[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as added by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Driveway Ordinance."
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as added by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
The following words and phrases as used in this Part shall have the following meanings; provided, that any words and phrases not defined herein shall be interpreted consistent with the definitions referenced in the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22]:
CURBLINE
A line formed by the face of the existing curb or in its absence the outer edge of the shoulder, along which curbing is or may be located.
SHOULDER
The portion of the street, contiguous to the traffic lanes, for accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, and for lateral support of base and surface courses and pavements.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also the general definitions contained in Chapter 1, Part 1 of this Code.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
It shall be unlawful for any person to make, enlarge or modify any connection of any kind to any Township, County or Commonwealth street located in the Township without first securing a driveway permit from the Township Roadmaster in accordance with the provisions of this Part. In the case of any County or Commonwealth street, the requirements of this Part shall be in addition to any requirements imposed by the County or Commonwealth.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
1. 
Driveways shall be located so as to provide adequate sight distance at intersections with streets.
2. 
Driveways shall be located in a manner which will not cause interference to the traveling public, will not be a hazard to the free movement of normal traffic or cause areas of traffic congestion on the street.
3. 
Driveways shall be located, designed and constructed in such a manner so as not to interfere with or be inconsistent with the design, maintenance and drainage of the street.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
The Township Roadmaster shall use the following criteria to determine driveway access to arterial or collector streets:
A. 
Driveway access for nonresidential and multi-family uses, including townhouses, shall be at least 200 feet apart.
B. 
No more than five lots of any submitted subdivision plan may have direct access to an existing arterial or collector street. The entire street frontage shall be considered a part of this requirement for lands held in single ownership.
C. 
Alternates to be considered for larger subdivisions shall be as follows, subject to the approval of the Township Roadmaster upon the recommendation of the Planning Commission. Alternates shall be to provide reverse-frontage interior streets, where determined by the Township Engineer to be necessary to minimize or eliminate substandard access to arterial or collector streets, to be built according to standards under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] and to provide marginal access roads.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001]
Driveways shall be located as far from street intersections as is reasonably possible, but not less than the following distances:
A. 
Individual residential lots: 50 feet.
B. 
Multi-family residential and nonresidential lots: 100 feet.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001]
1. 
Properties with frontage of 120 feet or less shall be limited to one curb cut.
2. 
Not more than two curb cuts may be permitted for any single property, tract or lot for each street frontage.
3. 
More than two curb cuts per street frontage may be permitted only if anticipated traffic volumes warrant more than two and when supported by a traffic study prepared by a registered professional engineer.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001]
When streets of different classes are involved, the driveway shall provide access to the street of lesser classification, unless this requirement is waived by the Board of Supervisors for reasons of sight distance, incompatibility of traffic, grading or drainage.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 613, 12/6/2006, § 5; and by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
1. 
Driveway paving widths and grades shall be as follows:
Land Use
Minimum Paving Width
(feet)
Maximum Paving Width
(feet)
Minimum Radius at Curb
(feet)
Maximum Grade
(percent)
Single-family
9
18, plus radii
5
10% within street right-of-way/utility easement; 15% private property
Townhouse or multi-family residential
10 (1-way)
20 (2-way)
24, plus radii
20
20
10% within street right-of-way/utility easement; 15% private property
Commercial
14 (1-way)
28 (2-way)
28, plus radii
25 or more
10%
Industrial
20 (1-way)
30 (2-way)
30, plus radii
25 or more
10%
2. 
Exception. On a lot serving a single-family dwelling, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 27], the maximum paving width at the curbline may be increased up to a width of no more than three feet wider than the width(s) of the garage door(s) associated with such single-family dwelling provided that in no instance shall the aggregate driveway paving width and radius at the curbline exceed 32 feet. This exception shall only apply where the following requirements are also met: (A) The garage door(s) face the street; (B) The garage door(s) are located less than 50 feet from the street right-of-way; and (C) The lot width at the curbline is 50 feet or greater.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001]
All driveways shall be provided with a stopping area within which the grade shall not exceed 6%. The stopping area shall be measured as follows:
A. 
The length of the stopping area shall be a minimum of 20 feet or the length of the longest vehicle anticipated to use the driveway, whichever is greater.
B. 
Stopping areas shall be measured from the ultimate right-of-way line for arterial and collector streets and from the edge of the paving, curbline or sidewalk of local streets.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
Clear sight triangles shall be provided where driveways intersect streets, in accordance with the standards set forth in Appendix 22-B of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22]. The dimensional standards shall be determined by the classification of street which the driveway intersects.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 612, 12/6/2006, § 1; and by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
No building, grading, occupancy or other permit shall be issued as to any improvement or improvements in this Township until (A) an application for a driveway permit shall have been made in writing and a permit for the same approved by the Township Board of Supervisors; and (B) with respect to roads over which the County of Allegheny, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or other authorities also possess jurisdiction, an application for a highway occupancy shall have been made and a permit for the same approved by the entity.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
Any driveway, except those serving single-family and two-family dwellings, constructed after August 9, 2001, shall be constructed with a pervious or impervious engineered surface material. For purposes of this section, engineered surface material shall mean any combination of pavement consisting of:
A. 
Poured concrete to a depth of at least four inches.
B. 
Bituminous pavement placed when hot to a depth of at least two-inch binder course and one-inch wearing course (compacted thickness) on a 2A limestone base of at least five inches thick.
C. 
Vitrified brick, concrete brick, vitrified tile or any other type of hard-dimensioned material laid on a 2A limestone base at least five inches thick with joints between the units of no more than d of an inch.
D. 
Terrazzo placed on a concrete base of a depth at least four inches thick.
E. 
Precast concrete.
F. 
Pervious paver blocks.
G. 
Reinforced turf and gravel filled grids.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001]
Any driveway aggregates shall be contained within the property boundaries.
[Ord. 512, 8/9/2001; as added by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, or fails to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 plus costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township, and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment to the extent permitted by law for the punishment of summary offenses. A separate offense shall arise for each day or portion thereof in which a violation of this Part is found to exist and for each section of this Part found to have been violated. The Township may also commence appropriate actions in equity or other to prevent, restrain, correct, enjoin, or abate violations of this Part. All fines and penalties collected for violations of this Part shall be paid to the Township Treasurer. The initial determination of ordinance violation is hereby delegated to the Township Manager, the Police Department, the Code Official, the Township Roadmaster, the authorized designee of the Township Manager, and to any other officer or agent that the Township Manager or the Board of Supervisors shall deem appropriate.