The following shall be the required standards to be observed for the design of blocks.
(A) Residential block length. In general, intersecting streets which determine block length shall be provided at such intervals as necessary and to meet existing street patterns, topography and requirements for safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian circulation. Blocks, however, normally shall not exceed 1,000 feet in length, nor be less than 40 feet in length.
(B) Residential block width. The width of blocks shall be sufficient, generally, to allow two tiers of lots of appropriate depth.
(C) Pedestrian mid-block sidewalks. Pedestrian mid-block sidewalks may be required within blocks where necessary to improve pedestrian circulation by providing more convenient access to schools, shopping and the like than is possible with the sidewalks within the street right-of-way. Such crosswalks shall have a right-of-way width of at least ten feet.
(D) Sidewalks. For all developments consisting of ten or more houses, the subdivider shall build Portland cement concrete sidewalks on both sides of the street which shall be four feet wide and four inches thick. Sidewalk construction shall be performed by the developers as part of the required improvements and shall be completed prior to final plat approval or shall be bonded. This requirement may be waived by the Planning Commission for developments in which all lots are greater than two acres and in which no road frontage is less than 250 feet. Alternatively, if all building lines are set at least 100 feet from the right-of-way, the sidewalk requirement may also be waived by the Planning Commission.
(1) In conventional developments, sidewalks shall be placed in the right-of-way, parallel to the street, unless an exception is permitted to preserve topographical or natural features or to provide visual interest. Alternate paved pedestrian systems located away from the road system may be appropriate in some types of planned developments allowing links between dwelling units, streets and recreation areas. Additionally, the Planning Commission may require the provision of a pedestrian way access easement to adjacent subdivisions or the Cedar Creek Lake buffer area if appropriate to a development. Such access easement shall be a minimum of ten feet and may be unpaved. Provisions for maintenance of the easement should be noted on the plat.
(2) All commercial development shall have sidewalks provided by the developer. Such sidewalks shall be of portland cement concrete and shall be eight feet wide and four inches thick.
(E) Nonresidential blocks. Blocks intended for nonresidential uses shall be of such length, width and other design as the Commission finds necessary for the prospective use, including adequate provisions for off-street parking, loading and unloading of trucked goods, and limitation and control of vehicular access points to adjacent streets.
(F) Infill. Development of blocks of land between existing development shall provide harmonious infill of these areas.
(Ord. passed 4-1-2003) Penalty, see § 153.99