A. To provide for safe, efficient, and convenient vehicular movement in the city.

B. To provide adequate access to all proposed and anticipated developments in the city.

C. To provide adequate area in all public rights-of-way for sidewalks, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water lines, natural gas lines, power lines, and other utilities commonly and appropriately placed in such rights-of-way. (Ord. 619, 2003)

The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to:

A. The creation, dedication, or construction of all new public or private streets, pedestrian facilities, and bikeways in all subdivisions, partitions, or other developments in the city.

B. The extension or widening of existing public or private street rights-of-way, easements, or street improvements including those which may be proposed by an individual or the city, or which may be required by the city in association with other development approvals.

C. The construction or modification of any utilities, bikeways, or sidewalks in public rights-of-way or private street easements.

D. The planting of street trees or other landscape materials in public rights-of-way.

(Ord. 619, 2003)

The following provisions shall apply to the dedication, construction, improvement, or other development of all public streets in the city, and are intended to provide a general overview of typical minimum design standards. All streets shall be designed in conformance with the specific requirements of the most recently adopted Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction in the City of Carlton.

The standard sections contained in Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction in the City of Carlton are minimum requirements only and shall not be construed as prohibiting the city engineer from requiring thicker sections or engineer designed pavement sections in lieu of standard sections where conditions warrant.

A. The location, width, and grade of streets shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, to topographical conditions, to public convenience and safety, and to the proposed use of the land to be served by the streets.

B. Development proposals shall provide for the continuation, and connection to, all streets, bikeways and pedestrian facilities within the development and to existing streets, bikeways and pedestrian facilities outside the development.

C. Alignment. All streets other than minor streets or cul-de-sacs, as far as practical, shall be in alignment with existing streets by continuation of the centerline thereof. The staggering of street alignments resulting in “T” intersections shall leave a minimum distance recommended by the city engineer.

D. Future Extension of Streets. Where necessary to give access to or permit a satisfactory future development of adjoining land, streets, bikeways and pedestrian facilities, shall be extended to the boundary of a tract being developed. Reserve strips and street plugs may be required to preserve the objectives of street extensions.

E. Existing Streets.

1. Three-quarter improvements to all existing streets adjacent to, within or necessary to serve the property, shall be required at the time of partitioning or subdivision, unless the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the city engineer that the condition and sections of the existing streets meet city standards and are in satisfactory condition to handle projected traffic loads.

Full street improvements to all existing streets adjacent to, within or necessary to serve the property, shall be required when it is determined that the vehicular and/or pedestrian impacts from the proposed development necessitate such improvements.

2. For infill development that does not include partitioning or subdivision, construction of sidewalks, including curb and gutter where necessary, along all property frontages shall be the minimum requirement of development. A three-quarter street improvement shall be required if the city engineer determines that the existing streets are not in condition to handle projected traffic loads.

3. The city shall require the applicant to record an approved improvement deferral agreement or non-remonstrance agreement, see Section 17.216.030, in lieu of street improvements, where the following criteria are met:

a. The existing roadway condition and sections are adequate to handle existing and projected traffic loads; and

b. Existing public utilities (water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer) located within the existing roadway are adequate, or can be improved without damaging the existing roadway surface.

F. New Streets. Where new streets are created, full street improvements shall be required. Three-quarter streets may be approved in lieu of full street improvements on boundary streets when the city finds it to be practical to require the completion of the other one-quarter street improvement when the adjoining property is developed. The city may allow three-quarter street improvements if all of the following criteria are met:

1. The adjoining land abutting the opposite side of the street is undeveloped; and

2. Storm water drainage is provided for on the non-curbed side of three-quarter street improvements in areas judged by the city engineer to have drainage concerns.

One-foot wide reserve strips and street plugs may be required to preserve the objectives of three-quarter streets.

G. Cul-de-Sacs. Cul-de-sacs shall have maximum lengths of four hundred (400) feet and serve no more than eighteen (18) dwelling units. All cul-de-sacs shall terminate with circular turn-a-rounds.

H. Dead-End Streets. When it appears necessary to continue a street or public access way into a future subdivision or adjacent acreage, streets, or public access way shall be platted to a boundary of a subdivision or partition. The street may be platted without a turnaround unless the planning commission finds that a turnaround is necessary.

I. Street Names. Street names and numbers shall conform to the established pattern in the city and shall be subject to the approval of the city. Street names shall be required for all new publicly dedicated streets and private streets.

J. Grades and Curves. Grades shall not exceed six percent on arterials, ten (10) percent on collectors, or twelve (12) percent on any other public or private street. To provide for adequate drainage, all streets shall have a minimum slope of 0.5 percent. Center line radii of curves shall not be less than three hundred (300) feet on major arterials, two hundred (200) feet on minor arterials, or one hundred (100) feet on other streets, and shall be to an even ten (10) feet. On arterials there shall be a tangent of not less than one hundred (100) feet between reversed curves. Where existing conditions, particularly topography, make it otherwise impractical to provide buildable lots, the planning commission may accept steeper grades and sharper curves.

K. Marginal Access Streets. If a development abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial street or railroad right-of-way, the city may require marginal access streets, reverse frontage lots with suitable depth, screen planting contained in a non-access reservation along the rear or side property line, or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation of through and local traffic.

L. Vision Clearance Area. Vision clearance areas shall be maintained on corner lots at the intersection of all public streets and at the intersections of a public street with a private street as outlined in Section 17.92.080. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006: Ord. 619, 2003)

The following standards are general criteria for public streets, bikeways and sidewalks in the city. These standards shall be the minimum requirements for all streets, except where modifications are permitted under Section 17.64.050.

The property line radius at intersections of local streets shall be twenty (20) feet. All other intersection property line radii shall be according to the specifications of the city engineer. (Ord. 619, 2003)

The city, pursuant to the review procedures of Chapter 17.196, may allow modification to the public street standards of Section 17.64.040, when both of the following criteria are satisfied:

A. The modification is necessary to provide design flexibility in instances where:

1. Unusual topographic conditions require a reduced width or grade separation of improved surfaces; or

2. Parcel shape or configuration precludes accessing a proposed development with a street which meets the full standards of Section 17.64.040; or

3. A modification is necessary to preserve trees or other natural features determined by the city to be significant to the aesthetic character of the area; or

4. A planned unit development is proposed and the modification of street standards is necessary to provide greater privacy or aesthetic quality to the development.

B. Modification of the standards of Section 17.64.040 shall only be approved if the city finds that the specific design proposed provides adequate vehicular access based on anticipated traffic volumes. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Streets and other rights-of-way serving a planned unit development that are not dedicated for public use shall comply with the following:

1. Private streets shall only be allowed where the applicable criteria of Section 17.88.030(C) are satisfied. Private streets shall have a minimum easement width of twenty (20) feet and a minimum paved or curbed width of eighteen (18) feet.

2. Unless otherwise specified in the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction in the City of Carlton, all private streets serving more than two dwelling units shall be constructed to the same pavement section specifications required for public streets. Provision for the maintenance of the street shall be provided in the form of a maintenance agreement, homeowners association, or other instrument acceptable to the city attorney.

3. A turn-around shall be required for any private street which has only one outlet and which is in excess of two hundred (200) feet long or which serves more than two residences. Turn-arounds for private streets shall be either a circular turn-around with a minimum paved radius of thirty-five (35) feet, or a “tee” or “hammerhead” turn-around with a minimum paved dimension across the “tee” of seventy (70) feet and a twenty (20) foot width with appropriate radius at the corners.

B. Any grant of a private street or land functioning as an easement shall not be accepted by the city and dedicated for public use except upon approval of the council and upon meeting the specifications of Sections 17.64.020 and 17.64.040. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A private access easement created as the result of an approved partitioning shall conform to the following:

A. Partition access easements shall only be allowed where the applicable criteria of Section 17.88.030(D) are satisfied. The easement shall comply with the following standards:

1. Minimum width: twenty (20) feet;

2. Minimum paved or curb to curb width: twenty (20) feet;

3. Maximum length: two hundred fifty (250) feet;

4. No more than three dwelling units shall have sole access to the easement.

B. Unless otherwise specified in the Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction in the City of Carlton, all private streets serving more than two dwelling units shall be constructed to the same pavement section specifications required for public streets. Provision for the maintenance of the street shall be provided in the form of a maintenance agreement, homeowners association, or other instrument acceptable to the city attorney.

C. A turn-around shall be required for any access easement which has only one outlet and which is in excess of two hundred (200) feet long or which serves more than two residences. Turn-arounds shall be either a circular turn-around with a minimum paved radius of thirty-five (35) feet, or a “tee” or “hammerhead” turn-around with a minimum paved dimension across the “tee” of seventy (70) feet and a twenty (20) foot width with appropriate radius at the corners.

D. All private access easements serving more than two residences shall be designated as fire lanes and signed for no parking. (Ord. 662 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2007: Ord. 619, 2003)