§ 40-3. Design standards.
(a)
Streets.
(1)
The arrangement, character, extent, width, grade, and location of all streets shall conform to the comprehensive plan and shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, to topographical conditions, to public convenience and safety, and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of land to be served by the streets.
(2)
The street arrangement within the subdivision shall provide for the continuation or appropriate projection of existing streets in adjoining areas or as approved by the planning commission to meet a particular situation where topographical or other conditions make continuation or conformance to existing streets impractical.
(3)
Minor streets shall be so laid out that their use by through traffic will be discouraged.
(4)
Where a subdivision abuts a highway, the planning commission may require that abutting lots front on another street without vehicular access to the said highway.
(5)
Reserve strips controlling access to streets shall be prohibited except where their control is placed with the city.
(6)
Street jogs with center line offsets of less than 125 feet shall be avoided.
(7)
A tangent at least 100 feet long shall separate reverse curves on secondary or major streets.
(8)
Streets shall be so laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, and in no case shall be less than 60 degrees.
(9)
Property lines at street intersections shall be rounded by a radius of ten feet or greater where required by the city.
(10)
Street right-of-way widths shall be as shown in the comprehensive plan and where not shown shall not be less than the following:
Street Type Right-of-Way Widths Major, arterial 80 feet Collector, secondary 60 feet Minor, local 50 feet (11)
Half streets shall be prohibited except where approved by the planning commission and it is practical to require the dedication of the other half street on the adjoining property.
(12)
Dead end streets shall not be longer than 600 feet and shall be provided at the closed end with a turn around having an outside roadway diameter of 80 feet, and a right-of-way diameter of 100 feet.
(13)
No street names shall be used which will duplicate or be confused with the name of existing streets except where they are continuations of those streets.
(14)
Street grades shall not be excessive, nor shall they be less than necessary for adequate drainage, or a minimum of one-fourth percent slope.
(b)
Alleys.
(1)
Alleys shall not be provided in residential areas unless deemed necessary by the city.
(2)
Alleys may be required in commercial and industrial areas.
(3)
The width of an alley shall be 20 feet for a nonresidential area.
(4)
Alley intersections and sharp changes in alignment shall be avoided, but where necessary, corners shall be rounded sufficiently to permit safe vehicular traffic movement.
(c)
Easements.
(1)
Utility easements centered on rear or side lot lines shall be provided where necessary and shall be at least 12-feet-wide, centered on the lot line.
(2)
Where a subdivision is traversed by a water course, drainway, channel or stream, there shall be provided a storm easement or drainage right-of-way conforming with the lines of the water course and such further width as will be adequate for the purpose.
(d)
Block dimensions.
(1)
The lengths, widths, and shapes of blocks shall be determined with due regard to provision of adequate building sites, zoning requirements, and needs for convenient access, circulation, control and safety of street traffic.
(2)
Block lengths shall not exceed 1,200 feet, nor be less than 400 feet.
(e)
Lots.
(1)
The lot size, width, shape, and orientation, and the minimum building setback lines shall be appropriate for the location of the subdivision and for the type of development and use contemplated.
(2)
Lot dimensions shall conform to the zoning ordinance and as follows:
a.
Residential lots, where served by sanitary sewers, shall not be less than 70 feet wide at the building setback line nor less than 6,000 square feet in area.
b.
Residential lots, where served by other than public sanitary sewers, shall not be less than 70 feet wide nor less than 120 feet deep.
c.
No lot shall be less than 100 feet in depth, and the general desirable lot shall be at least 65 feet wide by 120 feet deep.
d.
Depth and width of properties reserved or laid out for commercial and industrial purposes shall be adequate to provide for the off-street service and parking facilities required by the type of use and development contemplated.
(3)
All lots shall have a 25-foot building setback from the property line while corner lots shall have to provide a 25-foot building setback from both streets.
(4)
The subdividing of the land shall be such as to provide each lot with satisfactory access on a public street.
(5)
Double frontage and reverse frontage lots shall be avoided.
(6)
Side lot lines shall be at right angles or radial to street lines.
(f)
Required park areas in developments.
(1)
Where a proposed park, playground, school or other public use shown on the comprehensive plan is located in whole or in part in a subdivision, the planning commission may require the dedication or reservation of such area within the subdivision as the planning commission deems reasonable.
(2)
Where deemed essential by the planning commission such other sites not anticipated in the comprehensive plan may be required as necessary for the area being developed.
(Code 2003, § 9.103; Ord. No. 69-8, § 3, 9-22-1969; Ord. No. 77-6, 12-21-1977)