Sidewalk Repair
Sidewalk Contractors
Listed here contractors who have done sidewalk work within the Borough in previous years. This is a list for residents’ convenience and not an endorsement of any of the contractors and is provided in alphabetical order. Property owners may use any contractor they choose and contractors do not need to be listed here. The only requirement is that sidewalks be repaired or constructed in accordance to Borough specifications.
In the Historic District of the Borough, the HARB is to have a predetermined sidewalk color for replacement work so that applications are not warranted. If the applicant desires to change the color, composition, width or type of construction material to be used in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of such sidewalk, curb or gutter, then the HARB review and certificate of appropriateness process is necessary.
Concrete
Concrete is the most common and economical sidewalk paving material in the Historic District. In an effort to resemble existing ‘beige’ or ‘aged’ concrete sidewalk colors, the following four manufacturer’s colors are subject to compliance with HARB requirements for new sidewalks, driveway aprons, curbs and curb ramps within the Borough of Bellefonte’s Historic District.
- SCOFIELD Spring Beige (5130) scofield.com
- DAVIS Sandstone (5237) www.com
- BUTTERFIELD Sonoran Tan (U10) butterfieldcolor.com
- BOMANITE Buckskin (1E) www.bomanitegrou.pcom
Brick Pavers
A brick sidewalk ‘border’ theme is utilized at locations throughout the Borough as an effective means of utility access to streetlights. Brick is a significant historical material approved by HARB that adds texture and color to the streetscape. An enhanced brick border in the improvement area is located between the curb and concrete sidewalk (Figure 6) and is porous or dry-laid new for continuity. The brick pavers also allow for water and air to reach the street tree roots located throughout the improvement area.
Specifications for sidewalk repairs are stated in Chapter 495 of the Bellefonte Borough Codes
495-1 Abrogation and greater restrictions.
This article supersedes any other conflicting provisions which may be in effect. However, any other ordinance provisions shall remain in full force and effect to the extent that those provisions are more restrictive. If there is any conflict between any of the provisions of this article, the more restrictive shall apply.
495-2 Sidewalk inspections and repair program.
A. The Borough requires all property owners having sidewalks adjacent to their property to maintain those sidewalks, including the repair and replacement when they do not meet the standards as specified herein.
B. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DEFECTIVE SIDEWALK
Any public sidewalk exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics:
(1) Walk has sunken or risen to a height difference of one inch or more between sections.
(2) Walk is broken or separated into three or more pieces.
(3) Spalling over 50% or a single square of the sidewalk with one or more depressions equal to one inch or more.
(4) A sidewalk with any part thereof missing to the full depth.
SIDEWALK
The portion of a street located outside the roadway and may include paved/concrete footways, curbs and gutters.
C. The Borough will conduct inspections of sidewalks, with roughly 1/4 of the Borough being inspected prior to June of each year. A list of defective sidewalks will be presented to the Streets Committee for recommendation to Council for notification to property owners. The property owner will have 120 days from the date of notification. A single appeal for extension can be made to the Borough’s Building Code Official. If granted, the extension cannot exceed an additional 120 days.
495-3 Sidewalk repairs.
A. In order to guarantee competitive pricing, uniformity in quality and composition, the Borough will publicly bid sidewalk repair work in the spring of each year so that a list of qualified contractors can be available to the property owner.
B. If no action is taken by the property owner within the time period specified, then the Borough will take steps to have a contractor complete the work and bill the property owner for the work and any additional costs incurred.
C. In the Historic District of the Borough, the HARB is to have a predetermined sidewalk color for replacement work so that applications are not warranted. If the applicant desires to change the color, composition, width or type of construction material to be used in the construction, reconstruction, alteration or repair of such sidewalk, curb or gutter, then the HARB review and certificate of appropriateness process is necessary.
495-4 Permit application.
The application required by § 495-3 shall be freely available to the public upon request.
495-5 Construction materials and specifications.
All sidewalks curbs and gutters shall be constructed, reconstructed and repaired of portland cement concrete only, according to the specifications determined from time to time by the Borough.
495-6 Support over coal cellars and other excavations.
In all cases where sidewalks, curbs and gutters are constructed, reconstructed or repaired over coal cellars or other excavations under such sidewalks, curbs or gutters, such sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall be supported by iron or steel beams or reinforced portland cement concrete only. In no case shall any support of wood or perishable material be used.
495-7 Grades; responsibility of property owner.
All sidewalks shall be constructed, reconstructed and repaired to meet the grade of the neighboring property owner’s sidewalk. The grading thereof is the responsibility of the property owner.
495-8 Property owner doing own repairs.
The property owner is permitted to undertake sidewalk repair/replacement work as long as the work meets the minimum standards for quality, color and appearance as set forth herein. The property owner must complete an application for repair through the Borough office so that the work can be inspected when complete. If work does not meet the standards set forth herein, the property owner will be responsible for the cost of having the work redone and any additional expenses incurred by the Borough.
495-9 Responsibility of property owner to construct or reconstruct sidewalk, curb or gutter.
A. Each street in the Borough wherein 60% or more of the block-face or street has sidewalks constructed thereon shall have sidewalks constructed to the remainder of the street to bring the sidewalk coverage up to 100% or as close to 100% as is reasonably possible. Measurements shall be made along a single side of the block-face of the street by measuring the total front footage of a single side of the street upon which sidewalks are constructed. “Block,” as used in this subsection, means the total front footage of the street measured between any two intersections of such street with two other ordained streets of the Borough, whether such intersections are “T” intersections or whether such street intersects the street to be measured at an angle other than 90°.
B. For the purpose of this article, sidewalks may exist on one side of a street for part of a block and then continue on the other side of a street. In such cases where a sidewalk is divided in part on both sides of a street, a sidewalk should end at the curb to lead pedestrians in the direction where the sidewalk is then continued on the other side of the street.
495-10 Noncompliance; remedy of Borough.
In the event of noncompliance by the property owner, the Borough may proceed with having the required work completed. The Borough may file a municipal claim or lien if all costs and expenses incurred are not paid by the property owner.
495-11 Specifications.
A. There shall be a minimum of four inches of well-compacted PennDOT grade 2RC or 2A stone base for the sidewalk.
B. New and reconstructed sidewalks, curbs and gutters, whether laid by the adjoining landowner or by the Borough, shall be a single layer with a minimum thickness of four inches and constructed of air-entrained portland cement which meets the current Penn DOT standard. Current standards can be found at the Department of Transportation’s Publication 408/2020 SPECIFICATIONS: specifically, Section 676, Cement Concrete Sidewalks, and Section 704.1(b)(9):
“For accelerated structural cement concrete, submit mix design, as specified in Section 704.1(c), having a
minimum target value compressive strength of 3,500 pounds per square inch at 24 hours and 3,000 pounds
per square inch to open to traffic when tested according to PTM No. 604.” Anyone wishing to get a copy of these sections may contact the Borough. Cement concrete sidewalks existing of brick or slate are an exception to this section.
C. Sidewalks existing of brick or slate are permitted to be releveled or realigned as an acceptable repair.
495-12 Violations and penalties.
A person in violation of this article shall be subject to the penalty provided for in Chapter 1, Article III, General Penalty.