[Adopted 10-2-1979 by Ord. No. 68]
[Amended 4-21-1981 by Ord. No. 78]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The Upper Makefield Township Board of Supervisors.
A minor vehicular access between a street and/or another
driveway and a particular area or a garage within a single lot or
within a single property and/or providing access to a lot from a street.
Driveways shall be so located, designed and constructed so as
to provide the maximum possible sight distance at intersections with
streets and/or another driveway. A stopping area, measured 55 feet
behind the paved cartway of any existing or proposed street, shall
be provided for all driveways not to exceed 4% grade.
A.
Driveways shall be located not less than 40 feet from the intersection corner of corner lots and shall provide access to the street of lower classifications as defined in Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
B.
Driveways and drainage facilities constructed in conjunction therewith
shall be located not less than 10 feet from all lot and or tract boundary
lines except where such driveway intersects with an existing or proposed
public or private street. The Board may issue a variance from the
requirements of this subsection to accommodate two or more lots sharing
a common driveway when, in the discretion of the Board, the Board
determines that a common driveway will result in safer vehicular traffic
entering and exiting onto public or private streets.
[Amended 6-1-1988 by Ord.
No. 138]
A.
Minimum design standards for the various types of uses served by
a driveway shall be as follows:
|
Driveway
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Classification of Development
|
Minimum Width at Curb
(feet)
|
Minimum Radius
(feet)
|
Maximum Grade Percent
|
Maximum Change of Grade Per 10 Feet
| |
|
A
|
9
|
3 to 5
|
8%
|
10%
| |
|
B
|
12 (one-way)
|
10
|
5%
|
7%
| |
|
24 (two-way)
|
15
|
5%
|
7%
| ||
|
C
|
12 (one-way)
|
15
|
5%
|
7%
| |
|
24 (two-way)
|
25
|
5
|
7%
| ||
|
Classification of land development or subdivision:
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
A -
|
Residential: density up to three dwelling units per acre.
| |
|
B -
|
Residential: density in excess of three dwelling units per acre.
| |
|
C -
|
Nonresidential: commercial and industrial.
| |
B.
All driveways shall be provided with a crown of 1/4 inch per foot,
and drainage swales shall be installed on both sides of driveways
to adequately confine and carry all stormwater drainage away from
existing or proposed streets and adjacent lots.
C.
All driveways shall be provided with either a drainage pipe under
the driveway or a swale to permit water to flow across the driveway,
as shall be determined by the Township Engineer and/or Road Foreman
based on site conditions. When drainage pipe is required, it shall
be reinforced concrete pipe (RCP); depth and placement shall be determined
by the Township Engineer or Road Foreman. Precast concrete and sections
shall be installed at each end of the pipe. When driveway exits onto
a state-owned road, owner will secure necessary PennDOT permit.
D.
Driveways shall be constructed in such a manner so that no stormwater
flows from the driveway onto an existing or proposed roadway and/or
adjoining property.
Driveway signs shall be placed by the Township of Upper Makefield
on the side of the driveway's intersection with an existing or
proposed street when the site distance at the intersection between
the driveway and the street in either direction is less than 150 feet.
All costs for such sign or signs and all costs for installation thereof
shall be borne solely by the owner of the property on which the driveway
is being constructed.
[Amended 6-1-1988 by Ord.
No. 138; 8-15-1990 by Ord. No. 160]
No person shall commence the construction or installation of
a driveway or reconstruction of a driveway which substantially changes
the drainage characteristics (pipe or swale) of the driveway without
first submitting to the Township Planning and Zoning Officer a driveway
permit application, and a profile plan detailing specifications for
the driveway, together with the required filing fee as established
by the Board of Supervisors by resolution and amended from time to
time. The Planning and Zoning Officer shall then deliver the driveway
permit application and the profile plan to the Township Engineer or
the Township Road Foreman. The profile plan must be sufficiently detailed
in order for the Engineer or Road Foreman to determine if the proposed
driveway will conform to the requirements of this Part. Upon review
of the profile plan, if the Engineer or Road Foreman determines that
the sight distance at the point of intersection of the driveway and
an existing or proposed street and/or driveway is less than 150 feet
in either direction, the Engineer or Road Foreman shall so notify
the property owner. Prior to commencing the construction or installation
of the driveway, the property owner must receive a driveway permit
approved by the Township Road Foreman or the Township Engineer and
shall deposit with the Planning and Zoning Officer in an amount as
established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors and amended
from time to time. Any driveway permit issued shall have an effective
life of six months from the date of issue, and shall thereupon expire.
Within 48 hours of the completion of the construction and installation
of the driveway, the property owner shall so notify the Township Engineer,
and the Township Engineer shall then inspect said driveway within
seven days of such notice to determine if the driveway conforms to
the requirements of this Part. If the driveway conforms to the requirements
of this Part then, in that event, the Township Engineer shall so certify.
If the driveway does not meet with the Engineer's approval, then
in that event, the Township Engineer shall set forth in writing what
defects exist and the property owner shall correct such defects within
five days of written notice of same from the Township Engineer. The
Township Engineer shall again be notified upon the completion or correction
of any defects, and the Township Engineer shall again inspect the
driveway to determine if the same conforms with the requirements of
this Part.
No person, partnership or corporation shall make any use whatsoever
of the driveway until the same has been certified by the Township
Engineer.
[Amended 8-15-1990 by Ord. No. 160]
When applicable, no building permit shall be issued until the
Township Engineer or the Township Road Foreman notifies the Township
Building Inspector of the sufficiency of the driveway profile plan
submitted.
[Added 8-3-1983 by Ord.
No. 103]
The head of the Township Road Department is authorized to perform
any and all of the inspections and certifications required of the
Township Engineer under this Part.
[Amended 8-15-1990 by Ord. No. 160; 12-6-1995 by Ord. 186]
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of
this Part shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine
of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said
fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each
day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
B.
The Township Road Foreman and/or the Township Engineer are authorized
to bring any enforcement action for any violation of this Part.
[Added 8-15-1990 by Ord.
No. 160]
The Township Road Foreman is hereby authorized to remove any
driveway which does not comply with a permit issued pursuant to this
Part, or which is installed without a permit and which blocks drainage.
The Road Foreman shall give the violator of this Part 10 days'
written notice of the violation, and if the violation is not corrected,
the Road Foreman is authorized to remove that portion of the driveway
located within the road right-of-way and to establish a proper drainage.
This Part shall be known as and may be cited as the "Upper Makefield
Township Driveway Construction Ordinance."
