Sullivan City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIV
Streets and Sidewalks
Section 400.690 Street Classification.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §210), 11-2-2004]
A.
In all new subdivisions, streets 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 useful 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.
Minor. A street whose sole function is to provide access to abutting properties. It serves or is designed to serve not more than nine (9) dwelling units and is expected to or does handle up to seventy-five (75) trips per day.
2.
Local. A street whose sole function is to provide access to abutting properties. It serves or is designed to serve at least ten (10) but no more than twenty-five (25) dwelling units and is expected to or does handle up between seventy-five (75) and two hundred (200) trips per day.
3.
Cul-de-sac. A street that terminates in a vehicular turnaround.
4.
Subcollector. A street whose principal function is to provide access to abutting properties but is also designed to be used or is used to connect minor and local streets with collector or arterial streets. Including residences indirectly served through connecting streets, it serves or is designed to serve at least twenty-six (26) but not more than one hundred (100) dwelling units and is expected to or does handle up between two hundred (200) and eight hundred (800) trips per day.
5.
Collector. A street whose principal function is to carry traffic between minor, local and subcollector streets and arterial streets but that may also provide direct access to abutting properties. It serves or is designed to serve, directly or indirectly, more than one hundred (100) dwelling units and is designed to be used or is used to carry more than eight hundred (800) trips per day.
6.
Arterial. A major street in the City's or State's street system that serves as an avenue for the circulation of traffic into, out or around the City and carries high volumes of traffic.
7.
Marginal access street. A street that is parallel to and adjacent to an arterial street and that is designed to provide access to abutting properties so that these properties are somewhat sheltered from the effects of the through traffic on the arterial street and so that the flow of traffic on the arterial street is not impeded by direct driveway access from a large number of abutting properties.
Section 400.693 Access to Lots.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §211), 11-2-2004]
Every lot shall have access to it 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 400.695 Access to Arterial Streets.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §212), 11-2-2004]
Whenever a major 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 400.698 Entrances to Streets.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §213), 11-2-2004]
A.
All driveway entrances and other openings onto streets within the City's 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 Appendix B to this Chapter. 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).
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 400.700 Coordination With Surrounding Streets.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §214), 11-2-2004]
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.
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 seven hundred fifty (750) feet may be created unless no other practicable alternative is available.
Section 400.703 Relationship of Streets Topography.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §215), 11-2-2004]
A.
Streets shall be related appropriately to the topography. In particular, the streets shall be designed to facilitate the drainage and stormwater runoff objectives set forth in Article XVI and street grades shall conform as closely as practicable to the original topography.
B.
As indicated in Section 400.705, the maximum grade at any point on a street constructed without curb and gutter shall be eight percent (8%). On streets constructed with curb and gutter the grade shall not exceed ten percent (10%) unless no other practicable alternative is available. 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 400.705 Street Width, Sidewalk and Drainage Requirements in Subdivisions.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §216), 11-2-2004]
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 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).
B.
All streets shall be constructed with curb and gutter and shall conform to the other requirements of this Subsection. Standard ninety degree (90°) curb must be used in non-residential areas while vertical and rolled curb may be used in residential areas. Street pavement width shall be measured from back of curb. Streets shall be constructed according to City Engineering Department specifications.
Street Type | Minimum Right-of-Way Width (in feet) | Minimum Pavement Width (in feet) | Sidewalk Requirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Minor | 50 | 34 | One side | |
Local | 50 | 34 | One side | |
Subcollector | 60 | 34 | One side | |
Collector | 60 | 40 | One side | |
Arterial | 80 | 44 | Both sides with bike trail on one side |
C.
The sidewalks required by this Section shall be at least four (4) feet in width and constructed according to City Engineering Department specifications, 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 400.708 General Layout of Streets.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §217), 11-2-2004; Ord. No. 3916, 4-20-2021]
A.
To the extent practicable, driveway access to collector streets shall be minimized to facilitate the free flow of traffic and avoid traffic hazards.
B.
All permanent dead-end streets (as opposed to temporary dead-end streets, see Section 400.700(D)) shall be developed as one hundred twenty (120) feet or alternative seventy (70) feet hammerheads, or cul-de-sacs in accordance with the standards set forth in the International Fire Code, Appendix (D) and shall not exceed seven hundred fifty (750) feet in length.
C.
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-eight (48) feet with curb and gutter.
D.
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 these regulations.
E.
Streets shall be laid out so that residential blocks do not exceed five hundred (500) feet, unless no other practicable alternative is available.
Section 400.710 Street Intersections.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §218), 11-2-2004]
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 City Engineer certifies 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 be not less than two hundred (200) 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 400.713 Construction Standards and Specifications.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §219), 11-2-2004]
Construction and design standards and specifications for streets, sidewalks and curbs and gutters are contained in Appendix C to this Chapter or as directed by the City's Engineering Department and all such facilities shall be completed in accordance with these standards.
Section 400.715 Public Streets and Private Roads in Subdivisions.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §220), 11-2-2004; Ord. No. 3082 §1, 5-16-2006]
A.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, 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 Section 400.693. 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 these regulations and is dedicated for public use. Unless the recorded plat of a subdivision, after the effective date of these regulations, clearly shows a street to be private, the recording of such a plat shall constitute an offer of dedication of such street.
B.
Architecturally integrated subdivisions containing any number of dwelling units may be developed with private roads that do meet the public street and sidewalk standards of these regulations but that are not intended for dedication to the public so long as:
1.
The proposed development will have direct access onto a public street or, if the tract has access to a public street only via a private road, such private road is improved to public street standards;
2.
No road intended to be private is planned or expected to be extended to serve property outside the development; and
3.
The subdivider demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Planning and Zoning Commission that the private roads will be properly maintained.
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 Unified Land Use Regulations."
2.
"The policy of the City of Sullivan is that, if the City improves streets:
a.
That were never constructed to the standards required in the Unified Land Use Regulations for dedicated streets; and
b.
On which seventy-five percent (75%) of the dwelling units were constructed after the effective date of these regulations, 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 400.718 Road and Sidewalk Requirements in Unsubdivided Developments.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §221), 11-2-2004]
A.
Within unsubdivided developments, all private roads and access ways shall be designed and constructed to facilitate the safe and convenient movement of motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Width of roads, use of curb and gutter and paving specifications shall be determined by the provisions of these regulations dealing with parking (Article XVIII) and drainage (Article XVI). To the extent not otherwise covered in the foregoing Articles and to the extent that the requirements set forth in this Article for subdivision streets may be relevant to the roads in unsubdivided developments, the requirements of this Article may be applied to satisfy the standard set forth in the first (1st) sentence of this Subsection.
B.
Whenever a road in an unsubdivided development connects two (2) or more subcollector, collector or arterial streets in such a manner that any substantial volume of through traffic is likely to make use of this road, such road shall be constructed in accordance with the standards applicable to subdivision streets and shall be dedicated. In other cases when roads in unsubdivided developments within the City are constructed in accordance with the specifications for subdivision streets, the City may accept an offer of dedication of such streets.
C.
In all unsubdivided residential development, sidewalks shall be provided linking dwelling units with other dwelling units, the public street and on-site activity centers such as parking areas, laundry facilities and recreational areas and facilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, sidewalks shall not be required where pedestrians have access to a road that serves not more than eight (8) dwelling units.
D.
Whenever the permit issuing authority finds that a means of pedestrian access is necessary from an unsubdivided development to schools, parks, playgrounds or other roads or facilities and that such access is not conveniently provided by sidewalks adjacent to the roads, the developer may be required to reserve an unobstructed easement of at least ten (10) feet to provide such access.
E.
The sidewalks required by this Section shall be at least four (4) feet wide and constructed according to the specifications set forth in Appendix C to this Chapter or as directed by the City's Engineering Department, 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 could be more environmentally desirable or more in keeping with the overall design of the development.
Section 400.720 Attention to Handicapped in Street and Sidewalk Construction.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §222), 11-2-2004]
A.
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 Americans with Disabilities Act.
B.
In unsubdivided developments, sidewalk construction for the handicapped shall conform to the requirements of the City Building Code.
Section 400.723 Street Names and House Numbers.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §223), 11-2-2004]
A.
Street names shall be assigned by the developer subject to the approval of the City. 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 City's jurisdiction, 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 (1) 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 in accordance with Sections 505.090 through 505.170 of this Code.
Section 400.725 Bridges.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §224), 11-2-2004]
All bridges shall be constructed in accordance with the standards and specifications of the City, except that bridges on roads not intended for public dedication may be approved if designed by a licensed engineer.
Section 400.728 Utilities.
[Ord. No. 2974 §1(Art. 14 §225), 11-2-2004]
Utilities installed in public rights-of-way or along private roads shall conform to the requirements set forth in Article XV, Utilities.