(a)

Purpose. To enhance pedestrian safety and mobility, and to ensure the adequate transportation infrastructure is considered in the development and use of property to meet the needs of the community, sidewalks and associated easements or rights-of-way shall be required for certain developments.

(b)

Applicability. Sidewalks shall be required for all new construction that falls into one or more of the following categories:

(1)

Major subdivisions containing 20 or more lots.

(2)

New building construction totaling more than 30,000 square feet or containing 20 or more dwelling units.

(3)

Any project that generates 100 vehicle trips during the peak hour or 1,000 vehicle trips per day, regardless of size or location.

(c)

Design standards. When designing sidewalks, the following standards shall be met:

(1)

Sidewalk location. Sidewalks shall be required along one side of all existing and proposed roads. Where possible, sidewalks shall be placed in the road right-of-way. In instances where the existing right-of-way is insufficient, sidewalks may be located wholly or partially on private property with the addition of a public use easement.

(2)

Minimum sidewalk width. Minimum sidewalk and planting strip widths shall be as follows:

a.

Sidewalks along roads with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or greater shall have a minimum width of five feet with an eight-foot planting strip between the sidewalk and edge of pavement.

b.

Sidewalks along roads with a posted speed less than 35 mile per hour shall have a minimum width of five feet with a four-foot planting strip between the sidewalk and edge of pavement

c.

Sidewalks in steep slope areas shall have a minimum width of six feet without a planting strip, or five feet with a four-foot planting strip between the sidewalk and edge of pavement.

(3)

Construction detail required. A construction detail shall be supplied by a licensed engineer that includes the following minimum standards:

a.

A minimum concrete thickness of four inches, and a minimum of six inches when crossing a driveway; concrete must withstand 4,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) minimum.

b.

A compacted gravel stone base under the concrete sidewalk with a minimum thickness of four inches.

c.

A maximum cross slope of two percent.

d.

A maximum vertical slope (running slope) of five percent, or the grade of the adjacent roadway if located within the road right-of-way.

e.

Handicap accessible ramps shall be installed where sidewalks intersect any section of curb, street, or driveway.

f.

Transverse expansion joints to be spaced a maximum of 50 feet apart and between sidewalk and curbing.

g.

Tool joints shall be spaced to match the width of the sidewalk but no less than five feet apart.

(d)

Alternative sidewalk compliance—Fee in lieu of sidewalk construction.

(1)

Option for fee-in-lieu. Where a new sidewalk is required to be constructed, a fee-in-lieu of that sidewalk may be paid if approved by the Woodfin Town Council as part of a conditional zoning application. The following factors shall be evaluated when considering such requests.

a.

Type of land uses proposed.

b.

The posted speed limit of abutting roads.

c.

Planned multi-modal transportation infrastructure improvements on, or adjacent to, the subject property.

d.

Existing and anticipated pedestrian need.

In all of these instances, the applicant/developer must also provide an easement or right-of-way for future sidewalk construction.

(2)

Fee required. A fee-in-lieu of sidewalk construction shall be paid in the amount of 150 percent of an approved cost estimate supplied by a licensed engineer prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion. Cost estimates must include an itemized list detailing project costs that include design, staging, mobilization, labor, and materials including labor and materials for improvements necessary to support sidewalk construction such as retaining walls or culverts.

(3)

Use of fees. The financial sum paid to the town shall be placed in a restricted fund that will be reserved for construction of sidewalks or greenways in designated high priority areas.

(e)

Sidewalk maintenance.

(1)

Public maintenance. Sidewalks located within a public right-of-way shall be publicly maintained.

(2)

Private maintenance. Sidewalks located outside of the right-of-way on private property shall be privately maintained.

(Ord. No. 2022-151102, § 1, 11-15-2022)