intersections. Within such triangles, no vision obstructing object shall be permitted which obscures vision above the height of 30 inches and below 10 feet measured from the centerline grade of intersecting public streets. Such triangles shall be established from a distance of:
(1) 
Seventy-five feet from the point of intersection of the centerlines, except that, clear sight triangles shall be provided for all intersections with collector and arterial streets in accordance with PennDOT standards.
(2) 
Where an intersection is controlled by a stop sign or traffic signal, the site triangle shall be measured from a point in the center of the controlled or lesser street 25 feet back from the curbline of the uncontrolled or through street to the distance required above.
G. 
Whenever a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed street with an ultimate right-of-way of 60 feet or more, the Township Planning Commission may require restriction of access to the arterial street by:
(1) 
Provision of reverse frontage lots;
(2) 
Provision of service streets along the rear of the abutting lots, together with prohibition of private driveways intersecting the arterial streets; or
(3) 
Provision of marginal access streets, provided that the reserve strips establishing such marginal access streets shall be definitely placed within the jurisdiction of the Township under an agreement meeting the approval of the Township.
H. 
Except as specified above, reserve strips shall be prohibited.
A. 
Dead-end streets are prohibited unless designed as permanent cul-de-sac streets, or when designed as temporary cul-de-sac for future access to adjoining properties.
B. 
Any street dead-end for access to an adjoining property or because of authorized stage development shall be provided with a temporary, all-weather turnaround, within the subdivision, and the use of such turnaround shall be guaranteed to the public until such time as the street is extended. Right-of-way shall be extended to the tract boundary in such cases.
C. 
Cul-de-sac streets, permanently designed as such, shall not exceed 1,000 feet in length and shall not furnish access to more than 20 dwelling units.
D. 
Cul-de-sac streets, permanently designed as such, shall have a minimum length of 250 feet.
E. 
All cul-de-sac streets, whether permanently or temporarily designed as such, shall be provided at the closed end with a fully paved turnaround.
F. 
The minimum radius to the pavement edge or curbline shall be 40 feet, and the minimum radius of the right-of-way line shall be 50 feet.
G. 
Drainage of cul-de-sac streets shall preferably be towards the open end.
H. 
The centerline grade on a cul-de-sac street shall not exceed 10% and the grade of the diameter of the turnaround shall not exceed 5%.
I. 
There shall be a maximum of four lots containing any access along the turnaround portion of a cul-de-sac street measured from reverse curve to reserve curve.
J. 
Whenever a future extension is found to be practical by the Board and Planning Commission, a fifty-foot wide easement with an offer of dedication shall extend to the property line.
A. 
Service streets are prohibited in subdivisions for single-family detached residences, except where required to avoid direct driveway access to arterial streets.
B. 
No part of any dwelling, garage or other structure shall be located within 16 feet of the centerline of a service street.
C. 
Except where other adequate provision is made for off-street loading and parking consistent with the use proposed, service streets shall be required in commercial and industrial districts and shall have a minimum paved width of 22 feet.
D. 
Dead-end service streets shall be avoided, but where this proves impossible, dead-end service streets shall be terminated with a paved circular turnaround of either:
(1) 
With a minimum radius to the outer pavement edge (curbline) of 40 feet if parking is prohibited on the turnaround; or
(2) 
With a minimum radius to the outer pavement edge (curbline) of 50 feet if parking is permitted on the turnaround.
E. 
Service street intersections and sharp changes in alignment shall be avoided, but where necessary, corner lot curblines shall be rounded or cut back sufficiently to permit safe vehicular circulation.
[Amended 10-27-1993 by Ord. No. 93-07]
A. 
All street construction and paving must conform to the specifications incorporated in this section of the standards, to the applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Publication 408 as most recently published, and shall be approved by the Township Engineer prior to acceptance by the Board of Supervisors. All design standards shall conform to the requirements established by this chapter and shall be subject to the approval of the Township Engineer.
B. 
Street paving shall have a minimum total compacted depth of 13.5 inches, consisting of a six inch sub-base of 2A Type "C" stone, a six (six) inch bituminous concrete base course, and a 1.5 inch bituminous wearing course ID-2. Alternate paving sections may be approved by the Board of Supervisors and Township Engineer, as long as the proposed alternative meets the structural strength achieved with the existing construction method.
C. 
All Township streets shall have a crown of 1/4 inch per foot sloping away from the centerline unless otherwise directed by the Township Engineer.
D. 
Subgrade. Wherever possible the subgrade shall be in cut, or undisturbed subsoil. In no case shall the subgrade consist of filled or undisturbed topsoil or frozen soils. All deleterious material such as tree roots, leaves, branches, trash, stones exceeding six inches in diameter and miscellaneous construction debris shall be removed from the subgrade. Compaction shall be accomplished by sheep's-foot, smooth wheel or rubber tired roller, at the discretion of the Township Engineer. The subgrade shall be compacted tight and dry and shall not be soft and spongy when check rolled. Compaction of the subgrade shall extend the full width of the cartway, including the width to be occupied by shoulders where applicable. Unstable areas shall be removed and replaced with suitable fill and then rerolled as required to provide a uniform even surface. The required road crown shall be built into the shaped subgrade.
E. 
Subbase. The subbase shall be a 2A Type "C" stone placed to a compacted depth of six inches (this may be achieved in one lift). The sub-base shall be compacted to a firm and unyielding surface by rolling the entire area with a minimum of a ten- twelve-ton vibratory roller. Prior to continuing to the next course, the sub-base shall be checked by the Township Engineer for grade, crown, and contour. Proper compaction will be determined by the Engineer based on non-movement of the material under the specified compaction equipment.
F. 
Bituminous concrete base course. The bituminous concrete base course shall have a compacted depth of six inches (this is to be achieved in two equal lifts). It shall be mixed, delivered, placed and protected in accordance with the requirements of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Publication 408, Section 305, as per the latest edition.
G. 
Wearing course. After proper cleaning, repairing and preparation of the bituminous concrete base course, as directed by the Township Engineer, the base course shall be primed with a tack coat consisting of materials meeting the specifications of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Publication 408, Section 406, latest edition. The wearing course shall then be placed and must achieve a compacted depth of 1.5 inches of ID-2 material. The wearing course shall be mixed, delivered, placed and protected in accordance with the specifications of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Publication 408, Section 420, as per the latest edition.
H. 
Joint seal. After application of the wearing course, all curb, inlet, manhole, etc., joints shall be sealed with a six-inch-wide Grade BM-1 or A-1 bituminous gutter seal.
I. 
Grading and shoulders. Roadways with curbs shall be graded with a slope of 1.5 inches per foot from the right-of-way line toward the curbline, unless directed otherwise by the Township Engineer, so that all runoff within the right-of-way is directed to the curbline.
A. 
Curbs shall be required on all streets.
[Amended 10-27-1993 by Ord. No. 93-07; 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 96-02]
(1) 
Rolled curbs shall be constructed on proposed streets with a centerline to and including 7%.
(2) 
Vertical curb shall be constructed on proposed streets with a centerline above seven percent. (Should any section of a proposed street exceed 7%, the entire street shall be of vertical curb between intersections.)
(3) 
The transition from one type of curb to another must be approved by the Township and the Township Engineer.
B. 
All curbs shall be constructed of Class A cement as specified by PennDOT Publication 408, latest edition. Curbs shall be constructed to the dimensions shown in the Appendix.
C. 
Curbing shall be constructed in 10 foot lengths. A premolded bituminous impregnated 1/2 inch expansion joint shall be placed between sections of curbing at intervals of not more than 30 feet.
D. 
Depressed curbs at driveways shall be between 1 1/2 inches above the finished street surface. Pipes, grates, wood planks or other materials shall not be placed in the gutter to form a driveway ramp.
E. 
Where it is necessary to replace existing vertical curbs with depressed curbing, two ten-foot long sections of existing curb shall be removed down to the subgrade without disturbing the adjacent cartway paving. The depressed curb shall then be formed and poured in place according to the dimensions in Appendix A. Any portions of the cartway disturbed during curbing removal or installation will be repaired to new condition.
F. 
When curbing must be cut for depressed curb installation, the length of the remaining section shall be no less than four feet between expansion joints and the cut shall be made in a neat manner with a power saw equipped with a proper masonry cutting blade.
G. 
Any depressed curb sections that are unused when a development or phase of a development is completed, shall be completely removed and replaced with full section upright curbing to line and grade of adjacent curbing. Forming and pouring vertical curbing on top of an existing curb depression will not be permitted.
The following standards shall apply to individual and common private driveways:
A. 
General.
(1) 
In order to provide a safe and convenient means of access, all driveways may not exceed a slope of 5% (one foot height in 20 feet of length) within the street right-of-way as well as within 25 feet of the right-of-way line. Where a drive enters the street through a cut in a ground bank, the shoulders and slope of the cut may not exceed a 2 to 1 horizontal to vertical ratio. Grades on any other portion of driveways shall not exceed 14%. In addition, driveways shall be paved where grades exceed 7%.
(2) 
Private driveways whether individual or common on corner lots shall be located at least 40 feet from the point of intersection of the nearest street right-of-way lines.
(3) 
Driveways shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 81, Driveways, of the Code of the Township of West Brandywine.
(4) 
In any subdivision or land development, no more than two parallel fifty-foot private driveways serving single interior lots shall be permitted. An area equal to two lots conforming to the appropriate zoning district area and bulk regulations shall separate parallel private driveways.
B. 
Common private driveways.
(1) 
A common private driveway may serve no more than two contiguous lots or units.
(2) 
Common private driveways shall have a minimum cartway width of 12 feet, paved to Township specifications.
(3) 
No parallel and immediate adjacent common driveways are permitted. All common driveways shall be separated by an area to two lots which conform to the appropriate zoning district area and bulk regulations.
(4) 
An easement of access shall be defined to the satisfaction of the Board, and included on the plan and deeds of record.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 712, Private streets, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 9-5-1996 by Ord. No. 96-02.
A. 
Proposed streets which are obviously in alignment with already existing and named shall bear the names of the existing streets.
B. 
In no case shall the name of a proposed street duplicate an existing street name in the Township and in the postal district, irrespective of the use of the suffix street, road, avenue, boulevard, driveway, place, court, lane, etc.
C. 
All street names shall be subject to the approval of the Township Supervisors.
D. 
Street name signs shall be installed at all street intersections. The design and placement of such signs shall be subject to approval by the Township.
A. 
Deceleration or turning lanes may be required by the Township along existing and proposed streets whenever the Board determines such lanes as required to meet reasonable safety needs, as determined by a traffic impact study, § 167-51.
B. 
Deceleration lanes shall be designed to the following standards:
(1) 
The lane shall have a minimum width of 12 feet or, in the case of intersections with state highways, such width as is required by the applicable regulations and standards of PennDOT.
(2) 
The lane shall provide the full required lane width for the entire length which shall be measured from the centerline of the intersecting road. In addition, there shall be a seventy-five-foot taper provided at the beginning of the lane so that traffic can leave the main traveled lane smoothly.
(3) 
The minimum lane length shall be as follows:
Design Speed of Road
(mph)
Minimum Deceleration Lane Length
(feet)
30
165
40
275
50
300
C. 
Acceleration lanes are required only when the need is indicated by a traffic impact study. The design shall be as per the recommendation of the Township Engineer. As necessary, a paved taper shall be provided for right-hand turns.
A. 
The Board shall require a traffic impact study as part of the application for subdivision and land development under the following situations:
(1) 
Where the proposed project abuts or is within 1,000 feet of an existing hazardous condition documented by the Township, the Chester County Planning Commission or PennDOT.
(2) 
A single-family development proposal in which a single access will serve 50 or more units, or 80 or more units when served by multiple accesses.
(3) 
A multiple-family proposal in which a single access will serve 75 or more units, or 100 or more units when served by multiple accesses.
(4) 
Any proposal which will generate a potential of 1,000 trips per day based on the standards of the Institute of Traffic Engineer.
(5) 
A project has potential for increasing existing average daily trips (ADT's) by more than 10%.
B. 
Traffic impact studies shall be prepared in compliance with the Rules and Regulations for Traffic Study by PennDOT, Title 67, Code Chapter 610. The cost of said study shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
C. 
The traffic impact study shall be submitted by the applicant for review by the Township Engineer. Said study shall meet with the satisfaction of the Board prior to plan approval.
D. 
The traffic impact study shall conclude with a list of required improvements, including their estimated cost, timing, and who should be responsible for their installation, subject to review by the Township Engineer.