The purpose of this article is to set forth the construction standards that are applied to all subdivisions, noting differences in standards that apply to major and minor subdivisions.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.010)

(a)

No subdivisions shall be granted final approval unless the following improvements either have been constructed or approved as prescribed by article XXI of this chapter.

(b)

Within the corporate limits of any municipality whose governing body agrees by resolution to these regulations, graded street right-of-way, paved roadways at the designated width, and the installation of facilities for water supply, sewage collection and surface drainage shall all be in conformance with standards specified by the various town governing bodies.

(c)

Within the county but outside the limits of the jurisdiction of any municipality, street right-of-way shall be graded and paved to sufficient width, properly drained and prepared with a proper surface and base so as to be acceptable for maintenance by the state department of transportation or constructed and installed to the standards for private road designation as set forth in this article 11. The county may elect to appoint an engineer or engineering firm qualified in road design and construction to certify that all streets and roads, whether they are designated public or private, have been constructed to the standards specified in this chapter. All fees for such inspection and certification shall be assessed to the developer.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.020)

(a)

All major subdivisions shall have roads built to state specifications as spelled out in section 32-672 or 32-673. Any further subdivision of land creating additional lots as per subsection (a)(1) or (2), (b) or (c) of this section on an existing private road, easement or similar access shall be required to upgrade that road to public road standards.

(1)

Additional lots in an existing subdivision that brings the total number of lots in the subdivision served by the road to eight or more lots;

(2)

Any further subdivision being extended from an existing subdivision that brings the total number of lots in the subdivision served by the road to eight or more lots;

(3)

Any subdivision building a new road that takes access from an existing private lot that brings the total number of lots using the existing private road to eight or more lots.

(b)

Lots that do not have frontage on a state-maintained public road created under the following shall be counted in totaling the number of lots:

(1)

Ten-acre or more tracts.

(2)

Estate or court-ordered division.

(3)

Lease exceptions which may be platted and recorded provided all information is shown on the plat as is required by local and state law and it is noted on the plat that the leased property is not approved as a subdivision of land or for transfer of ownership.

(c)

Where the additional subdivision in subsections (a) and (b) does not bring the total number of lots to more than seven or the length will not exceed 0.10 mile or 528 feet, the road may be improved to private road standards.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.110)

Design standards for streets shall comply with the minimum construction and paving standards for secondary roads as required by NCDOT. All public roads shall be named. Proposed road names shall be submitted to the planning department for approval, and a fee will be charged for each sign to be ordered and installed by the county. Prior to the approval and recordation of a record plat, a property owners' association shall be established to be responsible for the maintenance of any road that is to be dedicated to the public until such time the public road is accepted for state maintenance by the state department of transportation. The property owners' association's responsibility for maintenance of any such road shall be secondary to that of the subdivider and shall be exercised when the subdivider fails to meet its obligations under this article and any maintenance agreement required by this article.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.111; Ord. of 4-3-2000, § 4; Amend. of 05-04-2015(1), § 1)

Any subdivision that creates a new private road or any subdivision along an existing private road serving or adjoining seven or less lots shall meet the following standards:

(1)

All new private roads shall be so designated on the plat and intersect with a department of transportation state-maintained public road, except as provided in section 32-671(c).

(2)

Gravel roads shall be constructed to meet all the division of highways, state department of transportation minimum construction standards for subdivision roads, except the pavement is not required.

(3)

No gravel road shall exceed 528 feet in length from a public road right-of-way. Any road that is longer than this shall meet the paved standards of section 32-672.

(4)

All private roads shall be designed and inspected during construction by a professional engineer, who shall certify that the private road meets all applicable provisions of subsection (1) of this section. A copy of the road construction plans with signature approval by the state district engineer's office shall be filed with the land development administrator at final plat submittal. Final plats shall have an engineer's certification that the roads have been inspected and the improvements meet all standards for private roads.

(5)

All private roads shall be named. Proposed road names shall be submitted to the planning department for approval and a fee will be charged for each sign to be ordered and installed by the county.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.120; Ord. of 4-3-2000, § 5)

Private roads serving seven or fewer lots for family subdivisions shall not be required to meet the construction standards of this division for private roads or the provisions of section 32-675, but shall meet the following:

(1)

Any proposed private road for a family subdivision shall comply with minimum state department of transportation right-of-way standards for width, vertical alignment and centerline radius. Private roads for family subdivision plats shall have no maximum length requirement.

(2)

Private dirt roads in family subdivisions shall be recorded with the lots and dedicated for use by lot owners. Note that no additional subdivision is permitted on dirt roads.

(3)

All private roads shall be named. Proposed road names shall be submitted to the planning department for approval, and a fee will be charged for each sign to be ordered and installed by the county.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.121; Ord. of 4-3-2000, § 6)

All private roads shall be for the use and benefit of the lot owners in the subdivision and shall be deeded to a property owners' association established as set out in this article and in accordance with applicable law before the approval and recordation of a record plat.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.122; Amend. of 05-04-2015(1), § 2)

Roads built between June 17, 1991, and February 1, 1999, were built to types I, II and III street standards. Prior to June 17, 1991, the county had different road standards. Provided there is no further subdivision proposed, all streets approved under the prior regulations shall be considered to be conforming streets. However, if there is a further subdivision, the roads shall be improved in accordance with the standards of this chapter. Final plats contain a designation of the street standards by type. The following indicates the types and their equivalent under this chapter:

(1)

Type I. Type I is now called a dirt road. Family subdivisions and subdivisions of up to three lots were permitted to use this type of road. All that was required was compliance with state department of transportation right-of-way standards for width and centerline radius for subdivision road; but no road base, pavement or drainage improvements were required. Upgrading will have to include drainage and road improvement standards of this article.

(2)

Type II. Type II is now called a gravel road. Subdivisions of four to nine lots were permitted to use this type of road. Such roads were constructed to meet all public road standards established by state department of transportation division of highways, department of transportation minimum construction standards for subdivision roads, including a minimum of four inches of compacted stone. Such roads do not have to be paved. Upgrading will have to include paving the road to the standards of this article.

(3)

Type III. Type III is a private street serving ten or more lots, constructed and paved to state department of transportation minimum standards for subdivision roads. This is a public road although it may not have been accepted by the state. No improvements should be required unless state inspection identifies deficiencies in the initial construction.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.124)

Sidewalks may be required by the county on one or both sides of the road in areas likely to be subject to heavy pedestrian traffic such as near schools and shopping areas. Such sidewalks shall be constructed to a minimum width of four feet and shall consist of a minimum thickness of four inches of concrete. All sidewalks shall be placed in the right-of-way unless the development is platted as a planned unit or group development. Sidewalks shall consist of a minimum of six inches of concrete at driveway crossings.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.125)

(a)

In any new subdivision, the street layout shall conform to the arrangement, width and location included on any official plans for the county. In areas for which such plans have not been completed, the streets shall be designed and located in proper relation to existing and proposed streets, to the topography, to such natural features as streams and tree growth, to public convenience and safety, and to the proposed use of land to be served by such streets.

(b)

The proposed street layout shall be made according to good land planning practice for the type of development proposed and shall be coordinated with the street system of the surrounding areas. All streets must provide for the continuation or approximate projection of principal streets in surrounding areas and provide reasonable means of ingress and egress for surrounding acreage tracts.

(c)

All lots shall take access to the subdivision street rather than an exterior road unless the configuration of the site or topography make such a connection impossible.

(d)

Residential and local roads shall be designed in such a fashion that their use by through traffic will be discouraged. Roads shall be designed or walkways dedicated to assure convenient access to parks, playgrounds, schools or other places of public assembly.

(e)

Proposed roads which are obviously in alignment with existing roads shall be given the same name. In assigning new names, duplication of existing names shall be prohibited; and in no case shall the proposed name be phonetically similar to existing names in the county irrespective of the use of a suffix such as street, road, drive, place, court, etc. Road names shall be subject to approval of the county.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.130)

(a)

The board of commissioners hereby finds and determines that an interconnected street system is necessary in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare in order to ensure that streets will function in an interdependent manner, to provide adequate access for emergency and service vehicles, to enhance nonvehicular travel such as pedestrians and bicycles, and to provide continuous and comprehensible traffic routes.

(1)

All proposed streets shall be continuous and connect to existing or platted streets without offset with the exception of cul-de-sacs as permitted and except as provided below. Whenever practicable, provisions shall be made for the continuation of planned streets into adjoining areas.

(2)

The street network for any subdivision shall achieve a connectivity ratio of not less than 1.40 (see contrasting illustrations in example 1 and 2). The phrase "connectivity ratio" means the number of streets links divided by the number of nodes or link ends, including cul-de-sac heads. A "link" means and refers to that portion of a street defined by a node at each end or at one end. Approved stubs to adjacent property shall be considered links. However, alleys shall not be considered links. A "node" refers to the terminus of a street or the intersection of two or more streets, except that intersections that use a roundabout shall not be counted as a node. The county intends that roundabouts be used to calm and/or direct traffic. Roundabouts are typically most appropriate for intersections that meet the state DOT's warrants for a traffic signal. All proposed roundabouts must be reviewed and agreed upon by the state DOT district office during the preliminary plat phase.

(3)

For the purposes of this section, the street links and nodes within the collector or thoroughfare streets providing access to a proposed subdivision shall not be considered in computing the connectivity ratio.

(4)

Residential streets shall be designed so as to minimize the length of local streets, to provide safe access to residences with minimal need for steep driveways and to maintain connectivity between and through residential neighborhoods for autos and pedestrians.

(5)

Where necessary to provide access or to permit the reasonable future subdivision of adjacent land, rights-of-way, and improvements shall be extended to the boundary of the development. A temporary turnaround may be required where the dead end exceeds 500 feet in length. The platting of partial width rights-of-way shall be prohibited except where the remainder of the necessary right-of-way has already been platted, dedicated, or established by other means.

(6)

Exemption. New subdivisions that intend to provide one new cul-de-sac street shall be exempt from the connectivity ratio standard as set forth in this section, provide the planning board determines that there is:

a.

No options for providing stub streets due to topographic conditions, adjacent developed sites, or other limiting factors; and

b.

Interconnectivity (use of a looped road) within the development cannot be achieved or is unreasonable based on the constraints of the property to be developed.

(b)

Collector streets shall intersect with surrounding collector or arterial streets at safe and convenient locations.

(c)

Subcollector, local, and minor residential streets shall connect with surrounding streets where necessary to permit the convenient movement of traffic between residential neighborhoods or to facilitate access to neighborhoods by emergency service vehicles or for other sufficient reasons, but connections shall not be permitted where the effect would be to encourage the use of such streets by substantial through traffic.

(d)

Whenever connections to anticipated or proposed surrounding streets are required by this section, the street right-of-way shall be extended and the street developed to the property line of the subdivided property (or to the edge of the remaining undeveloped portion of a single tract) at the point where the connection to the anticipated or proposed street is expected. In addition, the permit-issuing authority may require temporary turnarounds to be constructed at the end of such streets pending their extension when such turnarounds appear necessary to facilitate the flow of traffic or accommodate emergency vehicles. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subsection, no temporary dead-end street in excess of 1,000 feet may be created unless no other practicable alternative is available.

(e)

Reserve strips adjoining road rights-of-way for the purposes of preventing access to adjacent property shall not be permitted under any condition.

Figure 1. Subdivision ratios

(Amend. of 6-5-2006, § 1; Amend. of 8-4-2008, § 1)

All major subdivision lots must be served and be accessed by internal subdivision streets.

(Amend. of 4-16-2007, § 1)

All major subdivisions that abut state maintained right(s)-of-way that is not an internal subdivision street shall be required to adhere to the following streetscape buffer requirements for all lots that adjoin an existing state maintained street, unless otherwise stated herein.

(1)

Developments with lots that abut an interstate, U.S. or North Carolina highway shall be buffered with a minimum 30-foot buffer measured from the right-of-way.

(2)

Developments with lots that abut all other state maintained streets that are not internal subdivision streets shall be buffered with a minimum 15-foot buffer measured from the right-of-way.

a.

Streetscape buffer types. One of the following screening techniques shall be used within all buffers:

1.

A row of evergreen conifers or broadleaf evergreens placed not more than five feet apart which would grow to form a continuous hedge of at least six feet in height within two years of planting supplemented with large maturing trees every 50 feet; or

2.

A masonry wall located within the required buffer; such wall shall be a minimum height of six feet (above finished grade) and, if a block wall, it shall be painted on all sides, supplemented with large maturing trees every 50 feet; or an opaque fence six feet in height finished side of fence shall face out, and supplemented with large maturing trees every 50 feet; or

3.

A berm, meeting the requirements of this section.

b.

Modification of planting types. If it is demonstrated that existing vegetation meets the intent of this section, the subdivision administrator may waive the requirements for the plant material described above.

c.

Ownership and maintenance of streetscape buffers. The developer shall be completely responsible for the installation and initial maintenance of all required streetscape buffers; until ownership changes through one of the methods described below:

1.

Ownership with a homeowners' association. In the situation where a homeowners' association (HOA) will be established for the proposed subdivision then the HOA shall be responsible for modifications, maintenance, removal, or damage to the streetscape buffer. This requirement shall be clearly labeled on the preliminary and final plats for all proposed subdivisions. The developer shall remain responsible for all ownership and maintenance of streetscape buffers until the HOA has been completely established.

2.

Ownership without a homeowners' association. In the situation where there is not going to be a homeowners' association (HOA) established for the proposed subdivision, then the streetscape buffer shall be left under control of the lot owner provided that each subdivision that contains a streetscape buffer shall have a declaration of covenants recorded with a restriction that the streetscape buffer remain undisturbed. Further, the restriction shall state that each land owner shall be responsible for modifications, maintenance, removal, or damage to the streetscape buffer on the landowner's lot. This requirement shall be clearly labeled on the preliminary and final plats for all proposed subdivisions.

d.

Uses prohibited within the streetscape buffer. The following uses shall be prohibited from being located within the streetscape buffer.

1.

All structures, not including signs otherwise allowed by this chapter.

2.

Storage of equipment.

3.

Playground equipment, athletic equipment, and other similar structures.

4.

Driveways with the exception of subdivision streets joining the publically dedicated existing public right-of-way.

(Amend. of 8-4-2008, § 1; Ord. of 6-17-2019(2))

All residential subdivisions and developments, except minor subdivisions, shall provide funds to the county whereby the county may acquire public recreation and park land or areas and recreational infrastructure to serve the development or subdivision in the immediate area.

(1)

The amount of such fee shall be the product of the total number of dwelling units and/or building lots located in the development or subdivision multiplied by the recreation fee as established by the Granville County Board of Commissioners.

(2)

The fee shall be paid prior to approval of a final plat for the subdivision, provided that payments may be phased in accordance with the approved phasing of the subdivision.

(3)

The county may transfer funds paid by one or more subdivisions to a municipality or make arrangements for the joint county/municipal expenditure of the funds where the county determines that such transfer or arrangements would better ensure the funds will be used to acquire public recreation and park areas and recreational infrastructure that will serve the recreational needs of the development and developments in the immediate area.

(Amend. of 6-6-2022(1), § 3)

A traffic impact analysis (TIA) is required for high impact developments or subdivisions, as defined in this section. The TIA enables an assessment of the potential impact of a proposed development on the highway system. The purpose of the TIA is to ensure that proposed developments do not adversely affect the highway network and to identify any traffic problems associated with access from the site to the existing transportation network. The purpose of the analysis is to also identify solutions to potential problems and to present improvements to be incorporated into the proposed development.

(1)

A TIA shall be required for all proposed developments, or phases of development, or contiguous tracts under the same ownership, containing 80 or more dwelling units or where the estimated traffic generated from the site exceeds 800 trips/day, according to the most recent edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual.

(2)

A TIA is required at the time of application and must be completed by a qualified professional transportation engineer. Prior to the preparation of a TIA, a scoping meeting shall be held with planning staff. This meeting shall set the TIA parameters, including but not limited to the study area, planned and/or committed roadway improvements, road links and intersections to be analyzed, preliminary traffic distribution, other planned developments to be considered, traffic growth rate, available data, periods for which analysis is to be performed, and other planning staff concerns.

(3)

The TIA shall contain the following information and any other information required from the scoping meeting:

a.

The report shall provide a general description of the development site including the number of proposed dwelling units and layout of the proposed internal roadway network. The report shall describe the entire roadway system, including intersections, within the study area.

b.

Existing traffic conditions shall be documented, including documentation of traffic accidents, traffic volumes for average daily traffic and peak highway hour(s), manual traffic counts at major intersections, a volume to capacity analysis, and levels of service shall be determined for each major intersection or roadway segment in the study area.

c.

Transportation impact of the development shall be documented by showing estimated trip generation obtained from the latest version of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generations Manual and distributed to the existing roadways and intersections in the study area. Peak hour turning movements shall also be shown at all major intersections including the access point(s) to the development.

d.

Analysis of the transportation impact shall be documented, including traffic volumes for average daily traffic and peak highway hour(s), a volume to capacity analysis, and levels of service shall be determined for each major intersection or roadway segment in the study area.

e.

Recommend improvements shall be required for all roadway segments or intersections showing a level of service "D" or below for the build-out-year. A description of the improvements and other mitigation measures, including the feasibility of implementing the improvements, responsibility for funding and implementation, and the time schedule for implementation is required.

(4)

The planning director may waive the requirement for a TIA when the applicant shows that the proposed development's impact on adjacent roads and intersections will be minimal and insignificant or will be no greater than those projected by a TIA prepared and submitted within the last two years for the same site under the same or similar conditions. The planning director must document the reasons for any waiver.

(Amend. of 12-5-2022(2), § 1)

All ditches and drainage systems shall meet the requirements of state department of transportation road construction design standards.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.210)

Editor's note— Amend. of April 19, 2021(1), § 1, repealed § 32-721, which pertained to public water and sewer and derived from Ord. of July 12, 1999, § 11.310.

Editor's note— Amend. of April 19, 2021(1), § 2, repealed § 32-722, which pertained to on-site water and sewer and derived from Ord. of July 12, 1999, § 11.320.

(a)

All major subdivisions shall have underground utilities. This requirement may be waived by the planning board if underlying rock is less than four feet from the surface. Adequate documentation must be submitted verifying that these conditions exist and the portions of the subdivision in which they exist. However, the expansion of a minor subdivision to a major subdivision shall require the installation of underground utilities for the entire subdivision unless the minor subdivision lots met the waiver requirements. The developer shall be required to pay the charges for installation of the underground service running to the lot. All charges will be made in accordance with the then-effective underground electric service plan as filed with the state utilities commission.

(b)

The county does not obligate itself in assuming any costs incurred in developing underground utilities.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.330; Ord. of 4-3-2000, § 1)

To ensure orderly development of the county in accordance with the general principles set forth in the development plan, the subdivider may be required to reserve open spaces for parks, schools, fire stations and/or playgrounds for a period of six months from the date of approval of the preliminary plat. Public agencies shall reach agreement on the dedication of these sites with the developer prior to the expiration of these sites.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.340)

(a)

All proposed major subdivisions in Granville County must have a soil scientist report submitted as part of the planning board application process. Soil scientist review is not necessary for developments proposed to be connected to public sewer service.

(b)

All soils work is to be governed by criteria established in the "NC Rules for Sanitary Sewage Disposal Systems 15A NCAC 18A.1900," and as subsequently amended. The environmental health section of the Granville County Health Department recognizes any and all systems approved by the State of North Carolina. Experimental and innovative systems may be approved subject to the criteria set forth in Rule .1969 of the "NC Rules for Sanitary Sewage Disposal Systems," and as subsequently amended.

(c)

All reports must be submitted by a North Carolina licensed soil scientist, and must bear their name, address, phone number, signature, and seal. Soils reports shall include an overall description of the topography, proposed lot layout and soils conditions on the subject property, including:

(1)

Method used to do evaluations (auger, pits, etc.).

(2)

Descriptions as to suitability of soils on the site for individual septic systems, including estimated LTAR, proposed system type (LPP, mound, at grade, etc.), or other site works. Weather conditions, construction activities, or other operations that may affect the accuracy of the report should also be noted.

(3)

A map showing rough delineation of soils on property overlaid by proposed lot layout, with accompanying legend describing site suitability shall be prepared. Actual locations of individual systems is not required unless either directly requested by the environmental health section of the health department or if in the professional opinion of the soils scientist soil conditions on the site dictate that individual systems be designed as a part of the report. An example of such being an area with large number of alternative systems.

(4)

Soil series as indicated by Granville County soil survey.

(d)

Copies of soil reports and maps shall be distributed to the environmental health section of the health department and to the county planning office.

(e)

Additionally, it is suggested that developers coordinate soils work between soil scientists and surveyors to insure that unusable lots are not included in preliminary maps and to reduce the need to redo surveys.

(Ord. of 3-15-2004, § 1)

(a)

Easements centered on rear or side lot lines shall be provided for utilities where necessary and shall be at least ten feet wide or by the applicable standards imposed by the utility.

(b)

Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream, there shall be provided a stormwater easement or a drainage right-of-way conforming substantially with the lines of such watercourse, and such further width or construction, or both, as will be adequate for the purpose of drainage. Parallel streets or parkways may be required.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.410)

(a)

In residential districts a buffer strip at least 50 feet in depth in addition to the required building setback shall be provided adjacent to all railroads, US and NC highways identified to be widened in the most recent officially adopted Thoroughfare Plan for Granville County, and interstate highways. This strip shall be a part of the platted lots, but shall have the following restrictions lettered on the face of the plat: "This strip is reserved for the planting of trees and shrubs by the owner; the building of structures hereon is prohibited".

(b)

When a subdivision of land occurs on land adjacent to the Camp Butner National Guard Training Site, a 50-foot undisturbed buffer from the external boundary of the National Guard Training Site shall be required for any resultant lot.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.420; Ord. of 1-5-2004(1), § 1; Amend. (2) of 6-19-2006, § 1; Amend. of 4-5-2010, § 1)

The following monuments shall be provided in subdivisions in the county:

(1)

Monuments. Permanent concrete monuments four inches in diameter or square, three feet long, shall be placed at not less than two corners of the subdivision. Additional monuments shall be placed where necessary so that no point within the subdivision lies more than 500 feet from a monument. Two or more of the required monuments shall be designated as control corners. The top of each monument shall have an indented cross, metal pin or metal plate to identify properly the location of the point. All monuments shall be shown on the final plat.

(2)

Property corner tie. At least one corner of the property surveyed shall be designated by course and distance (tie) from a readily discernible reference marker. If the corner is within 2,000 feet of a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Station or state grid station coordinated monument, then this corner shall be accurately tied to this U.S. or state station or monument by computed X and Y coordinates. A statement shall appear on the map indicating the identification of the U.S. or state station or monument, the computed X and Y coordinates of the property corner tie is at least 1:15,000. When such a monument or station is not available, the tie shall be made to some pertinent and permanent recognizable landmark or identifiable point, physical object or structure.

(3)

Markers. All lot corners, all points where street lines intersect the exterior boundaries of the subdivision, all angle points and points of curve in each street shall be marked with iron pipe not less than three-fourths inch in diameter and 30 inches long, driven so as to be two inches above the finished grade.

(Ord. of 7-12-1999, § 11.510)