(A) Type of streets required. All subdivision lots shall abut on a public or private street. (See division (W) below.) All public streets shall be dedicated to the town, the state or the public as determined appropriately by the Planning Board. Streets dedicated to the town shall be accepted by resolution of the Town Board. All public streets shall be built to the standards of this chapter and all other applicable standards of the town and the State Department of Transportation. Public streets shall be constructed to the standards necessary to be put on the state highway system or the standards in this chapter, whichever is stricter in regard to each particular item, and shall be put on such system. Streets which are 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 standards necessary to be put on the state highway system, whichever is stricter 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 state system, before lots are sold, a statement explaining the status of the street shall be included with the final plat. The provisions outlined in § 152.049 will apply.
(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 impracticable, 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 such as to permit the installation of such 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 Planning Board, it is necessary to provide for access to an adjoining property, proposed streets shall be extended by dedication to the boundary of such property and a temporary turnaround provided.
(F) Non-residential streets. The subdivider of a non-residential subdivision shall provide streets in accordance with the standards contained in the most current edition of the North Carolina Roads, Minimum Construction Standards booklet; and the standards in this chapter, whichever are stricter in regard to each particular item.
(G) Design standards. The design of all streets and roads within the jurisdiction of this chapter shall be in accordance with the accepted policies of the State Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, as taken or modified from the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) manuals. The most current edition of the State Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, Subdivision Roads Minimum Construction Standards, shall apply for any items not included in this chapter, or where stricter than this chapter.
(H) 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.
Streets | Minimum Right-of-Way (Feet) |
Cul-de-sac | Variable** |
Local street | 50* |
Major thoroughfare other than freeway and expressway | 80 |
Minor thoroughfare | 60* |
NOTES TO TABLE: *Curb, gutter and sidewalk will be required on all minor thoroughfares, local streets and cul-de-sacs. **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. | |
(I) Street paving widths. Paving widths for street and road classifications shall be as required by the mutually adopted thoroughfare plan where applicable and according to the minimum standards adopted by the State Department of Transportation.
(J) Minimum sight distances. In the interest of public safety, no less than the minimum sight distance applicable (for roads), according to the State Department of Transportation, shall be provided in every instance.
(K) Intersections.
(1) 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.
(2) 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 off-sets from the edge of pavement to the property line will be required, if necessary, to provide sight distance for the vehicle on the side street.
(3) Off-set intersections are to be avoided unless exception is granted by the Division of Highways. Intersections which cannot be aligned should be separated by a minimum length of 200 feet between survey centerlines.
(4) Intersections with arterials, collector and thoroughfares shall be at least 1,000 feet from centerline to centerline, or more if required by the State Department of Transportation.
(L) 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. Measurements shall be from the point where the centerline of the dead end street intersects with 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 right-of-way line on the street approaching the turnaround. Cul-de-sacs should not be used avoid connection with an existing street or to avoid the extension of an important street, unless exception is granted by the Planning Board.
(M) Alleys.
(1) 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.
(2) The width of an alley shall be at least 20 feet.
(3) 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 Planning Board.
(4) Sharp changes in alignment and grade shall be avoided.
(5) All alleys shall be designed in accordance with State Department of Transportation Standards.
(N) Other requirements. Through traffic is discouraged on residential collector and local streets. Residential collector and local streets shall be laid out in such 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.
(O) Sidewalks. Sidewalks will be required by the Planning Board on one or both sides of the street for minor subdivisions in areas likely to be subject to heavy pedestrian traffic such as near schools and shopping areas. Sidewalks will be required on both sides of the street in major subdivisions. Such 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. Sidewalks will be required in major subdivisions. In minor subdivisions, sidewalks may be required.
(P) Curb and gutter. In a minor subdivision curb and gutter may be required. Curb and gutter will be required on all local streets in major subdivisions. Curb and gutter will be required on all streets to be taken over by the town.
(Q) 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 county irrespective of the use of a suffix such as street, road, drive, place, court and the like. Street names shall be subject to approval of the Planning Board.
(R) Street name and traffic-control signs. The subdivider shall be required to provide and erect street name and traffic- control signs to town standards at all appropriate locations within the subdivision.
(S) 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.
(T) Off-sets 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.
(U) Wheelchair ramps. In accordance with G.S. Ch. 136, Art. 2A, § 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, shall provide wheelchair ramps for the physically handicapped at all intersections where both curb and gutter and sidewalks are provided and at other major points of pedestrian flow.
(V) Horizontal width on bridge deck.
(1) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges serving two-lane, two-way traffic shall be as follows.
(a) Shoulder section approach.
1. 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;
2. Eight hundred to 2,000 ADT design year. Minimum 34 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails or pavement width, plus 12 feet, whichever is greater; and
3. Over 2,000 ADT design year. Minimum 40 feet. Desirable 44 feet width face-to-face of parapets or rails.
(b) Curbs and gutter approach.
1. Under 800 ADT design year. Minimum; and
2. Over 800 ADT design year. Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs. 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 curbs, and in crown drop. The distance from face to curb to face of parapet or rail shall be one feet, six inches minimum, or greater if sidewalks are required.
(2) The clear roadway widths for new and reconstructed bridges having four or more lanes serving undivided two-way traffic shall be as follows:
(a) Shoulder section approach. Width of approach pavement plus width of usable shoulders on the approach left and right. Minimum: eight feet; des. ten feet; and
(b) Curb and gutter approach. Width of approach pavement measured face-to-face of curbs.
(W) Private streets. Private streets must be built to the standards of this chapter or the state highway system standards, whichever is stricter. All construction and maintenance responsibilities for private streets must be assigned to a homeowners' association established in accordance with the State Unit Ownership Act. The town shall not in any way be responsible for the maintenance of these streets.
(Ord. passed 11-21-2000; Ord. 2008-02, passed - -2008; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)