[Adopted 8-7-1978 by Res. No. 1978-12]
An existing sidewalk is any paved or unpaved
surface on or along the right-of-way of public streets used or obviously
intended for use by pedestrians traveling along said street. It shall
include paved surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, flagstone, brick,
slate or other monolithic or modular building material. It shall include
unpaved surfaces such as stone, cinders, boards, sand, gravel, clay
or similar loose aggregates.
A sidewalk shall have a continuous common surface
without abrupt pitches in angle or interruption by cracks or breaks
and shall be free of loose material and holes deeper than 1/2 inch
and two inches in diameter. It shall be free of cracks or breaks creating
edges of 3/4 inch or more in height, including curbs running parallel
to the sidewalk unless such curb is 12 inches or more in height above
the sidewalk and is equipped with a handrail or guardrail. Cracks
in sidewalks shall be no wider than 3/4 inch.
A.
Whenever sidewalks join other walks, driveways or
curbs, they shall blend to a common level. The pitch of such surface
blend shall not exceed a gradient of 1:12 (8.33%).
B.
The gradient along sidewalks shall not have a gradient
greater than 1:20 (5%) and a cross-gradient not greater than 1:100.
C.
Longitudinal gradients of 1:12 may be permitted in
repairs to sidewalks raised by tree roots, frost or other natural
conditions, or settled due to underground excavations, as long as
edges not in excess of 1/2 inch are created.
A.
All obstructions to the free use of the sidewalks
must be removed or corrected. Obstructions in the sidewalks such as
curb shutoff valves, sewer vents and expansion joint material shall
not project above or below the walk more than 3/4 inch. Broken covers
and caps shall be replaced and secured.
B.
Signs, trees and shrubbery along and over sidewalks
shall not project over the sidewalk for a distance of 6 1/2 feet
above the surface of the sidewalk.
[Amended 8-25-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-4]
A.
All new sidewalks shall be installed in accordance with all standards for construction of sidewalks in Chapter 325, Subdivision and Land Development, except as such standards are specifically modified by this article. All new sidewalks shall also be installed to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the regulations promulgated under such Act.
B.
Where an existing sidewalk is removed and replaced with a new sidewalk, such new sidewalk shall be installed in accordance with all standards set forth in Subsection A above. Where there is inadequate right-of-way or existing features prevent installation of sidewalks meeting the requirements of this article and Chapter 325, Subdivision and Land Development, such replacement sidewalks shall have a minimum width of four feet. If the landowner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Borough Council that it is not possible to install a sidewalk with a minimum width of four feet, the Borough Council may grant a waiver to install a sidewalk of lesser width.
C.
Defects in existing sidewalks shall be corrected as soon as they appear. Small defects or repairs to small areas may be corrected with concrete, asphalt, grout or other material suitable for restoring the surface to a safe and usable condition. Should more than 20% of the length of the sidewalk in front of any individual property not be in good repair or safe and usable condition, the entire sidewalk shall be replaced if the existing sidewalk is not at approved grade in accordance with standards and elevations approved by the Borough Engineer. Replacement sidewalks shall be installed in accordance with Subsection B above.
D.
Sidewalks along Manor Avenue from Leaman Avenue to Route 741 shall be installed in accordance with all standards set forth in Subsection A above, except as provided in this subsection. Sidewalks may be a minimum of three feet in width, provided that all requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and the regulations promulgated under such Act, including but not limited to providing sufficient areas for passing and turning, are met and a grass strip with a minimum width of two feet is maintained between the sidewalk and the curb.
A curb is defined as any monolithic or modular
material, such as concrete, limestone or brick, which runs parallel
to streets and sidewalks and projects above the street and is installed
and intended to protect the street from raveling, to channel rainwater
or to support an adjacent sidewalk. Whenever a curb is located closer
than six inches to an adjacent sidewalk, the top shall be considered
part of the sidewalk. Curbs are generally of the vertical or rolled
type.
Curbs shall be maintained free of crumbling,
settling or tipping. Deviations in horizontal alignment shall not
exceed one inch in both vertical and rolled curbs. Spalling, crumbling
or other deteriorations of the surface shall not exceed one inch in
depth, and vertical alignments shall be within two inches of perpendicular.
Adjacent sections shall not be more than 3/4 inch out of vertical
alignment.
Curbs shall be repaired with cement, grout,
concrete or other material suitable for restoring to a safe and functional
condition. Methods of repair may include the use of vertical pins
and new concrete when the top sections are deteriorated. Whenever
more than 20% of the curb needs to be repaired and is not at current
approved elevation, it shall be replaced in accordance with current
Borough standards, alignments and elevations.
[Amended 6-7-1982 by Res. No. 1982-2]
The Borough Manager or his designee shall make or cause to be made an annual inspection of curbs and sidewalks in the Borough. Inspections shall also be made when complaints are received. If curbs and sidewalks are found to be deficient according to the standards enumerated in §§ 320-15 through 320-22, the property owner shall be notified in accordance with Article I of this chapter.
[Amended 6-7-1982 by Ord. No. 1982-35]
If the property owner requests assistance in
determining methods of repair, the Borough Manager or his designee,
including the Borough's consulting engineer, shall lend such assistance
at no charge.
[Amended 6-7-1982 by Res. No. 1982-2]
A.
The Borough Manager or the consulting engineer shall from time to time prepare specifications for corrective work and procure prices on a competitive basis for types of repair work on a unit cost basis. Such contracts shall be awarded in accordance with current law and Borough policy. If any owner fails to make the repairs after receipt of notice or if he requests the Borough, in writing, to act as his agent in making the repairs, the Borough Manager is authorized to issue individual purchase orders for repairs to each property against the previously awarded contract and collect from the property owner in accordance with § 320-10 of this chapter.
Variances to these standards may be granted
by action of the Council.
