(a) Through traffic discouraged on residential collector and local streets. Residential collector and local streets shall be laid out in such a way that their use by through traffic will be discouraged. Streets shall be designed or walkways dedicated to assure convenient access to parks, playgrounds, schools or other places of public assembly.
(b) Traffic calming. New streets that encompass more than one block shall not be straight for their entire length. They shall instead provide an adequate number of T-intersections or curve to reduce potential speeding. Exceptions may be made due to extreme topography, water or other natural features. In these cases, however, alternative, City Council approved traffic calming devices shall be installed.
(c) Sidewalks. Sidewalks are required on at least one side of each new street and may be recommended by the Planning Board and required by the City Council on one or both sides of the street in areas likely to be subject to heavy pedestrian traffic such as near schools and shopping areas. Such sidewalks shall be constructed to a minimum width of five feet, and shall consist of a minimum thickness of four inches of concrete, except at non-residential driveways it shall be six inches thick. All sidewalks shall be placed in the right-of-way, unless the development is platted as a planned unit or group development. The sidewalk shall be separated from the street by a minimum four foot wide planting strip unless on-street parking is provided. The planting strip width may be reduced when there is insufficient right-of-way on existing streets.
(d) Street names. Proposed streets which are obviously in alignment with existing streets shall be given the same name. In assigning new names, duplication of existing names shall be avoided and in no case shall the proposed name be phonetically similar to existing names in the county irrespective of the use of a suffix such as street, road, drive, place, court, etc. Street names shall be subject to the approval of the City Council.
(e) Street name signs. The subdivider shall be required to provide and erect street name signs to the city standards at all intersections with the subdivision.
(f) Permits for connection to state roads. An approved permit is required for connection to any existing state system road. This permit is required prior to any construction on the street or road. The application is available at the office of the nearest District Engineer of the Division of Highways.
(g) Offsets to utility poles. When overhead utilities must be used, poles for overhead utilities should be located clear of roadway shoulders. On streets with curb and gutter, utility poles should be set back a minimum distance of six feet from the face of curb.
(h) Wheelchair ramps. In accordance with Chapter 136, Article 2A, Section 136-44.14, all street curbs in North Carolina being constructed or reconstructed for maintenance procedures, traffic operations, repairs, correction of utilities, or altered for any reason after September 1, 1973, shall provide wheelchair ramps for the physically handicapped at all intersections where both curb and gutter are provided and at other major points of pedestrian flow.
(i) Horizontal width on bridge deck.
(1) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges serving two lane, two-way traffic shall be as follows:
a. Shoulder section approach
1. Under 800 ADT Design Year:
Minimum 28 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails or pavement width plus 10 feet, whichever is greater.
2. 800-2000 ADT Design Year:
Minimum 34 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails or pavement width plus 12 feet, whichever is greater.
3. Over 800-2000 ADT Design Year:
Minimum 40 feet. Desirable 44 feet width face-to-face width of parapets or rails.
b. Curb and gutter approach.
1. Under 800 ADT Design Year:
Minimum 24 feet face-to-face of curbs.
2. Over 800 ADT Design Year:
Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs.
Where curb and gutter sections are used on roadway approaches, curbs on bridges shall match the curbs on approaches in height, in width of face-to-face of curbs, and in crown drop. The distance from face of curb to face of parapet or rail shall be 1' 6" minimum, or greater if sidewalks are required.
(2) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges having four or more lanes serving undivided two-way traffic shall be as follows:
a. Shoulder section approach:
Width of approach pavement plus width of usable shoulders on the approach left and right.
Min. 8'; Desirable 10'.
b. Curb and gutter approach. Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs.
(Ord. of 4-6-92, No. 190-92; Ord. of 3-6-06, No. 5-06)