(A) Type of street required. All subdivision lots shall abut on a public street. All public streets shall be dedicated to the town, the state or the public, as determined appropriate by the Board of Commissioners. All public streets shall be built to the standards of this chapter and all other applicable standards of the town and the state’s Department of Transportation. Public streets not dedicated to the town which are eligible for acceptance into the state highway system shall be constructed to the standards necessary to be put on the state highway system or the standards in this chapter, whichever is more strict, in regard to each particular item, and shall be put on the system. Streets not dedicated to the town which are not eligible to be put on the state highway system because there are too few lots or residences shall nevertheless be dedicated to the public and shall be in accordance with the standards in this chapter or the standards necessary to be put on the state highway system, whichever is more strict in regard to each particular item, so as to be eligible to be put on the system at a later date. A written maintenance agreement with provisions for maintenance of the street until it is put on the state system shall be included with the final plat.
(B) Subdivision street disclosure statement. All streets shown on the final plat shall be designated in accordance with G.S. § 136-102.6 and designation as public shall be conclusively presumed an offer of dedication to the public. Where streets are dedicated to the public but not accepted into a municipal or the state system, a statement explaining the status of the street shall be included with the final plat before lots are sold.
(C) Half-streets. The dedication of half-streets of less than 60 feet at the perimeter of a new subdivision shall be prohibited. If circumstances render this impractical, adequate provision for the concurrent dedication of the remaining half of the street shall be furnished by the subdivider. Where there exists a half-street in an adjoining subdivision, the remaining half shall be provided by the proposed subdivision. However, in circumstances where more than 60 feet of right-of-way is required, a partial width right-of-way, not less than 60 feet in width, may be dedicated when adjoining undeveloped property is owned or controlled by the subdivider, provided that the width of the partial dedication is so as to permit the installation of facilities as may be necessary to serve abutting lots. When the adjoining property is subdivided, the remainder of the full required right-of-way shall be dedicated.
(D) Marginal access streets. Where a tract of land to be subdivided adjoins a principal arterial street, the subdivider may be required to provide a marginal access street parallel to the arterial street or reverse frontage on a minor street for the lots to be developed adjacent to the arterial. Where reverse frontage is established, private driveways shall be prevented from having direct access to the principal arterial.
(E) Access to adjacent properties. Where in the opinion of the Board of Commissioners it is necessary to provide for street access to an adjoining property, proposed streets shall be extended by dedication to the boundary of the property and a temporary turnaround provided. The extension dedicated shall have the same right-of-way width as the street being extended.
(F) Nonresidential streets. The subdivider of a nonresidential subdivision shall provide streets in accordance with I. F-4 of the state’s Department of Transportation, Division of Highways Subdivision Roads, Minimum Construction Standards, current issue and the standards in this chapter, whichever are more strict in regard to each particular item.
(G) Design standards.
(1) In general.
(a) The design of all streets and roads within the jurisdiction of this chapter shall be in accordance with the accepted policies of the state’s Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, as taken or modified from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) manuals.
(b) The current issue of the state’s Department of Transportation, Division of Highways Subdivision Roads Minimum Construction Standards shall apply for any items not included in this chapter, or where more strict than this chapter.
(c) The provision of street rights-of-way shall conform to and meet the requirements of the thoroughfare plan of the town as approved by the Planning Board and adopted by the Board of Commissioners and the state’s Board of Transportation.
(d) The urban planning area shall consist of that area within the urban planning boundary as depicted on the mutually adopted town thoroughfare plan.
(e) The rural planning area shall be that area outside the urban planning boundary.
(2) Right-of-way widths. Right-of-way widths shall not be less than the following and shall apply except in those cases where right-of-way requirements have been specifically set out in the thoroughfare plan.
Rural | Minimum Right-of-Way (Feet) |
Rural | Minimum Right-of-Way (Feet) |
Local road | 50* |
Major collector | 100 |
Minor collector | 100 |
Minor arterial | 100 |
Principal arterial: | |
Freeways | 350 |
Other | 200 |
*The desirable minimum right-of-way is established as 50 feet. If curb and gutter are provided, 50 feet of right-of-way is adequate on local residential streets. | |
Urban | Minimum Right-of-Way (Feet) |
Urban | Minimum Right-of-Way (Feet) |
Cul-de-sac | 50 |
Cul-de-sac turnaround | 100 |
Local street | 50* |
Major thoroughfare other than freeway and expressway | 90 |
Minor thoroughfare | 70 |
*The desirable minimum right-of-way is established as 50 feet. If curb and gutter are provided, 50 feet of right-of-way is adequate on local residential streets. | |
The subdivider will only be required to dedicate a maximum of 100 feet of right-of-way. In cases where over 100 feet of right-of-way is desired, the subdivider will be required only to reserve the amount in excess of 100 feet. In all cases in which right-of-way is sought for an access controlled facility, the subdivider will only be required to make a reservation. | |
(3) Street widths. Widths for street and road classifications other than local shall be as required by the thoroughfare plan. Width of local roads and streets shall be as follows:
(a) Local residential:
1. Curb and gutter section: 26 feet, face-to-face of curb; or
2. Shoulder section: 20 feet to edge of pavement, four-foot shoulders.
(b) Residential collector:
1. Curb and gutter section: 34 feet, face-to-face of curb; or
2. Shoulder section: 20 feet to edge of pavement, six-foot shoulders.
(4) Geometric characteristics. The standards outlined below shall apply to all subdivision streets proposed for addition to the state highway system or municipal street system. In cases where a subdivision is sought adjacent to a proposed thoroughfare corridor, the requirements of dedication and reservation discussed under right-of-way shall apply.
(a) Design speed. The design speeds for subdivision-type streets shall be:
Minimum | Desirable | |
Rural | ||
50* | Local roads including residential collectors and local residential | 50 |
Urban | ||
40** | Local streets | 40 |
*Based on projected annual average daily traffic of 400 to 750. In cases where a road will serve a very limited area and small number of dwelling units, minimum design speeds can be reduced further, but in no case below 25. | ||
**Based on projected annual average daily traffic of 50 to 250 | ||
(b) Maximum and minimum grades.
1. The maximum grades in percent shall be:
Design Speed | Grade |
40 or less | 6 |
2. A minimum grade for curbed streets normally should not be less than 0.5%; a grade of 0.35% may be allowed where there is a high type pavement accurately crowned and in areas where specific drainage conditions may control.
3. Grades for 100 feet each way from intersections should not exceed 5%.
4. For streets and roads with projected annual average daily traffic less than 250, short grades less than 500 feet long, may be 150% greater.
(c) Minimum sight distances.
1. In the interest of public safety, no less than the minimum sight distance applicable shall be provided in every instance.
2. Vertical curves that connect each change in grade shall be provided and calculated using the following parameters. (General practice calls for vertical curves to be multiples of 50 feet. Calculated lengths shall be rounded up in each case.)
Design speed (mph) | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
Design speed (mph) | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
Stopping sight distance: | |||||
Min. stopping distance, feet | 150 | 200 | 275 | 400 | 525 |
Des. stopping distance, feet | 150 | 200 | 325 | 475 | 650 |
Minimum K* value for: | |||||
Min. crest vert. curve | 16 | 28 | 55 | 85 | 160 |
Des. crest vert. curve | 16 | 28 | 65 | 145 | 300 |
Min. SAG vert. curve | 24 | 35 | 55 | 75 | 105 |
Des. SAG vert. curve | 24 | 35 | 60 | 100 | 155 |
*K is a coefficient by which the algebraic difference in grade may be multiplied to determine the length in feet of the vertical curve which will provide minimum sight distance. Sight distance provided for stopped vehicles at intersections shall be in accordance with A Policy on Geometric Design of Rural Highways and Ch. 153 of this code. | |||||
(d) Degree of curve and design speeds.
1. The following table shows the maximum degree of curve and related maximum superelevation for design speeds.
2. The maximum rate of roadway superelevation (e) for rural roads with no curb and gutter is .08.
3. The maximum rate of superelevation for urban streets with curb and gutter is .06 with .04 being desirable.
Degree Curve (Rounded) Degrees | Design Speed (mph) | Maximum e* | Minimum Radius (Rounded) Feet |
Degree Curve (Rounded) Degrees | Design Speed (mph) | Maximum e* | Minimum Radius (Rounded) Feet |
19.0 | 30 | .04 | 300 |
10.0 | 40 | .04 | 560 |
6.0 | 50 | .04 | 950 |
4.0 | 60 | .04 | 1,500 |
21.0 | 30 | .06 | 275 |
11.5 | 40 | .06 | 510 |
7.0 | 50 | .06 | 850 |
4.5 | 60 | .06 | 1,375 |
23.0 | 30 | .08 | 250 |
12.5 | 40 | .08 | 460 |
7.5 | 50 | .08 | 760 |
5.0 | 60 | .08 | 1,200 |
*Rate of roadway superelevation, foot per foot. | |||
(5) Intersections.
(a) Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, and no street shall intersect any other street at an angle less than 60 degrees.
(b) Property lines at intersections should be set so that the distance from the edge of pavement, of the street turnout, to the property line will be at least as great as the distance from the edge of pavement to the property line along the intersecting streets. This property line can be established as a radius or as a sight triangle. Greater offsets from the edge of pavement to the property lines will be required, if necessary, to provide sight distance for the vehicle on the side street.
(c) Offset intersections are to be avoided unless exception is granted by the Division of Highways or the town as applicable. Intersections which cannot be aligned should be separated by a minimum length of 200 feet between survey and centerlines.
(d) Intersections with arterials, collectors and thoroughfares shall be at least 1,000 feet from centerline to centerline, or more if required by the state’s Department of Transportation.
(6) Cul-de-sacs. Permanent dead-end streets should not exceed 500 feet in length unless necessitated by topography or property accessibility and in no case shall be permitted to be over 900 feet. Measurement shall be from the point where the centerline of the dead-end street intersects with the center of a through street to the center of the turnaround of the cul-de-sac. Where one cul-de-sac intersects with another cul-de-sac, the end of each cul-de-sac shall be no more than 500 to 900 feet from a through street, measured as stated above. The distance from the edge of pavement on the vehicular turnaround to the right-of-way line shall not be less than the distance from the edge of pavement to the right-of-way line on the street approaching the turnaround. Cul-de-sacs should not be used to avoid connection with an existing street or to avoid the extension of an important street, unless exception is granted by the Board of Commissioners.
(7) Alleys.
(a) Alleys shall be required to serve lots used for commercial and industrial purposes except that this requirement may be waived where other definite and assured provision is made for service access. Alleys shall not be provided in residential subdivisions unless necessitated by unusual circumstances.
(b) The width of an alley shall be at least 20 feet.
(c) Dead-end alleys shall be avoided where possible, but if unavoidable, shall be provided with adequate turnaround facilities at the dead-end as may be approved by the Board of Commissioners.
(d) Sharp changes in alignment and grade shall be avoided.
(e) All alleys shall be designated in accordance with the state’s Department of Transportation standards.
(H) Other requirements.
(1) Through traffic discouraged on residential collector and local streets. Residential collector and local streets shall be laid out in 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.
(2) Sidewalks. Sidewalks may be required by the Board of Commissioners 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. Sidewalks shall be constructed to a minimum width of four feet, and shall consist of a minimum thickness of four inches of concrete. All sidewalks shall be placed in the right-of-way, unless the development is platted as a planned unit or group development. Sidewalks shall consist of a minimum of six inches of concrete at driveway crossings.
(3) 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 town, and its extraterritorial jurisdiction or the county irrespective of the use of a suffix such as street, road, drive, place, court and the like. Street names shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Commissioners.
(4) Street name signs. The subdivider shall be required to provide street name signs for all intersections within the subdivision. These street name signs shall be purchased through the town, and installed by town workers. The subdivider shall pay the town for the signs and their installation.
(5) 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.
(6) Offsets to utility poles. Poles for overhead utilities should be located clear of roadway shoulders, preferably a minimum of at least 30 feet from the edge of pavement on major thoroughfares. On streets with curb and gutter, utility poles should be set back a minimum distance of six feet from the face of curb.
(7) Wheelchair ramps. In accordance with G.S. § 136-44.14, all street curbs in the state 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 disabled at all intersections where both curb and gutter and sidewalks are provided and at other major points of pedestrian flow.
(8) Horizontal width on bridge deck.
(a) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges serving two-lane, two-way traffic shall be as follows.
1. Shoulder section approach.
a. Under 800 ADT design year: Minimum 28 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails or pavement width plus ten feet, whichever is greater.
b. 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.
c. Over 2000 ADT design year: Minimum 40 feet. Desirable 44 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails.
2. Curb and gutter approach.
a. Under 800 ADT design year: Minimum 24 feet face-to-face of curbs.
b. Over 800 ADT design year: Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs.
(b) 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 one foot, six inches minimum, or greater if sidewalks are required.
(c) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges having four or more lanes serving undivided two-way traffic shall be as follows:
1. Shoulder section approach: Width of approach pavement plus width of usable shoulders on the approach left and right.
2. Curb and gutter approach: Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs.
(9) Curb and gutter. Curb and gutter shall be provided where deemed necessary by the Board of Commissioners with advice from the Planning Board, Public Services Director or the town’s consulting engineer in order to provide adequate drainage, or because high traffic volumes, soil conditions or other similar conditions or special problems exist.
(Ord. 21- , passed - -2021) Penalty, see § 151.99