[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Alexandria 7-13-1988. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 153.
The purpose of this chapter is to set certain
standards for the design, location and construction of driveways and
driveway openings in order to promote the safety, public well being,
convenience and general welfare of the municipality through, among
other things, the lessening of soil erosion, ensuring emergency vehicle
access, promotion of traffic safety and preservation of municipal
road structures.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following
words or terms shall mean:
Any lane, way, opening, construction entrance or privately
owned road entering upon any public road within the municipality,
excepting field openings to nonresidential land used exclusively for
farming purposes.
An existing driveway is modified within the meaning of this
chapter when it is paved, widened or narrowed, when its horizontal
location or vertical elevation is changed or when drainage facilities
are installed or replaced.
Township of Alexandria, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
A driveway whose grade rises in elevation from the existing
grade at the edge of the municipal roadway.
[Amended 12-10-1997; 12-10-2008]
No driveway which connects with an existing
or proposed municipal road may be constructed or modified unless the
owner first obtains a driveway permit from the Municipal Clerk or
Construction Official. The applicant for a driveway permit shall pay
the municipality an application fee of $350 upon application.
All driveways to be constructed or modified
shall be done in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
A.
Number of driveway openings.
(1)
The maximum number of driveway openings permitted
from a commercial or industrial lot to any one road shall be limited
as follows:
|
Length of Lot Frontage
(feet)
|
Permitted Number of Driveway Openings
| |
|---|---|---|
|
150 or less
|
1
| |
|
151 or more
|
2
|
(2)
The maximum number of driveway openings permitted
from a residential lot shall be one.
B.
Adjacent driveway openings. A minimum clear distance
of 25 feet shall separate any two driveways on the same premises or
on adjoining lots entering upon a single municipal roadway, as measured
along the right-of-way line.
C.
Drainage facilities. Each driveway shall be constructed
with suitable and adequately designed drainage facilities. Wherever
possible, driveway drainage shall be directed into natural drainage
channels. Driveway drainage may be connected with existing drainage
facilities within the municipal roadway, provided that said connection
does not interfere with existing drainage or cause erosion or deposits
of sediment in the municipal drainage system. Driveway drainage systems
shall not discharge onto adjoining properties causing erosion or sediment
damage or flooding and shall not discharge onto the paved or traveled
portion of any public right-of-way.
D.
Minimum sight distance required.[1]
(1)
Exit driveways. Any exit driveway shall be designed
in profile, grading and location to permit a minimum sight distance
of 150 feet, measured in each direction along the center line of the
intersecting road. The sight distance measurement shall be from a
sight point on the center line of the exit driveway 15 feet behind
the curbline of the thoroughfare, or if no curbline exists, a minimum
of 30 feet from the center line of the intersecting road. A clear
sight triangle shall be established connecting the sight points described
above and shall be graded and otherwise kept free of shrubbery, fences,
structures, etc. in order to maintain clear vision between sight points.
(2)
Entrance driveways. Any entrance driveway shall be
located to permit a minimum sight distance of 150 feet for left turning
vehicles from the intersection of the driveway and roadway center
lines.
E.
Permitted slope at intersection. The portion of any
driveway within the road right-of-way shall be constructed so that
the grade at the right-of-way line is not less than three inches nor
more than six inches above the edge of the existing pavement or traveled
way.
All driveways constructed or modified shall
intersect perpendicular to the existing road pavement or traveled
way. Any curved or angular approach of the driveway for aesthetic
or topographical reasons shall be accomplished outside of the road
right-of-way or beyond 25 feet from the center line of the existing
pavement, whichever is greater.
To assure adequate access for motor vehicles,
any vertical curve on a driveway shall be flat enough to prevent the
dragging of any vehicle undercarriage. Vertical curves shall not exceed
a 3 1/4 inch crest or a two-inch depression in a ten-foot chord.
A.
All driveways shall be designed and constructed to
the width standards herein specified. Driveway width shall be the
curb face to curb face dimension, or pavement edge-to-edge dimension
where curbs are not required, and shall be measured at the road right-of-way
line or at a point 25 feet from the center line of road, whichever
is greater.
B.
Single-family residential driveways shall have a minimum
width of 12 feet and may taper to a minimum width of 10 feet beyond
the right-of-way line. Driveways shall be flared on each side as they
touch the intersecting road pavement or traveled way. See typical
residential driveway intersection details.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Typical residential driveway
intersection details are included at the end of this chapter.
C.
Multifamily, commercial and industrial driveway widths
shall be designed to accommodate commercial vehicles and higher traffic
volumes, but in no event shall exceed a maximum width of 35 feet.
No new driveway shall be constructed at a profile
grade exceeding 15% at any point. If a proposed uphill driveway will
exceed a profile grade of 8% anywhere within the first 200 feet, as
measured from the road right-of-way line along the driveway center
line, then that portion of the driveway which exceeds 8% within the
first 200 feet shall be paved with a bituminous concrete, macadam
or portland cement concrete surface.
A.
All driveways shall be constructed and maintained
at all times in such a manner as to prevent erosion of soil and materials
from them and the land behind them. Water and silt shall be prevented
from running onto and accumulating upon the traveled way of municipal
roads or filling up road gutters, catch basins, inlets or pipe drains
with sediment or debris.
B.
In the event that the construction of any particular
driveway in the municipality is subject to the standards promulgated
by the New Jersey Soil Conservation Committee and administered by
the Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District, such standards shall
apply whenever such standards are more stringent, detailed or comprehensive
than the standards contained herein.
All driveways shall be constructed so as not
to block or interfere with the drainage within gutters or along the
existing road pavement or traveled way. Under no circumstances shall
the driveway be allowed to extend beyond the edge of the existing
ditch line at an elevation creating an uneven flow line in the gutter
or ditch or beyond the existing edge of pavement creating a hump or
uneven driving surface.
A.
Paved gutter. The construction of a properly sized
dish-type gutter will be permitted, provided that the existing water
flow will not be blocked, altered or changed in any manner.
B.
Culvert or piping. The installation of a suitably
sized reinforced concrete pipe or culvert will be required in the
event that the existing flow line or ditch cannot be crossed with
a shallow dish-type gutter. The size of the pipe or culvert required
shall be determined by the Municipal Engineer.
When a site or lot occupies a corner formed
by two intersecting roads, no driveway entrance or exit shall be located
within 25 feet of the point of tangency of the existing or proposed
curb radius of either road.
No entrance or exit driveway shall be located
on the following portions of a road: a rotary, a ramp of interchange
or within 25 feet of the beginning of any ramp or other portion of
an interchange.
All driveways within the municipality right-of-way
or within 25 feet of the center line of road, whichever is greater,
shall be constructed as follows:
A.
Driveways entering upon unpaved roads shall be constructed
of six inches (compacted thickness) of 1 1/2 inch quarry process
(blend) stone thoroughly rolled and compacted.
B.
Driveways entering upon paved roads shall have a constructed
base course of six inches (compacted thickness) of 1 1/2 inch
quarry process (blend) stone thoroughly rolled and compacted and a
surface course of two inches (compacted thickness) of bituminous concrete
Type FABC-1.
C.
All materials and methods of construction shall comply
with the New Jersey State Highway Specifications for Road and Bridge
Construction, 1961 Edition, and all amendments and revisions thereto.
The application shall contain a plan in sufficient
detail for the Municipal Engineer to determine compliance with this
chapter. The application shall include the following information:
A.
A site plan or sketch showing the driveway for its
entire length and its relation to the intersecting road, the proposed
location of dwellings or structures, septic systems, existing or proposed
surface water swales, diversions, etc.
B.
On any driveway where existing lot grades exceed 10%,
a profile of the driveway showing existing and proposed center line
grades and elevations for its entire length shall be required.
C.
A plan showing the type of storm drainage to be constructed
along the driveway and at the driveway intersection with the road,
i.e., dish-type gutter, pipe or culvert. Sizes of pipes, culverts
and gutters, grades, elevations, typical cross-sections, construction
details and any other information deemed necessary to the proper analysis
of the installation shall also be shown.
D.
The Municipal Engineer shall inspect the premises
and review the driveway permit application, and, if the proposed permit
application and driveway improvement comply with the standards of
this chapter, the Municipal Engineer shall issue a driveway permit.
If the determination is that the proposed driveway application or
driveway improvements do not comply with the standards of this chapter,
then the applicant shall receive written notice specifying the particulars
of noncompliance.
[Amended 12-10-2008[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection
D, which stated that a fee of $15 would accompany an application for
a driveway modification, and redesignated former Subsection E as Subsection
D.
[Amended 6-14-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-01]
A.
The Alexandria Township Land Use Board is hereby established,
constituted and appointed as Driveway Appeal Boards to hear and decide
driveway appeals pursuant to this section.
B.
The Alexandria Township Land Use Board, sitting as
a Driveway Appeal Board, shall have the power to hear and decide appeals
by any interested party where it is alleged by the appellant that
there is error in any order, requirement, decision or refusal made
by the Municipal Clerk, Zoning Officer or Engineer based on or made
in the enforcement of this chapter. Such appeal shall be taken within
20 days by filing a notice of appeal with Municipal Clerk, specifying
the grounds of such appeal. The officer from whom the appeal is taken
shall immediately transmit to the Land Use Board all the papers constituting
the record upon which the action appealed from was taken. An appeal
to the Land Use Board shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of
the action in respect to which the decision appealed from was made.
Such appeal shall be heard by the Land Use Board in accordance with
its usual rules of practice and procedure, where applicable.
C.
Where by reason of exceptional narrowness, shallowness or shape of a specific piece of property, or by reason of exceptional topographic conditions, or by reason of other extraordinary or exceptional situation or condition of such piece of property, the strict application of any section of this chapter would result in peculiar and exceptional practical difficulties to or exceptional and undue hardship upon the developer of such property, the Alexandria Township Land Use Board, upon an application or appeal relating to such property, may grant a variance from such strict application of such section of this chapter so as to relieve such difficulties or hardship; provided, however, that no variance or other relief may be granted hereunder which would create any substantial public danger or substantial public inconvenience. No variance or other relief may be granted under the terms of this section unless such variance or other relief can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and purpose of this chapter, nor the standards promulgated by the New Jersey Soil Conservation Committee and administered by the Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District nor the intent or purposes of Chapter 115, Land Use.
D.
The Alexandria Township Land Use Board, sitting as
a Driveway Appeal Board, shall be empowered to grant the above-described
variance or other relief whenever the same is applied for in connection
with the review of a subdivision, site plan or conditional use by
the Land Use Board.
E.
Notice of appeals pursuant to this section shall be
given by the applicant in the manner prescribed by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12
(the Municipal Land Use Law).
A.
No building permit shall be issued for the construction
or alteration of any structure where inherent in any application for
such permit a driveway permit is required, in accordance with the
terms of this chapter, until said driveway permit has been issued.
B.
All work and improvements required by the driveway
permit shall be completed prior to issuance of the certificate of
occupancy. However, in the event that the necessary work and improvements
cannot be completed at the time of application for a certificate of
occupancy because of unsatisfactory weather conditions, such as cold
or freezing temperatures or wet soil conditions, or because of other
unusual conditions which would cause undue hardship to the property
owner, the certificate of occupancy may be issued, provided that a
cash performance guaranty in the minimum amount of $1,000 and sufficient
in amount to cover the estimated cost of said work or uncompleted
portions thereof, as approved by the Municipal Engineer, is filed
with the Municipal Clerk.
C.
Upon certification by the Municipal Engineer that
all work and improvements required by the driveway permit have been
completed, the Clerk shall return any remaining amount of the performance
guaranty to the person who supplied same.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating
any provision of this chapter which results in damage to or obstruction
of any public road, gutter, storm drain, ditch, basin, inlet or culvert
during or following construction shall be responsible for all expenses
incurred by the municipality in repairing said damage or removing
said obstruction, in addition to the penalty herein provided.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be penalized as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I. Each and every day that a violation continues after notification thereof shall constitute an additional, separate and specific violation.
The short title of the this chapter shall be
the "Alexandria Township Driveway Ordinance."
