Prior to the granting of final approval, the
developer shall have installed improvements required by the Planning
Board or have posted a performance guaranty or surety sufficient to
cover the costs of said improvements. The Planning Board may solicit
local, county, state, federal, public or semipublic agencies and knowledgeable
individuals on what improvements shall be required. Improvements recommended
by other agencies, such as a utilities authority, county, state or
other governmental agencies, may be required by the Planning Board
as a condition of final approval. The following construction standards
and improvements are necessary to protect the health, safety, welfare
and convenience of the residents and public, as well as needed to
meet local, county, regional, state and national goals and objectives.
It is recognized, however, that in peculiar situations, all of the
improvements listed below may be appropriate or needed.
A.
Township standards.
(1)
All standards and specifications of the Township as
now or hereafter adopted and applicable ordinances shall govern the
design, construction and installation of all improvements. The following
design details,[1] as amended from time to time, shall apply:
(2)
Failure of the developer, his contractor or agent
to conform to said specifications shall be just cause for the suspension
of the work being performed. No developer shall have the right to
demand or claim damages from the Township, its officers, agents or
servants by reason of said suspension.
(3)
Construction of sanitary sewage collection facilities
in connection with subdivisions, site plans and other property improvements
in the Township of Bridgewater shall conform to the Bridgewater Township
Sewer Utility Document known as "Standards for Construction of Sanitary
Sewers for Subdivisions, Site Plans and Property Improvements in Bridgewater
Township, Somerset County, New Jersey," as amended from time to time.[2] This document contains construction standards for the
following 15 sanitary sewer items:
[Added 3-1-1982 by Ord. No. 82-10]
(a)
Pipe items.
(b)
Precast concrete manholes.
(c)
Concrete.
(d)
Manhole frames and covers.
(e)
Vent pipe.
(f)
Drop pipe connection.
(g)
Wyes and tees.
(h)
Risers.
(i)
Saddles.
(j)
Laterals.
(k)
Sight tee.
(l)
Clean stone.
(m)
Compacted select fill.
(n)
Sewer tests and repairs.
(o)
Restoration.
[2]
Editor's Note: These standards are on file
in the office of the Township Clerk.
B.
Other standards.
(1)
In the event the Township has not adopted standards
for a specific type of improvement, then generally accepted engineering
standards as set forth in engineering and construction manuals, as
may be approved and modified by the Township Engineer for a specific
situation, shall be used.
(2)
Gas, electric, telephone and similar utilities shall
be installed in accordance with applicable company, state and federal
requirements.
C.
Grades. All construction stakes and grades shall be
set by a licensed land surveyor in the employ of the subdivider, developer
or contractor. One copy of all cut sheets, signed by a land surveyor
or professional engineer, shall be filed with the Township Engineer
48 hours prior to the commencement of any construction.
D.
Inspection. Prior to the start of the construction
or installation of such improvements, the developer shall advise the
Township Engineer 48 hours prior to the commencement of such work.
No underground installation shall be covered until inspected and approved
by the appropriate official. If, during installation of any of the
required improvements, the developer falls to meet specification requirements
or to correct unacceptable work, the developer shall be notified in
writing, by certified mall, that the developer has failed to comply
with specifications or to correct unacceptable work properly, and
said notice shall set forth in detail what has not been properly installed.
If within 10 days after mailing of such notice the developer has failed
to perform in accordance with the notice, the Township shall then
cause the notice of failure to comply to be served upon the developer,
and a copy shall be sent to the governing body and Planning Board.
A.
During construction. During construction, the site
shall be maintained and left each day in a safe and sanitary manner,
and any condition which could lead to personal injury or property
damage shall be immediately corrected by the developer upon an order
by the Building Inspector or other authorized personnel.
B.
Disposal of dead trees, litter, building materials.
Developed areas shall be cleared of all stumps, litter, rubbish, brush,
weeds, dead and dying trees, roots and debris, and excess or scrap
building materials shall be removed or destroyed immediately upon
the request of and to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector prior
to issuing an occupancy permit.
C.
Earth removal and topsoil. No topsoil shall be removed
from the site or used as spoil unless approved by the Township Engineer.
If soil is removed from the Township, approval from the Township Council
is mandatory. At least six inches of topsoil shall be provided within
25 feet of the structure or paved areas and appropriately landscaped.
All non-hard-surfaced areas of the lot or those portions without structures
shall be stabilized by seeding or planting to prevent soil erosion.
Areas where vegetation has been removed or the surface has been disturbed
and which constitute a potential soil erosion problem shall be appropriately
stabilized to the satisfaction of the Township Engineer.
D.
Changes in elevation.
(1)
No change shall be made in the elevation or contour
of any lot or site by the removal of earth to another lot or site
other than as shown on an approved preliminary plat.
(2)
Minimal changes in elevations or contours necessitated
by field conditions may be made only after approval by the Township
Engineer. All said changes necessitated by field conditions shall
be shown on the final plat and indicated as a change from the preliminary,
or if final approval has been granted, said changes shall be shown
on the as-built plans.
E.
Temporary improvements. Prior to or during construction,
the Township Engineer may require the installation or construction
of improvements to prevent or correct temporary conditions on the
site which could cause personal injury, damage to property or constitute
a health hazard. These conditions may result from erosion and landslide,
flooding, heavy construction, traffic, creation of steep grades and
pollution. Improvements may include berms, mulching, sediment traps,
detention and retention basins, grading, plantings, retaining walls,
culverts, pipes, guardrails, temporary roads and others appropriate
to the specific condition. All temporary improvements shall remain
in place and in operation until otherwise directed by the Township
Engineer.
A.
Stormwater. The stormwater disposal system shall include
all or some of the following: curbs, catch basins, culverts, pipes,
stormwater drains, swales, drainage rights-of-way, ditches, channel
improvements, riprap, retention and detention basins, or combinations
of all or some of the above where appropriate. It may also include
ground cover, seeding, trees, shrubs, bushes and vegetation.
B.
Sanitary sewage disposal. A sanitary waste disposal
system shall include all or some of the following: pipes and necessary
appurtenances, such as manholes, handholes, pumping stations, drainage
tiles, valves and siphons.
C.
Water. A water system shall include all or part of
the following: pipes and necessary appurtenances of sufficient size,
material and capacity, pumps, valves, pumping stations, standpipes
and fire hydrants. Fire hydrants shall be of a design and type approved
by the Township and be installed in accordance with Township requirements.
D.
Private utilities. Gas lines, telephone lines, electrical
services, cable television and similar utilities when installed shall
consist of those elements required by the applicable utility, federal,
state or local law.
E.
Vehicular and pedestrian improvements. Such improvements
shall include all or part of the following: street paving, curbs,
gutters, concrete sidewalks, bituminous concrete driveway aprons,
streetlighting, traffic signs, traffic control devices, guardrails
and other street improvements.
(2)
Street signs. The design and location of all street
signs shall be approved by the Planning Board. The name of all new
streets shall be approved by the Township Council or its designee.
(3)
Sidewalks. Sidewalks, where required, shall be a minimum of four feet in width and shall otherwise comply with § 126-199.1.
[Amended 11-18-1991 by Ord. No. 91-33]
(4)
Traffic signs and control devices. These improvements,
such as stop, yield and one-way signs, etc., shall be designed and
installed in accordance with applicable federal, state and county
regulations. Recommendations as to their installation may be made
by the Police Department or other competent agency.
(5)
Guardrails. These shall be designed to prevent cars
from leaving the road. They shall be installed where danger exists
to the traveling public due to steep topography, narrow roadways,
location of drainage ditches or other similar conditions.
F.
Natural improvements. These improvements shall include
all or some of the following: shade trees, topsoil, earth removal,
borrow and fill, improvements to prevent erosion and landslides, improvements
to prevent damage to adjacent property, to protect vistas and existing
natural growth.
G.
Monuments. Monuments shall be of such size and shape
and properly located as required by the Map Filing Law.
H.
In order to ensure that existing well supplies are
protected and that water is available for fire-fighting purposes,
public water shall be provided in connection with all new major subdivision
and site plan applications in the designated regional center area
[Added 4-4-2005 by Ord. No. 05-12]
A.
Types of guaranty. The performance guaranty shall
be issued by a bonding or surety company authorized to do business
in the State of New Jersey as approved by the Township Attorney.
B.
Acceptance of performance bond.
(1)
The Planning Board shall recommend to the governing
body acceptance of the performance bond only after receipt of the
following items:
(a)
Letter from Township Engineer. Letter from the
Township Engineer containing a list of all items to be bonded and
costs thereof and stating that all plans and specifications meet applicable
Township ordinances.
(b)
Letter from Planning Board Attorney. Letter
from Planning Board Attorney recommending approval of form and amount
of bond.
(2)
After approval and acceptance of the performance guaranty
by the governing body, a letter stating that fact shall be sent to
the Planning Board before the final plats are signed and filed with
the county or site plans are approved.
C.
Items required by governing body before releasing performance bond or any part thereof. The procedures established in § 126-248E shall govern the release of performance bonds. Before releasing any guaranties or portions thereof, the following items shall be submitted to the governing body:
(1)
Recommendation. A recommendation by the Board that
the bonds be reduced or released.
(2)
As-built plans. An as-built plan and profiles of all
utilities and roads with a certification as to the actual construction,
the same to be approved by the Township Engineer. One copy of each
shall be sent to the Clerk and a Mylar or similar copy to the Township
Engineer.
(3)
Liens. A statement or affidavit from the developer
that there are no liens or other legal encumbrances on any of the
improvements or utilities proposed to be deeded to the Township.
(4)
Approval of installation. A statement from the Township
Engineer that all utilities and improvements required by the Planning
Board have been installed and completed in accordance with applicable
Township ordinances.
(5)
Maintenance bond. A maintenance bond as provided herein.
(6)
Deeds. Deeds, free and clear of all encumbrances,
for all streets, public easements, drainage and conservation easements,
other lands dedicated to public use and any improvements to be dedicated
or deeded to the Township or other public agency.
(7)
Certification from applicant's engineer. The applicant's
engineer shall certify that improvements relating to sanitary sewers,
stormwater management, soil erosion and sedimentation have been constructed,
installed and are operating in accordance with Township-approved plans.
D.
Letter from Clerk. After the release of the bond or
any part thereof, a statement to that effect shall be sent to the
Planning Board by the Township Clerk.
E.
The Director of Municipal Services is authorized and
has the power and authority to release performance guaranties in the
sum of $5,000 or less, posted for site plans and subdivisions, whether
in the form of a performance bond, letter of credit or cash. The governing
body's approval is not required to release a performance guaranty
of $5,000 or less, and requests for release of such performance guaranties
of $5,000 or less are required to be submitted only to the Director
of Municipal Services.
[Added 11-17-2008 by Ord. No. 08-27]
A.
The governing body shall not accept any road or other
improvement into the municipal road system or for municipal ownership
until the maintenance bond has been posted and all deficiencies are
corrected or repaired. The Township may, however, undertake to remove
snow and perform other municipal services as may be required on the
roads prior to final acceptance if the subdivider presents a written
request to the governing body and agrees in said request to hold the
Township harmless for any damages to the roads or public improvements
caused by snow removal or other municipal activities.
B.
The governing body need not accept any roads or other
improvements if the roads or other improvements will be used by the
developer to complete other portions of the subdivision.
