Middletown Township Standards

Driveways to single-family residences shall intersect roads at angles of no less than 60°. All other driveways shall intersect roads at right angles, where practicable and in no case less than 75°. Where a single-family residence is situated at the intersection of two roads, the driveway shall intersect the road with the lower volume of average daily traffic.

The width of driveways shall be in accordance with the following standards:

Driveways for multifamily residential and all nonresidential subdivisions and land developments shall be no less than 20 feet in width, and shall be clearly defined.

Driveways for single-family residential subdivisions shall not exceed 20 feet in width at the road line.

To provide safe and convenient ingress and egress, the curbs of driveway entrances for multifamily residential developments and all nonresidential subdivisions and land developments shall be rounded at a minimum radius of 20 feet, and driveway entrances for single-family residential subdivisions shall be rounded at a minimum radius of 10 feet.

The grade of all driveways shall not exceed 2% within 25 feet of the driveway's intersection with a road. Driveway grades beyond the 25 feet shall not exceed the following:

Fourteen percent in single-family subdivisions;

Ten percent in multifamily subdivisions;

Eight percent in nonresidential subdivisions.

The center line of a driveway at the point of access to a road shall not be located closer to another road intersection than the following distances:

For single-family residential subdivisions:

One hundred feet if the intersecting road is an urban minor arterial road.

Fifty feet if the intersecting road is an urban collector or local primary road.

For multifamily residential developments and nonresidential subdivisions and land developments:

Two hundred feet if the intersecting road is an urban extension or urban minor arterial road.

One hundred feet if the intersecting road is an urban collector or local primary road.

§ 210-26 Roads.

[Amended 4-10-1961 by Ord. No. 125; 5-27-1982 by Ord. No. 311; 9-25-1989 by Ord. No. 454; 3-26-1990 by Ord. No. 463]

General standards.

An easement for all roads shall be conveyed to the Township. Where a subdivision or land development abuts an existing road which the Township does not own in fee simple, if the applicant owns the underlying fee in the road or a portion thereof, the applicant may offer to dedicate such easement to the Township in the same manner as new roads in a subdivision or land development are offered for dedication.

Proposed roads shall be coordinated with existing Township roads and county and state roads and highway plans. Roads shall be designed to provide adequate vehicular access to all lots with regard to topographic conditions, projected volumes of traffic and further subdivision possibilities in the area.

If a portion of a tract of land is not subdivided or developed, suitable access and road openings for future subdivision or land development shall be provided.

In the R-4B Residence District, the main access road or roads in the development shall be public roads, shall comply with all Township specifications and shall be offered to the Township by deed of dedication. Access roads to units in the development from the main access road, driveways and parking areas in R-4B Residence Districts shall remain private.

Proposed roads which are in alignment with existing and named roads shall bear the names of the existing roads. In no case shall the name of proposed road duplicate or be similar to an existing road name. All road names shall be subject to the approval of the Township Council. Road name signs, approved by the Township Council, shall be provided at all intersections.

Where a subdivision abuts a railroad right-of-way, roads crossing the railroad shall be kept to a minimum and shall be located to facilitate grade separation.

Roads shall be designed according to the volume of average daily traffic and defined as follows:

Major roads.

Urban extension. Primarily designated for the movement of heavy and mixed traffic volumes; not interrelated to adjacent land use; access is almost always limited.

Urban minor arterial. Principally designated for the movement of heavy and mixed traffic volumes; residential land us is not encouraged along these roadways; access to abutting land uses should be controlled, but not limited.

[3]

Urban collector. Principally designated for the collection and/or distribution of moderate to heavy traffic volumes to the intersecting street system; residential land use is not encouraged along these roadways.

Minor roads.

Local primary. Principally designated for the collection and/or distribution of moderate traffic volumes; all types of adjoining land use can be considered.

Local secondary. Primarily designated for serving adjacent land use and adjoining development. All types of land use can be served, but industrial and commercial development are not encouraged along these roadways.

[3]

Local: other.

[a]

Local loop. Exclusively designated to serve adjacent land use; predominant land use is residential.

[b]

Local cul-de-sac. Exclusively designated to serve adjacent land use; predominant land use is residential.

(8)

Township Council shall, in the interest of highway safety and the safety of the area residents and in order to promote orderly community development, require the owner/developer of any large commercial complex, such as shopping centers, industrial parks or plants, housing projects, apartment complexes, major educational or recreational facilities and other significant traffic generators, to have prepared a traffic study by a competent traffic engineer registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to meet with a representative of the Township Engineer's office and the Pennsylvania Department or Highways to achieve a high level of design from the standpoint of traffic.

General design standards.

Roads shall be finished graded to their full width, and improved to the grades and dimensions shown on the plans, profiles and cross-sections submitted by the developer and approved by Township Council.

All roads shall be constructed in accordance with Township road specifications.

Roads shall be designed to conform with the natural features of the land to reduce excessive cuts and fills.

Road cuts shall be provided with side slopes no steeper than one-foot vertical to each 1 1/2 foot horizontal, and the same shall apply to fill slopes. Such slopes shall be suitably planted with perennial grasses or other vegetation to prevent erosion.

All unpaved portions of roads shall be planted with perennial grass seed at the same time and with the same varieties as the front lawns of improved lots.

Hedges, fences and walls or other obstructions shall not be planted or placed in the area between the paved cartway and the road line.

Whenever standards for required road improvements are not specified herein, the applicable standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), contained in A Policy of Urban Highways and Arterial Streets (1973 edition), as it may be amended from time to time, shall govern and all work shall be performed in the manner prescribed therein.

Road grades.

The minimum grades on all roads shall be 1%.

The maximum grades on all roads, all vertical curves and the grade of all roads at the approach to an intersection shall be in conformance with AASHTO standards.

No cul-de-sac or turnaround area shall have a grade which exceeds 5%.

Road alignment.

The minimum radius at the center line of all roads and the super-elevation for horizontal curves for all roads and the super-elevation for horizontal curves for all roads shall be in conformance with AASHTO standards.

Proper sight distance with respect to both horizontal and vertical alignment shall also be in conformance with AASHTO standards.

Intersections.

No more than two roads shall intersect at the same point.

Right-angle intersections shall be used whenever possible. The minimum angle of intersection of the road center lines shall not be less than 75°.

Road curb intersections shall be rounded by a tangential arc with a minimum radius of 20 feet for minor roads and 30 feet for intersections which include a major road or a local primary secondary road.

Radius corners shall be provided on the road lines substantially concentric with the curb radius.

There shall be provided and maintained at all intersections clear sight triangles based upon the posted speed of vehicles on the through road and in conformance with AASHTO standards for corner sight distance. Sight distances shall be indicated on the plans. The Township shall be provided with easements for all clear sight triangles. Plantings no higher than one and 1 1/2 feet shall be permitted in the area of the clear sight triangle. No hedge, fence, wall or other obstruction that would obscure the vision of a motorist shall be permitted in the area of the clear sight triangle and the grant of easement to the Township shall so provide. The grant of easement shall further provide that the Township has the right, but not the responsibility, to enter upon such easements to remove obstructions or plantings that obscure the vision of motorists.

Intersections involving urban extension or urban minor arterial roads with urban collector local primary roads shall be located not less than 1,000 feet apart, measured from center line to center line. Intersections involving minor roads with major or local primary roads shall be located not less than 800 feet apart, measured from center line to center line.

Two roads intersecting from opposite sides shall intersect at their center line or their center lines shall be offset at least 200 feet.

(8)

Intersections shall be graded to permit proper drainage in conformance with AASHTO standards.

Road widths.

The widths of roads and the widths of cartways where there is parking on both sides of the road, parking on one side of the road and no parking on the road shall be as follows:

			Cartway Widths
Road Type	Range of Average Daily Traffic	Road Widths (feet)	With Parking Both Sides (feet)	Parking on 1 Side (feet)	Without Parking (feet)	Design Speed (mph)
Urban
Extension	25,000 to 40,000	150	92 to 116	80 to 104	68 to 92	60
Minor arterial	10,000 to 25,000	100	68 to 78	58 to 68	48 to 58	50
Collector	5,000 to 10,000	80	40	32	24	40
Local
Primary	1,500 to 5,000	70	38 to 40	30 to 32	22 to 24	30
Secondary	500 to 1,500	60	36 to 40	28 to 32	20 to 24	30
Loop	500	50	32	26 to 28	20 to 24	25
Cul-de-sac	300	50	32	26 to 28	20 to 24	25

Provisions for additional cartway widths may be required by the Township Council in specific cases for:

Public safety and convenience;

Access to off-street parking in commercial and industrial areas and in areas of high-density residential development.

Where a subdivision or land development contains an existing road with inadequate road or cartway widths, additional road and cartway widths in conformance with the above standards shall be required.

Where a subdivision fronts on an existing road having a right-of-way of less than the minimum width required in this chapter, a road line shall be established. The distance of the road line from the center line of the existing road shall be 1/2 of the width of the required minimum road width, if possible, and the subdivider may dedicate sufficient land to accomplish this standard.

Cartways shall be measured from the face of one curb measured perpendicularly across the road to the face of the other curb. If the road has no curbs, the road shall be measured from the edge of the flexible pavement structure on the other side of the road. Any flexible stone base beyond the edge of the flexible pavement structure shall not be considered when measuring the width of a road with no curbs. Where dished gutters are used, the width of such gutters shall not be used to calculate the width of the cartway.

Culs-de-sac and turnarounds.

Dead-end roads are prohibited, except where designated as temporary turnarounds because of authorized stage development or when designed as culs-de-sac.

All temporary turnarounds and culs-de-sac shall not exceed 500 feet in length and shall furnish access to not more than 10 dwelling units in the case of residential development or 400,000 square feet of building area in the case of commercial or industrial development.

All culs-de-sac shall be provided at the closed end with a paved turnaround. The minimum radius to the pavement edge or curbline shall be 40 feet, and the minimum radius to the road line shall be 60 feet.

Temporary turnarounds.

A temporary turnaround permitted at the end of a road because of authorized staged development shall have a minimum turning radius of 40 feet for the cartway and shall be constructed of temporary all-weather material. Curbs and gutters need not be constructed around the temporary turnaround.

The turnaround shall be completely within the subdivision or land development and the use of such turnaround shall be guaranteed to the public until such time as the road is extended;

A road ending in a temporary turnaround which has not been extended within three years from the date of final subdivision approval, shall be constructed to full specifications of a permanent cul-de-sac, including installation of curbs and gutters. Township Council may approve the continuance of a temporary turnaround beyond the three-year period if it finds that staged development is continuing and it is likely that the road will be extended. The financial security furnished the Township shall include the estimated costs of completing the temporary turnaround to full specifications.

When a road is extended and the temporary turnaround is no longer necessary, all evidence of the turnaround shall be eliminated.

When a subdivision or land development contemplates the extension of an existing cul-de-sac, the cul-de-sac may be extended provided:

The developer, when extending the cul-de-sac, eliminates all evidence of the turnaround, including its curbs, gutters and the paved portions thereof which are beyond the cartway of the proposed road;

The developer extends the driveways of all lots abutting the turnaround to the cartway of the proposed road, grades the paved portion of the turnaround which has been eliminated and plants such area with the same variety of perennial grass seed as exists on the front lawns of the lots abutting the turnaround; and

The developer constructs curbs, gutters, driveway aprons and inlets where necessary for proper drainage, where the cul-de-sac has been eliminated.

§ 210-27 Monuments and markers.

Monuments shall be of concrete or stone, shall be a minimum of six inches square and at least 30 inches in length and shall contain a copper or brass dowel scored with an "x" to mark the reference point.

Monuments shall be placed so that the marked point shall coincide exactly with the intersection of lines to be marked and shall be set so that the top of the monument is level with the finished grade of the surrounding ground.

Monuments shall be set for all roads on the road lines at the following locations:

At least one monument at each intersection.

At changes in direction of road lines, excluding curb area at intersections.

An intermediate monument wherever topographical or other conditions make it impossible to sight between two otherwise required monuments.

At each other places along the road line as the Township Engineer deems necessary to readily define the road.

Monuments shall also be set along the perimeter of the tract being developed, sufficient to establish the boundaries of such tract.

Where public sanitary sewers are installed and capped, a monument shall be set at the end of each capped lateral.

The four major corners of each lot appearing on the subdivision plan shall be marked with iron pins, not less than 2 1/2 feet in length, embedded or driven to a depth of not less than two feet. Nothing shall prevent the use of granite or some other suitable or appropriate marker.

§ 210-28 Curbs, dished gutters, curbless road and sidewalks.

Curbs, dished gutters and curbless roads.

Curbs or dished gutters shall be provided on all new roads in subdivisions. Curbless roads shall be permitted in subdivisions if the applicant complies with Township specifications pertaining to curbless roads.

Curbs shall be provided on all new roads and parking compounds in land developments.

Curbs and dished gutters shall be constructed in accordance with Township specifications.

Pedestrian walkways.

Pedestrian walkways shall be provided along both sides of new roads and along parking compounds in all land developments, except subdivisions involving single-family dwellings.

Pedestrian walkways shall be required in any subdivision where it is desirable to continue sidewalks that are existing in adjacent developments, or to provide access to community facilities such as schools, shopping areas or recreation areas, or to ensure the safety of pedestrians in unusual conditions involving vehicular traffic.

All pedestrian walkways shall conform to specifications for Class A concrete, as specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, with a minimum compressive strength of 3,500 pounds per square inch after 28 days.

Pedestrian walkways shall be a minimum of four feet wide.

Pedestrian walkways shall have a minimum thickness of four inches where used solely for pedestrian traffic and a minimum thickness of six inches at all driveways.

§ 210-29 Streetlights.

Streetlights shall be provided at the intersection of roads with roads and driveways leading from land developments, at the intersection of roads with urban extension and urban minor arterial roads, and at such intersections as Township Council shall deem necessary in the interest of public safety. Streetlights shall be of such intensity as approved by Township Council.

§ 210-30 Street name signs, street signs and traffic control devices.

Street signs, identifying the names of intersecting roads, shall be erected at the intersection of all roads.

Street signs and traffic control devices shall be erected in accordance with the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, as amended, and all applicable PennDOT standards.

§ 210-31 Sanitary sewers.

Public sanitary sewers shall be required in all subdivisions or land developments where public sanitary sewer facilities are available to the site, either in the road or in easements accessible to the site. If public sanitary sewers are not available to the site, but will become available within a reasonable time, as defined below, such sewers, together with all necessary laterals extending from the main sewer line to a point inside the lot, five feet from the road line, shall be installed and capped. In such event, the owner shall also install on-site sewage disposal facilities in approved locations. All sanitary sewers as mentioned herein shall be installed in accordance with the latest specifications of the Middletown Township, Delaware County, Sewer Authority and shall be tested and pass such tests as may be required by said Sewer Authority. "Reasonable time," for purposes of this subsection, shall mean the following: where the Sewer Authority has designed a plan for the installation of public sanitary sewers for a part or parts of Middletown Township, public sanitary sewers in such part or parts of Middletown Township shall be deemed to be available within a reasonable time. Where a plan for the installation of public sanitary sewers has not been designed by the Sewer Authority for a part or parts of Middletown Township, if it is determined by the Sewer Authority that public sanitary sewers will be designed and installed within a period of 10 years in such part of parts of Middletown Township, then public sanitary sewers shall be deemed to be available within a reasonable time.

Where connection to a public sanitary sewer is not required, a separate on-site sewage disposal facility shall be provided for each lot in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection and applicable Township ordinances and resolutions.

§ 210-32 Water supply.

[Amended 1-8-1990 by Ord. No. 460]

Public water shall be required in subdivisions and land developments in accordance with the following:

Single-family residential developments:

Public water shall be required in all single-family residential developments containing lots less than 40,000 square feet unless the developer can demonstrate that public water is not required by virtue of the provisions set forth in Subsection A(1)(c) below. Notwithstanding the provisions in Subsection A(1)(c) below, public water shall be required where public water is made available to the site by the Township, at the Township's sole discretion and expense.

Public water shall also be required in all single-family residential developments containing lots of 40,000 square feet or more where:

Public water is available to the site; or

The development contains from five to nine dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest accessible public water line is 1/10 of a mile; or

[3]

The development contains 10 to 19 dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest accessible public water line 1/5 of a mile; or

[4]

The development contains from 20 to 29 dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest accessible public water line is 2/5 of a mile; or

[5]

The development contains from 30 to 39 dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest accessible public water line is 3/5 of a mile; or

[6]

The development contains from 40 to 74 dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest public water line is 4/5 of a mile; or

[7]

The development contains 75 or more dwelling units and the distance from the development to the nearest accessible public water line in one mile; or

[8]

The nearest accessible public water line is farther than the distances set forth in Subsection A(1)(b)[2] through [7] hereof and the Township, at its sole discretion, constructs or has constructed at Township expense the public water line to the points referenced in Subsection A(1)(b)[2] through [7] above.

Public water shall not be required in any single-family residential development where it can be demonstrated by the developer that an on-site water system can supply an adequate and safe supply of water to the residential development in conformance with all regulations of the Department of Environmental Protection, that the cost of installing the on-site water system will be less expensive than providing public water such that there will be an appreciable cost saving to future purchasers of lots in the residential development and that the public safety in terms of fire protection will not be adversely affected by the installation of an on-site water system.

Public water shall be required in all other subdivisions and land developments. Wherever a public or community water system is provided, applicants shall present evidence to the Township Council that the subdivision or land development is to be supplied by a certificated public utility, a bona fide cooperative association of lot owners or by a municipal authority or utility. A copy of a certificate of public convenience from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or an application for such certificate, a cooperative agreement or a commitment or agreement to serve the area in question, whichever is appropriate, shall be acceptable evidence.

The design and installation of the public water distribution system shall be subject to the approval of the appropriate operating authority of the water system.

Where public water is not required, each lot in a subdivision shall be provided with an individual water supply system in accordance with all applicable standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Common wells supplying water to more than one lot shall be prohibited.

Fire hydrants shall be provided as an integral part of any public system. Hydrants shall be located in such a manner as to provide complete accessibility and to minimize the possibility of damage from vehicles of injury to pedestrians. Fire hydrants shall be installed under the direction of the Township Fire Marshal, who shall fix the location of such hydrants. In fixing the locations of fire hydrants, the Township Fire Marshal shall be guided by the standards established by the Pennsylvania Insurance Service Organization.

§ 210-33 Stormwater management systems.

Purpose. A stormwater management system shall be provided in order to:

Permit unimpeded flow of natural watercourses;

Ensure adequate drainage of all low points along the lines of roads;

Intercept stormwater runoff along roads at intervals related to the extent and grade of the area drained;

Provide positive drainage away from on-site sewage disposal and structures;

Remove surface water from the bottom of vertical grades, lead water from springs and avoid the use cross-gutters at road intersections and elsewhere.

Ensure that the peak discharge from the development site is no greater than the peak discharge prior to development.

A site drainage plan for the proposed subdivision or land development tract which illustrates the following information shall be prepared for review.

Mapping of the watershed area in which proposed subdivision or land development is located;

Calculations of runoff for all points of runoff concentrations;

Complete drainage systems for the subdivision or land development including storage facilities where required. All existing drainage features which are to be incorporated in the design shall be also so identified;

Identification of all soil classifications in the watershed area;

Letter of approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation when drainage structures are to be located on state highway rights-of-way;

If the subdivision or land development is to be developed in stages, a general drainage plan for the entire subdivision or land development shall be presented with the first stage, and appropriate development stages for the drainage system shall be indicated.

Runoff computations.

All storm sewer design shall be based on the rational formula Q = CiA, where:

Q	=	Rate of flow in cubic feet per second
C	=	Runoff coefficient
i	=	Intensity of rainfall in inches per hour
A	=	Watershed area in acres

In setting the value of the runoff coefficient "C", consideration shall be given to the physical features of the drainage basin and the best available data on the future density of development of the drainage basin. The value chosen should conform to the percentage of runoff versus total rainfall as determined by the soil cover complex method.

The intensity of the storm shall be based on a one-hundred-year frequency storm with the inlet time of concentration equal to the storm duration for any given point. The inlet time of concentration may be determined by any standard engineering method.

The Rainfall-Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curve for Philadelphia presented in Technical Paper No. 25, prepared by U.S. Department of Commerce Weather Bureau, shall be used.

Pipeline design. All storm sewer pipelines shall be reinforced concrete pipe and shall be designed by either of the following two methods, both of which shall be based on the Manning equation, shall utilize the "n" factor of 0.015, and require a minimum allowable pipe size of 15 inches:

Pipeline submerged.

This method is based on the assumption that when the storm sewer system is under maximum load, the hydraulic gradient will be at or above the crown of the pipe and that flow in the lines will be controlled by head differentials between structures or other locations where the system is open to the ground surface, such as inlets or outlets, manholes and stream inlets and outlets. The head of water above the crown of any pipe can range from zero feet to a point which will not cause surface flooding.

The slope of the hydraulic gradient in any section of storm sewer between openings to the surface shall be calculated on the assumption that the pipe is flowing full at a constant velocity and at the required capacity.

The elevation of the hydraulic gradient at any point in the pipe shall be no lower than the crown of the pipe and no higher than the surface of the ground.

The elevation of the hydraulic gradient at any point where the system opens to the surface, such as an inlet or manhole, shall be three feet below the surface of the ground.

(e)

At all structures such as manholes, inlets and culverts where the pipe size does not change, the elevation of the hydraulic gradient shall be dropped 0.2 foot to allow for losses therein. Where the inlet and outlet pipe sizes are not the same, the elevation of the hydraulic gradient shall be dropped by an amount based on the following formula:

H	=	0.2 foot + 0.8 (D₁ – D₂)
D₁	=	Diameter of inlet pipe
D₂	=	Diameter of outlet pipe
If D₁ is larger than D₂ head loss	=	0.2 foot

(f)

The minimum slope of any pipe shall be such that a minimum velocity of 2.5 fps shall be maintained when the pipe is flowing 1/4 full.

Pipeline flowing full.

This method is based on the assumption that the hydraulic gradient will match the inside top of the pipe when the system is under maximum hydraulic load.

For this method, head losses through manholes, inlets and culverts shall be ignored.

The minimum slope of any pipe shall be such that a minimum velocity of 2.5 fps shall be maintained when the pipe is flowing 1/4 full.

When the pipe sizes change, the inside tops of the pipes shall be matched.

Profile requirements. Continuous profiles for each reach of pipe shall be plotted along with the hydraulic information pertinent to each reach within the system. This information shall include the pipe size and type, the "n" factor, slope of the pipe, the design capacity, and the velocity at the design capacity.

Endwalls. Standard PennDOT endwalls shall be installed on all influent and effluent pipes.

Inlets.

Inlets conforming to PennDOT Standards shall be utilized in all applications. The type to be used shall depend on the particular application.

Sufficient inlets shall be located and constructed so as to collect all of the flow in the contributory drainage area. In roadways the inlets shall be spaced to allow a maximum gutter flow 4.0 cfs. Calculation of inlet capacities shall be in accordance with PennDOT guidelines.

The gutter of all inlets shall be set not less than two inches, nor more than four inches, below the gutter grade. The surface of the paving adjacent to the inlets shall be constructed to blend into the lowered gutter grade at the inlet in such a manner that sudden dropoff or dip at the inlet will not be created.

Where surface water is collected from two directions at one road corner, inlets shall be placed at, or near, the tangent points of both ends of the radius. The use of an inlet in the radius shall not be allowed.

Manholes. Manholes shall be located at intervals of approximately 400 feet where pipe sizes of 24 inches or less are used, and 600 feet apart for larger sizes. Inlets should be substituted for manholes where they will serve a useful purpose. Manholes or inlets shall be placed at all changes of direction.

Open channel design. Open channel design shall be based on the following hydraulic considerations:

Manning's equations

n values.

	n	=	0.015 — best concrete lined ditch
	n	=	0.025 — best unlined ditch
	n	=	0.03 to 0.15 — fair to poor natural streams and watercourses.

Allowable velocities.

	Excavation Material	Allowable Velocity
	Fine sand and firm loam	2.50 to 3.5 fps
	Stiff clay and hardpan	3.75 to 6.0 fps
	Concrete-lined ditch	15 fps

Ample freeboard shall be provided on all channels.

The channel shall be designed to conform, wherever possible, to the adjacent ground conditions. This means that it should not be projecting excessively above the surrounding ground or placed excessively below the surrounding ground.

Continuous profiles for each reach of open channel shall be plotted along with the adjacent average ground and the hydraulic information pertinent to each reach within the system. This information shall include the type of channel lining, the "n" factor, the width of the channel bottom, the side slopes, the water depth, the design capacity and the velocity at the design capacity.

Open channels shall have a maximum side slope of three to one and shall have adequate slope protection.

No open watercourses shall be permitted within the road lines of any road.

Bridges and culverts. Single opening culverts are desirable. The design of culverts shall be such as to minimize the probability of debris accumulation. Bridges and culverts shall be designed to meet current PennDOT standards to support expected loads and carry expected flows. They shall be constructed for the full width of the road.

Permit requirements. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Quality Management, Division of Dams and Encroachments requires a permit for construction or changes in a watercourse which drains an area of more than 1/2 square mile. No open watercourses shall be permitted within the road lines of any road.

Location of sewers. Wherever practicable, storm sewers shall be located behind the curb and within the road lines of the road. They shall be protected by a cover of at least 18 inches.

Change in direction. In lieu of manholes or inlets, special concrete pipe sections with a minimum radii of 10 times the inside pipe diameter (10 x ID) may be used where changes are made in direction.

Stormwater roof drains. Stormwater roof drains and pipes immediately adjacent to a sidewalk shall not discharge water over a sidewalk but shall extend under the sidewalk to the gutter. Where accessible, the roof drain shall be connected with the storm drainage system of the Township.

Detention facilities.

Storage requirements.

Whenever an increase in runoff will occur as the result of development, the developer will be required to provide permanent stormwater management facilities to attain zero increase during peak runoffs. The storage requirements of all stormwater management facilities shall be computed in accordance with the soil cover complex method and must be submitted to the Township Engineer for review and, when required, to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In addition to the permanent storage facilities, the developer shall provide adequate erosion and sedimentation control measures in accordance with the Pennsylvania Clean Stream Act, as amended, and applicable Township ordinances.

All storage computations shall be based on a one-hundred-year frequency, twenty-four-hour duration storm. The storage required may be based on "after" construction flows rather than "during" provided that the development is property staged or other measures are taken to retard the higher "during" construction flows. An additional storage allowance of 0.06 acre-inches must be provided to compensate for sediment accumulation.

Discharge piping.

Discharge piping shall be reinforced concrete pipe and shall be sized to maximize use and efficiency of the storage provided. Specifically, the most critical duration one-hundred-year storm should fill the storage facility to the spillway level without utilizing the spillway. In no case shall the spillway be utilized in the design routing of one-hundred-year storms.

The sizing of the discharge piping will therefore require detailed analysis rather than a random sizing correlating to a "before" construction standard frequency storm, such as a ten-year storm. The design engineer's submittal to the Township must include calculations on the methodology of sizing the piping. The capacity of all discharge piping shall be based on "inlet control" or where conditions warrant "outlet control." PennDOT charts may be utilized for this purpose.

Once the discharge piping is sized, a storage versus elevation versus discharge curve should be prepared and included with the submittal, along with a routing of the most critical one-hundred-year storm. Both ends of the discharge piping shall be provided with headwalls.

Erosion protection shall be provided in the form of rip-rap or other means in accordance with acceptable engineering standards.

(e)

Anti-seep collars shall be provided for all discharge pipes. The collars shall be a minimum of six inches thick and shall extend a minimum of two feet in all directions from the outside walls of the pipe.

(f)

A concrete-lined emergency spillway shall be provided for all storage facilities. Although the storage facility is designed so that the spillway will not be used in a one-hundred-year storm, the possibility exists whereby the outlet pipe could be totally blocked during a storm. For this reason, it is required that the spillway be sized to accommodate the peak flow rate into the pond when the pond would be completely full during a one-hundred-year storm assuming a totally blocked discharge pipe.

The spillway capacity should be calculated by the following formula:

	Q = 3.087 x D³ x L
Where:
	Q	=	Capacity in cubic feet per second
	D	=	Depth of spillway in feet
	L	=	Length of spillway in feet

The minimum depth of spillway shall be two feet.

Storage area.

Side slopes in storage areas shall be no steeper than three horizontal to one vertical. Every effort should be made to "blend" the storage area into the natural topography of its surroundings.

The bed of the storage area shall slope towards the discharge pipe from all directions at a minimum slope of 1%.

Prior to grading in the storage area, the topsoil shall be stripped and stockpiled. Upon the completion of grading, the topsoil shall be redistributed over the storage area (minimum six-inch thick) and should then be seeded.

All fill material to be utilized in embankment areas shall be selected from the impervious materials available at the site and shall be compacted to a minimum of 95% of the materials' maximum dry density as determined by a standard protector test. Where necessary, embankment fill materials shall be keyed into virgin soil. Where embankment berms are used, a minimum ten-foot-wide flat area shall be provided at the top of the berm.

(e)

A fence four feet in height with a self-closing gate surrounding the retention basin shall be required in the interest of public safety.

(f)

All storage areas must be located outside of the one-hundred-year floodplain as indicated on the Township floodplain mapping.

(g)

Underground storage beds will be given consideration in lieu of conventional storage facilities. Specifications for such storage beds shall be submitted to the Township shall be submitted to the Township Engineer for review. The design for such storage beds shall be such that the stormwater management requirements of this chapter are satisfied.

Spring heads. All spring heads uncovered during construction shall be treated as if the water flowing therefrom were stormwater except where it can be demonstrated that the water flowing from such source can be satisfactorily induced back into the ground as if the spring had never been uncovered. In the event there is piping of other facilities to conduct spring water from whatever source to the nearest dedicated portion of the stormwater management system, or other facilities pass in favor of the property owners served thereby, giving said property owners the right to construct, maintain, operate, repair, replace, reconstruct and alter such piping and facilities. Such easement shall name the Township as a third-party beneficiary with the right, but not the obligation, to enter upon the easement to repair, alter or replace such piping or other facilities in the event the property owners benefited thereby fail to do so. The Township shall have the further right to impose the cost of repairing, altering or replacing such piping or other facilities upon the property owner or owners responsible therefor, but who failed to do so.

§ 210-34 Erosion and sediment control.

Measures used to control erosion and reduce sedimentation shall, as a minimum, meet the standards and specifications of the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and applicable Township ordinances.

§ 210-35 Underground utilities.

All electric and telephone utility lines shall be installed underground in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the regulations and orders of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. In the event underground installation of utilities is not practical or not required by law, regulation or order, installation of electric, telephone and cable television utilities shall be, when possible, along the rear portion of the lots.

Trenches through utility easements shall be occupied, whenever practical, jointly by electric, gas, water, sewer, telephone and cable television lines.

A plan for providing utility service to the proposed subdivision or land development shall be prepared by the developer in cooperation with appropriate utility companies and governmental agencies.

§ 210-36 Utility and drainage easements.

When easements are required for utilities and/or drainage, the following minimum widths shall be required for such easements:

When the easement is contiguous to a road, a minimum easement width of 10 feet shall be required;

In all other cases, a minimum width of 20 feet shall be required. When the easement is along a rear or side lot line, the easement shall be to the fullest extent possible centered on such lot line;

Township Council may require easements with widths of greater than 20 feet when greater widths are necessary for utility installation or servicing.

Where a subdivision or land development is traversed by a watercourse, drainage way, channel, or stream, a drainage easement may be required which conforms substantially with the line of such watercourse, drainage way, channel or stream and of such width as will be adequate to preserve the unimpeded flow of natural drainage. Such easement shall give the Township the right but not the responsibility to enter upon the easement for the purpose of widening, deepening, relocating, improving, or protecting such drainage facilities or for the purpose of installing a stormwater sewer. Such easement shall also comply with floodplain requirements contained in applicable Township ordinances.

Nothing permanent shall be constructed, placed, planted or set within the area of a drainage or utility easement. Such areas shall be kept as lawn.

Metes and bounds shall be provided and iron pins shall be installed so that the location of all utility and drainage easements may be accurately determined.

§ 210-37 Gas, petroleum and petroleum product pipelines.

The minimum distance from a natural gas line to a dwelling unit shall be 75 feet or as may be required by the applicable transmission or distributing company, or as may be required by the applicable regulations issued by the Department of Transportation under the Natural Gas Pipe Line Safety Act of 1968, as amended, whichever is greater.

When any petroleum or petroleum products transmission line traverses a subdivision or land development, the developer shall confer with the applicable transmission or distribution company to determine the minimum distance which shall be required between each proposed dwelling unit and the petroleum or petroleum products transmission lines. In no case shall there be a distance of less than 75 feet between a dwelling unit and a petroleum or petroleum products transmission line.

No petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas transmission line shall be constructed in a subdivision or land development on less than a fifty-foot easement. Such lines shall be installed in the center of the easement and shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

§ 210-38 Topography and grading.

The natural terrain of the proposed subdivision or land development shall be retained wherever possible. Cuts and/or fills should be kept to the minimum necessary to achieve acceptable road grades, parking areas, or building sites where no feasible alternative exists or where they will be used to enhance the site, such as berms or swales which add visual interest or perform a function such as drainage or screening.

No excavation shall be made with a cut face steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical except under one or more of the following conditions:

The excavation is located so that a line having a slope of two horizontal to one vertical and passing through any portion of the cut face will be entirely inside of the property lines of the property in which the excavation was made; or

A concrete or stone masonry wall is provided which adequately supports the face of the excavation.

No fill shall be made which creates any exposed surface steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical, except under one or more of the following conditions:

The fill is located so that settlement, sliding or erosion will not result in damage to property, driveway or buildings; or

A concrete or stone masonry wall is provided which adequately supports the face of the excavation.

The top or bottom edge of slopes shall be a minimum of two feet from property lines or road lines in order to permit the normal rounding of the edge without encroaching on the abutting property.

§ 210-39 Natural features preservation and tree planting.

General standards. The design and development of all subdivisions and land developments shall preserve, whenever possible, natural features such as the natural terrain of the site, woodland areas, large trees, natural watercourses and bodies of water, wetlands, rock outcroppings and scenic views.

Floodplain protection. Any areas located in a designated floodplain shall be subject to all the requirements pertaining thereto in applicable Township ordinances.

Tree preservation and planting.

Trees, with a caliper of 10 inches or more, shall not be removed unless they are located within the proposed cartway, or the area of a proposed sidewalk, within 15 feet of the foundation area of a new building, within a utility easement, within a proposed parking area, or within an area where regrading is necessary to achieve acceptable site development. Where possible, existing open areas should be utilized for such facilities to minimize necessary disturbance of existing wooded areas. Areas in which trees are retained shall remain undisturbed and at the original grade level whenever possible.

Trees, with a minimum caliper of 1 1/2 inches, shall be planted along road lines where suitable trees do not exist. Such trees shall be planted not less than 50 feet apart, or an equivalent number shall be planted in an informal arrangement acceptable to the Township.

Trees shall not be planted within three feet of road lines or pedestrian walkways. Trees may be planted between the curb of the road and pedestrian walkways if there is a minimum distance of six feet between the curb and walkway.

Trees shall not be planted within 30 feet of the intersection of road lines and within 15 feet of a driveway entrance.

Road trees and other required plants shall be of nursery stock grown under climatic conditions comparable to those of Middletown Township. They shall be of symmetrical growth, free of insects, pests and disease, suitable for road use and durable under the maintenance contemplated.

For all subdivisions or land developments not involving single-family detached dwellings, a landscape plan prepared by a registered landscape architect shall be submitted. The plan shall show the plant cover which exists, and on the same or separate sheet, that which will exist when the landscaping is completed, including trees, shrubs, and ground cover. A landscape plan shall be prepared and submitted prior to approval of a building permit. In the case of staged development or developments of individual parcels by separate owners, the landscape plan may be submitted in stages coinciding with the application for final plan approval for each stage.

Topsoil protection. Topsoil shall not be removed from the development site or used as fill. Topsoil shall be removed from the areas of construction and stored separately. The topsoil shall be stabilized to minimize erosion during storage. Upon completion of construction, the topsoil shall be uniformly redistributed on the site.

§ 210-40 Open space.

[Amended 8-13-2001 by Ord. No. 615

Open space shall be in accordance with § 210-41, Recreational facilities and open space.

§ 210-41 Recreational facilities and open space.

[Amended 8-13-2001 by Ord. No. 615; 9-25-2023 by Ord. No. 854]

The public dedication of suitable land shall be provided for the use intended; and, upon agreement with the applicant or developer, the construction of recreational facilities, the payment of fees in lieu thereof, the private reservation of the land, or a combination, for park or recreation purposes as a condition precedent to final plan approval shall be required in accordance with the provisions of this section.

The following general provisions shall apply:

Each subdivision and/or land development proposed to be improved for a residential dwelling unit shall set aside land to be used for park or recreational purposes in an amount which shall equal at least 2,200 square feet of land for each residential dwelling unit in the proposed development; or make a payment of a fee in lieu of the public dedication of land in the amount as determined from time to time by resolution of the Township Council, in accordance with the Recreation and Open Space Plan, dated March 28, 2022, as may be amended or updated from time to time.

Each subdivision and/or land development proposed to be improved for use other than for a residential use (nonresidential use) shall set aside land to be used for park or recreational purposes in an amount which shall equal at least 500 square feet of land per 1,000 square feet of nonresidential building area; or make a payment of a fee in lieu of the public dedication of land in the amount as determined from time to time by resolution of the Township Council, in accordance with the Recreation and Open Space Plan, dated March 28, 2022, as may be amended or updated from time to time.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to a development plan approved and developed pursuant to the planned residential development provisions of Article XI of Chapter 275, Zoning; or approved and developed pursuant to the cluster subdivision option provisions of Chapter 275, Zoning, in the R-1 Residential District or R-2 Residential District; or approved and developed pursuant to the open space requirements for townhouses and/or apartments in the R-4 or R-5 District; or that is pending, whether preliminary or final, at the time of enactment of this section.

If it is determined that the land proposed to be dedicated is not suitable for the use intended by reason of its size, shape and/or location or if park or recreational lands are already available and accessible to the proposed development, or if the Township and the applicant or developer agree otherwise, the applicant or developer shall either make payment of a fee in lieu of dedication of land or provide sufficient and suitable land for dedication within the Township, but which is not part of the proposed development. Such determination shall also be made in accordance with the following provisions:

Where the open space requirement is 2.00 acres or less, the fee option shall be preferred; however, the set-aside of less than 2.00 acres of land may be acceptable to the Township if that land is contiguous to an existing area of permanent open space, has been identified by the Township for acquisition, or is otherwise deemed acceptable by Council.

Where the land to be set aside is less than the amount required, the Township may accept payment of a fee in lieu of the balance of the requirement.

The determination of the suitability of land which is acceptable for dedication, or use for park or recreational purposes, shall include its overall size, shape, location, and natural features, and shall also be based on the following additional criteria:

The dedicated land must be easily accessible to all inhabitants of the development by virtue of at least one side of each parcel of dedicated land abutting an existing or proposed public street for a minimum distance of 50 feet.

The park or recreational land shall be located so that it serves all inhabitants of the subdivision and/or land development.

The shape of the land shall be suitable to accommodate those park or recreational activities appropriate to the location and needs of the inhabitants of the development.

Any parcel of park or recreation land to be dedicated to the Township shall be comprised of at least one acre in size and no less than 50 feet in width.

The parcels to be dedicated, comprising the intended park or recreational land, shall be contiguous.

Soils and drainage shall be suitable for the intended park or recreational uses and shall conform to all Township ordinances.

Such land, taken in the aggregate, shall have an average slope of less than 8%, and shall have no more than 20% of the land contained within the boundaries of a floodplain, or steep slope area greater than 15%, or a combination of floodplain and steep slope.

(8)

Vehicular parking shall be in accordance with Article XXXI of the Middletown Township Zoning Ordinance,[1] and shall be designed, constructed, and maintained such that any site can be adequately served and accessed.

Editor's Note: See Ch. 275, Zoning.

(9)

Provisions shall be made for trails, footpaths, and other pedestrian circulation systems and accessways.

In the event any applicant or developer of land proposes to dedicate land and/or construct recreational facilities, the applicant or developer shall make provision for such dedication and/or the permanent ownership and maintenance of such facilities, as applicable. Acceptable means of such provisions include:

The proposed recreational facilities and/or improvements are not duplicative of those park and/or recreational facilities already available to the inhabitants of the proposed subdivision and/or land development.

The proposed recreational facilities and/or improvements will be properly owned, managed, and maintained by a responsible entity such as a homeowners' association, the governing documents for which shall be acceptable to the Township Solicitor.

The proposed park and/or recreational area shall be subject to a declaration of covenants, easements, and restrictions which shall be acceptable to the Township Solicitor.

The proposed park or recreational area shall be suitably landscaped as depicted on a landscape plan which shall be submitted as part of the applicant's or developer's subdivision and/or land development plan and which shall be reviewed by the Township as part of the applicant's or developer's final plan.

Land to be publicly dedicated to the Township shall be by fee-simple deed of special warranty. At the time of dedication, title to said land shall be good and marketable, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances. The applicant or developer shall supply a title report evidencing the foregoing to the Township prior to final approval of the subdivision and/or land development plan. The executed deed of dedication shall be delivered to the Township at the time of final subdivision and/or land development approval and prior to the signing of the approved plan by the Township Council and recorded at the time of recording of the final plan. All costs associated with said dedication shall be borne by the applicant or developer.

If public dedication of the land is rejected by the Township, the land may alternatively be conveyed to a legally constituted homeowners' association or retained by and managed by such private ownership or other such suitable entity, all subject to approval by the Township Council and upon the condition that the use remains open to the residents of the proposed development. In the event that the recreational land is to be privately owned, adequate provision shall be made for its maintenance and the posting of adequate financial security in accordance with Section 509 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[2] The Township may further require such limited rights of entry onto the proposed land for maintenance and similar purposes, should the owner(s) of said land fail to do so, and such failure shall, in the opinion of the Township, pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the Township or its residents.