Streets shall be designed to suit their functions. Many streets have purposes other than vehicular traffic. As an alternative to current N.C. Department of Transportation road standards, the following street standards are provided for streets proposed to be dedicated to the Town as part of subdivision approval. Streets built to the standards identified in this section are eligible for consideration by the Town Board of Commissioners for acceptance into Town maintenance.

Public streets in Pine Knoll Shores are public spaces and integral components of community design. A hierarchical street network accommodates a variety of uses, including bicycle, pedestrian, motor-vehicle and transit routes. All streets shall connect to help create a comprehensive network that enables the efficient movement of automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians. In order for this street network to be safe for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, design elements must consistently be applied to calm vehicular traffic throughout the Town.

Where discrepancies occur between the text of this Ordinance and the Town of Pine Knoll Shores Technical Standards & Specifications Manual, the Technical Standards & Specifications Manual shall prevail.

Streets in the Town of Pine Knoll Shores shall:

Interconnect within a development and with adjoining development. Culs-de-sac shall be allowed only where topographical configurations offer no practical alternatives for future connections or through traffic. The location of streets as may be shown in the adopted Plan and adopted area plans, per Section 1.5 of this Ordinance, shall govern connectivity designs. Street stubs may be provided within developments adjacent to open land to provide for future connections except where deemed impracticable or impactful of environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, creeks, steep slopes and conservation areas vulnerable to harmful impacts by the extension of the street by the Planning Administrator. Barricades and end-of-street signage shall be installed in accordance with the Technical Standards & Specifications Manual.

(A)

New streets shall be publicly dedicated except in limited circumstances.

(B)

Private streets are permitted when constructed in accordance with the standards set forth in the Town of Pine Knoll Shores Technical Standards & Specifications Manual.

Provide access to principal buildings. The principal building shall front on a street.

Be illuminated by streetlights located on at least one side and at all intersections in accordance with NCDOT Roadway Lighting Policy. Where Streetlights are required along streets, they shall be located in a planting strip as per the Town of Pine Knoll Shores Technical Standards & Specifications Manual. Maximum spacing of streetlight fixtures shall be 180 linear feet measured along the street centerline. The height of streetlight fixtures shall be 14 vertical feet in residential areas. Streetlight fixtures shall not produce direct light into adjacent properties at a height above four (4) vertical feet at the building setback line of residential districts.

Segments of straight streets shall be interrupted by intersections designed to:

Disperse traffic flow and reduce speeds, thereby eliminating the creation of de facto collector streets with high speed, high volume traffic and other traffic calming measures such as neck-downs, chicanes, mid-block diverters, intersection diverters, curb bulbs, serial hill crests, and related devices may be specified on a case by case basis, based on improving traffic safety and functional appropriateness.

Designs should permit comfortable use of the street by motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The location of streets as may be shown in the adopted Plan and adopted area plans, per Article 1 of this Ordinance, shall govern the level of service and design of streets. Pavement widths, design speeds, and the number of motor travel lanes should be designed to enhance safety for motorists and non-motorists alike. The specific design of any given street must consider the surrounding zoning outlined in Article 8.

Design speeds shall not exceed 25 miles per hour on any neighborhood, mixed use and/or non-residential internal circulation street. Only thoroughfares may exceed this design speed. Petitions for acceptance by the Town for public maintenance shall include a request for designation of not more than 25 miles per hour.

Covenants and restrictions made a part of development shall not restrict vehicle types in conflict with adopted Town policies.

Traffic control plans showing signage and pavement markings shall be prepared in accordance with the guidance of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The developer is responsible for the initial installation of the devices or markings and the maintenance thereof until a public agency (Town or NCDOT) accepts the street for maintenance.

Design standards and specifications for Town streets are set forth in the Town of Pine Knoll Shores Technical Standards & Specifications Manual. The street specifications in this manual may only be varied in accordance with the design principles set forth in the site plan review or subdivision review process.