(a) Purpose. To ensure that landscape materials do not constitute a driving hazard, a clear sight triangle will be observed at all street intersections or intersections of driveways with streets.
(1) Definition. A “clear sight triangle” is the triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points located on intersecting right-of-way lines (or a right-of-way line and the edge of an access road), each point being 35 feet from the intersection, and the two intersecting right-of-way lines (or a right-of-way line and an access road). See Figure 1260.08(A).
(2) Design. The entire area of the clear sight triangle should be designed as illustrated in Figure 1260.08(A) to provide the driver of the vehicle entering the intersection with an unobstructed view to all points nine feet above the roadway along the centerline. The recommended distance depends upon the design speed of the higher-order street and therefore is greater for arterial streets than for collectors.
(b) Restrictions Within Clear Sight Triangles. Within the sight triangle no landscape material with a height greater than 12 inches shall be permitted with the exception of trees which conform to the following standards. Trees shall be permitted within the sight triangles as long as, except during early growth stages, only the tree trunk (no limbs, leaves, etc.) is visible between the ground and nine feet above the ground, or otherwise does not present a traffic visibility hazard. Restrictions shall not apply to the following:
(1) Existing natural grades which, by reason of natural topography, rise 12 or more inches above the level of the center of the adjacent intersection;
(2) Fire hydrants, public utility poles, street markers, governmental signs, and traffic control devices.
(Ord. 12-64. Passed 3-12-13.)