(A) The purpose of this subchapter is to protect, maintain, and enhance the public health, safety, and general welfare by establishing minimum standards for construction of all required by the Bedford Unified Development Code, and procedures to control, review, and approve the construction of these public improvements as well as procedures for the control and maintenance of the city rights-of-way.
(B) The City of Bedford is responsible for maintaining all streets and structures accepted within the Bedford rights-of-way and it is therefore necessary to set minimum standards for the construction of all improvements for which the city will be responsible, in order to avoid assuming unnecessary maintenance costs and inconvenience to the citizens and businesses of the City of Bedford.
(C) All improvements intended for public use, to be constructed in a city right-of-way or easement, or to be constructed as a privately maintained improvement must conform to city standards according to the Planning Commission requirements, the Bedford Unified Development Code, and shall conform to or exceed the standards as set forth in this subchapter.
(D) The standards set forth in this subchapter are intended to be minimum standards. Variances from these standards may be considered by the Bedford Board of Public Works and Safety upon written application to the Board citing unusual conditions justifying changes based upon sound engineering practices. Proposed variances shall have been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Department, as appropriate, before consideration by the Board of Public Works and Safety.
(E) All improvements shall be constructed to conform to the current standard specifications of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), referred to in this subchapter as “standard specifications”, except where deviations are hereinafter allowed, or variances granted. The standard specifications can be found on the INDOT website.
(Ord. 25-2021, passed 11-15-21)