Township of Mendham, NJ Chapter 188 Gates

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Mendham 12-9-2002 by Ord. No. 17-2002[1] (Sec. 25-4 of the 1998 Revised General Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Fire prevention — See Ch. 177.

Streets, sidewalks and driveways — See Ch. 301.

[1] Editor's Note: This chapter stated that it shall take effect six months after final passage and publication as required by law, at which time § 188-3 relating to the requirements for emergency openings of animal control and security gates shall apply both prospectively and retroactively. All other provisions relating to distances between driveway posts or pillars shall apply prospectively only after this chapter takes effect.

§ 188-1 Findings and purposes.

The purpose of this chapter is to ensure vehicular access by emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, to residential properties in Mendham Township. Mendham Township fire companies have reported an increasing number of incidents at fire calls where driveway entrance posts have either been too narrow to allow safe passage of fire apparatus, or where the driveway gates would not open or had to be forced open to allow passage. This chapter is intended to address these problems.

§ 188-2 Width of driveway entrance.

A. The minimum distance between driveway entrance pillars, columns or fence posts shall be 12 feet, measured at a right angle across the driveway.

B. The 30 feet of driveway before and after the opening between entry pillars or posts shall be straight if possible. The calculation for the first 30 feet of the entry driveway may include the public street. If the 30 feet of driveway before or after the entry pillars or posts curves more than four feet off the center line between the posts, then the opening between the posts shall be 14 feet, not 12 feet.

C. There shall be no archway or other structure spanning the driveway above the entry pillars or posts.

D. If there is a gate or gates available to close off the driveway, the opening between the gate posts shall be as required in Subsections A and B above.

§ 188-3 Emergency openings of gates.

A. Animal control gates. The following requirements for emergency opening shall apply to driveway gates which have been installed to keep pet animals in or wild animals, primarily deer, out:

(1) For nonelectrified swinging, sliding or lift gates without a locking mechanism, no action need be taken.

(2) For nonelectrified swinging, sliding or lift gates with a locking mechanism, a readily apparent latch handle shall be installed for opening the gate from outside the gate.

(3) For electrified mechanical or hydraulic driveway gates of any type which open automatically when a vehicle approaches or when a button is pushed or a code is pressed into a keypad or by any other method, a release lever that allows the gate(s) to be opened by hand shall be installed in a prominent place that is accessible from outside the gate.

B. Security gates. Driveway security gates of any type that open by hand or with electric or hydraulic power which can be locked shall have an access key placed in a lock box approved by the Township Fire Official. The lock box and the lock to open the gate shall be accessible from outside the security fencing and gate. Keys to all lock boxes will be carried by Township police officers. Key pads and combination locks shall not be used on security gates. If the driveway entry has a gate and also a gate house that is manned 24 hours a day by a full-time security guard, a lock box shall not be required.