Harrison Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVI
Emergency Access Routes
§ 225-126 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to establish emergency access routes other than the dedicated street or streets in certain major subdivisions, to provide for health, safety and welfare in the event of an emergency where streets or other dedicated access routes may be blocked by accident, construction or other emergency. The emergency access provided for herein shall not be used as an alternate to providing two entrances.
§ 225-127 Developments which must comply.
A.
Ten units or fewer: All units shall have access by dedicated street to an improved existing public street.
B.
More than 10 residential units: An emergency access shall be provided where there are more than 10 residential units which are intended to be developed in a major subdivision, which emergency access shall provide an alternate route to an improved public street.
§ 225-128 Design criteria.
The design criteria for the emergency access route shall be as follows:
A.
The width shall be not less than 15 feet.
B.
Access to an emergency route shall be clearly defined, and readily accessible from a dedicated improved roadway in the Township of Harrison.
C.
The entranceway onto an emergency route shall have a depressed curb to permit emergency vehicles to enter upon the lands of the emergency route.
D.
The lands sought to be used for emergency access shall be capable of supporting a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds (40 tons), through the access route. In order to insure that the access route shall be able to sustain such weights, the following information shall be provided by the developer of lands:
E.
Any exit within the subdivision from the emergency access route shall have a depressed curb.
F.
Specific easements prohibiting construction of any kind, trees, shrubs, or other improvements shall be provided. Nothing shall be permitted on the access or easement area for the emergency route, which would in any way would prevent or impede access for an emergency vehicle.
G.
The easement area, known as the emergency access route, shall be recorded in the County Clerk's office in the County of Gloucester, and said easement shall provide the means by which the area shall be maintained, mowed, cleaned, and kept free of debris and growth, so that the area shall be at all times available for an emergency vehicle.
H.
The emergency route shall be designed with the intent to handle a fire truck, fire tanker truck or other emergency equipment. Curves may be required due to topical conditions, or other requirements which cannot be avoided; the width may be enlarged so as to accommodate a fire tanker truck.
I.
Any exit from the emergency access easement shall be in a safe area sufficient to receive the emergency vehicles intended to pass over said emergency access.
J.
Parking shall be prohibited within 20 feet of the entry or exit of an emergency access route, and shall be marked.
K.
The emergency access route shall not be permitted to be used by nonauthorized vehicles. Passage by any nonauthorized vehicle shall be treated as a trespass upon lands under N.J.S.A. 39:4-94.2.
L.
Any applicant seeking to develop more than 10 residential units in a major subdivision, which may require an emergency access, shall provide for the standards of maintenance in the application, and in the easements which shall be submitted to the Harrison Township Planning Board for review.
M.
Any applicant seeking to develop more than 10 residential units in a major subdivision shall provide the standards for the surface area in accordance with the test bores, and all relevant data necessary to prepare a grass-topped surface capable of supporting 80,000 pounds.
N.
Where any emergency access shall pass over sidewalks or depressed curbs, such sidewalks and curbs shall be reinforced to support the weight of the vehicles, and of sufficient thickness to support said weight, and shall be part of the standards required to be submitted by the applicant.
O.
No septic systems, or other subsurface drainage or uses shall be permitted in the easement area, or placed in such a way as to interfere with the emergency easement area.
P.
No water runoffs or drainage on the surface shall be permitted in any way that would interfere with emergency access right-of-way.
Q.
The emergency access easement area shall be dedicated for the limited public use as provided herein for emergency vehicles only. Jurisdiction is hereby granted to the Township of Harrison to enforce all the requirements under the police powers granted to the municipality, and any unauthorized use under the statute referred to herein.
R.
The emergency access route provided for herein shall not be treated or used as an alternate ingress or exit, but shall be used only for emergency vehicles.
§ 225-129 Identification of route.
A.
The emergency access route shall be identified by a chain device or a knock-down fence, or other device.
B.
The radius of curvature and the entry radii into the easement area must be greater than the turning radius of any emergency vehicle which may be required to utilize the route.
C.
The emergency access easement shall be deed restricted to prevent the construction of fences, buildings and trees which would otherwise impede access through the emergency access easement area.
D.
Any major subdivision application for more than 10 units shall clearly indicate the location of any emergency access easement, with all engineering data on the application, and prior to final approval, shall submit all easement and/or deed restrictions for such emergency access easement.
E.
The emergency access route shall be installed prior to the issuance of the first certificate of occupancy in a major subdivision of more than 10 units.
§ 225-130 Deed restrictions.
Deed restrictions shall be prepared and filed with the Harrison Township Planning Board for approval by its Solicitor to provide clear notice to purchasers and users of property which may be effected by the emergency access route. The deed restriction shall be recorded in the Clerk's office of Gloucester County, and copies of such approved documents shall be submitted to the Harrison Township Planning Board prior to the issuance of the first certificate of occupancy. The deed restriction shall include, but not be necessarily limited to the following:
A.
Notice to any owner of the existence of an emergency access route.
B.
Prohibition as to the construction of any obstruction within the access route.
C.
The prohibition as to any growth which would inhibit or prohibit passage of emergency vehicles through said route.
D.
A specific requirement that the emergency route will at all times be kept open and available for emergency use. "Emergency use" shall be defined as police, ambulance, fire, emergency management equipment and such other emergency vehicles that may be required.
§ 225-131 Notice to agencies.
It shall be the responsibility of the developer to provide copies of the emergency access plan properly identified pursuant to this article to the following: