Chapter 15.40
PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
Sections:
15.40.010 Title.
15.40.020 Purpose and applicability.
15.40.030 Standard specifications.
15.40.040 Streets and sidewalks—Classifications.
15.40.050 Streets and sidewalks—Required plans.
15.40.070 Storm sewers.
15.40.080 Streets and sidewalks—Cuts and restoration standards.
15.40.090 Streets and rights-of-way—Design approval required.
15.40.100 Bicycle and pedestrian ways along transportation facilities.
15.40.010 Title.
The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the public works construction standards ordinance of the city of Sedro-Woolley. (Ord. 952 § 1, 1981)
15.40.020 Purpose and applicability.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards for the construction of public works of the city, including streets, sidewalks, and storm mains. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to new construction of and substantial improvements to such public works. (Ord. 952 § 2, 1981)
15.40.030 Standard specifications.
Construction of and substantial improvements to public works including streets, sidewalks, and storm mains, shall be in accordance with the latest edition of “Standard Specifications for Municipal Public Works Construction,” prepared by the Washington State Chapter of the American Public Works Association, and as hereafter amended, unless different standards are required by the city engineer. (Ord. 952 § 3, 1981)
15.40.040 Streets and sidewalks—Classifications.
The following, classifications and standards applicable thereto are established for all streets, existing and future. Classification of specific streets shall be as stated in the comprehensive plan, except that where such streets have not been so classified, classification shall be the responsibility of the superintendent of public works.
A. Primary Arterial. Primary arterials consist of the major thoroughfares to, from, and through the city. As such, they are subject to the highest traffic volumes and speeds. Direct service to abutting properties is discouraged.
B. Secondary Arterials. Secondary arterials serve the top hierarchy of traffic generators within the city, including the central business district, major industrial areas, major residential areas, and the high school. Secondary arterials provide direct as well as through service and form long continuous streets with strong linkage to the primary arterial system.
C. Collector Arterials. Collector arterials collect local traffic from abutting properties and from access streets and transmit it to the primary and secondary arterial system. At least, collector arterial service is usually needed for such traffic generators as apartment complexes, grade schools, churches and parks. Collector arterials need not be long or continuous.
D. Access Streets. Access streets provide direct access to abutting properties and may terminate in cul-de-sacs. Through traffic is discouraged. Most single-family residential streets are in this classification.
E. Private Streets. Private streets may be allowed, as approved by the city, as an alternative to an access street or individual side-by-side driveways within a multifamily, commercial or industrial subdivision, binding site plan, or short plat, for access for up to six lots, in a residential subdivision, binding site plan, or short plat including single-family lots for access up to four single-family lots, and in the R-15 zone for zero side setback developments subject to the following conditions:
1. The proposed street is not needed to create access to adjoining areas or properties beyond the lots being served, or for circulation as indicated in the city’s comprehensive plan.
2. Owners of all lots served by the private road shall participate in the maintenance of the road through a private maintenance agreement approved by the city, said agreement to include certain provisions for maintenance, repairs and replacement as identified by the public works director.
3. The length of the road will not exceed three hundred feet, except where topographic features, or shape of lot requires a longer road, and such road is approved by the city fire department.
4. Appropriate provisions shall be made for fire access and maneuvering area.
5. The road shall be improved in accordance with the standards adopted for private streets by the city engineer prior to approval of any subdivision, binding site plan, or planned unit development with access provided by the private road, and prior to a building permit being issued for any structure on lots with access provided by the private road; provided, the applicant may elect to substitute a bond equal to one hundred twenty percent of the cost of the improvements as determined by the city engineer in lieu of construction, to guarantee construction of the improvements prior to issuance of a building permit.
6. Private streets shall not be allowed in a subdivision, binding site plan, or planned residential development, if the private street is intended to serve more than four single-family residential lots; provided that nothing in this section shall prohibit private streets within a mobile or manufactured home park created under an approved binding site plan or for approved zero side setback developments in the R-15 zone. (Ord. 1603-08 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1486-04 § 1, 2004: Ord. 1248-95 § 1, 1995: Ord. 1105 § 1 (part), 1990; Ord. 952 § 4(A), 1981)
15.40.050 Streets and sidewalks—Required plans.
Construction of or substantial improvement to streets and sidewalks shall require engineering plans with the following information:
A. Vicinity map showing all streets within the immediate vicinity;
B. Plans containing at least the following:
1. Width and location of adjoining streets,
2. Property, right-of-way, and easement lines with dimensions,
3. Location of proposed improvement and appurtenances including driveways, properly dimensioned and stationed along the centerline, and location and stationing of all horizontal angle points and curve data,
4. Location of all existing and proposed utilities, watercourses, railroad crossing, structures within the right-of-way, trees, and all pertinent topographic features including location and elevation of survey benchmarks,
5. Suitable title plate on each drawing with street name and address of developer, scale, date, northpoint, and the name, address and stamp of the civil engineer, licensed in the state of Washington, responsible for preparation;
C. Profiles containing at least the following:
1. Street centerline stationing and vertical elevations,
2. Two-line or three-line profile showing existing ground surface along the street centerline, and proposed top of curb and street centerline profiles,
3. Slope of street between grade changes and vertical curve information,
4. Centerline profile of intersecting streets a minimum of one hundred feet each direction and profile of all driveways with grades greater than eight percent,
5. Suitable title plate on each drawing with street name, name and address of developer, vertical and horizontal scale, date and name, address and stamp of the civil engineer, licensed in the state of Washington, responsible for preparation;
D. Structural details including properly dimensioned details of curbs and gutters, street cross-sections, drainage facilities, retaining walls and all major structures constructed within the right-of-way. (Ord. 952 § 4(B), 1981)
15.40.070 Storm sewers.
A. Definitions.
1. “Primary drainage facilities” means drainage facilities serving a watershed with an area of twenty acres or greater, or a runoff of three cubic feet per second or greater for a storm of five-year frequency.
2. “Secondary drainage facilities” means drainage facilities serving a lesser watershed than that defined above.
B. Plans Required. Construction of or substantial improvement to storm sewers and drainage facilities shall require engineering plans with the following information:
1. Plans properly dimensioned and drawn to scale showing:
a. Location of the proposed storm sewer, drainage ditches, and sewer appurtenances within the street right-of-way. Sewers and drainage ditches shall be stationed and all manholes, catchbasins and appurtenances shall be numbered,
b. Location of existing aboveground and below ground utilities in road right-of-way or adjacent easements,
c. Location and dimensions of utility and drainage easements and location of all existing watercourses, ditches, trunk storm sewers, ponds, and retention facilities connected with or adjacent to the proposed drainage facilities;
2. Profiles of storm drains and drainage ditches with the following information:
a. Location and number of all manholes, catch-basins and appurtenances,
b. Profile of existing and proposed ground surface and storm drain,
c. Size, slope and length of storm sewers between consecutive manholes,
d. Sewer, manhole, and catchbasin invert elevations;
3. Structural details of any special manholes, catchbasins, and appurtenances including drop manholes, retention control manholes, outlet structures, pumping stations, diversion structures, etc.;
4. Suitable title plate on each drawing with street or sewer name, name and address of the developer, scale, date, and the name, address and telephone number and stamp of the civil engineer, licensed in the state of Washington, responsible for the plan preparation.
C. Design Standards.
1. Drainage facilities shall be designed for a projected lifespan of thirty years without excessive maintenance, utilizing accepted engineering practices.
2. Drainage facilities shall have adequate outfall into a watercourse, public storm sewer, or public ditch.
3. Catchbasins or inlets shall be spaced a maximum of three hundred feet apart along any street or alley.
4. Manholes on trunk sewers shall have a maximum spacing of four hundred feet.
5. Primary drainage facilities shall be designed and stamped by a civil engineer registered in the state of Washington.
6. Primary drainage facilities shall be designed for a storm frequency of twenty-five years, and secondary drainage facilities shall be designed for a storm frequency of five years, except that in no case shall the diameter of storm sewers be less than six inches for catchbasin laterals and eight inches for storm mains. (Ord. 952 § 5, 1981)
15.40.080 Streets and sidewalks—Cuts and restoration standards.
A. The city engineer shall establish standards for street and sidewalk cuts, excavations in the public right-of-way, and restoration standards for street and sidewalk cuts and for connections to public storm and sanitary sewers, which protect the public safety and provide for the restoration and preservation of the affected public works to their original standard. These standards shall be effective upon filing with the city clerk.
B. The city engineer shall base the standards developed pursuant to subsection A of this section on the most current Washington State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications, the standards of the American Public Works Association (APWA), and the practices generally accepted in the civil engineering field, for the effected public works.
C. The city engineer shall incorporate these standards into any permit or permission required for such improvements, including fill and grade permits and land development permits.
D. The city engineer shall prepare written rules, guidelines and instructions which shall be available to the public regarding the standards authorized by this section. (Ord. 1486-04 § 3, 2004: Ord. 1360-00 § 1, 2000)
15.40.090 Streets and rights-of-way—Design approval required.
A. All new public streets and rights-of-way shall be designed, constructed as provided in the regulations prepared by the city engineer, and configured and located as approved by the city engineer to allow convenient connection with present and planned adjoining streets, unless this decision is expressly delegated to another official or decision making body.
B. Unless determined by the city engineer to be unlikely to be needed for through access, all new public streets shall provide for public right-of-way across the entire length of a parcel being developed, to allow for convenient connection to future public rights-of-way on adjoining parcels.
C. When the location of a public street right-of-way is an element of a land use action subject to a final decision by another official or decision making body, the decision and recommendation of the city engineer as to the configuration and location of the public street shall be a recommendation which shall be given great weight by the deciding body or official. (Ord. 1486-04 § 3, 2004: Ord. 1360-00 § 2, 2000)
15.40.100 Bicycle and pedestrian ways along transportation facilities.
A. Bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be accommodated in the planning, development and construction of transportation facilities, including the incorporation of such ways into transportation plans and programs.
B. Notwithstanding that provision of subsection A of this section, bicycle and pedestrian ways are not required to be established:
1. Where their establishment would be contrary to public safety;
2. When the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use;
3. Where there is no identified need;
4. Where the establishment would violate comprehensive plan policies; or
5. In instances where a documented exception is granted by the public works director. (Ord. 1676-10 § 1, 2010)