Chapter 17.20
DESIGN STANDARDS
Sections:
17.20.010 Minimum right-of-way widths.
17.20.020 Pavement width.
17.20.030 Sidewalk widths.
17.20.040 Cul-de-sac (turnaround streets).
17.20.050 Grades of streets.
17.20.060 Intersections.
17.20.070 Alignments.
17.20.080 Blocks.
17.20.090 Lots.
17.20.100 Provision for future subdivisions.
17.20.110 Utilities.
17.20.120 Street lighting.
17.20.010 Minimum right-of-way widths.
Minimum right-of-way widths shall be as follows:
A. Principal arterial streets, 80 feet;
B. Minor arterial streets, 60 feet;
C. Collector streets, 60 feet;
D. Local streets, 50 feet plus 10-foot utility easement on each side of the right-of-way;
E. Cul-de-sac streets, 50 feet;
F. Alleys, 20 feet;
G. Pedestrian walkways or bike paths, 12 feet;
H. Utility easements, 15 feet;
I. Utility easements adjacent to right-of-way, 10 feet. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.020 Pavement width.
Minimum pavement width of a paved road shall be 28 feet. Pavement shall be asphaltic concrete or Portland cement concrete. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.030 Sidewalk widths.
Sidewalks are required by the city; the minimum widths are:
A. Residential zones, five feet unimpeded sidewalk;
B. Commercial zones, six feet unimpeded sidewalk. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.040 Cul-de-sac (turnaround streets).
A. The cul-de-sac shall have a 50-foot turning right-of-way radius. A “T,” “Y” or “hammerhead” configuration may be approved on a private road if warranted by special conditions and approved by the public works director, with the concurrence of the fire marshal of Pierce County Fire Protection District No. 22.
B. The cul-de-sac shall have a 45-foot paved turning radius.
C. No planting areas or other obstructions shall be located in the center of a cul-de-sac.
D. The maximum length of a cul-de-sac street shall be 600 feet.
E. A temporary cul-de-sac shall have a minimum turning radius of 45 feet which may be partially provided for by easement rather than dedication.
F. A permanent cul-de-sac may not be opened for extension without granting of a variance (see Chapter 14.110 BLMC), provided that the sole approval criterion shall be subsection G of this section.
G. A permanent cul-de-sac may be opened for extension if it is the only practical means of road access to the adjoining property, and if the impact of traffic flows, noise and other environmental facts have been considered and mitigated. A SEPA checklist shall be provided.
H. If a temporary or permanent cul-de-sac is extended, the street shall be paved to city standards over its entire length. (Ord. 988 § 2, 2003; Ord. 851 § 29, 2000; Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.050 Grades of streets.
A. The minimum grade for drainage shall be 0.0025 per foot.
B. The maximum grade shall not exceed 14 percent for residential streets.
C. The maximum grade shall not exceed seven percent for arterials and streets in commercial zones.
D. Streets shall generally follow contour lines where practicable. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.060 Intersections.
A. The intersection of streets shall be at 90 degrees, or on the radius line of a curved street.
B. Street jogs shall not be less than 125 feet between centerlines of intersecting streets. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.070 Alignments.
A. Profile grade changes shall be connected with a vertical curve having a minimum sight distance of:
1. Six hundred feet on arterial streets; or
2. One hundred fifty feet for other streets.
B. The centerline radius of the curvature of streets shall not be less than:
1. Five hundred seventy-three feet for arterials or collectors;
2. One hundred feet for local access streets. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.080 Blocks.
A. The maximum length of a block shall not exceed 1,000 feet except when topographic constraints require greater length.
B. Irregularly shaped blocks containing interior spaces will be accepted if not in conflict with the comprehensive plan.
C. Blocks intended for commercial or manufacturing use shall be designated specifically for such purposes with adequate space set aside for off-street parking and off-street delivery facilities as provided by city ordinance.
D. On arterials the long section of the block shall generally be parallel to the centerline of the arterial to minimize the number of streets crossing or accessing from the arterial. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.090 Lots.
A. No property may be so reduced in area that it would be smaller than the minimum lot size as per the zoning code applicable thereto, with the exception of tracts dedicated or restricted by covenant for open space, park, recreational or other community use, so designated as tracts without lot numbers.
B. At intersections of streets the lot abutting a street corner shall be rounded by a curve with a minimum radius of:
1. Twenty-five feet for arterial, collector and local streets;
2. Ten feet for cul-de-sac streets.
C. Sidelines of lots shall be at right angles or radial to the abutting streets.
D. Where possible, lots shall be designed to access from local streets, rather than collector or arterial streets.
E. Where flag lots, pipestem lots or panhandle lots are created, the stem portion of the lot shall be a minimum of 15 feet wide and no longer than 150 feet long. (Ord. 1131 § 3, 2005; Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.100 Provision for future subdivisions.
If a tract is subdivided into lots or parcels, such parcels shall be arranged to allow the opening of future streets into adjacent parcels for a logical future subdivision of land. (Ord. 766 § 2, 1998).
17.20.110 Utilities.
A. Public water is required according to current city construction standards.
B. Public sewer is required according to current city construction standards.
C. Utilities are to be built and/or installed underground at locations approved by the city. (Ord. 892 § 7, 2001).
17.20.120 Street lighting.
A. As a condition to subdividing property into four or more residential lots, the applicant shall be responsible for the cost of installation of street lights within the subdivision. Upon final plat approval, all residential street illumination systems shall be dedicated to the city. City will not accept dedication of street lights until at least 50 percent of housing units in a new development are occupied.
B. All new developments (commercial and residential) are required to locate street light wiring, conduit and service connections underground. The applicant will be responsible for providing or obtaining necessary easements for underground power or street lighting systems designed and constructed as part of an approved development permit.
C. A street lighting plan indicating the placement, type, power source, and number of street lights must be approved by the public works director as a condition to preliminary plat approval. In residential development, street lights shall be located at entrances to new subdivisions as directed, at all interior intersections, cul-de-sacs, dead-end streets serving more than three homes, and no closer than 500 feet to other street lights along tangent road sections. Any disagreement between the applicant and the public works director regarding the street lighting plan shall be resolved by the hearing examiner as part of the preliminary plat approval process. (Ord. 1230 § 29, 2007; Ord. 1096 § 1, 2005. Formerly 17.12.035).