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Town of Philipstown, NY
Putnam County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Adopted 12-8-75 as L.L. No. 4-1975]
Any road, street or highway constructed by any person, firm or corporation for acceptance by the Town Board of the Town of Philipstown as a public town road, street or highway shall conform to no less than the standards and specifications of this Article. The construction shall be at the cost and expense of such person, firm or corporation.
The Town Board may from time to time establish procedures for construction of roads, streets or highways under this Article, including but not limited to:
A. 
Presentation of plans and specifications for approval.
B. 
Provision for supervision and inspection.
C. 
Notification to the town of the intent to commence or upon the completion of stages of construction.
A. 
Where specified herein, this Article incorporates standards and specifications of the following documents published by the State of New York:
(1) 
The State of New York Department of Public Works, Division of Construction, Public Works Specifications of January 2, 1962, as amended, identified herein as "NYPWS"; and
(2) 
The New York Department of Transportation, Design and Construction Division, Standard Specifications, State of New York, dated January 2, 1973, as amended, identified herein as "NYSS."
B. 
The Town Board, by resolution, may from time to time, as deemed appropriate, redesignate standards and specifications identified as "NYPWS" to the appropriate same or equal standards and specifications identified as "NYSS."
[Added 7-7-78 by L.L. No. 1-1978]
In accordance with the following procedures and criteria, the Town Board may by resolution approve alternate standards for construction of a particular road, street or highway in a subdivision plat, approval of which is pending before the Planning Board of the Town of Philipstown:
A. 
Application. Application for alternate standards shall be made to the Town Board in writing by the person, firm or corporation proposing to construct the road, street or highway. The application shall be accompanied by construction plans and specifications prepared by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York and showing no less than the information required for construction plans under the Land Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Philipstown,[1] together with a completed environmental assessment form prepared in accordance with Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law.[2] A fee shall accompany the application, in an amount determined by resolution of the Town Board, to defray expenses in the handling thereof, and such fee may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 112, Land Development, Part 1.
[2]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 84, Environmental Quality Review.
B. 
Referral and hearing. Prior to acting on the application, the Town Board may refer the same to a professional engineer or other specialist or technical advisor for review and a report with regard thereto. In such case, the Town Board shall procure an estimated cost of the services involved and require the applicant to provide a deposit with the town to cover said cost.[3] Further proceedings shall be contingent upon the provision of such deposit and the requested report. The application, the completed environmental assessment form and any requested report shall be referred to the Planning Board for its study and advice. After receipt of the advice from the Planning Board, the Town Board shall hold a public hearing, advertised in the official town newspaper at least five days prior to the same, before taking further action on the application.
[3]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 71, Development Fees, Art. I.
C. 
Criteria. Alternate standards may be approved by the Town Board only when the Board determines that the following criteria have been met:
(1) 
The road, street or highway constructed to alternate standards will provide convenient traffic circulation, reasonable safety for vehicular traffic, adequate access for fire protection and other emergency services and a reasonable maintenance responsibility, all substantially in accord with the purpose and intent of this Article.
(2) 
The alternate standards will:
(a) 
Enable construction of a project of unusual design or merit;
(b) 
Avoid substantial damage to the environment;
(c) 
Enable access to a public facility;
(d) 
Achieve an overriding public purpose or benefit; or
(e) 
Be more appropriate to handle a large volume of vehicular traffic or other unusual traffic condition.
D. 
Acceptance. Approval by the Town Board of alternate standards for any road, street or highway shall not constitute the acceptance of the same as a town road, street or highway, nor shall it in any way commit or obligate the town to accept the same as a town road, street or highway.
E. 
Conditions and basic provision. Alternate standards may be approved subject to conditions and safeguards determined necessary by the Town Board. Any alternate standards approved shall contemplate preservation of the basic intent and purpose of this Article.
F. 
Effect. Alternate standards approved as herein provided shall be deemed authorized under this Article for the particular road, street or highway, alone, which is the subject of the application.
Final decision as to the interpretation of any part of this Article shall rest with the Town Board.
A. 
Classification. Each road under this Article is classified as one of the following and shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards for such classification:
(1) 
Residential street.
(2) 
Collector street.
(3) 
Commercial street.
B. 
Designation. Each road is classified as a residential street, unless otherwise specifically classified as a collector street or commercial street by the Town Board or by the Planning Board in connection with the approval of a plat under the Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Philipstown.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 112, Land Development, Part I.
A. 
Summary. The following design and construction specifications are applicable to each road in accordance with its classification under § 150-18:
Right-of-way width (feet)
50
50
60
Pavement width (feet)
20
24
36
Minimum radius of horizontal curvature at center line (feet)
200
500
300
Minimum radius of horizontal curvature at intersections (feet)
Right-of-way
25
25
25
Pavement
35
35
35
Minimum grade (percent)
1
1
1
Maximum grade (percent)
Street
10
10
8
Turnaround
3
3
3
Minimum sight distance at intersection, 4 inches to 4 feet (feet)
300
300
300
Minimum length of vertical curve (A = algebraic sum of grades; K = 25)
L = KA
L = KA
L = KA
Turnaround (feet)
Right-of-way radius
60
60
60
Pavement radius
50
50
50
Minimum length of tangent between reverse curves (feet)
100
100
100
Foundation course thickness gravel or crushed stone (inches)
12
12
12
Base course thickness, penetration or asphaltic concrete (inches)
None
None
4
Pavement and thickness (inches)
Bituminous penetration macadam
2 1/2
None
None
Asphaltic concrete binder course
(Alternate) 1 1/2
2
1 1/2
Asphaltic concrete wearing course
(Alternate) 1
1
1
Gutters, 3 feet in width, on grades of 5% or more, or as needed to direct drainage
Required
None
None
Curbs, on grades of 5% or more
None
Required
Required
Sidewalks, 4 feet in width, as needed in hazardous locations for safety
Required
Required
Required
Monuments
Required
Required
Required
Street name signs
Required
Required
Required
B. 
Typical sections and specifications. The following typical cross-section and specification drawings are a part of this Article and are applicable to the design and construction of each road in accordance with its classification under § 150-18:[1]
(1) 
Typical Cross Section: Residential Street, dated August 22, 1974.
(2) 
Typical Cross Section: Collector Street, dated August 22, 1974.
(3) 
Typical Cross Section: Commercial Street, dated August 22, 1974.
(4) 
Curb Inlet/Catch Basin, dated August 22, 1974.
(5) 
Headwall, dated August 22, 1974.
(6) 
Standards for Intersection of Two New Streets, dated August 22, 1974.
(7) 
Standards for Intersection of New Street with Old Road, dated August 22, 1974.
[1]
Editor's Note: Copies of the drawings are included at the end of this chapter.
A. 
General. The construction of each road, street or highway, and supporting facilities, shall be in conformance with the specifications hereinafter set forth.
B. 
Roads. The road construction shall conform to the following:
(1) 
Subgrade. All stumps, roots, walls and buildings shall be excavated and removed from the location of the travelway, embankments and any drainage facilities and structures. All topsoil, loam, rocks and organic materials shall be removed from such locations to a satisfactory and stable subbase. The subgrade shall be properly shaped in accordance with line and grade, compacted to line and grade with a ten-ton roller or equivalent, and conforming to the following:
(a) 
All fills shall consist of acceptable materials, be constructed in layers of not more than 12 inches each and be properly compacted with a ten-ton roller or equivalent.
(b) 
All hollows and depressions resulting from compaction procedures shall be filled with granular material and compacted.
(c) 
All storm drains, sanitary sewers and other pipes and utilities located under the subgrade shall have been installed prior to completion of the subgrade.
(d) 
The subgrade shall be stable in all respects and, at the time of receiving the foundation course, shall be free of mud and other unsatisfactory materials.
(2) 
Foundation course. The foundation course shall consist of run-of-bank gravel, crusher-run stone or crusher-run gravel having a total depth of not less than 12 inches after compaction and conforming to the following:
(a) 
The foundation course shall be constructed in layers of not more than four inches each and properly compacted with a self-propelled roller weighing not less than 10 tons, with water added to the foundation material in amounts necessary for proper compaction.
(b) 
After compaction, the foundation course shall be true to line, grade and cross section, with all high spots removed and all hollows and depressions eliminated by use of additional foundation material properly rolled.
(3) 
Pavement: residential street. The pavement for a residential street shall consist of bituminous penetration macadam having the following construction:
(a) 
When the foundation course has been allowed sufficient time to settle and has been compacted and completed as specified, a course of crushed stone for the pavement shall be spread by means of an approved mechanical spreader in such quantities that, after compaction with a ten-ton roller, the course has a thickness of not less than 2 1/2 inches.
(b) 
Rolling shall begin at the edges of pavement, proceeding toward the center, and shall continue until there is no movement of the course ahead of the roller.
(c) 
The course of crushed stone, upon compaction, shall conform accurately to line, grade and cross section.
(d) 
The first application of bituminous material, applied by means of a pressure distributor, shall be at the rate of not less than 1.5 gallons per square yard.
(e) 
Applied by means of a suitable spreader immediately after completion of the first application of bituminous material shall be clean one-half-inch to five-eighths-inch crushed dry key- or filler stone, spread over the surface in sufficient quantities to fill completely the voids in the penetration surface. Such application shall be rolled sufficiently to bind the stone into the crushed stone course and thereafter a smooth, even distribution of the keystone shall be achieved by use of hand brooms or a broom drag.
(f) 
The second application of bituminous material, applied by means of a pressure distributor, shall be at the rate of 0.5 gallon per square yard, and thereafter a covering of clean, dry three-eighths-inch to one-half-inch crushed stone shall be spread, rolled and broomed in the same manner as the keystone.
(g) 
An asphaltic concrete binder course and wearing course, in accordance with the specifications of Subsection B(4)(a) and (b) and having a finished thickness of 1 1/2 inch and one inch, respectively, may be substituted for the bituminous penetration macadam.
(4) 
Pavement: collector street. The pavement for a collector street shall consist of asphaltic concrete as follows:
(a) 
When the foundation course has been allowed sufficient time to settle and has been compacted and completed as specified and is cleaned of all foreign material, an asphaltic concrete binder course shall be constructed with a mechanical spreader, tamping bars and heating unit in sufficient depth to provide a finished thickness, after compaction with a ten-ton roller, of not less than two inches.
(b) 
After the binder course has been thoroughly cleaned of foreign material and a tack coat of asphaltic emulsion applied to the surface at the rate of 1/10 to 1/20 gallon per square yard in the event that the binder course has been subject to traffic for an extended period of time, an asphaltic concrete wearing course shall be constructed in the same manner as the binder course to a finished thickness of not less than one inch. The wearing course shall be compacted with a two- or three-tandem roller weighing approximately 10 tons.
(5) 
Pavement: commercial street. The pavement for a commercial street shall consist of a bituminous penetration macadam and asphaltic concrete as follows:
(a) 
The bituminous penetration macadam course shall have a finished thickness of not less than four inches and otherwise shall have a construction as specified in Subsection B(3)(a) through (f).
(b) 
After the penetration macadam course has been thoroughly cured and cleaned of all foreign material, an asphaltic concrete binder course having a finished thickness of not less than 1 1/2 inches shall be constructed as provided in Subsection B(4)(a), and thereafter, a wearing course having a finished thickness of not less than one inch shall be constructed as provided in Subsection B(4)(b).
(c) 
An asphaltic concrete base course having a finished thickness of not less than four inches may be substituted for the penetration macadam base course specified in Subsection B(5)(a).
C. 
Drainage. Drainage systems for roads shall conform to the following:
(1) 
Design. Drainage systems shall be provided to dispose of stormwater so as to drain the pavement, to prevent stormwater from collecting on or crossing travelways and sidewalks, to protect the stability of the road and related structures and to control erosion and sedimentation. Drainage shall be designed under the rational formula whereby Q = CIA, with runoff factors that account for future land development in the watershed. The design basis for pipe drainage systems shall be no less than a ten-year storm, for channels and trunk lines a twenty-five-year storm and for cross culverts a fifty-year storm.
(2) 
Collection system. Provision shall be made so that surface water that is accumulated on the pavement will not travel along the road more than 300 feet without diversion to a suitable discharge or without interception by means of catch basins, curb inlets or gutters. In addition, paved gutters shall be provided along all residential streets having a grade of 5% percent or more, and curbs shall be provided along all collector and commercial streets having such grades.
(3) 
Discharge. The discharge of stormwater collected on or from pavement by means of gutters, curbs, catch basins or other facilities shall be as follows:
(a) 
Into suitable existing natural courses in the same watershed and having the capacity to accommodate the discharge without damage to property and undue erosion:
(b) 
Into existing state, county or town pipe or other channeled drainage systems having adequate capacity to carry the discharge; or
(c) 
Onto private property where proper easements and discharge rights have been secured for the town.
(4) 
Pipe. Drainage pipe systems shall conform to the following:
(a) 
All pipe shall be reinforced concrete or corrugated metal.
(b) 
Pipe shall be laid in a trench of sufficient width to permit tamping of the backfill around the pipe. A cushion of at least six inches shall be laid in line with grade prior to laying the pipe. No rock over three inches' diameter shall protrude from or lay on this cushion. Soil below the cushion shall be stable enough so that there will be no settlement of the pipe after backfilling the trench.
(c) 
Pipe shall be laid true to line and grade on the prepared bed of the trench. All connections for corrugated metal pipe shall consist of twelve-inch-wide corrugated metal bands lapping on equal portions of pipe to be connected.
(d) 
Backfill for the trench shall consist of run-of-bank gravel or other suitable material. The backfill shall be made in layers of not more than 12 inches, which shall be tamped or watered.
(e) 
The top of any pipe shall be not less than 18 inches below the finished grade of a road pavement.
(5) 
Headwalls. Concrete or mortared stone masonry headwalls shall be provided at the outlet of any pipe and at the inlet of any culvert pipe. Culverts shall extend to the toe of any embankment. All headwalls shall have a solid base, and any soft material shall be removed and replaced with run-of-bank gravel.
(6) 
Groundwater. Within the right-of-way, the road shall be provided with a subdrainage system to intercept and carry groundwater, where necessary to protect the stability of the road.
(7) 
Gutters. Paved gutters, where required along residential streets and where otherwise provided, shall be not less than three feet in width, constructed of asphaltic concrete four inches thick and laid on a base of the same material as required for the foundation course. The base for gutters shall be prepared at the same time as the foundation course. Gutters may be adjacent to the edge of the road pavement, but if separated, the space between shall be constructed of the required foundation course materials as an extension of the foundation course. Grades on gutters shall be maintained relative to the pavement so as to assure good runoff of surface water and to avoid erosion. Portland cement concrete curbs may be substituted for gutters.
(8) 
Curbs. Curbs, where required along collector and commercial streets shall be constructed of either portland cement concrete or machine-formed asphaltic concrete as follows:
(a) 
Portland cement curbs shall be constructed prior to laying the street pavement and shall be laid on a base course, at least eight inches thick, of run-of-bank gravel, tamped and free of stone over two inches in thickness. Such curbs shall be properly shaped, finished and cured.
(b) 
Asphaltic concrete curbs shall be laid on the outside edge of the finished pavement prior to completion of the final grade of the shoulder area. The pavement surface where curbs are to be constructed shall be clean and free of foreign material, shall be dry and shall be coated with a suitable bituminous material just prior to laying the curbs.
(9) 
Manholes. Suitable manholes shall be provided at all angular changes in grade or alignment of stormwater pipe and in other locations necessary to provide for cleaning the pipe or reducing flow velocity.
D. 
Sidewalks. Sidewalks, where required, shall be not less than four feet in width, constructed of portland cement concrete or asphaltic concrete on a six-inch run-of-bank gravel base, properly tamped and rolled. Asphaltic concrete sidewalks shall be not less than two inches thick after compaction. Portland cement sidewalks shall be not less than four inches, air entrained, properly screeded and finished true to grade with a wooden float and shall be cured.
E. 
Guide posts. Guide posts and rails shall be provided where necessary to protect motorists, pedestrians and vehicles, including along all cut sections of roads having a drop of four feet or more within 20 feet of the edge of the pavement.
F. 
Street signs: Street name signs shall be installed at all street intersections. The style, design and installation of signs shall be as designated by the Town Board.
G. 
Monuments. Monuments shall be provided at suitable points on both right-of-way lines of the street, at the beginning and termination and at sufficient deflection or tangent points in between so as to enable convenient survey location of the right-of-way and so that there shall be a clear line of sight between adjacent monuments. Monuments shall be made of concrete or granite, not less than 30 inches in length, four inches square at the top and six inches square at the bottom, with a one-half-inch drilled hole on the top. Monuments shall protrude three inches above the ground. If a marker is located in rock ledge, the surface of the rock ledge shall be stripped and a one-half-inch steel rod, one inch long, shall be set and secured into the rock ledge.
A. 
General. Certain construction materials required to be used under this Article shall conform to specifications hereinafter set forth.
B. 
Foundation course. Materials acceptable for this course under § 150-20B(2) shall be hard, durable and sound and shall be well graded from coarse to fine. The maximum diameter of large particles shall not exceed 1/3 of the thickness of the compacted foundation course, and 90% to 100% by weight of the particles shall be of such size as will pass through a two-inch square hole, not more than 70% by weight as will pass the No. 40 mesh sieve and not more than 10% by weight as will pass the No. 200 mesh sieve. Materials shall otherwise conform to NYPWS Item 4.
C. 
Crushed stone. Materials acceptable for bituminous penetration macadam under § 150-20B(3) and B(5)(a) shall consist of clean, durable, sharp-angled fragments of rock or gravel, free from soft or disintegrated stone, dirt or other unsuitable materials, and shall meet the soundness tests for NYPWS Type B.
(1) 
Crushed stone shall meet the following percentages by weight, passing through square screen openings:
Percentage by Weight
Size of Screen
(inches)
90 to 100
1 1/2
55
1
15
1/2
(2) 
Crushed gravel shall meet the same requirements as crushed stone, except that the mixture must have a minimum of 75% fractured particles.
(3) 
Keystone and cover stone shall consist of clean, sound particles of the size specified.
D. 
Gravel. Run-of-bank gravel shall consist of hard stone, well graded from coarse to fine, free of topsoil, sod and other unsuitable materials. The particles shall be of a size that will pass through a four-inch square hole with no more than 10% by weight passing the No. 200 mesh sieve.
E. 
Concrete. Cement concrete for headwalls, sidewalks, curbs and other appurtenances shall be mixed in mechanical mixers with contents of 100% portland cement, clean water free of oil, salt, acids, alkali, vegetable matter and other deleterious matter, and with aggregate that is clean, hard-crushed stone or crushed gravel free from clay, silt, loam or other deleterious matter. Concrete shall develop an average ultimate compression strength, based on a four-inch slump, of not less than 3,500 pounds per square inch at 28 days.
F. 
Pipe. Reinforced concrete pipe shall be of the tongue-and-groove type and shall conform to NYPWS standards. Corrugated metal pipe shall be fully bituminous coated and shall conform to NYPWS standards.
G. 
Asphaltic concrete. Asphaltic concrete shall conform to the following:
(1) 
NYPWS Item 51M shall be applicable to the following:
(a) 
The binder course and wearing course under § 150-20 B(4) and B(5)(b).
(b) 
Paved gutters.
(c) 
Asphaltic concrete curbs.
(2) 
NYPWS Item 45SN shall be applicable to the alternate base course under § 150-20B(5)(c).
H. 
Bituminous material. Bituminous material shall be 85 to 100 or 100 to 120 penetration paving asphalt and shall conform with general specifications of NYPWS Part II, Section 6. For the application of bituminous material, distributors shall be provided with acceptable units for the control of temperature of material, and bituminous material shall be heated to such temperatures as required.