Collier Township Municipal Authority, PA
Allegheny County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 120: Easements
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Collier Township Municipal Authority as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Transfer of property — See Ch. 70.
Manholes and manhole covers — See Ch. 30.
[Adopted 4-16-2011]
Sanitary sewer easements may be located in and through property that an individual has purchased or plans to purchase. It is the purchaser's responsibility to determine the exact location of the sanitary sewer easement from documents that are available in the Department of Real Estate of Allegheny County or by conducting appropriate surveys of the property.
Property owners are not permitted to construct anything over or on top of a sanitary sewer easement, with the exception of a sidewalk or a driveway. No buildings, sheds, porches, walls, etc. may be constructed in or over the sanitary sewer easement.
Purchasers should verify that there is no encroachment into the sanitary sewer easement of any property that may be purchased within the Collier Township Municipal Authority ("Authority") service area as the purchaser will then be responsible for the removal of the encroachment. The property owner will be responsible for the removal of the encroachment within the easement. The Authority reserves the right to refuse to issue a municipal lien letter or the Authority will issue a municipal lien letter showing the violation and noting the unauthorized encroachment. This may restrict or delay a property owner's ability to sell or transfer the property.
[Adopted 12-12-2013 by Res. No. 12-12-13-01]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ENCROACHMENT
An activity or condition, whether below grade, at grade or above grade, which results in interference with the ability of the Township or Authority to access, maintain, repair or replace their sanitary sewer lines, stormwater lines, stormwater BMPs or related equipment, facilities or appurtenances.
MUNICIPAL UTILITY
Sanitary sewer lines, stormwater lines, stormwater BMPs and related facilities, equipment and appurtenances of the Township or Authority.
A. 
For the purpose of exercising their easement rights and their responsibilities to maintain and operate their various municipal utilities, the Township and Authority shall be afforded the right of ingress and egress to, from, along, on, in, above and below the surface of the land encompassed by their municipal utility easement.
B. 
The Township and Authority have the right to access any municipal utility easement upon demand. Such demand may be made in person or by first-class mail or other reasonable means of notification and will advise that access to the easement must be provided and maintained at all reasonably and necessary times as required by this section. In emergency situations, little or no notice may be afforded, as circumstances demand.
C. 
Upon demand, unauthorized encroachments shall be removed by the property owner and/or occupant within the time limit set by the Township or Authority when demand is made, and shall not be restored without approval of the Township or Authority. If the encroachment has not been removed within the time limit set by the Township or Authority, the Township or Authority may remove the encroachment itself, but the removal costs, court costs, attorney's fees, engineering fees and administrative costs incurred in connection with such removal shall be charged back to the property owner and/or occupant and, provided further, that to collect such costs and fees, the Township or Authority may, in addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity, institute appropriate action against the owner or occupant of the property on which the encroachment is located and may file a municipal claim for such costs and fees pursuant to 53 P.S. § 7107, et seq., and for interest of 6% per annum plus a penalty of 5% of the amount due plus attorney's fees in connection with filing of the municipal claim.
D. 
Notice may be provided by certified mail or regular mail by first-class or posting of the property or by telephone at the option of the Authority. Unless there is, in the opinion of the Authority, an emergency need for access, a minimum of 10 days' notice shall be provided to the property owner and/or occupant to remove the encroachment. Should the Authority determine that there is an emergency need for access to the sewer system, the Authority representatives are authorized to remove the encroachment at the expense of the property owner.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to:
A. 
Cause or permit an unauthorized encroachment on a Township or Authority municipal utility easement; or
B. 
Cause any municipal easement to not be readily accessible due to the conditions on the premises or actions of the person, firm, or corporation, or others, such as locked gates, fences, animals, shrubbery, construction, structure additions or modifications, storage of materials or debris, parking or storage of vehicles, boats, or trailers, deposit of soil or fill or any other obstruction which shall in any way prevent or deny access to such easement to the Township or Authority; or
C. 
After demand, fail to abate or otherwise remove or discontinue any action or condition which results in an unauthorized encroachment.
The Township or Authority, at its discretion, may authorize an encroachment by way of a revocable license agreement upon application for the same from the property owner. Such license shall only be issued if it is determined that the encroachment can be removed in a timely fashion as to allow the Township or Authority immediate access to the easement. The revocable license shall be in the form of a recordable license agreement.
A. 
Any person violating any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs and, in default of payment of said fines and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
The provisions of this article may be enforced by Collier Township, Collier Township Municipal Authority, the Collier Township Police Department, or any authorized representative of the Township or Township Municipal Authority.
C. 
This article shall be incorporated into the rules and regulations of the Authority; any violation therefore being referable by the Authority for prosecution as a summary offense pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 5607(17).
This resolution is effective upon adoption by the Collier Township Board of Commissioners of Ordinance 668, adopted November 11, 2013, which also regulated encroachments on and over utility easements.