[Adopted 12-18-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-20]
It is determined that the operation and parking of motor vehicles in close proximity to buildings and areas devoted for public uses, including shopping centers, malls, banks, restaurants, stables, bars, gas stations, theaters and other places of public assembly, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, public buildings, churches and similar uses, fire hydrants, cisterns and other Fire Department connection and suction points, constitute a danger to public health, safety and welfare in that the approach, operation and departure of fire equipment and other emergency vehicles are impeded by such operation and parking of motor vehicles.
A. 
The Fire Prevention Bureau is hereby authorized, subject to approval by resolution adopted by the Township Council, to establish fire lanes on properties in the Township devoted to public uses, including but not limited to those uses described in § 94-11, where the operation and parking of motor vehicles in close proximity to buildings and designated areas located on such properties would prevent adequate ingress, egress and operation of fire equipment and other emergency vehicles.
B. 
The fire lanes to be established pursuant to this section shall be designated in such areas of such properties as will ensure fire equipment and other emergency vehicles unobstructed means of ingress, egress and operation to such properties in the event of fire or other emergency.
The number and location of such fire lanes shall be determined by the Fire Prevention Bureau, subject to approval by resolution adopted by the Township Council. Such determination and approval shall be based upon the size, type of construction and location of the building, buildings or suction point involved; the use to which the property, building or buildings is put; the number of motor vehicles operated or parked upon the property; the number of persons using and occupying the property, building or buildings; the total area of the property, including the size of the parking lot; and all other factors which are relevant to the public health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the Township. The actual dimensions of the fire lanes shall be the measurements established pursuant to Section F-311.0 of the New Jersey State Fire Prevention Code, which is adopted and enforced by the Borough in accordance with §§ 94-1 and 94-2.
Fire lanes are to be established and maintained in front of any fire hydrant, cistern or other Fire Department connection located on both public and private property.
All fire lanes within the Township of Hardyston shall be striped and signs posted in the following manner:
A. 
Signs.
(1) 
All signs shall be 12 inches by 18 inches in size.
(2) 
Light-reflective material shall be used for the sign background and lettering.
(3) 
All signs, whether wall- or post-mounted, shall be placed 100 feet apart, center to center. Whenever the fire lane changes angle or direction more than 60°, a sign is to be placed at the point of change, and a sign is required at the beginning and end of the lane. In all circumstances, a sign shall be visible from another sign. Additional signs may be required at the discretion of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
(4) 
The sign shall be placed at a height of seven feet, as measured from the ground surface to the bottom of the sign at an angle of 45° facing the direction of the flow of traffic.
(5) 
The fire lane sign shall state "NO PARKING FIRE LANE."
B. 
Striping.
(1) 
Stripes shall be three inches wide.
(2) 
All fire lanes shall be striped at a width of four feet, as specified by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
(3) 
The lettering "NO PARKING FIRE LANE" shall be placed within the striped outer boundary lines of the fire lane at a minimum of one-hundred-foot intervals.
(4) 
The letters shall be 18 inches in height and shall be placed within the center of the fire lane.
(5) 
Paint for all letters and striping shall be yellow in color and be of a reflective-type material.
C. 
Upon the designation of any such area as a fire lane, the Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall promptly notify the owner of the premises of such designation. Within 30 days of his receipt of such notification, the owner of the premises shall cause to be erected on the premises, at such location or locations as shall be designated by the Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau, signs indicating that parking is not permitted in said fire lanes.
In the event the owner or owners of property fail or refuse to erect signs in accordance with the directions and specifications of the Township as expressed in § 94-15A, the Township shall be permitted to enter onto the property and erect such signs and bill the property owner for the cost of the work. Failure of the property owner to pay to the Township the full amount due within 10 days from a demand by the Township shall be considered a violation of this article.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Township Police Department shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article.
No person shall at any time park or leave unattended a motor vehicle in any area designated as a fire lane, nor shall any person, firm or corporation place or construct any structure in a designated fire lane nor place any obstruction thereon which will impair the free passage and access of firefighting vehicles, apparatus or firefighters or impair the free use of an exit or exit discharge from any building. This shall not apply to emergency vehicles or firefighters while engaged in the actual performance of official duties.
Any person, firm or corporation violating this article shall be assessed a fine of $100 per occurrence.
In addition to the penalty provided in § 94-19, when any motor vehicle shall be found to be improperly parked within any fire lane in violation of this article, any enforcing officer, in addition to any other remedies provided herein, may order the motor vehicle to be removed by a towing service. The owner of the vehicle, in addition to any other responsibilities incurred herein, shall be responsible for all towing and storage charges incurred.