Section 25-42 Street improvements generally.

Streets and curbs and gutters shall be improved to comply with the standards contained herein, and in the city street and storm sewer specifications and design standards, and all design standards and specifications now or hereafter promulgated by the director of public works or adopted by the council, in accordance with the final construction plans required to be approved prior to final plat approval.

(1) Responsibility for improvements costs. It is the policy of the city to participate in or contribute only to certain additional costs of construction of major thoroughfares over and above the normal costs of local standard streets, when streets are designated at higher standards by the city. Such participation, and its timing, is not mandated and is solely at the election of the council, according to the needs of the community.

a. Local streets shall be designed to provide convenient and safe access to all properties and to permit efficient drainage and utility systems. The use of through streets shall be encouraged to connect adjoining areas and to facilitate the delivery of public and emergency services; however, straight streets more than 800 feet long shall be avoided to discourage speeding. Individual local residential street segments should serve no more than 50 dwelling units without additional street connections. Local streets with connections to arterial and collector streets shall be designed to avoid cut-through traffic. Curvilinear streets are encouraged to minimize speeding and the amount of grading. Cul-de-sacs and loop (U-shaped) streets should be short in length, less prevalent than through streets, and may be especially appropriate to avoid steep slopes, major creeks, floodplains, wetlands and other sensitive environmental areas. A street connectivity index (consisting of the number of intersections divided by the combined number of intersections and cul-de-sacs) shall be calculated for proposed new subdivisions.

b. Where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing arterial street or highway having limited access, the commission may require the arrangement of residential lots with rear yards abutting the major street, or the provision of frontage roads, or other such treatment as may be necessary in order to provide for adequate protection of residential properties, to afford separation of through and local traffic, and to provide for suitable access to the property involved.

c. Interconnection of adjacent subdivisions with compatible land uses shall be encouraged. When a new subdivision adjoins unplatted or undeveloped land, the new streets shall be carried to the boundaries of such land unless vehicular access is unnecessary or inappropriate. A temporary turnaround approved by the director of public works shall be installed at this point, except when the terminus of the street is less than three hundred (300) feet from an intersecting street right-of-way. Where street connections to adjoining land are not provided and there is a need for non-vehicular public access to a school, park, trail or other area or use, the city may require the dedication and improvement of a green space access easement or green space trail easement. Whenever such public improvements are required and the landowner conveys fee title in lieu of an easement, the city shall accept ownership and maintenance.

(3) Blocks. Streets should generally intersect at intervals not exceeding one thousand (1,000) feet or less than four hundred (400) feet. Blocks shall have sufficient depth to provide for two (2) tiers of lots of appropriate depth. Exceptions to this prescribed block depth shall be encouraged in blocks adjacent to major streets, railroads or waterways.

(Ord. 018097, Amended, 06/07/2004, Prior Text; Ord. 17228, Amended, 03/18/2002, Prior Text; 15847, Amended, 01/04/1999, Prior Text)