(a) Maintenance of Concrete Sidewalks. No owner of a lot or parcel of land situated within the corporation limits of the Village will fail to maintain the existing sidewalk along a street adjacent to the owner’s lot or parcel allowing any of the following defined hazards.
(b) Hazardous Sidewalks to be Replaced.
(1) Stub toes. The vertical misalignment along any part of the seam between two slabs, or between section within a slot fractured by cracks, one inch in elevation or greater.
(2) Traverse (lateral) slope. Any individual slabs or portion of a slab that slopes either toward the paved portion of the street or the adjoining property at a ratio of more than one inch per horizontal foot.
(3) Longitudinal slope. Other than handicapped ramps each individual slab or fragmented sections of a slab that deviates from average line of the sidewalk surface level at a ratio of more than one inch per lineal foot.
(4) Gaps. A space between slabs and the depth of the gap between slabs in excess of one inch in width; those caused by the absence of a fragmented section of the sidewalk exceeding one inch in width.
(5) Surface quality.
A. Cracked slabs. Slab fragmented by cracks into four or more sections, where any one of the gaps between fragments is greater than one inch in width or depth.
B. Pitted slabs. Slabs whose surface is granular and contains hazardous depressions of surface break up in excess of one inch in depth. Depth is to be determined by a four foot straight edge laid on the surface of the sidewalk.
(6) Surface irregularity. Any surface irregularity in the sidewalk that allows impounding of water for more than one square foot in area.
(c) Standards.
(1) All sidewalks constructed or rebuilt in the Village will be constructed or rebuilt of concrete having a minimum thickness of four inches except where crossed by driveways where minimum thickness will be six inches. Approved brick surfaces may be permitted with concrete base, retaining curbs on both sides and drainage provisions so as to prevent flooding, freezing and heaving.
(2) Existing stone or concrete sidewalks meeting with requirements may be roe or relayed if in good condition and free of surface defects.
(3) All sidewalks will be a minimum of four feet wide.
(4) Sidewalks will be installed along the frontage and side lots along streets on all lots in the Village where adequate sidewalks do not now exist when building or erected thereon.
(d) Prohibition Against Removal of Existing Sidewalks. No person may remove existing sidewalks without replacing the sidewalks with new sidewalks unless Council and Mayor approves removal of the sidewalk.
(e) Contraction Joints. Walks and driveway’s contraction joints in walks at intervals equal to the width of the sidewalk, and in driveways at approximately ten foot intervals to be provided by cutting approximately halfway through the slab.
(f) Expansion Joints. Expansion joint material of one half an inch minimum will be placed at property lines around obstruction such as trees and poles. They also will be wherever the walk meets a driveway approach or a curb and at intervals not to exceed fifty feet.
(g) Grades and Locations. They are to be provided by the Village, and when determined necessary by the Village Engineer.
(h) Grade Drainage. The grade must drain properly unyielding to standing water.
(i) Subgrade. Soil will be firm and unyielding with no standing water. No concrete will be placed on a frozen subgrade and adequate precautions will be taken to protect the concrete from freezing.
(j) Surface. The surface of the concrete walk and driveway approach will be struck to a true surface and given a light broom finish just prior to the final setting of the concrete. The edges of the walk and driveway approach and all joints will be finished with a one half inch edging tool.
(k) Barricades. Adequate lights, signs and barricades will be maintained to protect the work and the public.
(l) Trees. Where tree roots have caused damage to the existing sidewalks it is the obligation of the property owner to contact the Street Superintendent to determine whether or not the roots can be cut sufficiently without causing damage to the tree.
(m) Variance.
(1) Request for sidewalk variance. If an owner of a lot or parcel of land in the Village is repairing or replacing an existing sidewalk or is installing a new sidewalk the owner may petition to the Village Council and Mayor.
(2) Conditions for granting a variance.
A. Special conditions and circumstances must exist which are peculiar to the proposed replacing or installation of sidewalks.
B. The special conditions and circumstances are not created solely by the applicant.
(3) Approval. Variances are to be approved by the Street Committee with the Village Council and Mayor’s decision final.