(A) Sidewalks shall be installed in accordance with the compatibility development concept, as required by use regulations for specific uses, in nonresidential development located within the employment mixed use and compact mixed use classifications identified by the county’s land use plan, or as otherwise stated herein.
(B) Sidewalks required by this chapter shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following standards.
(1) The sidewalk shall be constructed of concrete material;
(2) The developer shall bear the costs of the installation of the sidewalks required for all new or existing streets with specifications of the county. In lieu of requiring the installation prior to approval the developer may enter into an agreement with the county in accordance with § 153.164;
(3) Shoulders shall be sufficient to permit the adequate installation and maintenance of sidewalks and utilities, as well as provide sufficient clear zone, as defined by NCDOT, for safe use by errant vehicles;
(4) The minimum thickness of a sidewalk shall be four inches and six inches at driveways; and with a minimum width of five feet. Sidewalks shall have a uniform slope toward the roadway of one-fourth inch per foot. The utility strip between the sidewalk and the back of curb shall not be less than one-fourth inch per foot nor greater than one-half inch per foot toward the roadway;
(5) Where sidewalks and/or greenways intersect any section of curb and gutter, a wheelchair ramp shall be installed. In all other instances, the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, being 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. shall be adhered to;
(6) Grooved construction joints shall be cut to a depth equal to at least one-third of the total slab thickness. The joint shall be no less than one-eighth inch in width and cut at intervals equal to the width of the sidewalk. A one-half inch expansion joint filled with joint filler shall be placed between all rigid objects and placed no farther than 50 feet apart for sidewalks and curb and gutter, extending the full depth of the concrete with top of the filler one-half inch below the finished surface;
(7) Maintenance of sidewalks will be the responsibility of the homeowners association or comparable individual or group that has responsibility for other common areas. Maintenance of sidewalks shall be addressed in the organizational papers and by-laws;
(8) Sidewalks shall be located within the dedicated, non-paved portion of the street right-of-way as follows unless otherwise noted:
Street Classification | Location | Minimum Width | Minimum Distance off Back of Curb |
Street Classification | Location | Minimum Width | Minimum Distance off Back of Curb |
All streets in any neo-traditional development | Both sides of street | 5 feet | 3.5 feet |
Collector, local, or cul-de-sac streets in any nonresidential or multifamily development | Both sides of street | 5 feet | 3.5 feet |
Collector street in any residential development | One side of street | 4 feet | 3.5 feet |
Local street or cul-de-sac street in any residential development | One side of street | 4 feet | 3.5 feet |
Major thoroughfare | Both sides of street | 5 feet | 6.5 feet |
Minor thoroughfare | Both sides of street | 5 feet | 5.5 feet |
Private right-of-way | Same standard as above for comparable public right-of-way. | ||
(9) Sidewalks to be located within watershed, flood areas, or designated wetlands may be substituted with pervious greenways, such as pervious pavers, as approved by the Administrator or Development Review Board upon site plan review. In no case shall sidewalks required by the comprehensive transportation plan be substituted with pervious greenways.
(Ord. passed 10-17-2011; Res. passed 3-21-2016)