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City of Brigantine, NJ
Atlantic County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners (now City Council) of the City of Brigantine as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Beach and dune protection — See Ch. 101.
Building construction — See Ch. 119.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 143.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 181.
Land use — See Ch. 198.
Sand removal — See Ch. 220, Art. I.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 260.
[Adopted 7-15-1970 by Ord. No. 5-1970]
No excavating, digging or mining of sand or gravel or other materials may be done for commercial purposes in the City of Brigantine.
[Amended 10-1-1986 by Ord. No. 26-1986]
No fill or other material shall be placed on any lands in the City of Brigantine unless it is of the quality described in the New Jersey State Highway Department Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction 1961, Section 3, made a part hereof by reference. The soil-clay content and the organic content combined shall not exceed 8% by weight of the soil aggregates. No demolition or used construction materials shall be placed on any lands in the City of Brigantine, except clean crushed concrete materials which can be reduced to a size acceptable to and in conformity with the aforementioned New Jersey State Highway Department Standard Specification for Road and Bridge Construction, or its current equivalent as certified by the Construction Official or the City Engineer of the City of Brigantine.
[Added 10-1-1986 by Ord. No. 26-1986; amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 28-1992]
No person, owner of property or person in his employ shall place any fill material on any land in the City of Brigantine, without having given notice to, and obtained a permit from, the Construction Official of the City of Brigantine, of the intention to fill. The Construction Official may designate the use of certain forms and may charge inspection fees, not to exceed the amount set forth in Chapter 210, Mercantile Businesses, Article II, Fees Schedule, per tax lot intended to be filled, in addition to any other charges which may be imposed pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code.[1] By reason of the size of tract or the type of fill material proposed to be used, the Construction Official may deny the application and refer the applicant to the Board of Commissioners of the City of Brigantine, who may, upon due consideration of the application, set the terms and conditions under which the fill of any lands within the City of Brigantine can take place. The Construction Official of the City of Brigantine may deny any permit based upon unsatisfactory materials proposed to be used.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 143, Construction Codes, Uniform.
Where, by reason of exceptional conditions, the strict application of any regulation enacted under this article would result in difficulties and undue hardships upon the owner, the owner may appeal to the governing body relating to such property for a variance so as to relieve such difficulties and hardships. No relief may be granted or action taken under terms of this article unless such relief can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and will not substantially impair the intent and purpose of this article.
A. 
Definitions. Certain words and phrases used in this article are defined for the purposes hereof as follows:
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
Refers to the sale or commercial use of the sand or other product which is excavated, as distinguished from personal use of the product by the owner of the ground at the place where the same is excavated.
EXCAVATION
Includes digging or mining and applies to all sand, gravel or solid or mineral products of the soil.
B. 
Word usage. Words used in the present tense include the future, and the singular number includes the plural.
[Amended 10-1-1986 by Ord. No. 26-1986]
This article shall be administered and enforced by the Construction Official, the Zoning Officer or any other public official who shall be designated by the Board of Commissioners of the City of Brigantine.
[Amended 10-1-1986 by Ord. No. 26-1986]
A. 
Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any section of this article shall, upon conviction before the Municipal Court of the City of Brigantine Court having jurisdiction, be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 28-1992]
B. 
Any repetition of any violation of this article shall be deemed a new offense for each day of repetition, and violations on separate parcels of property may be considered as repetition violations.
C. 
In addition to any fine or penalty, the City of Brigantine or its designated officials may order the removal of fill material placed in violation of this article. Failure to comply with such order shall subject the violator to additional fines or penalty, and the City of Brigantine may charge the cost and expense of removal to the property as a lien against the property for municipal services provided.
[Adopted 7-15-1981 by Ord. No. 15-1981]
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 6-2019; 8-5-2020 by Ord. No. 8-2020]
A. 
No person or corporation shall tear up or excavate in any street under the control of the City of Brigantine without first having obtained and being in the possession of a valid permit to do so, issued by the City Engineer's office pursuant to the provisions of this article. Any such permit may be revoked at any time by the City of Brigantine.
B. 
No permit shall be issued for any street opening which would disturb the pavement of any road having been constructed, reconstructed or overlaid until a period of five years after the completion of said construction, reconstruction or overlay, except in the event of an emergency or hardship as described below. The five-year period as articulated herein shall be calculated from December 31 of the year in which said road was constructed, reconstructed or overlaid and run five years thereafter.
C. 
Emergency opening. In the event that an entity shall be required to open a street and/or roadway as a result of an emergency, said emergency opening shall be reviewed by the City Engineer, and if said City Engineer shall determine that no such emergency existed, then the entity so opening the street and/or roadway shall have a fine imposed upon such entity in the amount of $1,000 for the first nonemergency opening, a $5,000 fine for a second nonemergency opening and a $10,000 fine for a third nonemergency opening.
D. 
Hardship condition. In the event in which a property owner has a hardship condition which requires a street opening permit to be issued contrary to this section, the City of Brigantine may grant relief if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
A letter addressed to the City, c/o City Clerk, is received detailing the hardship and necessity of opening the street in lieu of waiting the prescribed period of time.
(2) 
The hardship request shall be reviewed by the City Engineer's office who shall make a recommendation to City Council on the legitimacy of the request.
(3) 
Upon receipt of the City Engineer's recommendation, a public meeting date will be set for the City to take formal action.
(4) 
The City shall consider the request at a public meeting and review any objections received. Approval or denial of the request shall be through formal adoption of a resolution.
All applicants for permits shall give at least 24 hours' notice in writing to the City Engineer and a sketch drawing or plan signed by a New Jersey licensed professional engineer, showing profiles and all utilities within 25 feet of the proposed work and specifying the place, kind and approximate size of the excavation or work and the time required to do the work, except in cases of emergency, when such a notice shall be given to the City Engineer as soon as possible.
A. 
All applications shall be accompanied by cash, certified check or, in the case of a public utility, a bond, in the amount as set forth in Chapter 210, Mercantile Businesses, Article II, Fees Schedule.
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 28-1992]
B. 
The guaranty shall be returned to the applicant upon approval by the City Engineer of all work required to be performed.
C. 
If a permit for an individual house connection is applied for and permit is approved to be issued to the owner of record of the property, no guaranty is required. This exemption shall be used only once by any individual or company.
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 6-2019; 8-5-2020 by Ord. No. 8-2020]
The applicant to whom such permit is issued shall, within the time limited in such permit, replace the earth and pavement in the excavation in such manner as prescribed herein and the same shall be left in as good condition as it was before the excavation was commenced. Except as otherwise herein stated, all street work performed shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2007, and as amended. Reference to articles or sections hereinafter refer to said state highway specifications.
A. 
Trenches shall be backfilled in layers not to exceed six inches and a vibratory tamper must be used. Ninety-five-percent compaction shall be required. Puddling of backfill is strictly prohibited. Should there be a deficiency, additional backfill material shall be supplied by the permittee. Whenever the City Engineer shall deem the material unsatisfactory for backfill, the permittee shall provide acceptable material for the backfill.
B. 
Roadways with a concrete base shall be restored using a combination of concrete and asphalt. The amount of concrete and asphalt to be used at each such excavation shall be as directed by the City Engineer. (See detail at end of chapter.)
C. 
Bituminous concrete street restoration specifications.
(1) 
Gravel. Gravel shall be installed six inches thick. The gravel shall consist of compact soil aggregate Type I-5. The use of a recycled asphalt product (RAP) or recycled concrete product may be substituted for the soil aggregate as long as it meets the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) requirements for I-5 materials. The City Engineer may, at his discretion, submit samples of the soil aggregate for a gradation analysis, with the costs of said analysis borne by the applicant.
(2) 
Temporary roadway restoration.
(a) 
Less than 100 square feet.
[1] 
For openings in asphalt roadways that are less than 100 square feet, the temporary restoration will consist of the installation of six inches of soil aggregate, Type I-5, to a level of six inches below the level of adjacent paved surfaces. A four-inch lift of stabilized base course, Mix I-2, followed by a two-inch lift of a bituminous concrete cold patch, shall be installed to grade.
[2] 
These temporary surfaces shall be in place for a period of not less than 45 days to allow sufficient settlement to occur. Should settlement continue to occur, the City Engineer shall determine when the work is acceptable for final restoration. The permittee shall be responsible for all maintenance deemed necessary by the City Engineer until such time as the final restoration is completed.
(b) 
Greater than 100 square feet.
[1] 
For openings in asphalt roadways that are greater than 100 square feet, the temporary restoration will consist of the installation of six inches of soil aggregate, Type I-5, to a level six inches below the level of the adjacent paved surfaces. A six-inch lift of stabilized base course, Mix I-2, shall then be installed to grade.
[2] 
These temporary surfaces shall be left in place for a period of not less than 45 days to allow sufficient settlement to occur. Should settlement continue to occur, the City Engineer shall determine when the work is acceptable for final restoration. The permittee shall be responsible for all maintenance deemed necessary by the City Engineer until such time as the final restoration is completed.
(3) 
Final roadway restoration.
(a) 
Newly paved streets.
[1] 
The restoration will consist of six-inch dense graded aggregate base course, and a six-inch bituminous stabilized base course, Mix I-2, brought to existing grade, within the excavated area. A full width, curb to curb, milling two inches in depth to extend 20 feet beyond the limit of excavations will be performed after proper settlement in the trench area. The allowable time for the settlement shall be 45 days uncles otherwise directed by the City Engineer. The final surface course shall be a two-inch bituminous concrete surface course Mix I-5.
[2] 
Trench restoration may be permitted under special circumstances and at the option of the City of Brigantine and City Engineer for openings having a minimum impact on the longevity and serviceability of the street in question.
(b) 
Streets paved between five and eight years prior to proposed opening.
[1] 
Any street opening on a street that has been constructed, reconstructed, or overlaid between five years and eight years after the completion of said construction, reconstruction, or overlay will require a half-width paving from the center line to the curb on the side affected by the opening. The trench shall be repaved with six inches of gravel or similar subbase, four-inch stabilized base (HMAI9M64) to the surface. The half width of the street shall then be milled 1 1/2 inches deep from the center line to the curbline a distance of 20 feet on either side of the opening edges. A one-and-one-half-inch surface course (HMA9.5M64) shall be machine-placed and rolled as per New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Roads and Bridges-2007, and as amended.
[2] 
At the opening crosses over the center line of the street, the above street repair shall be full-width restoration.
(c) 
Streets paved over eight years prior to proposed opening.
[1] 
Where 20% or more of the existing surface width and/or a distance parallel or longitudinal to the roadway center line of 25 feet or more has been disturbed, the permittee shall mill the entire pavement surface from edge to edge or curb to curb and the full length of the trench plus five feet each side at a minimum depth of two inches. All milling and disposal of millings shall be done in accordance with Division 400 of the NJDOT Standard Specifications. The permittee shall clean and sweep the milled surface and apply tack coat in preparation for immediate paving. The area will then be paved with two inches of HMA 9.5M64 surface course in accordance with Division 400 of the NJDOT Standard Specifications. The City will require that the terminal ends of the paving be keyed and cut vertical to provide a smooth transition to the existing asphalt surface. Feathering will not be allowed.
[2] 
Where less than 20% of the existing surface and a distance parallel or longitudinal to the roadway center line of less than 25 feet has been disturbed, the permittee shall sawcut the existing surface course two inches deep at a location 12 inches beyond the trench surface, and remove the existing pavement to the same depth. Pavement removal shall be done by milling or another method as approved by the City Engineer. The permittee shall clean and sweep the milled surface and apply tack coat in preparation for immediate paving. The area will then be paved with two inches of HMA 9.5M64 surface course in accordance with Division 400 of the NJDOT Standard Specifications. The City will require that the terminal ends of the paving be keyed and cut vertical to provide a smooth transition to the existing asphalt surface. Feathering will not be allowed.
(d) 
Calculating age of street.
[1] 
The five-year period as articulated herein shall be calculated from December 31 of the year in which said road was constructed, reconstructed or overlaid and run five years thereafter. The end date of this five-year period is the beginning date of the five-year to eight-year period articulated herein.
[2] 
The eight-year period as articulated herein shall be calculated from December 31 of the year in which said road was constructed, reconstructed or overlaid and run eight years thereafter. The end date of this eight-year period is the end date of the five-year to eight-year period articulated herein.
(e) 
No surface water shall be entrapped or ponded on the resurfaced areas. If any ponding occurs, the permittee will be responsible for performing whatever remedial action is required by the City Engineer.
(4) 
If more than one excavator would be required within a fifty-foot length, a single trench must be used rather than the individual excavations. Final restoration will require the entire pavement surface from edge to edge or curb to curb and the full length of the trench plus five feet each side at a minimum depth of two inches. All edges shall be coated with an asphaltic tack coat prior to a two-inch lift of bituminous concrete surface course, Mix I-5, being placed to a level even with the existing road grade.
(5) 
In all cases where concrete has to be removed prior to any excavation, saw cut methods of removal shall be used. The restoration of the concrete shall be according to the following specifications:
(a) 
It shall be Class B with a design strength of 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi).
(b) 
It shall have a minimum thickness of not less than four inches for sidewalk, six inches for driveway aprons and eight inches for gutter.
(c) 
It shall have a minimum width of not less than five feet for sidewalks.
(d) 
It shall have control joints not more than five feet for sidewalk, 10 feet for curb and gutter and expansion joints and not more than 20 feet for sidewalk, curb and gutter.
(6) 
Multiple utility openings (final restoration).
(a) 
When the same utility company or authority performs five or more total cumulative openings, regardless of size, within the same street block during the five-year period following total resurfacing, repaving, or reconstruction of said street, it shall be the obligation of that utility company to mill to a depth of two inches the entire block between existing gutter lines for the entire block and overlay that milled area with a two-inch thick layer of hot mix asphalt (HMA) surface course, Mix 12.5M64.
(b) 
When the same utility company performs five or more openings, regardless of size, within the same year in the same block beyond the five-year period of a resurfacing, repaving, or reconstruction of said street, it shall be the obligation of that utility company to mill to a depth of two inches the entire block between existing gutter lines for the entire block and overlay that milled area with a two-inch thick layer of hot max asphalt (HMA) surface course, Mix 12.5M64.
(c) 
When the same utility company or authority performs trench installation exceeding 15% of the pavement's surface area within a block, or if more than 1/3 of the width of the street is disturbed, or if three or more openings, regardless of size, are made within a fifty-foot length of the street, it shall be the obligation of that utility company to mill to a depth of two inches the entire block between existing gutter lines for the entire block and overlay that milled area with a two-inch-thick layer of hot mix asphalt (HMA) surface course, Mix 12.5M64.
(d) 
Milling and paving restoration shall not preclude the permittee from performing the required pavement restoration as stated in § 197-2, subsection F herein,[1] except that the finish elevation of the asphalt restoration may be lowered by two inches in anticipation of a pending milling operation. Lowering of the restoration area will not be permitted if milling and paving operations are not being performed within 48 hours of the restoration or in advance of a weekend or holiday. In no cause shall the final asphalt thickness of a lowered restoration area be less than two inches in thickness.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(e) 
Street openings for the purposes of installing new of replacing old water or sewer laterals under the ownership and maintenance of the City of Brigantine shall be exempt from this portion of road restoration.
(7) 
Utility location verification.
(a) 
Any proposed underground utility installation that proposes directional drilling is required to verify the location of all existing utility locations, with the use of ground-penetrating radar. A copy of the report shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Public Works and the City Engineer prior to start of work. The ground-penetrating radar is only required when directional drilling (boring) is to be utilized for installation of the new utility.
D. 
By the acceptance of such a permit, the applicant shall be deemed to have agreed to comply with the terms hereof, and upon his failure to do so to pay on demand any cost or expense that the City may incur by reason of any shrinkage or settlement in the excavated area resulting from such excavation such shrinkage or settlement shall occur within three months from the time the surface thereof is restored.
In replacing concrete pavement, the contractor shall remove the temporary pavement to the depth of the existing pavement and replace with Class B concrete (state highway specifications). Reinforcing shall be of the same size and spacing as was removed. All concrete pavement shall be cut with a concrete saw to a line that is six inches wider than excavated trench and/or paving.
In any case where the contractor is lax in complying with or fails to comply with the above regulations, as determined by the City Engineer, the City may send written notice to the address of the applicant and then may cause the work to be done and the cost charged to the applicant and the guaranty be declared in default.
Over 50 feet of trench or over five individual excavations shall require an inspector, under the jurisdiction of the City Engineer, to inspect the work and maintenance of the work to ensure conformance with the above regulations. The inspector shall be billed at the rate of $20 per hour. Twenty-four hours' notice to the City Engineer is required so the City Engineer can provide for the inspector.
Wherever practical, as determined by the City Engineer, pipes for house connections and other installations shall be driven or bored under and across the paved portion of the street without disturbing the surface. This requirement is mandatory on streets paved within five years of the date of the application.
A. 
Whenever excavation is to be left unfinished overnight or for any extended period of time, the contractor shall place barricades containing his name and address and a telephone number that can be reached at all times, especially at night and on the weekends.
B. 
Suitable warning flares and lights must be used on any areas not completed either temporarily or permanently.
The applicant shall notify the City Engineer and the Brigantine City Police Department at least 24 hours in advance of the time proposed to start work on excavations. The Brigantine City Police Department shall be notified of any work that will have effect on traffic, and Police Department approval of traffic plans will be required.
All fees and guaranties shall be turned over to the Treasurer of the City of Brigantine and will be held by him until released, in writing, by the City Engineer.
The applicant and the contractor shall keep all street openings guarded at all times and will provide uniformed traffic control persons, if required, to ensure the safe passage of traffic and shall open no greater portion of a street than shall be reasonably necessary.
The applicant, as a requirement of receiving a permit, shall save the City of Brigantine, the City Commissioners and the employees and consultants of the City of Brigantine harmless from any and all claims of any nature arising out of the construction and street opening work covered by said permit, and further, that the City of Brigantine, in issuing said permit, shall not assume liability on connection therewith.
All guaranties provided for in § 165-10 of this article shall be in a form approved by the City Solicitor of the City of Brigantine.
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 28-1992]
A nonrefundable fee shall accompany all applications for a permit, including a portion for the permit and a portion for the engineering review, both as set forth in Chapter 210, Mercantile Businesses, Article II, Fees Schedule.
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 28-1992]
Any person, company or corporation violating any provision of this article, upon conviction in the Municipal Court of the City of Brigantine, shall be punished for each offense by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, and each day on which said violation exists shall be considered a separate offense.