(A) Requirement. A playground permit is required for any proposal to construct a new public playground or any proposal to construct, alter, refurbish and/or replace an existing public playground or any equipment, components, structures or protective surfacing material upon an existing public playground.
(B) Exceptions. A playground permit is not required for:
(1) The maintenance, repair, reconstruction, replacement, removal or demolition of playground equipment, components or structures done in conjunction with the regular maintenance of an existing public playground and in conformance with that playground’s approved inspection and maintenance schedule; or
(2) The maintenance, repair, reconstruction, replacement, replenishment, removal or demolition of surfacing materials done in conjunction with the regular maintenance of an existing public playground and in conformance with that playground’s approved inspection and maintenance schedule.
(C) Contents. An application for a playground permit shall include:
(1) The application form as provided by the township;
(2) The required fee;
(3) A site plan;
(4) A list of the specific equipment, components and/or structures to be installed and their manufacturer(s); and
(5) A certificate in compliance with § 90.06(C).
(D) Fees. The required application fee for a playground permit shall be fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Where work, for which a playground permit is required by this chapter, is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the application fee shall be increased by 25%. Payment of such increased fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this chapter nor from any penalties prescribed by this chapter.
(E) By whom application is made. The responsibility for applying for and obtaining a required playground permit rests jointly with the operator and the person or persons doing the work. The full name and address of the operator, contractor, applicant and/or the responsible officers, if the operator/contractor/applicant is a corporate body, shall be stated in the application.
(F) Site plan.
(1) The application for a playground permit shall be accompanied by one copy of specifications and plans, drawn to scale, with sufficient clarity and detailed dimension to show the nature and character of the work to be performed. When quality of materials is essential for conformity to this chapter, specific information shall be given to establish such quality; and this chapter shall not be cited, or the term “legal” or its equivalent be used as a substitute for specific information. The Township Playground Inspector may waive the requirement for filing plans when the work involved is of a minor nature. If in the course of work, it is found necessary to make any changes from the approved plans and specifications on which a playground permit has been issued, amended plans and specifications shall be submitted and if approved, a supplementary playground permit shall be issued to cover the change after the same conditions required to secure the original permit have been satisfied.
(2) The site plan shall show, to scale, the general layout of the playground drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey, including, but not limited to, the specific type, size and location of all existing equipment, components and/or structures; the specific equipment, components and/or structures to be installed, constructed, refurbished, upgraded and/or replaced; the distances between the equipment, components and/or structures; the height of each piece of equipment, component and/or structure; the height of any play surface on each piece of equipment, component and/or structure; the type and depth of the protective surfacing; the existing and proposed finished grades; and the site distances from lot lines. In the case of removal or demolition, the plan shall show all equipment, components and structures to be removed and/or demolished.
(G) Engineering details. The Township Playground Inspector may require adequate details of structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work to be filed along with the site plan, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data. All engineering plans and computations shall bear the signature of the engineer or architect responsible for the design.
(H) Action on application. The Township Playground Inspector shall examine an application for a playground permit to determine compliance with this chapter and all other applicable rules, regulations, codes and ordinances of the township and shall, within 30 days after filing, either approve or reject said application. If said application is rejected, the Township Playground Inspector shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for such rejection. If the Township Playground Inspector is satisfied that the proposed work conforms to the requirements of this chapter and all other applicable rules, regulations, codes and ordinances, the Township Playground Inspector shall promptly issue a playground permit.
(I) Conditions of permits.
(1) Compliance with Codes. The playground permit shall be a license to proceed with the work and shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel or set aside the application. All work shall conform to the approved application and plans for which the permit has been issued and any approved amendments thereto.
(2) Signature on permit. The Township Playground Inspector’s signature shall be attached to every playground permit; or the Playground Inspector may authorize a subordinate to affix such signature thereto.
(3) Payment of fees. A playground permit to begin work shall not be issued until the permit fee has been paid. Nor shall an amendment to a permit necessitating an additional fee because of additional work involved be issued until the additional fee shall have been paid.
(4) Previous approvals. This chapter or other applicable ordinances shall not require changes in the plans or construction of a public playground for which a lawful permit has been issued or otherwise lawfully authorized and the construction of which has been actively prosecuted within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter and is completed with dispatch.
(5) Approvals in part. The Township Building Inspector may issue a playground permit for the construction of playground protective surfacing or any other part or component of a playground before the entire plans and specifications for the whole playground have been submitted, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with all the pertinent requirements of this chapter or other applicable rules, regulations, codes or ordinances. The holder of such permit(s) shall proceed at the holder’s own risk and without assurance that a playground permit for the entire playground will be granted.
(6) Permit expiration dates.
(a) New construction. One year, provided that an extension may be requested, in writing, and such extension may be granted by the Township Playground Inspector for good reason; such extension not to exceed one year.
(b) Repairs, refurbishment, replacement, reconstruction, alterations and additions. One year.
(c) Removal or demolition. Three months only, and if such removal and/or demolition work is not completed within that time, any bond posted by the applicant shall be forfeited.
(d) Abate violations cited. Same as the deadline stated in violation notice.
(7) Revocation of permits. The Township Playground Inspector may revoke a playground permit or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter in case of any mistake, false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans upon which the permit or approval was based.
(8) Posting of permit. A true copy of the playground permit and placard shall be kept on the site of operations open to public inspection during the entire time of prosecution of the work and until the completion of the same.
(9) Notice of inspection. The permitee shall give the Township Playground Inspector or certified inspection agency at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of inspections required by the playground permit inspection schedule.
(Ord. 143, passed 1-9-2002) Penalty, see § 90.99