Loading...
This section shall establish design, construction, and maintenance requirements for new sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be provided where required by the Planning Commission for safety, or access to recreational and educational facilities. These requirements shall also apply to existing residential subdivisions with public streets platted without sidewalks that desire to add sidewalks. Sidewalks installed prior to the date of adoption of this section shall be considered legally non-conforming and are not subject to the provisions of this section.
(A) Construction plans required. The location of all sidewalks, including curb ramps, pedestrian crossings and other accessible facilities, as well as all appropriate construction, pavement marking and signage details, shall be shown on the construction plans for the overall subdivision. These features shall be prepared in conformance with the specifications identified herein as well as the design and construction details kept on file with the Planning and Development Director.
(B) Design and construction standards. All new sidewalks shall be designed and constructed to meet or exceed the latest applicable standards for handicapped access established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), guidelines from the United States Access Board for Pedestrian Facilities in Public Rights-of-Way, A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, and The Guide for Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, both published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and any other applicable federal, state, or local standards.
(1) Sidewalks adjacent to corner lots, at all intersections, and those crossing internal streets shall be designed with curb ramps, detectable warnings, and appropriate pavement markings and signage as required by ADA and any other applicable federal, state, or local standards. Each of these elements, including sign type and location, shall be identified on the construction plans.
(2) Concrete shall be no less than four inches in thickness and shall be specified with a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 pounds per square inch at 28 days. The sidewalk shall be placed on a minimum of four inches of properly compacted graded aggregate base placed to city specifications.
(3) The construction of all new sidewalks shall comply with Section 720 of the Standard Specifications for Highway Construction Manual, latest edition, as amended.
(C) Encroachment and/or building permit required. Construction of new sidewalks shall be included in the building permit issued for the property where it is located. Any repair work on a sidewalk shall require an encroachment permit from the Planning and Development Director or his or her designee. Such permits shall comply with the requirements as identified herein.
(D) Site preparation and inspection. An inspection shall be required for all new sidewalks.
(1) The Planning and Development Director or his or her designee shall be provided no less than three working days' notice prior to any material being placed in order that an inspection may be made of the compacted sub-grade, the forms, and the spacing of expansion and contraction joints. Excavation and grading shall be smooth and to the proper depth as specified herein.
(2) All large stones, boulders, roots, vegetation and other debris shall be removed from the project area, and the sub-grade shall be fine-graded to conform to the profile and grade of the sidewalk when complete. Soft, spongy, or loamy areas within the project area shall be removed and replaced with suitable soils, and the project area shall be properly compacted prior to any concrete being poured.
(3) Final inspection of constructed sidewalks shall be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(E) Provision of grass strip. A minimum two-foot-wide grass strip shall be provided between the back of curb and the front edge of the sidewalk. In no case shall a sidewalk be constructed against the back of the curb without a grass strip.
(1) Small maturing trees, shrubs, groundcover or vegetation other than grass shall not be located within said grass strip or within four feet from the edge of the sidewalk. Medium or large maturing trees, as defined in the city's tree ordinance, shall not be planted within eight feet of the edge of a sidewalk and shall include an appropriate root barrier along the edge of the sidewalk for a distance of no less than 20 feet. Root barrier product specifications and depth of installation must be approved by the Planning and Development Director prior to installation.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the homeowners’ association and/or the property owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the adjoining property to maintain no less than an eight-foot clear zone above the sidewalk. This area shall be maintained free of vegetative or other obstructions by the owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the adjoining property.
(F) Bonding required. The repair and replacement of sidewalks (as needed) shall be included within the maintenance bond submitted as a part of the platting process for the overall subdivision. Said bond shall guarantee the completed sidewalks against any defects or improper construction for a period of no less than two years from the date of final plat approval.
(G) Maintenance responsibilities. The final plat and restrictive deeds and covenants shall be recorded for each new subdivision, or, if applicable, to existing developments specifically stating the repair and maintenance of all new sidewalks and landscape strips shall be the sole responsibility of the homeowners’ association and/or the property owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the adjoining property.
(1) Any property owners, occupants, or agents in charge of adjoining property and the homeowners' association, if applicable, shall be liable to the city for any claim or demand made upon the city which arises from a direct or indirect violation of this section and shall hold the city harmless and indemnify the city for any such claim or demand. When the Planning and Development Director or his or her designee determines there is a violation of this section, he or she may cause a notice to be served upon the bonded contractor, property owners, occupants, homeowners’ association, or agents in charge of the property or landscape strip directing that repair or maintenance or removal of obstructions be made at the cost and expense of such owners, occupants, or agents in charge of the property. In the event such work is not done, the city may perform such work and the cost of such repairs and maintenance or removal of obstruction shall constitute a lien against such property and shall be foreclosed in the same manner provided by law for the foreclosure of municipal liens. This division, or language similar to this division and approved by the City Attorney, shall be included on any final plat and in the restrictive deeds and covenants for the subdivision or development.
(2) All sidewalks shall be kept clean from rocks and other obstructions and in a good state of repair by the owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the adjoining property. A sidewalk in good repair shall be free of cracks, floats, obstructions, depressions, and all other defects and shall have a uniform longitudinal and transverse gradient.
(H) Duty to repair and replace. Upon detection of any defective or damaged sidewalk, the Planning and Development Director or his or her designee shall cause a notice to be served upon the bonded contractor, property owner and/or homeowners' association directing that repairs and/or replacement be accomplished within a designated period of time. Failure to comply with the terms of this notice shall cause forfeiture of bond or a citation issued to the property owner and/or homeowners' association.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2016-015, passed 10-11-16; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999
If the area being subdivided, or any part thereof, is located within the boundary of a designated special flood hazard area, as delineated by the Federal Insurance Rate Maps for the city, adequate plans and specifications for protection from flooding shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 152.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24)
(A) Street lighting shall be provided in accordance with all city standards.
(B) A street lighting plan is required for all new developments where additional streets are installed. The street lighting plan shall be included in the preliminary plat for all major subdivisions.
(C) Street lights shall be spaced 280 - 320 feet apart and at all intersections. The design of street lighting should take into account the location and spacing of street trees. The locations, type, and specifications must receive prior approval by the Director of Public Utilities. Electrical service to developments must comply with the policies, requirements and inspections with the Public Utilities Department.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999
The city shall provide garbage and trash collection. The developer shall be required to provide concrete pads for container storage in addition to other related requirements as specified by the Director of Public Utilities.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999
(A) Conformity required. All applications for which any utility outlined in the chapter is created, extended, or enlarged shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.
(B) Installation responsibility. The applicant shall be responsible for the installation of all water and sewer utilities to serve the proposed development at their expense.
(C) Utility improvements required prior to approval. Utility improvements must be completed and approved prior to approval of any final plat or occupancy of the site, except when an improvement guarantee is approved by City Council.
(D) Underground utilities. All public utilities including electric, water, sewer, gas, fiber, telephone and cable shall be installed underground, except for electric transmission lines and any cable, telephone, or fiber lines co-located on electric transmission poles and towers.
(E) Utility location.
(1) Utilities shall be located within the street right-of-way and parallel to the street to the maximum extent possible. Any utilities located outside the street right-of-way shall be maintained by an established homeowners’ association.
(2) Lots that are adjacent to existing overhead utilities may be serviced from those lines. The service connections shall be located underground.
(3) Sewer cleanouts and water meters shall not be located within any sidewalk or driveway.
(4) Utilities shall be installed in accordance with requirements of the Public Utilities Department.
(F) Water and sewer.
(1) Applicants must hold a pre-application meeting with the Public Utilities Department prior to the development of any utility plans.
(2) Onsite disposal. In order to protect water sources and protect public health from possible contamination by improper methods of sewage disposal, the Director of Public Utilities may only approve on-site, subsurface sewage disposal systems if the following conditions are met:
(a) The existing city or other public sewer system is not readily accessible to the development site.
(b) It is infeasible or economically prohibitive to extend the city system to the property.
(c) The soil percolation and absorption are satisfactory.
(d) On-site disposal will not endanger ground water supplies below the level of the absorption system.
(e) In the event it is necessary to install subsurface sewage disposal systems, soil percolation, absorption, and water table tests shall be performed in accordance with SC DHEC requirements.
(3) Water supply requirements. The applicant or developer shall install the approved water supply system as follows:
(a) The city shall be the water provider for any subdivision or project located within the city’s water service area.
(b) Subdivisions or projects within the city limits but outside of the city’s water service area shall identify a public water supply system to service the site. The applicant or developer shall provide documentation certifying the public water system can provide adequate flow for a minimum of a six-inch diameter water main in order to supply adequate flow for fire protection.
(c) Water systems within a subdivision shall be designed as a looped system in order to provide adequate water pressure and availability.
(4) Sanitary sewer requirements. The applicant or developer shall install the approved sanitary sewer system as follows:
(a) Existing sewer system. Where there is an existing sewer system or near the project site, a complete sanitary sewage collection system must be installed and connected to the city system or other existing public system.
(b) If connection to a public sanitary sewer system is not possible, install subsurface sewage disposal systems in accordance with SC DHEC requirements.
(5) Plans for installation of a potable water supply system and a sanitary sewer system must be prepared by a South Carolina registered professional engineer. Such plans shall be approved by the Director of Public Utilities and, to the extent required, SC DHEC.
(G) Electric service.
(1) Electric service in the city limits shall be provided by the city unless the site is located within another electric service provider’s service area.
(2) The applicant or developer shall provide plans for electric service to the Director of Public Utilities for approval. Plans must be prepared by a South Carolina registered professional engineer.
(3) For residential subdivisions, the applicant or developer shall be responsible for installation of primary conduit for underground electric lines. The city shall provide the conduit to be installed.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 10-036, passed 8-24-10; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999
(A) All streets and any secondary access roads shall have an unobstructed width of 20 feet with a minimum vertical clearance of 13 feet, six inches.
(B) All houses in the subdivision shall have proper house numbers identifying the correct street address as specified by the 911 Committee.
(C) Fire hydrants shall be installed so that the maximum distance from any fire hydrant shall not exceed 500 feet as measured along the roadway. The location and spacing of the hydrants shall be approved by the Fire Chief of the city.
(D) All fire hydrants shall be supplied by a minimum of a six-inch diameter water main.
(E) Hydrants shall be Mueller A-421 LEFT - 3½ feet bury or approved equal.
(F) Fences, trees, signs, or landscaping will not be installed so as to obstruct or screen fire hydrants.
(Ord., passed 10-13-92; Am. Ord. 07-019, passed 8-14-07; Am. Ord. 2024-012, passed 6-11-24) Penalty, see § 156.999
Loading...