1. Location.
A. Access drives shall not be located at interchanges, ramp areas or locations that would interfere with the placement and proper functioning of highway signs, signals, detectors, lighting or other devices that affect traffic control.
B. The Township may require a permittee to locate an access drive directly across from a highway, local road or access drive on the opposite side of the roadway if it is judged that offset access drives will not permit left turns to be made safely or that access across the roadway for one access to the other will create a safety hazard.
C. Access drives shall not connect with a street within 100 feet of the right-of-way lines of any intersecting streets, nor within ten feet of a fire hydrant.
D. The general layout shall be such that there will be no need for motorists to back into public rights-of-way of collector or arterial streets.
E. Access drives serving corner or through lots shall be located on the street having the lower classification.
2. Sight Distance.
A. Sight distance requirements for access drives shall be in accordance with PennDOT regulations, 67 Pa.Code, Chapter 441, “Access to and Occupancy of Highways by Driveways and Local Roads.”
B. If sight distance requirements as specified in this Section cannot be met, the Township may:
(1) Prohibit left turns by exiting vehicles.
(2) Restrict turning movements to right turns in and out of an access drive.
(3) Require installation of a right turn acceleration lane or deceleration lane.
(4) Require installation of a separate left turn standby lane.
(5) Alter the horizontal or vertical geometry of the roadway.
(6) Deny access to the highway.
3. Clear Sight Triangle.
A. A clear sight triangle of 75 feet as measured along the street centerline and 15 feet along the access drive centerline commencing at the edge of street cartway line must be maintained for all access drives.
B. Obstructions or planting shall not be greater than 3 feet in height nor extend lower than 14 feet in the clear sight triangle area. Where not located within a public right-of-way, an easement shall be provided to ensure the clear sight triangle area remains clear of obstructions.
4. PennDOT Permit. Any access drive intersecting with a State-owned road shall require the obtainment of a highway occupancy permit from PennDOT.
5. Slope, Cut. An access drive shall not exceed a slope of 8% within 25 feet of the street right-of-way line. Where an access drive enters a bank through a cut, unless a retaining wall is used, the shoulders of the cut may not exceed 8% in slope within 25 feet of the point at which the access drive intersects the street right-of-way. The height of the bank may not exceed 3 feet within 10 feet of the street right-of-way line as measured from the centerline of the street.
6. Curbing.
A. Curbing shall be installed, in accordance with the Dover Township Construction Specifications, in the urban areas.
B. Where the property abutting the right-of-way line could be used as a parking area, curbing, permanent guiderail or fencing may be required along the right-of-way line in order to prohibit vehicle encroachment upon the sidewalk or shoulder area.
C. When curb exists adjacent to the proposed access drive, the line and grade of the existing curb shall be matched.
7. Paving Width. Access drives for nonresidential and multi-family residential uses shall be paved and shall not be less than 18 feet in width nor exceed 35 feet in width within 12 feet of the street right-of-way line.
8. Approaches to Access Drives. Access drive approaches shall conform to the following standards:
A. The location and angle of an access drive approach in relation to the highway intersection shall be such that a vehicle entering or leaving the access drive may do so in an orderly and safe manner and with a minimum interference with highway traffic.
B. Where the access drive approach and highway meet, flaring of the approach may be necessary to allow safe, easy turning of vehicular traffic.
C. Where the highway is curbed, access drive approaches shall be installed 1½ inches above the adjacent highway or gutter grade to maintain proper drainage.
9. Design. All access drives shall be located, designed, constructed and maintained in such a manner as not to interfere or be inconsistent with the design, maintenance and drainage of the highway.
10. Number. Only one point of access and one point of egress may be allowed each property except where large frontages, 1000 feet or larger, are present. In those latter cases, access drives shall not enter the same side of a road unless separated by a minimum distance of 800 feet.
11. Distance from Side Lot Lines. All access drives shall be setback at least ten feet from any side lot lines.
(Ord. 2011-05, 3/14/2011, §709; as amended by Ord. 2017-04, 5/22/2017, §3)