City of Coatesville, PA Article II Sidewalk and Curb Construction

[Amended 3-8-1993 by Ord. No. 920-93]

§ 193-11 Construction and repair required.

The City of Coatesville may require owners of property abutting on any street, including state highways, to construct, pave, repave and repair the sidewalk, curb and gutter along such property, at such grades and under such regulations as may be prescribed by the City Engineer, the Codes Department or the City Council (which may adopt the same by resolution).

§ 193-12 Construct requirements for sidewalks.

From and after the enactment of this article, all sidewalks hereafter constructed in the City of Coatesville shall be constructed according to the following specifications:

A. The sidewalks shall be composed of a concrete base of not less than four inches of concrete, using a one-to-two-to-three mix.

B. The concrete shall be placed on a six-inch thoroughly compacted base of earth or slag.

§ 193-13 Construction requirements for curbing.

From and after the enactment of this article, all curbing hereafter shall be constructed as follows:

A. The concrete curb shall be five inches wide at the top and seven inches wide at the bottom, and the street side battered to make the seven inches. The distance from the top of the curb shall not be less than 18 inches to the bottom, measured vertically, or so modified to meet field conditions as approved by the City Engineer or Codes Department. Extra depth may be required. The concrete mix shall be the same as for sidewalk construction.

B. Expansion-joint material of a mastic composition will be required on long-running pours of concrete sidewalks and curbs.

C. All sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be constructed, paved, repaved or repaired upon the line and grade obtained by the property owner from the City Engineer or Codes Department office.

§ 193-14 Plans submitted for approval.

A plan of the proposed construction of sidewalks and curbs, showing width, length and thickness, shall be submitted to the City Engineer or Codes Department office for approval. The fees for permits shall be at the same rate as the fee charged for building construction. When applying for a building permit, a permit for sidewalk or curbing shall be applied for.

§ 193-15 Failure to comply.

A. Any sidewalk or curb laid by any person, firm or corporation contrary to the provisions of this article shall be removed and the proper sidewalk or curb substituted therefor by the property owner within 10 days after receipt of notice from the City Engineer or Codes Department office, setting forth that the sidewalk or curbing does not comply with these specifications; and if said sidewalk or curb is not constructed within said 10 days, then and in such case said sidewalk and curb shall be constructed by the City; and the cost thereof plus 10% of such costs and all charges and expenses shall be billed to the defaulting property owner; and if not paid within 10 days thereafter, the City shall cause a lien to be entered against said premises and thereafter collected according to law, which lien shall accrue from the time of the completion of the work, which date shall be fixed by the City Engineer or Codes Department office, filed as required by law, and may be collected by action in assumpsit, or such lien may be filed and proceeded in as provided by law in the case of municipal liens.

B. The notice required herein shall be served upon the owner if that can be done within the county. When it cannot be done so, then the notice may be served upon the owner's agent or the party in possession; and if this cannot be done, then the notice may be served by posting conspicuously upon the premises.

§ 193-16 Standards for paving, repaving, repair and maintenance.

A. It shall be the duty of owners of property abutting on any street, including state highways, to maintain sidewalks, curbs and gutters free from defective conditions and in accordance with standards promulgated by City Council and administered by the City Codes Department office. Further, it shall be the duty of owners of such sidewalks, curbs and gutters to construct, pave, repave and repair any defective condition in a sidewalk, curb or gutter after receiving a notice from the Codes Department office of the defective condition within 30 days after the service of such notice upon them. The service of notice shall be the same as the notice provision of § 193-15 of this chapter.

B. The standards for sidewalk, curb and gutter condition, reconstruction, maintenance, paving, repaving and repair shall be the same as for sidewalk construction as established by the City Council by resolution. These standards shall be administered by the City Codes Department office and copies of the standards shall be available at the Codes Department office.

C. At any time during the performance of the required work, the City Engineer or the City codes officials may inspect the work to determine whether construction specifications and standards are being observed.

§ 193-17 Performance of work by City; costs.

A. Upon the failure of any property owner to construct, reconstruct, pave, repave or maintain any sidewalk, curb or gutter in compliance with notice to do so within 30 days of said notice, the City may do the work required or cause the same to be done and the cost thereof levied and collected from such owner, together with a penalty of 10% of such costs and all charges and expenses, which amount shall be a lien upon such premises from the time of the completion of the work, which date shall be fixed by a certificate from the City Engineer filed with the Secretary, and may be collected by action in assumpsit, or such lien may be filed and proceeded in as provided by law in the case of municipal liens.

B. Emergency repairs. Where, in the opinion of the City Codes Department office, a dangerous condition exists that can be repaired by expenditure of $50, the City shall send such property owner notice by registered or certified mail stating emergency repairs are required. Upon failure of such owner to comply with the notice within 48 hours after receiving it, the City may make emergency repairs and levy the cost of its work on such owner as a property lien to be collected in the manner provided by law.

C. Construction and repair done on owner's initiative without notice. Any property owner not required by notice to construct, pave, repave or keep in repair sidewalks, curbs or gutters may construct, pave, repave or repair the sidewalk, curb and gutter abutting his/her property, provided that such owner shall make application to the City Codes Department office before commencing work, shall conform to the provisions of this article and other regulations as to specifications for construction and repair work and shall notify the City Codes Department office within two days after completion of his/her work.

§ 193-18 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 5-28-1996 by Ord. No. 1012-96]

Any person who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original Art. V, entitled "Obstruction of Streets," which immediately followed this section, was repealed 3-25-1996 by Ord. No. 1012-96.