The design of streets shall conform to standards established by this chapter and the town adopted standards for construction.
(A) Street access.
(1) To protect residential properties from the nuisance and hazard of high volume traffic and to preserve the traffic function of major streets in other types of developments, subdivisions shall, where possible, front onto and take access from collector and local streets.
(2) Where a proposed subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial street or major highway, the development shall be designed to either:
(a) Provide lots that front to local streets with a non-access easement along the major street; or
(b) Utilize a frontage/access road and provide lots that face and take access from the frontage road.
(B) Cul-de-sac streets. Cul-de-sac streets will serve no more than 20 dwelling units and shall be no longer than 600 feet measured from the intersection of the right-of-way lines to the center point of turning circle along the street center line. Cul-de-sac design must comply with La Paz County Standards or other standards adopted or amended by the town.
(C) Private streets. Private streets shall conform to above stated design standards unless otherwise approved by the Town Council.
(D) Dead-end streets. Dead-end streets will not be approved except in locations recommended by the Public Works Director as necessary to future development of adjacent lands.
(E) Private access and driveways. Access from private property to any dedicated street shall be constructed in accordance with permits issued by the town. Width of driveway at the property line shall be a minimum of 12 feet and a maximum of 40 feet. The width will depend on the access to be served (i.e., residential or commercial/industrial uses). Minimum driveway spacing shall be as defined in the town adopted standards for construction. Exceptions to this requirement may be approved by the Public Works Director based on unusual site constraints.
(F) Alleys.
(1) Alleys shall be designed with a minimum of 24 feet of pavement when there is residential property on both sides and 30 feet when abutting commercial or industrial properties.
(2) Alley intersections shall have corner cutbacks of not less than ten feet.
(3) Cul-de-sac alleys shall have a turnaround of at least 45 feet in diameter. Dead-end alleys are not, permitted. Such must comply with La Paz County Design Standards or other standards adopted or amended by the town.
(4) Cul-de-sac alleys shall not be longer than 300 feet, measured from the intersection of the right-of-way lines to the center point of the turning circle along the street center line, nor serve more than ten lots.
(5) Paved service areas may be substituted for alleys at the rear of lots intended for retail business or multi-family use. Service areas used for refuse collections shall be adequately concealed.
(6) Alleys are not required in residential subdivisions, except that the commission may require that they be dedicated in certain situations to complete existing patterns or to serve as secondary access to adjacent properties. Alleys may be required in commercial and industrial subdivisions as approved by the Commission.
(G) Street intersections.
(1) Streets intersecting a major street shall do so at a 90-degree angle; intersection of local streets shall not vary from 90 degrees by more than 15 degrees. The Public Works Director, based on terrain and other conditions, will consider exceptions to these requirements.
(2) A 33 foot by 33 foot triangle shall be provided at each property line corner of the intersection involving two collector streets, two arterial streets or arterial and collector streets. A 20 foot by 20 foot triangle shall be provided at each property line corner of the intersection of two local streets and local streets to collector or arterial street.
(3) All street intersections shall be designed to meet the minimum sight distance visibility requirement standards for horizontal curvature, vertical curvature and other obstructions as defined by La Paz County Design Standards or other standards adopted or amended by the town.
(4) Minor collector and local roadway street intersections shall have a minimum separation of 150 feet offset from centerline to centerline.
(5) Street intersections other than those of minor collectors and local roadway streets shall have a minimum of 200 feet offset from centerline to centerline.
(6) Street intersections with more than four legs are not allowed.
(H) Street widths. The following chart summarizes the functional classification designations for the town and their corresponding cross-section characteristics. All street functional classification and cross-section characteristics must comply with Quartzsite Transportation Plan, and La Paz County standards as adopted or amended by the town. Town-accepted cross-section details are available at the town.
Table 2: Street Widths
Type of Street | Minimum ROW | Travel Lane | Median Width | Bike Lane | Sidewalks |
Type of Street | Minimum ROW | Travel Lane | Median Width | Bike Lane | Sidewalks |
Arterial with Median | 100 ft. | 23 ft./23 ft. (2 lanes) | 16 ft. (raised) | 6.5 ft. both sides | 5 ft. both sides |
Arterial | 100 ft. | 24 ft./24 ft. (2 lanes) | 14 ft. (left turn lane) | 6.5 ft. both sides | 5 ft. both sides |
Collector with Curb | 80 ft. | 12 ft./12 ft. (1 lane) | 12 ft. (left turn lane) | 6.5 ft. both sides | 5 ft. both sides |
Collector without Curb | 70 ft. | 12 ft./12 ft. (1 lane) | 12 ft. (left turn lane) | 8 ft. shoulder | n/a |
Local Roadway | 50 ft. | 11 ft./11 ft. (1 lane) | n/a | 8 ft. shoulder | Both sides |
Cul-de-Sac, Residential | 50 ft. radius | 42 ft. radius | None | None | Both sides |
Cul-de-Sac, Non-Residential | 60 ft. radius | 50 ft. radius | None | None | Both sides |
(1) Local roadways in subdivisions having a minimum lot size of one acre or more may be allowed to reduce paving to 21 feet, zero inch travel path with 18 inch ribbon curb.
(I) Street pavement and structural design. All street pavement and structural design must comply with the La Paz County Public Works Design and Construction Manual standards.
(J) Curb and gutter requirements.
(1) All roads and streets shall have curb and gutters installed. Design must comply with the town standards for construction.
(2) Curbs and gutters may be waived, and street paving may be waived to a minimum of 21 feet in width by the Public Works Director in subdivisions having a minimum lot size of one acre or more providing an 18 inches ribbon concrete curb.
(3) The Public Works Director may waive paving in subdivisions having an agriculture zoning classification of RA-5 in the current Zoning Ordinance.
(4) For subdivisions where the average minimum lot size meets or exceeds one acre and promotes the rural theme in design of subdivisions, the following standards would be permitted:
(a) Drainage: low density residential sites may contain on-site retention areas;
(b) Street specifications: ribbon curbs;
(c) Lighting: modified street lighting style spacing, and levels of illumination may be permitted.
(K) Street grades.
(1) Street grades between 6% and 10% will be approved only for such distances as topographical conditions make lesser grades impractical. A grade exceeding 10% will be approved only when conclusive evidence shows the lesser grade is impractical.
(2) The minimum street grades shall be not less than two-tenths of 1%.
(3) Flat grades may be considered when adjacent lots or blocks are designed for ponding storm water.
(L) Street landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed as specified in the Zoning Ordinance. The placement of landscape materials and street design shall be coordinated to ensure placement of landscaping, berms, walls and other features do not obstruct sight line distances as defined in other sections of this code, and do not obstruct visibility of traffic control devices.
(Ord. 21-11, passed 10-26-2021)