The purpose of this Article is to establish the basic design principles for the development of streets, sidewalks, trails, and utilities. Additional standards, such as street cross sections and construction standards, are provided in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual authorized by Division 11-4, Standards Manuals.

A.

Generally. This Article applies to all development which involves the installation of streets, sidewalks, trails, or utilities, except as specifically provided herein.

B.

Policy and Design Objectives for Streets, Sidewalks, and Trails.Division 11-2, Streets, Sidewalks, and Trails, sets out the policy and design objectives for streets, sidewalks, and trails, in accordance with the City's Comprehensive Plan and Parks, Open Space, Trails, and Recreation Plan. Specific engineering and dimensional standards are provided in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual, authorized by Section 12-11-401, Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

C.

Policy and Design Objectives for Utilities.Division 11-3, Utilities, sets out the policy and design objectives for public utilities, in accordance with the City's Comprehensive Plan. Specific engineering standards are provided in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual, authorized by Section 12-11-401, Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

D.

Drainage. Drainage systems are regulated by standards promulgated in design manuals that are authorized and adopted by Division 11-4, Standards Manuals. The design manuals that apply to drainage and stormwater management also set out the public policies that support their standards.

A.

Integration. New streets shall integrate into the existing street pattern so as to:

1.

Address the new development's circulation needs;

2.

Provide a pattern of streets that facilitates navigation within the City; and

3.

Where higher-order functional classifications are involved, facilitate City-wide traffic movements.

B.

Safety. New streets shall provide a safe and convenient layout and design.

C.

Character. New streets shall correspond to and reinforce the community character of the district(s) in which they are constructed.

D.

Natural Resources. Streets shall be located with appropriate regard for topography, creeks, wooded areas, and other natural features that would enhance attractive development, or that are locally or regionally significant for their natural resource value.

E.

Circulation and Through Traffic. Streets within subdivisions shall be designed as a system of circulation routes, so that the use of local streets by through traffic will be discouraged.

F.

Street Plans.

1.

Streets shall generally conform to the Comprehensive Plan and Sub Area Plans and any amendments thereto.

2.

If a tentative plan has been adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission for the neighborhood of the proposed subdivision, the street system of the latter shall conform in general thereto.

3.

Existing streets (including preliminary platted streets in adjoining territory) shall be continued at equal or greater width and in similar alignment by streets proposed in the subdivision, unless the decision-maker finds that such design would be impractical or would create incompatibility.

4.

When a tract is subdivided into larger than normal building lot(s) or parcel(s), such lot(s) or parcel(s) shall be so arranged as to permit the logical location and opening of future streets and appropriate resubdivision, with provision for adequate utility easements and connectors for such resubdivision.

G.

Intersections. Streets shall intersect as required by the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

A.

Generally. For the purposes of this LDC, the streets within the City of Centennial are hereby classified in accordance with the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

B.

Functional Classifications. The following functional classifications are applicable in the City:

1.

Six-Lane Arterial;

2.

Four-Lane Arterial;

3.

Three-Lane Collector;

4.

Two-Lane Collector;

5.

Local Commercial;

6.

Local Residential;

7.

Private Streets.

C.

Designations. The Director of Public Works shall establish standards for the designation of existing and future planned streets in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual. See Division 11-4, Standards Manuals.

D.

Right-of-Way Widths and Cross-Sections. The Director of Public Works shall provide standards for the width of rights-of-way and establishment of cross-sections for streets in each functional classification in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual. See Division 11-4, Standards Manuals.

(Ord. 2024-O-15 §22)

A.

Access.

1.

New streets within development shall provide access to all building sites and parcels in the development.

2.

Street alignments within the residential subdivisions shall utilize curves, islands, intersections, and/or other methods that allow adequate access but discourage speeding.

B.

Offsite Connectivity.

1.

Where existing alignments and existing development patterns make connections practical and useful, streets, sidewalks and trails and other pedestrian connections shall be extended to the boundaries of new development to provide for future public and private connections to abutting properties, and their design shall conform to the Roadway Design and Construction Standards Manual.

2.

Wherever streets have been dedicated or platted on the adjacent properties for extension into or through a proposed development then those streets shall be connected and incorporated into the street layout of the proposed development.

3.

Construction easements shall be dedicated to allow for adjacent development to connect to existing and/or planned connections as required by the Roadway Design and Construction Standards Manual or other applicable City plans.

(Ord. 2021-O-13 §37)

A.

Generally. Alleys may be provided for primary or secondary vehicular access to lots and uses. Alleys established after the effective date may not provide any access to property outside of the parcel proposed for development in which the alleys are located, unless the property served is included in the covenants required by subsection B., below.

B.

Ownership and Control. Alleys shall be owned and maintained by a property owners' association. Covenants, conditions, and restrictions shall be recorded to ensure continuing maintenance, according to the standards of Division 9-4, Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions.

C.

Configuration. Alleys shall be considered private streets and shall be configured according to the private streets requirements of the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual unless otherwise determined by the Director of Public Works.

D.

Dead-Ends Prohibited. No dead-end alley or cul-de-sac alley shall be permitted.

A.

Use and Beautification of Medians. Medians that are part of a dedicated public right-of-way may not be utilized for any purpose other than by the City or a public utility. However, an applicant or other entity may beautify a median with landscaping with the approval of the City Manager (or, in the case of Federal, State, or County streets), the entity that owns or controls the right-of-way, provided that:

1.

It does not interfere with existing or proposed public utilities;

2.

It conforms to the sight triangle and sight distance requirements as required by Section 12-11-208, Sight Triangle and Sight Distance Requirements;

3.

The applicant has submitted documentation with regard to the entity that will have permanent responsibility for maintenance of and liability for such improvements; and

4.

For City rights-of-way, the improvements are subject to a revokable license between the City and the applicant.

B.

Development Access. Streets that provide ingress and egress to a development shall:

1.

Be connected to existing public streets at locations that will not:

a.

Interfere with sight triangles or sight distances required by Section 12-11-208, Sight Triangle and Sight Distance Requirements; or

b.

Interfere with the safe operation of existing intersections.

2.

When connected to Collector or Arterial streets, have the connecting intersections designed so as to minimize interruption of the flow of traffic on those Collector or Arterial streets.

3.

Architectural features that highlight entrances are permitted in the median of an entrance way that meets the specifications of this Section.

(Ord. 2024-O-15 §§23, 24)

A.

Generally. Sidewalks are required along both sides of all streets, except in NC or NI districts where there are no sidewalks on the same side of the same block as the parcel proposed for development. Sidewalks shall be constructed according to the standards set out in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

B.

Location of Sidewalks.

1.

Sidewalks shall be provided in the area between the right-of-way line and the edge of pavement.

2.

Along new streets, the outer boundaries of sidewalks shall be located in the platted street right-of-way. Sidewalks may meander into the parkway to protect the root systems of mature trees.

3.

Walks may also be installed in pedestrian easements.

C.

Completion of Sidewalk Networks. Adequate provisions shall be made to ensure the timely completion of the sidewalk/path network associated with the development. For subdivisions, surety shall not be released until the sidewalk/path network is completed and accepted.

A.

Generally. Bicycle transportation is an important and emerging part of the overall multimodal transportation system. The purpose of this Section is to implement the City of Centennial Parks, Open Space, Recreation, and Trails Plan ("POSTR Plan") with respect to bicycle facilities and trails.

B.

Bicycle Routes. Bicycle routes shall be designated on all site plans and plats, and shall be posted upon completion of the proposed development.

C.

Bicycle Lanes. Bicycle lanes are required along new arterial and collector streets, except in locations where a bicycle path provides comparable or better access and mobility for bicycles. All bicycle lanes shall be designed, posted, marked, and striped according to the requirements of the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

D.

Multi-Use Trails.

1.

Development and redevelopment of a parcel that is located in a corridor that is identified in the POSTR Plan, Exhibit 8.3, Segment-Level Improvements, or as a "potential trail corridor option" on Exhibit 8.1, Primary and Potential Trail Corridors, or Exhibit 8.2, Missing Links in the Trail System, shall provide an easement for the construction of a trail in accordance with the POSTR Plan.

a.

This easement requirement may be waived by the City Council if it determines that the potential trail corridor option identified by the POSTR Plan is not desirable, feasible, or practicable.

b.

If an easement is provided, it shall be counted as open space or landscape surface area, as applicable to the type of development.

2.

All trails, private or public, shall be posted as such, and maintenance responsibilities shall be established at the time of plat approval.

Development within the City shall be subject to the sight triangle and sight distance requirements in the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

(Ord. 2024-O-15 §25)

Owners of property that abuts a public right-of-way shall maintain the landscaping, if any, between the edge of pavement or the inside of the curb and the owner's property line, including providing for continuing compliance with sight triangles and sight distance restrictions in Section 12-11-208, Sight Triangle and Sight Distance Requirements.

(Ord. 2024-O-15 §26)

A.

Generally. The City finds that the public health, safety and welfare is protected and advanced by a safe, reliable, and sustainable water supply and safe and effective treatment of effluent. The City further finds that the operation of an effective and sustainable potable water and sanitary sewer system requires a critical mass of development. As such, all new development that is within a water and/or sanitation district's boundaries where potable water and/or sewer service is provided shall be connected to the potable water and sanitary sewer lines of the district.

B.

Land Outside of a Water and/or Sanitation District. Potable water and sanitary sewer services shall be provided to development that is outside of the boundaries of a water and/or sanitation district as follows:

1.

Property that is located within an Agricultural, NC or NI district that is not within the boundaries of a water and/or sanitation district may utilize on-site systems (water wells and Individual Sewage Disposal Systems) to provide for potable water and wastewater treatment.

2.

Property that is located in a district other than Agricultural, NC or NI that is not within the boundaries of a water and/or sanitation district shall provide water and wastewater service, as follows:

a.

On-site potable water and Individual Sewage Disposal Systems ("ISDS") may be used to serve agricultural and single-family development only. Lots served by such systems shall be:

i.

At least one acre in area for properties that are served by public water and ISDS; and

ii.

At least 2.5 acres in area for properties that are served by on-site water wells and ISDS.

b.

All other non-agricultural development shall be served by a sustainable and reliable private potable water and sanitary sewer system.

C.

Overall Criteria. Alternative water and sewer systems will be considered for new developments that are located in areas that are impractical or economically infeasible to connect to a centralized water distribution and/or wastewater collection system. Nothing herein shall prohibit a property owner of an existing residential property/use from applying to the appropriate permitting agency and utilizing an approved individual (residential) water well and/or septic system, if the residential land use is in compliance with the current zoning district and subdivision regulations and all necessary building and other permits are obtained from the City. Therefore, the following standards are intended to apply to new residential and nonresidential developments. The City shall evaluate alternative water and sewer systems based upon the following criteria:

1.

Ability to Serve. The potential water and sewer provider has or will have the physical capacity to provide the service at the time that certificates of occupancy are issued for the first building in the development, and the potential water and sewer provider will be financially sustainable based on the service area, projected rate base, and capital facilities and operations/maintenance costs.

2.

Cost. The severity of the economic difference between the collective costs of the alternative water and/or sewage disposal systems necessary to serve the entire development and the costs to extend water and/or wastewater lines to the development and, if outside of a current district, the fiscal impact to join an existing water and/or sanitation district.

3.

Compliance. The alternative system(s) must be designed and operated in strict compliance with all applicable local, state and federal agencies permits, ordinances, regulatory guidance and regulations, including, but not limited to, the EPA, SEMSWA, Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority, Arapahoe County Public Health Department, Colorado Health Department, the Office of the State Engineer and the City.

4.

Safety. The design of an alternative water system must provide adequate fire protection for the development in accordance with adopted building and fire codes.

5.

Impact. The total number of lots, size of lots and overall density and intensity of the development.

6.

Compatibility. The impact on surrounding properties and environmentally sensitive areas adjacent to the development and the availability of buffer areas. Environmental protection must be demonstrated on the Individual Sewage Disposal System plan when the site is in a floodplain or floodway.

7.

Access. The impact on surrounding properties' ability to develop with suitable access to water and/or sanitary sewer facilities.

(Ord. 2024-O-05 §30)

All new utility lines, except electrical transmission lines, shall be located underground. If existing above-ground electric utility service lines and/or distribution facilities must be relocated to serve new development or redevelopment (as defined in Table 12-12-402, Sliding Scale Compliance Requirements), they shall be relocated underground in a utility easement, where possible. This requirement may be waived by the Director in order to protect significant natural resources or mature vegetation if the application of the requirement would necessarily result in their significant degradation or destruction. This requirement may also be waived by the Director upon a finding that the undergrounding of the utility line is deemed infeasible by the Director and the utility provider due to infrastructure requirements/constraints and/or disproportional off-site improvements.

(Ord. 2024-O-05 §31)

A.

Generally. Water supply for new development shall be sufficient to provide for the development's potable water demand, irrigation needs, and fire protection needs. Water from water districts shall be supplied using fire-rated lines that are acceptable to the fire protection district, and installed to the specifications of the water service provider.

B.

Capacity. Applicants for approval of new development, or changes to existing development that the Director finds are likely to involve material additional water demand, shall submit certification from the applicable water district that capacity is available to serve the proposed development.

C.

Fire Hydrants. Fire hydrants shall be provided and spaced to the specifications of the applicable fire protection district.

A.

Generally. Sanitary sewer service for new development shall be sufficient to provide for the development's demand for such service. Sanitary sewer lines shall be installed to the specifications of the sanitation district.

B.

Capacity. Applicants for approval of new development, or changes to existing development that the Director finds are likely to involve material additional sanitary sewer demand, shall submit certification from the applicable sanitation district that capacity is available to serve the proposed development.

A.

Generally. As determined by Section 12-12-402, Sliding Scale Compliance Requirements, applicants for all new development and redevelopment of attached and multi-family residential buildings, non-residential buildings, and mixed-use buildings shall install fiber optic conduit capacity such that future broadband service providers would be able to install their fiber optic cables without undertaking Outside Plant Construction.

B.

Capacity. Applicants shall install a minimum of:

1.

One (1) spare four-inch schedule 40 conduit; or,

2.

Two (2) spare two-inch schedule 40 conduits.

C.

Specifications. Fiber optic conduit(s) shall start from a handhole measuring 24-inch by 36-inch by 24-inch (minimum) located within the adjacent right-of-way. Where right-of-way is not adjacent, handholes shall be located within a utility or public use easement. All fiber optic conduit sweeps shall have a radius of at least 24 inches. Fiber optic conduits shall be collocated or be located adjacent to other telecommunications conduit. Fiber optic conduit(s) shall terminate at the primary telecommunications point of interconnection for the subject building. Tracer wire and jet line shall be installed in all new conduits.

(Ord. 2022-O-22 §2)

A.

Development within the City of Centennial is subject to the Centennial Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual adopted by the City in Section 11-8-10 of the Centennial Municipal Code. The Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual establishes standards for:

1.

The functional classifications of streets;

2.

The dimensions of streets and rights-of-way, including intersections, curb radii, and cross-sections by functional classification;

3.

The spacing of intersections and access points and the management of access along arterial and collector streets;

4.

The lighting of streets;

5.

The construction of streets, sidewalks, and curbs;

6.

Sight triangle and sight distance requirements; and

7.

The materials and specifications for the construction of public infrastructure.

B.

Administration. The Director of Public Works is responsible for the application of the Roadway Design & Construction Standards Manual.

(Ord. 2024-O-15 §27)

A.

Generally. Development within the City of Centennial is subject to the SEMSWA Stormwater Management Manual.

B.

Administration. The SEMSWA Stormwater Management Manual is applied by the Director of Public Works and SEMSWA.

C.

Adoption and Amendment. As of the effective date, the approved SEMSWA Stormwater Management Manual is dated January 2017. It may be amended or supplanted from time to time by resolution of the City Council. The Director of Public Works and SEMSWA shall provide a recommendation with respect to proposed amendments or replacement manuals.

A.

Generally. Development within the City of Centennial is subject to the SEMSWA Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control Manual.

B.

Administration. The SEMSWA Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control Manual is applied by SEMSWA.

C.

Adoption and Amendment. As of the effective date, the approved SEMSWA Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control Manual is dated May 2019. It may be amended or supplanted from time to time by resolution of the City Council. The SEMSWA shall provide a recommendation with respect to proposed amendments or replacement manuals.