Ordinance #: ________

Conemaugh Township, Cambria County

An ordinance prescribing standards for driveways entering Township right of ways, permitting the road foreman to make repairs to existing driveway culverts, permitting the placing of liens on property owners for the cost of culvert pipe, and prescribing a penalty for violation.

Whereas, Conemaugh Township maintains many public roads for the convenience of its residents, and,

Whereas, establishing and maintaining drainage of those township roads is essential to maintaining the integrity of those roads and minimizing maintenance and reconstruction costs, and,

Whereas, driveway entrances to township roads with inadequate, plugged or non existent culverts obstruct the effective drainage of Township roads.

Now Therefore be it ordained and enacted this ___ day of December, 1994 that;

1) All new driveway entrances, and any new use of property shall require a driveway permit before the installation of a driveway unto a Township road.

2) Driveway entrances onto Township roads which have not been used for a period of twelve months, or not used for the purpose to which a use is proposed shall require a new driveway permit.

3) The Township Building permit officer shall issue a driveway permit to an owner or occupier of property for a driveway entrance onto a township road where the applicant pays the fee prescribed by resolution of the Township Supervisors and demonstrates compliance with the following minimum standards;

a) there shall be visibility of at least 100 feet in both directions along the township road from the position on the driveway adjacent to the township right of way.

b) The driveway shall include a corrugated plastic culvert pipe, meeting Penn DOT specifications, parallel to the township right of way at the point on township right of way closest to the property line and extending 5 feet from either edge of the driveway.

4) All driveways shall be installed and maintained to permit drainage along the side of the township roads. All owners of property upon which their is a pre-existing driveway shall within 90 days of the passage of this ordinance cause to be installed a corrugated plastic culvert pipe, meeting Penn DOT specifications, parallel to the township right of way at the point on township right of way closest to the property line and extending 5 feet from either edge of the driveway.

5) In the event that any driveway fails to meet the standards set forth in paragraph 4 above, the township official in charge of the road crew may install a corrugated 15 inch plastic pipe on the township right of way at the driveway entrance. Following installation, the Township secretary shall bill the property owner for the cost of the pipe only. In the event that the property owner fails to pay within thirty days, the township solicitor is authorized to file a municipal lien for the same, and to prosecute for payment under any of the methods of collection available to the township.

6) Violation of this ordinance may be prosecuted by the police or code enforcement officer. Upon conviction before a magistrate, the guilty party may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500.00 and in the event of non payment, sentenced to jail as provided by law.

7) This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty first day following adoption.

Adopted this __ day of December, 1994, at a regular meeting of the Conemaugh Township supervisors, following advertisement of the intention to adopt and at which meeting a quorum of the supervisors were present.

______________________________________(seal)

John Peshock, Conemaugh Township Secretary