[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Pine 3-19-2001 by Ord. No. 290. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of
the terms used in this chapter shall be as follows:
The person who has applied for a right-of-way permit or a construction
permit.
The form prescribed by the Township which the applicant must complete
in order to obtain a right-of-way permit.
The building, erection or installation in, on or under a right-of-way.
It does not include maintenance or repair of equipment in a right-of-way or
a single line extension from equipment in the right-of-way.
The document that must be obtained before a person may perform construction
in a right-of-way.
An interruption of service or a condition that poses a clear and
immediate danger to life or health, or significant loss of property.
Any tangible property located or proposed to be located in a right-of-way,
including, but not limited to, wires, lines, cables, conduits, pipes, supporting
structures or other facilities.
When used in conjunction with rights-of-way means over, above, in,
within, on or under a right-of-way.
Work of a minor nature that will keep an existing condition from
failure or decline.
The person obtaining a right-of-way permit.
Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company
or other business entity.
The process by which a right-of-way is returned to a state that is
as good as or better than its condition before construction.
The surface and space in, on, above and below any real property in
which the Township has an interest in law or in equity, including, but not
limited to, any public street, boulevard, avenue, road, highway, easement,
freeway, lane, alley, court, sidewalk, parkway, river, tunnel, viaduct, bridge,
park, green space or any other place.
A written authorization granted by the Township to an applicant for
use of the rights-of-Way in the Township for wires, lines, cables, conduits,
pipes, supporting structures and other facilities.
The services offered to customers involving the transmission of video,
data and/or voice communications and/or content, both active and interactive,
and associated usage.
A system used or to be used to provide telecommunications services.
The Township of Pine, a home rule municipality located in the County
of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, with its municipal business office situate at
230 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, Pennsylvania 15090-8511.
All equipment that is located wholly or partially underneath a right-of-way.
A.
No person shall enter upon or occupy any right-of-way
for the purpose of installing, constructing, maintaining or operating a telecommunications
system without first having obtained a right-of-way permit. Any person maintaining
or operating a telecommunications system as of the effective date of this
chapter shall also obtain a right-of-way permit.
B.
Before a right-of-way permit is issued, the holder of
or applicant for a right-of-way permit shall have applied for any and all
regulatory approvals, permits or authorizations from the appropriate federal
and state and local authorities, if required. Upon the request of the Township,
the applicant shall submit written evidence of its applications for or receipt
of all such approvals, permits or authorizations.
C.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as a waiver
of any ordinances or regulations of the Township or of the Township's right
to require prospective or current right-of-way permit holders to secure and
remit payment for any and all required permits or authorizations.
A.
A right-of-way permit shall only be granted after an
applicant has completed an application in the form that has been prescribed
by the Township, which form may be revised from time to time. Upon request,
an applicant shall be provided with a copy of the then current application
for a right-of-way permit. The application shall request information regarding
the applicant's proposed or actual physical use and occupation of the rights-of-way.
Specifically, the application shall request: a brief description of the telecommunications
service or services to be offered or provided in or through the Township;
specific information regarding the equipment it proposes to place or currently
maintains in the rights-of-way; the expected physical burden that such equipment
will place or does place on the rights-of-way; and whether the equipment will
or does have a detrimental effect on public safety as it relates to the rights-of-way.
If the completed application does not fully provide such requested information,
the Township may request such additional information as is necessary to enable
it to make a determination regarding the physical use and occupation of the
rights-of-way by the applicant. The application may request less information
from a permit holder applying for a renewal of a right-of-way permit.
B.
Upon submission of a fully completed application to the Township and the accompanying fee, the Township shall review the application as follows: for new applicants, the Township shall grant or deny such applications within 45 days. For existing permit holders applying for a renewal of their permits, who are not under suspension in accordance with § 66-4 below, the Township shall grant or deny such applications within 10 business days. If the Township fails to grant or reject such application within the time periods specified above, the application shall be deemed approved. In each case, the Township shall review the application to determine whether such use would have a detrimental effect on public safety as it relates to the rights-of-way or would place an undue physical burden on the rights-of-way.
C.
In considering an application, the Township may use such
outside experts as it deems necessary. In the event that the Township deems
it necessary to employ an outside expert to advise the Township with respect
to a particular application, the reasonable costs of such expert shall be
borne by the applicant.
A.
Right-of-way permits shall have an initial duration period
of one year from their date of issuance. Permit holders may apply for a renewal
of a right-of-way permit prior to its expiration. The Township may suspend
such right-of-way permit in the event that any one or more of the following
has occurred:
(1)
The permit holder shall have caused damage to Township
property or the right-of-way without the prior consent of the Township (except
such prior consent shall not be required in the case of an emergency) and
without completing proper restoration.
(2)
The permit holder or the permit holder's equipment in
the right-of-way has had a detrimental effect on public safety as it relates
to the rights-of-way.
(3)
The permit holder failed to pay any of the fees required
under this chapter.
B.
If the Township has reason to believe that one or more
of the above events has occurred, it shall notify the permit holder in writing.
The permit holder shall have 30 days to cure the violation, unless the Township
reasonably determines that the event is an emergency, in which case the Township
may impose a shorter time period to cure the violation.
C.
If the permit holder fails to cure the violation within
the specified time period, the Township shall be permitted to immediately
suspend the right-of-way permit. A suspension shall be brought to the attention
of the Township's Board of Supervisors at its next public meeting, at which
time the Township's Board of Supervisors shall be permitted to uphold or withdraw
the suspension. The permit holder shall be provided an opportunity to be heard
at such meeting.
A.
Except in the case of an emergency, before commencing
any construction in the rights-of-way, a person shall submit to the Township
detailed plans of the proposed construction activity. Such plans shall include
the type of construction activity, the equipment proposed to be installed
or erected, the specific locations of the construction activity and the scheduled
beginning and ending dates of all planned construction. Such plans shall also
include the name(s), address(es) and experience of any and all subcontractors
whom applicant intends to utilize. Such information may be submitted concurrently
with an application for a right-of-way permit.
B.
Upon submission of all such information required in Subsection A above, the Township shall review such information and either grant or deny a construction permit within 45 days. If the Township fails to grant or deny the construction permit within such time period, the permit shall be deemed granted. In each such case, the Township shall review the information provided herein to determine whether such construction would have a detrimental impact on public safety as it relates to the rights-of-way. The Township may impose conditions on the Construction permit regulating the times, locations and manner of construction to preserve effective traffic flow, prevent hazardous road conditions and/or minimize noise impacts.
A.
Each new applicant for a right-of-way permit shall include
with its application an application fee in the amount of $500. This fee is
directly related to the Township's costs in reviewing the application (excluding
expert costs) and managing the rights-of-way with respect to each permit holder.
Such costs in managing the rights-of-way include, but are not limited to,
inspection costs, administrative costs, costs of maintaining the rights-of-way
and costs of degradation of streets and right-of-way property. This fee will
not be refunded in the event that the application is denied. If the application
is granted, the application fee will apply to the full term of the right-of-way
permit of one year. If the applicant applies for a construction permit concurrently
with the application for a right-of-way permit, then the application fee contained
herein shall apply to both the right-of-way permit and the construction permit.
B.
Each existing permit holder applying for a renewal of
its right-of-way permit shall include with its application an annual fee in
the amount of $300. This fee is directly related to the Township's costs in
managing the rights-of-way with respect to each permit holder. Such costs
include, but are not limited to, inspection costs, administrative costs, costs
of maintaining the rights-of-way and costs of degradation of streets and right-of-way
property.
C.
Each applicant for a construction permit shall include
with its application an application fee in the amount of $200. This fee is
directly related to the Township's costs in reviewing the application and
determining time, place and manner restrictions on the construction activity.
If the application for a construction permit is denied, this fee shall not
be refunded. If the application is granted, then the applicant shall pay,
within 30 days of the presentation of a statement, the Township's actual costs
based on the rate established by resolution of the Township's Board of Supervisors.
Such actual costs include, but are not limited to, costs of disruption and
rerouting of traffic, inspection costs and administrative costs.
D.
Extraordinary expenses. In addition to the fees set forth
above, a permit holder shall pay, within 30 days of the presentation of a
statement, any extraordinary or unusual expenses reasonably incurred by the
Township as a result of the permit holder's use of the rights-of-way, provided
that the Township notifies the permit holder of the expected expenses prior
to them being incurred and provides the permit holder with an opportunity
to mitigate such expenses. Examples of extraordinary or unusual costs include,
but are not limited to, the cost of obtaining and operating a backhoe, dump
truck or other heavy equipment used to repair the right-of-way, pay (including
overtime or special pay) for police officers, personnel to direct or route
traffic or other emergency services. The statement of such expenses presented
to the permit holder shall be directly related to the Township's actual costs.
E.
In the event that payment of any of the fees or expenses
identified above is not made upon submission of the application or by the
date due, the applicant or permit holder shall pay a late payment penalty
of simple interest at 10% annual percentage rate of the total amount past
due. Such penalty shall be in lieu of any other monetary penalty. Acceptance
of payment under this section shall not in any way limit or waive the Township's
right to suspend or terminate the permit according to the terms of this chapter.
A.
The Township shall have the right to limit the placement
of new or additional equipment in the right-of-way if it determines, in the
exercise of its reasonable discretion, that there is insufficient space to
reasonably accommodate all requests to occupy and use the rights-of-way. The
Township shall consider requests for occupying and using the rights-of-way
in the order of receipt of fully completed applications for right-of-way permits.
The Township shall strive, to the extent possible, to accommodate all reasonable
requests, but shall be guided by the physical condition of the right-of-way
and whether such use would have a detrimental effect on public safety as it
relates to the right-of-way.
B.
The Township shall have the right to monitor the telecommunications
systems and the equipment related thereto located in the rights-of-way in
order to prevent interference between and among such systems and equipment.
C.
A permit holder shall allow the Township to make inspections
of any part of the permit holder's telecommunications system located in the
rights-of-way at any time upon three days' notice or, in case of an emergency,
upon demand. Costs or expenses incurred by the Township in such inspections
shall be paid by the permit holder to the Township within 30 days of the presentation
of a statement therefor.
A.
Whenever a permit holder or any of its subcontractors
shall disturb any pavement, sidewalk or other public property in order to
perform any underground activities, the permit holder will fully comply by
registering with Pennsylvania's "One Call" system pursuant to 73 P.S. § 176
et seq. Such permit holder shall provide the Township with GPS information
showing planned locations and reference points for all equipment to be installed.
Each permit holder shall perform construction activity in a manner consistent
and in compliance with the detailed plans it submitted to the Township and
all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
B.
Whenever a permit holder or any of its subcontractors
shall cause damage to the right-of-way or to Township property in the right-of-way,
the permit holder shall restore such right-of-way or property within 30 days,
weather permitting.
C.
The telecommunications system shall not endanger or interfere
with the safety of persons or property within the Township. All operating,
maintenance, construction and repair personnel shall be thoroughly trained
in the safe use of all equipment and in the safe operation of vehicles. Such
personnel shall follow all safety procedures required by applicable federal,
state and local laws and regulations. The permit holder shall routinely inspect
and maintain all areas of the telecommunications system so that conditions
that could develop into safety hazards shall be corrected before they become
a hazard.
D.
Except in the case of an emergency, at least three days
prior to the commencement of any construction activity, the permit holder
shall notify nearby residents of such construction activity in a manner which
is satisfactory to the Township. The name of the permit holder shall be clearly
disclosed to such residents.
E.
All construction activity shall be performed in an orderly
and workmanlike manner, and in close coordination with public utilities serving
the Township following accepted industry construction procedures and practices.
F.
All wires, cables and other equipment shall be installed,
where possible, parallel with electric and telephone lines, and multiple cable
configurations shall be arranged in parallel and bundles with due respect
for engineering considerations.
G.
All wires, cables and other equipment shall be installed
underground when so required by the Township. Such requirement for underground
installation shall be consistent with the same requirement being imposed on
all other similarly situated applicants or permit holders.
A.
A permit holder shall, at its sole cost and expense,
indemnify and hold harmless the Township, its elected and appointed officials,
employees and agents, at all times against any and all claims for personal
injury, including death, and property damage arising out of the permit holder's
use or occupancy of the rights-of-way. A permit holder shall defend any actions
or proceedings against the Township in which it is claimed that personal injury,
including death, or property damage was caused by the permit holder's use
or occupancy of the rights-of-way. The obligation to indemnify, hold harmless
and defend shall include, but not be limited to, the obligation to pay judgments,
injuries, liabilities, damages, attorneys' fees, reasonable expert fees, court
costs and all other costs of indemnification. A permit holder shall not be
required to indemnify and hold the Township harmless for claims caused by
the Township's negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
B.
A permit holder shall at all times during the life of
a permit carry and require its subcontractors to carry liability, property
damage, worker's disability and vehicle insurance in such form and amount
as shall be determined by the Township as set forth in the permit. A permit
holder shall name the Township as an additional insured on its liability insurance
policies. All required insurance coverage shall provide for 30 days' advance,
written notice to the Township in the event of material alteration or cancellation
of such coverage prior to the effective date of such material alteration or
cancellation.
A.
A permit holder shall annually provide the Township,
upon application for renewal of the permit, or upon request, the current maps
of the horizontal and vertical locations of its existing installations and
a summary of all additions and deletions of equipment in the rights-of-way,
unless no changes have occurred in the previous year. If no charges have occurred
in the previous year, permit holder shall so inform the Township.
B.
A permit holder shall submit to the Township such reasonable
information directly related to the permit holder's use and occupation of
the rights-of-way as the Township may request. All information provided to
the Township shall be maintained by the Township as proprietary and confidential
if such information is designated in good faith as such prior to the time
it is provided to the Township.
A right-of-way permit may be transferred or assigned, upon 30 days'
written notice to the Township, provided that the transferee/assignee agrees
in writing to comply with all of the obligations and requirements contained
in this chapter.
A permit holder may be required, prior to construction, to obtain a
performance bond in a reasonable amount set by the Township based upon the
construction cost of the equipment to be installed in the rights-of-way and
the extent of the disturbance of such rights-of-way. The performance bond
shall ensure the permit holder's faithful performance of its construction
obligations. The Township may reduce or cancel the bond requirement when construction
is completed.
A.
In addition to all other rights and powers reserved by
the Township, the Township reserves the right to terminate a permit and all
rights and privileges of a permit holder for any of the following reasons:
(1)
A permit holder fails, after 30 days' prior written notice,
to comply with any of the material provisions of the permit or this chapter.
(2)
A permit holder becomes insolvent, unable or unwilling
to pay its debts or is adjudged bankrupt.
(3)
All or part of a permit holder's facilities are sold
under an instrument to secure a debt and are not redeemed by the permit holder
within 90 days from such sale.
(4)
A permit holder attempts to or does practice any fraud
or deceit in its conduct or relations with the Township under the permit.
(5)
The Township condemns all or part of the property of
a permit holder within the Township by the lawful exercise of eminent domain.
(6)
The permit holder abandons the telecommunications system.
B.
No termination shall be effective unless and until the
Township's Board of Supervisors shall have adopted a resolution setting forth
the cause and reason for the termination and the effective date, which resolution
shall not be adopted without 30 days prior notice to permit holder and an
opportunity for the permit holder to be heard before the Township's Board
of Supervisors on the proposed resolution.
A.
Upon expiration or termination of the permit, if the
permit is not renewed, the permit holder shall, upon 60 days' prior written
notice to the permit holder, remove its equipment from the rights-of-way and
shall restore said areas. If such removal is not completed within six months
of such notice, the Township may deem any equipment not removed as abandoned,
and the Township may remove it at the former permit holder's expense. In the
event that the permit holder installed and/or operated any underground conduit
or pipe which is six inches or more in diameter, permit holder shall fill
said conduit or pipe with material in a manner satisfactory to Township.
B.
During the term of the permit, if the permit holder decides
to abandon or no longer use all or part of its telecommunications system,
it shall provide the Township with written notice of its decision at least
30 days prior to such decision, which notice shall describe the equipment
and its location. The Township shall have the right to require the permit
holder to remove the equipment upon 60 days' prior written notice to the permit
holder. If such removal is not completed within six months of such notice,
the Township may deem any equipment not removed as abandoned and may remove
and dispose of it at the permit holder's expense.
If the Township has reason to believe that the permit holder violated
any of the terms of this chapter, it shall notify the permit holder in writing
of the nature of the violation and the section of this chapter which it believes
has been violated. The permit holder shall have 20 business days to cure the
violation. If the nature of the violation is such that it cannot be fully
cured within such time period, the Township may, in its reasonable judgment,
extend the time period to cure. If the violation has not been cured within
the time period allowed, it shall be subsequently punishable by a fine of
up to $100 per day until the violation is cured.
The Township, by granting any permit under this chapter, does not waive, lessen, impair or surrender the lawful police powers vested in the Township under applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to the regulation or use of the rights-of-way. The provisions of this chapter shall not alter, amend, or revise any existing language or provisions of the Code of the Township of Pine (including, but not limited to, the specific provisions of Chapter 84, Zoning, Chapter 48, Excavations and Grading and Chapter 72, Streets and Sidewalks, thereof) unless such is specifically stated herein, and all provisions of this chapter shall otherwise be interpreted to be additional, supplemental regulations of construction within and the use of rights-of-way.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this
chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct
and independent provision, and such holding shall not render this chapter
invalid.
The provisions of this chapter shall be imposed upon and enforced against
all persons requiring a permit from the Township.
