Township of Sandyston, NJ Streets and Sidewalks

The purpose of this article is to establish minimum standards for the design and construction of proposed streets or roads in major subdivisions prior to granting final approval to the final plat of a major subdivision by the Sandyston Township Planning Board, in conformance with the procedures set forth in Ch. 137, Subdivision and Site Plan Review.

§ 134-3 Approving agency.

The provisions of this article shall be enforced and administered by the Sandyston Township Planning Board in accordance with the provisions of Ch. 137, Subdivision and Site Plan Review. All street or road inspections, however, shall be made by the Sandyston Township Engineer or a licensed New Jersey professional engineer approved by the Sandyston Township Committee.

§ 134-4 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

CLASSIFICATION OF STREETS

For the purpose of this article, streets shall be classified as follows:

ARTERIAL STREETSHighways which are used primarily for fast or heavy traffic between municipalities or urban centers, designed to handle greater volumes of traffic than collector or minor streets.

COLLECTOR STREETSThose which carry traffic from minor streets to the major system of arterial streets and highways, including the principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets for circulation within such a development.

MINOR STREETSThose which are used primarily for access to the abutting properties and which need not be used for general circulation or through traffic.

MARGINAL ACCESS STREETSStreets which are parallel and adjacent to arterial streets and highways and which provide access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.

ALLEYSMinor ways which are used primarily for vehicular service access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on the street.

DRAINAGE EASEMENT

The lands required for the installation and maintenance of stormwater sewers, drainage ditches, culverts or other stormwater drainage appurtenances or lands required along a natural stream or watercourse for preserving the channel and providing for the flow of water therein so as to safeguard the public against flood damage in accordance with Chapter 1 of Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.[1]

FINAL APPROVAL OF FINAL PLAT OF MAJOR SUBDIVISION

Final approval shall be by resolution of the Sandyston Township Planning Board, approving the preliminary plat after all requirements, conditions, engineering plans and other data have been completed and approved and all required improvements have been installed or performance guaranties properly posted for their completion. In order to receive such final approval, a plat must have been prepared and certified by a licensed New Jersey professional engineer in compliance with all the provisions of the Map Filing Law, N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 to 46:23-9.16, as amended and supplemented. Said plat shall be filed by the subdivider in the office of the Sussex County Clerk within 90 days after Planning Board final approval in order to make such approval binding.

MAJOR SUBDIVISION

All subdivisions not classified as minor subdivisions and subdivisions which can qualify, by definition, as existing major subdivisions.

PROPOSED STREET

Any street, avenue, road, highway, lane, alley or any other way or means designed for vehicular traffic, however designated, as shown on a preliminary plat submitted to the Sandyston Township Planning Board for tentative approval as a major subdivision and/or as shown on a final plat submitted to the Planning Board for final approval as a major subdivision. A proposed street will automatically become an existing street after the Planning Board confers final approval on the final plat of said major subdivision and after all street improvements have been completed to the satisfaction of the Planning Board upon recommendation of the Sandyston Township Engineer. Nothing expressed in this article shall imply or require that such a proposed street shall become or will be accepted by Sandyston Township as a public, dedicated street, to be maintained by Sandyston Township when it becomes an existing street.

RIGHT-OF-WAY

The land and space required on the surface, subsurface and overhead for the construction and installation of materials necessary to provide safe passageway for vehicular traffic, pedestrians, utility lines, poles, conduits and mains, signs, hydrants, trees and shrubbery and the proper amount of light and air as established by local authorities and shall be measured from lot line to lot line.

[1]

Editor's Note: For current provisions, see N.J.S.A. 58:16A-1 et seq.

§ 134-5 Design standards.

The design standards for any street in the subdivision or site plan shall meet the standards for road acceptance as shown on Appendix A, entitled "Minimum Road Design Standards for Road Acceptance, Sandyston Township, Sussex County, New Jersey," which is an appendix hereto and hereby declared to be a part of this chapter.[1]

[Amended 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90]

[1]

Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.

In addition, the following minimum standards shall be maintained in the design and construction of all streets or roads, including minor, collector and arterial streets or roads:

(1)

Center line intersections of streets shall be as nearly at right angles as is possible and in no case shall be less than 60°.

(2)

Block corners at street intersections shall be rounded at the right-of-way line, with a curve having a minimum radius of 25 feet and, at the edge of pavement, with a curve having a minimum radius of 40 feet.

(3)

Street jogs or offsets shall have a minimum center line offset of 125 feet.

(4)

In the design of reverse curves, the minimum tangent distance between the curves shall be governed by the minimum road design standards set forth in Appendix A.[2]

[Amended 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90]

[2]

Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.

(5)

All changes in grade shall be connected by parabolic vertical curves of sufficient length for the designed speed as determined by the Sandyston Township Engineer.

[Amended 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90]

(6)

Dead-end streets (culs-de-sac) shall have maximum lengths of 1,000 feet and shall provide a turnaround at the end of the street with a minimum radius as per the Road Design Standards Chart,[3] said turnaround to be tangent, where topography permits, to the right side of the street.[4]

[Amended 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90]

[3]

Editor's Note: See Appendix A included at the end of this chapter.

[4]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(7), which concerned bridges and culverts and immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90.

§ 134-6 Construction standards.

[Amended 6-7-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90]

The construction of any minor, collector or arterial street or road shall be made in accordance with the following minimum construction standards, and all such construction shall be subject to the approval of the Sandyston Township Engineer or a licensed New Jersey professional engineer approved by the Sandyston Township Committee.

Stormwater drainage. In the case of proposed streets included within a major subdivision which shall be reviewed by the Sandyston Township Planning Board for the purpose of granting final approval to said major subdivision.

Drainage easements. In the event that stormwaters are, or are to be, directed outside of the street or road right-of-way line by the installation of stormwater sewers, drainage ditches, culverts or other stormwater drainage appurtenances, drainage flow easements to the Township of Sandyston shall be provided for the outletting of all such stormwater facilities to streams, existing stormwater drains or other legal drainage courses. Such drainage easements shall be of a width sufficient to allow proper maintenance for said stormwater facility and shall be granted to the Township of Sandyston by approved legal procedures.

Subgrade. All topsoil shall be stripped from the roadbed for the full width of the cross section, including the paved area, shoulders and gutters, if any. All soft, spongy material shall be removed and replaced by broken stone or gravel. All loose rock or boulders shall be removed or broken off at least six inches below the surface of the subgrade. All stumps, logs or other material which may decompose shall be removed. The subgrade shall be compacted to a density of not less than 95% of maximum by rolling with a power roller weighing not less than 10 tons.

Embankments. Embankments shall be formed of suitable material placed in successive layers of not more than six inches in depth for the full width of the cross section, including the paved area, shoulders and gutters, if any, and shall be compacted by distributing the necessary hauling uniformly over the preceding layer and by rolling with a power roller weighing not less than 10 tons. No trees, stumps, rubbish or other material which may decompose shall be permitted in the embankment fill.

Guide rail. Guide rail of a type as approved by the Sandyston Township Engineer shall be installed at such locations as designated by said Sandyston Township Engineer and in accordance with the Road Design Standards Chart set forth in Appendix A.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.

Driveways. All driveways entering a street or road shall be constructed in such a manner as not to interfere with the flow of water in the street or road in any drainage ditches along the road and shall be approved by the Sandyston Township Engineer.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Driveways.

§ 134-7 Fees and expenses.

All fees and expenses, legal, engineering and otherwise, incurred for review of the design or inspection of the construction, in compliance with the standards set forth in this article applicable to a proposed street or road in a proposed major subdivision, shall be paid by the subdivider to the Township of Sandyston prior to the granting of final approval by the Sandyston Township Planning Board.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Original Article VIII, Appeal, which followed this section, was repealed 10-3-1985.

§ 134-8 Administration and interpretation.

These rules, regulations and standards shall be considered the minimum requirements for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Township of Sandyston. Any action taken by the Sandyston Township Planning Board under the terms of this article shall give primary consideration to the above-mentioned matters and to the welfare of the entire community. If, however, the literal enforcement of one or more of the minimum design or construction standards is impracticable or will exact undue hardship, upon recommendation, the Sandyston Township Planning Board may permit such variance or variances as may be reasonable and within the general purpose and intent of the rules, regulations and minimum standards established by this article.

All ordinances or parts of ordinances, other than the Land Subdivision Ordinance of Sandyston Township, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this article are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

This Article shall be construed most favorably to the Township of Sandyston, its intention being to give the Township of Sandyston the fullest and most complete powers possible concerning the subject matter hereof.