[Adopted 6-6-1983 by Ord. No. 83-2]
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
Every owner of property in the Borough shall, on 45 days' notice from Borough Council, construct or reconstruct a sidewalk, driveway, driveway apron, curb or gutter, which shall conform to all applicable requirements of this article, in front or alongside of such property.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
Every owner of property in the Borough shall, on 45 days' notice from Borough Council, repair the sidewalk, driveway, driveway apron, curb or gutter, in the manner stipulated in such notice, in front or alongside of such property.
The notices referred to in §§ 151-6 and 151-7 of this article shall be in writing and may be sent to the registered owner by registered mail. A "registered owner" shall be deemed to be any party named as grantee in the last recorded deed for said property.
A. 
Permit. No person, firm, corporation or partnership shall hereafter construct or reconstruct curbs, driveways, driveway aprons, gutters or sidewalks within any public street or alley right-of-way within the Borough until a permit is issued by the Zoning Officer.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
B. 
Permit cost. The permit cost for curbs, driveways, driveway aprons, gutters or sidewalks will correspond to the rates set forth in Ch. 64, Building Construction, Art. I.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
C. 
Protection of the public. Adequate barricades and warning lights shall be maintained at all times during the construction or reconstruction of curbs, driveways, driveway aprons, gutters and sidewalks. No materials, earth excavation or equipment shall be stored within the street cartway. Adequate and safe provisions shall be made for the passage of pedestrians while the work is in progress.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
D. 
Inspection. Final inspection will be made by the Zoning Officer.
[Amended 2-2-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-01]
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
A. 
The grade line for the proposed new or rebuilding of curbing will be established by the Borough. Should curbs, driveway aprons, gutters and/or sidewalks be constructed without the Borough's approval or not placed at the proper grade, the person or firm granted this permit may be required to remove and replace it at the proper grade line.
B. 
The contractor shall lay out his work ahead of excavation or placement of forms by setting a string line to the finished grade or to a grade parallel thereto and on the curbline. Such string line shall be set not less than 100 feet in advance of form placement and shall span not less than four grade stakes ahead of form placement. If for any reason the curb grade or curbline appears not to fit the field conditions, or if an individual grade or line point appears to be wrong, the contractor shall immediately call it to the inspector's attention and request clarification or correction before continuing with the work.
C. 
The contractor shall pay particular attention to improvements or conditions affected by the curb, driveway apron, or sidewalk construction, and, whether directed or not by the Engineer or inspector, the contractor shall be responsible to make proper provisions for adjustments in his work.
D. 
For example:
(1) 
Driveways (Figure 3, Figure 3A[1]): Curb across existing driveways, whether paved or not, shall be depressed approximately six inches in depth. Where unusual grade conditions exist such that the established curb and sidewalk grade may not meet the existing driveway grade, the contractor shall call the condition to the attention of the inspector prior to placing forms so that any adjustment in grade may be made at the direction of the inspector.
[1]
Editor's Note: Figures 3 and 3A are included as attachments to this chapter.
(2) 
Street intersections. Where curb or sidewalk is constructed at a street intersection, particularly where either street grade is in excess of 5%, it may be necessary to adjust the grade, particularly the sidewalk grade, to properly fit the grade of the intersecting streets. Generally, it will be necessary to depart from the normal one-fourth-inch-per-foot fall on the sidewalk, either raising or lowering the back edge of sidewalk, in order to make a smooth grade transition in the vicinity of the street intersection.
(3) 
Walkways; steps. Where new sidewalk meets existing walkways or steps from adjoining properties, it may be necessary to adjust the back of sidewalk grade either up or down to meet the grade of the existing walkway or step.
A. 
Concrete. Concrete shall be premixed certified concrete having a twenty-eight-day compressive strength of not less than 3,000 psi.
B. 
Forms. Forms may be either steel or a good straight timber, planed on the side adjacent to the concrete and oiled. Timber forms shall be not less than two inches in thickness, except curb radius forms, which shall be prefabricated of plywood to the proper radius. Forms shall be straight, free from warp, and of sufficient strength when staked to resist the pressure of the concrete without springing.
C. 
Bituminous material shall conform to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Form 408, Section 420.1.
[Added 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
A. 
Excavation. Excavation shall be made to the required depth and through whatever material encountered, and the material upon which the work is to be constructed shall be compacted to a firm, even surface. All topsoil and soft and yielding material shall be removed and replaced with suitable material. Wherever it is necessary to remove old concrete work, care shall be taken not to damage adjacent concrete work which is to remain, and all broken concrete and excess material shall be removed.
B. 
Curbs. Curbs shall be straight curb, as specified, per the cross section and dimensions shown on Figure 1[1] herein or as otherwise specified herein. Concrete shall be placed in the form in horizontal layers not to exceed five inches and spaded sufficiently to eliminate all voids. An approved vibrator may be used when permitted by the Engineer. Where necessary or directed, drainage openings shall be made through the curbline at the elevation and of the size required. The top surface of the curb shall be finished true to line and grade in a smooth, neat, and even manner by means of wood floats, and the edges of the face and back shall be rounded to a radius of not more than 3/4 inch (face) and 1/4 inch (back) while the concrete is still plastic. Wherever spouting exists, depressions or openings must be made. When pipe is placed in the sidewalk, the concrete directly over the pipe shall be scored.
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
C. 
Curb length and expansion joints. The curb shall be constructed in continuous lengths not to exceed 60 feet, with contraction joints scored at ten-foot intervals, and templates shall be pulled while the concrete is still plastic so that there shall not be a complete separation between sections. Premolded expansion joints 1/2 inch in thickness shall be placed at the end of each pour but in no case at intervals exceeding 60 feet. An alternate to the above, curb may be constructed in uniform lengths or sections of 10 feet with complete separation between sections, in which event two No. 4 deformed reinforcing bar dowels 24 inches long shall be imbedded in the concrete. These bars shall be placed as shown on Figures 1 and 2[2] and shall extend 12 inches into the curb on each side of the joint. Bar dowels shall be rendered bondless with a coating of approved material and enclosed, in part, in approved tubes or caps which will provide a positive clearance pocket of at least 1/2 inch.
[2]
Editor's Note: Figures 1 and 2 are included at the end of this chapter.
D. 
Curb radius expansion joints. Expansion joints shall be provided at the beginning and end of all curb radii using one-half-inch premolded expansion joint material.
E. 
Concrete sidewalks (Figure 1[3]):
(1) 
Concrete sidewalk subgrade. The subgrade for the sidewalk shall be four inches in thickness of three-fourth-inch crushed stone, and it shall be carefully graded and tamped to provide an even solid support.
(2) 
Concrete sidewalk thickness and width (Figure 3[4]). Sidewalks shall be plain concrete (see § 151-11A) four inches in thickness, except under driveways, where the thickness shall be six inches. It shall have a minimum width of four feet or to match existing sidewalks.
[4]
Editor's Note: Figure 3 is included at the end of this chapter.
(3) 
Concrete sidewalk length. Sidewalks shall be constructed to separate slabs of thirty-foot maximum length, separated by premolded expansion joints of 1/2 inch in thickness for the full depth of the concrete. Between the expansion joints, the slabs shall be scored every five feet.
(4) 
Concrete sidewalk expansion joints. Premolded expansion joints shall separate the sidewalk from the curb and from any existing building, stairs, other pavement, utility poles, fire hydrants, or other permanent structure.
[3]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is included at the end of this chapter.
F. 
Brick sidewalks: (Curbs: see § 151-12B, same as concrete sidewalks.)
(1) 
Brick on gravel (Figure 5[5]):
(a) 
Subgrade (brick on gravel). The subgrade for brick on gravel sidewalks shall be four inches in thickness of quarry waste, and it shall be carefully graded and tamped to provide an even solid support and shall be four-foot minimum width.
(b) 
Screenings. One-half to one inch in thickness of screenings to be placed over quarry waste; a slope of 1/4 inch per foot is required sloping toward the curb.
(c) 
Felt: Fifteen-pound roofing felt paper is to be placed over screenings (prevents algae growth).
(d) 
Brick pavers: Sidewalk bricks shall be brick pavers conforming to Spec. ASTM C-62 - Grade SW (2 1/4 inch thick).
(e) 
Gaps between bricks: Sand shall be used to fill any gaps between the brick pavers.
[5]
Editor's Note: Figure 5 is included at the end of this chapter.
(2) 
Alternate, brick on concrete (Figure 4[6]):
(a) 
Subgrade (brick on concrete). The subgrade for brick on concrete shall be as follows: Three inches in thickness of three-fourth-inch crushed stone shall be carefully graded and tamped to provide an even solid support and shall be four feet minimum in width.
(b) 
Concrete subgrade. The concrete subgrade shall be three inches thick.
(c) 
Screenings. Over the concrete, place screenings to a thickness of 1/2 to one inch, with a slope of 1/4 inch per foot, sloping toward the curb.
(d) 
Brick pavers. Sidewalk bricks shall be brick pavers conforming to Spec. ASTM C-62, Grade SW (2 1/4 inch thick).
(e) 
Gaps between bricks: Sand or Type M mortar should be used to fill the gaps between the brick. It should be swept into joints and made wet using a hose and covered for three days.
[6]
Editor's Note: Figure 4 is included at the end of this chapter.
G. 
Sidewalk slope. Normally sidewalk shall slope 1/4 inch per foot toward the street.
H. 
Removal of forms. The forms shall not be removed within 12 hours after the concrete has been placed. No rubbing to correct irregularities will be permitted until the full curing period has elapsed. Any irregular surface shall be corrected by rubbing with a carborundum stone. Brush finishing or plastering will not be permitted, and all rejected curb shall be promptly removed and replaced. All joints in the curb shall be opened from top to bottom immediately after the forms are removed, and the edges adjacent to the joints shall be sharp and clean cut. After the forms are removed, minor defects shall be filled with mortar composed of one part cement and two parts fine aggregate.
I. 
Curing. All concrete work shall be cured in strict accordance with Section 1001.3(Q), PennDOT Form 408, latest revision. Either membrane curing or water curing will be permitted. For water curing, the curing period shall be not less than seven days; except, where high early strength concrete is permitted, the curing period shall be not less than three days.
J. 
Backfilling and fine grading. After concrete has attained the required strength, the work shall be promptly backfilled with clean earth or other approved material in layers of not less than four inches in depth and shall be thoroughly compacted mechanically to the required elevation and cross section. Curbing shall be backfilled on the street side to street subgrade, which is normally 18 1/2 inches below curb grade, either with clean earth or crushed stone. Grass plot areas and areas to the rear of sidewalk shall be backfilled with clean earth to within four inches of finished grade; at least four inches of clean topsoil shall be spread as the last layer to the proper grade to meet the finished curb and sidewalk grade. To the rear of sidewalk, the fill should be sufficient to prevent water pockets.
K. 
Cleanup. All form lumber, stakes, excess earth or concrete, and all other materials shall be promptly removed from the site.
L. 
Except for the area defined in Subsection M as a driveway apron, driveways may be constructed of concrete, bituminous material, macadam, gravel or cinder and shall not be less than six inches thick, compacted depth.
[Added 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
M. 
As used herein, the term "driveway apron" shall mean the area of the driveway within any public street or alley right-of-way within the Borough which abuts a public street or alley for the width of the sidewalk area of at least four feet in width and shall be constructed of concrete or bituminous material in accordance with Figure 3 or Figure 3A hereof.[7]
[Added 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
[7]
Editor's Note: Figures 3 and 3A are included at the end of this chapter.
N. 
As used herein, the term "driveway" shall mean a minor vehicular right-of-way providing access between a street and a parking area or garage within a lot of property.
[Added 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
O. 
All driveways (including the area defined herein as the driveway apron) constructed or reconstructed or laid out after the effective date of this subsection shall comply with the following design criteria:
[Added 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1]
(1) 
Width. Within 10 feet of the street right-of-way, access driveways may not exceed 35 feet in width.
(2) 
Number. The number of driveways may not exceed two per lot on any one street frontage. The Zoning Hearing Board may grant permission by special exception for additional driveways where required to meet exceptional circumstances and where frontage of unusual length exists.
(3) 
Offsets. Driveways may not enter a public street:
(a) 
Within 40 feet of the street right-of-way line of an intersecting street.
(b) 
Within five feet of a fire hydrant.
(c) 
Within 25 feet of another access drive on the same property.
(4) 
Sight distances; slope; cuts. A driveway must be located in safe relationship to sight distance and barriers to vision. The driveway may not exceed a slope of 5% within 25 feet of the street right-of-way line. Where a driveway enters a bank through a cut, unless a retaining wall is used, the shoulders of the cut may not exceed 50% in slope within 25 feet of the point at which the driveway intersects the street right-of-way. The height of the bank must not exceed three feet within 10 feet of the street.
Any owner of property who shall neglect, refuse or fail to carry out the provisions and directions contained in the notices provided for in §§ 151-6 and 151-7 of this article, or who shall violate any of the other provisions of this article and after notice shall fail to correct said violation, shall, upon conviction thereof before any Magisterial District Judge in said Borough, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 and costs of prosecution and, in default thereof, to imprisonment for not more than 30 days, provided each day's continuance of a violation, after notice thereof, shall constitute a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
[Added 12-7-1987 by Ord. No. 87-2]
Existing driveways and driveway aprons which abut existing sidewalk may be resurfaced with bituminous material which shall be not more than one inch thick, compacted depth. In the event the grade line of any driveway or driveway apron shall exceed by one inch the grade line of the existing sidewalk abutting such driveway or driveway apron, the owner of such property shall remove so much of the surface material of such driveway or driveway apron as is necessary to correct the grade line of such driveway or driveway apron to within one inch of the grade line of the abutting sidewalk. Prior to resurfacing any driveway or driveway apron, the property owner or his contractor shall apply for a permit and submit a sketch showing the grade lines as they exist prior to the resurfacing and as they will exist after the resurfacing is completed, all in accordance with § 151-9 of this article.
[Amended 10-13-1987 by Ord. No. 87-1; 12-7-1987 by Ord. No. 87-2]
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the Borough, after proper notice as aforesaid, from constructing or reconstructing any sidewalk, driveway, driveway apron, curb or gutter or alleviating and removing any such which violates the provisions of this article, and in such event the said Borough shall collect any such expenses from the owner of such property, together with the additional penalty as provided in § 151-13 hereof, and/or, at the option of the Borough, may file a municipal lien or claim for such expenses.