Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Strafford City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XI

Streets and Sidewalks

Section 400.435 Street Classification.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
All streets within the City limits, including all new subdivisions that are dedicated to public use, shall be classified as provided in Subsection (B).
1. 
The classification shall be based upon the projected volume of traffic to be carried by the street, stated in terms of the number of trips per day;
2. 
The number of dwelling units to be served by the street may be used as a good indicator of the number of trips but is not conclusive;
3. 
Whenever a subdivision street continues an existing street that formerly terminated outside the subdivision or it is expected that a subdivision street will be continued beyond the subdivision at some future time, the classification of the street will be based upon the street in its entirety, both within and outside of the subdivision.
B. 
The classification of streets shall be as follows:
1. 
Local streets.
2. 
Collectors.
3. 
Arterials.

Section 400.440 Access To Lots.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Every lot shall have access to a public or private street that is sufficient to afford a reasonable means of ingress and egress for emergency vehicles as well as for all those likely to need or desire access to the property in its intended use.

Section 400.445 Access To Arterial Streets.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Whenever a major residential subdivision that involves the creation of one (1) or more new streets borders on or contains an existing or proposed arterial street, no direct driveway access may be provided from the lots within this subdivision onto this street.

Section 400.450 Entrances To Streets.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
All driveway entrances and other openings onto streets within the City's planning jurisdiction shall be constructed so that:
1. 
Vehicles can enter and exit from the lot in question without posing any substantial danger to themselves, pedestrians, or vehicles traveling in abutting streets, and
2. 
Interference with the free and convenient flow of traffic in abutting or surrounding streets is minimized.
B. 
Specifications for driveway entrances are set forth in City of Strafford Technical Specifications. If driveway entrances and other openings onto streets are constructed in accordance with the foregoing specifications and requirements, this shall be deemed prima facie evidence of compliance with the standard set forth in Subsection (A). Driveway permits are required.
C. 
For purposes of this Section, the term "prima facie evidence" means that the permit-issuing authority may (but is not required to) conclude from this evidence alone that the proposed development complies with Subsection (A).

Section 400.455 Coordination With Surrounding Streets.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
The street system of a subdivision shall be coordinated with existing, proposed, and anticipated streets outside the subdivision or outside the portion of a single tract that is being divided into lots (hereinafter "surrounding streets") as provided in this Section.
B. 
Collector streets shall intersect with surrounding collector or arterial streets at safe and convenient locations.
C. 
Local 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 one thousand (1,000) feet may be created unless no other practicable alternative is available.

Section 400.460 Relationship of Street To Topography.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
Streets shall be related appropriately to the topography. In particular, streets shall be designed to facilitate the drainage and storm water runoff objectives set forth in the Technical Specifications, and street grades shall conform as closely as practicable to the original topography.
B. 
The maximum grade at any point on a street shall be in accordance with the Subdivision Regulations, Article VI, Section 405.620 and the Standards for Public Improvements. However, in no case may streets be constructed with grades that, in the professional opinion of the City Engineer, create a substantial danger to the public safety.

Section 400.465 Street, Sidewalk and Drainage Requirements in Subdivisions.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
Street rights-of-way are designed and developed to serve several functions:
1. 
To carry motor vehicle traffic and, in some cases, allow on-street parking;
2. 
To provide a safe and convenient passageway for pedestrian traffic; and
3. 
To serve as an important link in the town's drainage system. In order to fulfill these objectives, all public streets shall be constructed to meet either the standards set forth in Subsection (B), or Subsection (C) and the Standards for Public Improvements.
B. 
All streets shall be constructed with curb and gutter and shall conform to the other requirements of this Subsection and the specifications for public improvements.
Street Type
Minimum Right-of-Way Width
(in feet)
Minimum Pavement Width
(in feet)
Sidewalk Requirement
Alley/Service
20
Local
50
31
One side
Collector
60
36
One side
Arterial
80
68
Both sides
C. 
The sidewalks required by this Section shall be at least four (4) feet in width, except that the permit-issuing authority may permit the installation of walkways constructed with other suitable materials when it concludes that:
1. 
Such walkways would serve the residents of the development as adequately as concrete sidewalks; and
2. 
Such walkways would be more environmentally desirable or more in keeping with the overall design of the development.
D. 
Whenever the permit-issuing authority finds that a means of pedestrian access is necessary from the subdivision to schools, parks, playgrounds, or other roads or facilities and that such access is not conveniently provided by sidewalks adjacent to the streets, the developer may be required to reserve an unobstructed easement of at least ten (10) feet in width to provide such access.

Section 400.470 General Layout of Streets.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
Local streets in residential areas shall be curved whenever practicable to the extent necessary to avoid conformity of lot appearance.
B. 
Cul-de-sacs and loop streets are encouraged so that through traffic on residential streets is minimized. Similarly, to the extent practicable, driveway access to collector streets shall be minimized to facilitate the free flow of traffic and avoid traffic hazards.
C. 
All permanent dead-end streets (as opposed to temporary dead-end streets) shall be developed as cul-de-sacs in accordance with the standards set forth in Subsection (D). Except where no other practical alternative is available, such streets may not extend more than five hundred fifty (550) feet (measured to the center of the turnaround).
D. 
The right-of-way of a cul-de-sac shall have a radius of fifty (50) feet. The radius of the paved portion of the turnaround (measured to the outer edge of the pavement) shall be forty (40) feet, and the pavement width shall be twelve (12) feet without curb and gutter or eighteen (18) feet with curb and gutter. The unpaved center of the turnaround area shall be landscaped.
E. 
Half streets (i.e., streets of less than the full required right-of-way and pavement width) shall not be permitted except where such streets, when combined with a similar street (developed previously or simultaneously) on property adjacent to the subdivision, creates or comprises a street that meets the right-of-way and pavement requirements of this Chapter.

Section 400.475 Street Intersections.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
Streets shall intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, and no two (2) streets may intersect at less than sixty degrees (60°). Not more than two (2) streets shall intersect at any one (1) point, unless the Street Superintendent certified to the permit-issuing authority that such an intersection can be constructed with no extraordinary danger to public safety.
B. 
Whenever possible, proposed intersections along one (1) side of a street shall coincide with existing or proposed intersections on the opposite side of such street. In any event, where a centerline offset (jog) occurs at an intersection, the distance between centerlines of the intersecting streets shall not be less than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet.
C. 
Except when no other alternative is practicable or legally possible, no two (2) streets may intersect with any other street on the same side at a distance of less than four hundred (400) feet measured from centerline to centerline of the intersecting street. When the intersected street is an arterial, the distance between intersecting streets shall be at least one thousand (1,000) feet.

Section 400.480 Construction Standards and Specifications.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Construction and design standards and specifications for streets, sidewalks, and curbs and gutters are contained in the technical specifications, and all such facilities shall be completed in accordance with these standards.

Section 400.485 Public Streets and Private Roads in Subdivisions.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
All lots created after the effective date of this Section shall abut a public street at least to the extent necessary to comply with the access requirement set forth in Article XI, Section 400.440. For purposes of this Subsection, the term "public street" includes a pre-existing public street as well as a street created by the subdivider that meets the public street standards of this Chapter and is dedicated for public use. Unless the recorded plat of a subdivision clearly shows a street to be private, the recording of such a plat shall constitute an offer of dedication of such street.
B. 
A subdivision in which the access requirement of Article XI, Section 400.440 is satisfied by a private road that meets neither the public street standards nor the standards set forth in Article XI, Section 400.465 may be developed so long as, since the effective date of this Chapter, not more than three (3) lots have been created out of that same tract.
1. 
The intent of this Subsection is primarily to allow the creation of not more than three (3) lots developed for single-family residential purposes. Therefore, the permit-issuing authority may not approve any subdivision served by a private road authorized by this Subsection in which one (1) or more of the lots thereby created is intended for:
a. 
Two-family or multi-family residential use; or
b. 
Any other residential or non-residential use that would tend to generate more traffic than that customarily generated by three (3) single-family residences.
2. 
To ensure that the intent of this Subsection is not subverted, the permit-issuing authority may, among other possible options, require that the approved plans show the types and locations of buildings on each lot or that the lots in a residential subdivision served by a private road be smaller than the permissible size of lots on which two-family or multi-family developments could be located or that restrictive covenants limiting the use of the subdivided property in accordance with this Section be recorded before final approval.
C. 
No final plat that shows lots served by private roads may be recorded unless the final plat contains the following notations:
1. 
"Further subdivision of any lot shown on this plat as served by a private road may be prohibited by the City of Strafford Zoning Ordinance."
2. 
"The policy of the City of Strafford is that, if the City improves the streets (i) that were never constructed to the standards required in the Zoning Ordinance for dedicated streets, and (ii) on which seventy-five percent (75%) of the dwelling units were constructed after the effective date of this Chapter, then one hundred percent (100%) of the costs of such improvements shall be assessed to abutting landowners."
D. 
The recorded plat of any subdivision that includes a private road shall clearly state that such road is a private road. Further, the initial purchaser of a newly created lot served by a private road shall be furnished by the seller with a disclosure statement outlining the maintenance responsibilities for the road.

Section 400.490 Attention To Handicapped in Street and Sidewalk Construction.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Whenever curb and gutter construction is used on public streets, wheelchair ramps for the handicapped shall be provided at intersections and other major points of pedestrian flow. Wheelchair ramps and depressed curbs shall be constructed in accordance with published standards of the most recent City approved building codes.

Section 400.495 Street Names and House Numbers.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
A. 
Street names shall be assigned by the developer subject to the approval of the permit-issuing authority. Proposed streets that are obviously in alignment with existing streets shall be given the same name. Newly created streets shall be given names that neither duplicate nor are phonetically similar to existing streets within the Strafford Area E911 District, regardless of the use of different suffixes (such as those set forth in Subsection (B)).
B. 
Street names shall include a suffix such as the following:
1. 
Circle. A short street that returns to itself.
2. 
Court or Place. A cul-de-sac or dead-end street.
3. 
Loop. A street that begins at the intersection with one street and circles back to end at another intersection with the same street.
4. 
Street. All public streets not designated by another suffix.
C. 
Building numbers shall be assigned by the City.

Section 400.500 Bridges.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
All bridges shall be constructed in accordance with the standards and specifications of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT), except those bridges on roads not intended for public dedication may be approved if designed by an engineer licensed in the State of Missouri.

Section 400.505 Utilities.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Utilities installed in public rights-of-way or along private roads shall conform to the requirements set forth in Article XX, Utilities.

Section 400.510 Vacation of Streets and Alleys.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
Whenever any street, alley or other public way is vacated by official action of the Board of Aldermen, the zoning districts adjoining each side of such street, alley or public way shall be automatically extended to the center of such vacated street or alley and all areas included in such adjacent district shall then and thenceforth be subject to all regulations of the extended districts.

Section 400.515 Visibility At Intersections.

[Ord. No. 659 §1, 5-2-2011]
On a corner lot in any residential district, no fence, wall, hedge or other structure or planting more than three and one-half (3½) feet in height measured from the crown of the street shall be erected, placed or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting street lines and a straight line joining said street lines at points which are thirty (30) feet distant from the point of intersection, measured along said street lines.