1. General Provisions.
a. Intent. The standards established in this Section are intended to:
(1) Create complete streets that facilitate all modes of travel, including pedestrian traffic, bicycle traffic, transit, and vehicular traffic.
(2) Continue to provide a logical and comprehensible system of streets and street names that result in a simple and consistent pattern of blocks, lots, and addresses.
(3) Create streets that are appropriate for their contexts and are designed to encourage travel at appropriate volumes and speeds.
(4) Encourage streets that respect natural features by following topography and drainage systems.
(5) Create streets and public rights-of-way that help to reduce stormwater runoff and improve the quality of runoff.
b. Applicability. All provisions of this Section shall be installed, constructed, or otherwise made effective for every subdivision and planned development that includes streets established within the Village.
c. General Requirements. All proposed streets, parkways, and sidewalks shall be located in dedicated rights-of-way as required by this Section.
(1) Street Types. All new streets shall meet the design standards required by this Section. Street types shall be approved by the Village Board pursuant to the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission based on the objectives of the Village's Comprehensive Plan elements and the other land use policies of the Village. Street type approval and subdivision approval shall occur simultaneously in accordance with § 156.03.B (Subdivision Applications).
(2) Public Use. All streets shall be available for public use at all times. Gated streets and private streets are not permitted.
(3) Right-of-Way Features. Where the design requirements of this Section stipulate the provision of turning lanes, turning radii, center medians, traffic control devices, or other features which cannot be accommodated within the existing right-of-way, the developer shall dedicate additional rights-of-way as necessary to accommodate the required features.
(4) Street Names. New street names shall not duplicate any existing street name in the Village except where a new street is a continuation of an existing street, nor be substantially similar in sound or text.
(5) Street Trees. Street trees shall be installed throughout the subdivision in accordance with the following specifications.
(a) Frequency. Shade trees shall be installed at a minimum rate of one large shade tree per 30 linear feet, with planted trees selected for appropriate size at maturity for the subject parkway width, as determined by the Zoning Administrator in consultation with the Village Engineer. Trees shall be placed on center, or at a rate that matches the existing tree spacing pattern on adjacent parkways, whichever results in a greater density of tree plantings. Spacing may be adjusted to ensure adequate room for streetlights, signs, and utilities, with prior written Zoning Administrator approval.
(b) Species Diversity. Broad species diversity within individual streets will result in reduced catastrophic loss due to a disease or pest. Refer to Section 156.09: Landscape and the South Elgin Tree Species List.
(c) Tree Species Not Permitted. The only tree species that shall be permitted for planting as street trees are those listed as preferred on the South Elgin Tree Species List.
(d) Trunk Diameter. The trunk diameter of street trees at the time of installation shall be a minimum of three inches, measured at a height of six feet above finished ground level.
(e) Drought and Salt Tolerance. All street trees proposed to be planted shall be drought- and salt-tolerant. Refer to the South Elgin Tree Species List for preferred plant species.
(f) Structural Soil. A minimum volume of 1,000 cubic feet of structural soil is required per street tree, to accommodate subsurface root expansion.
2. Street Design Standards for All Street Types.
a. General Street Layout Requirements. The following standards apply to new or newly-platted streets.
(1) Curved Streets.
(a) Alleys. New construction of alleys is prohibited in all zoning districts.
(b) Horizontal Alignment. When street lines deflect from each other by more than ten degrees in horizontal alignment, the centerline shall be connected by a curve with a minimum radius meeting American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards.
(c) Vertical Alignment. The vertical alignment shall be selected with minimum sight distances designed to AASHTO standards.
(2) Interconnected Streets. The network of streets shall form an interconnected grid pattern, with multiple intersections when appropriate, and provide for the continuation of existing streets from adjoining areas into new subdivisions.
(3) Disconnected Streets. Disconnected streets may take the following forms.
(a) Cul-de-Sac Streets. Cul-de-sac streets are prohibited in new subdivisions unless approved by the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Village Engineer due to site constraints such as topography, natural features, or man-made barriers such as a railroad or raised highway. When cul-de-sacs are allowed, the following standards apply.
i. When the center point of a cul-de-sac is within 350 feet of another street or cul-de-sac right-of-way, pedestrian and bicyclist access shall be provided along a public easement between the lots. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-A. (Pedestrian Connection from Cul-de Sac).
a. The public easement shall be a minimum of 15 feet wide.
b. The public easement shall include a multi-use path constructed of a permanent surface approved by the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Village Engineer, with a minimum width of ten feet, and lighting approved by the Zoning Administrator.
c. Maintenance of the easement area shall be the responsibility of adjacent property owners or another group specifically designated in the final plat.
(b) Stub Streets. Where adjoining areas are not subdivided, stub streets in new subdivisions shall be extended to the boundary line of the tract to provide for future street connections.
i. Where abutting property is not subdivided, stub streets shall be provided at intervals no greater than 400 feet.
ii. Existing stub streets adjacent to a proposed subdivision shall be connected.
(c) Half Streets. The construction of a half street is prohibited unless otherwise approved by the Village Board in unique circumstances where a half street is essential and where satisfactory assurance for donation of the remaining half of the street is provided when adjacent property is subdivided.
i. Proposed half streets along the periphery of a subdivision shall have no less than one-half of the right-of-way dedicated and constructed to meet the applicable design standards for an entire street.
ii. Wherever an existing or dedicated half street is adjacent to a proposed subdivision, the other half of the street shall be platted within the proposed subdivision and the remaining right-of-way improvements constructed.
b. Intersection Design.
(1) Applicability. The following standards apply to all new and reconstructed intersections.
(2) Alignment of Intersections. New streets shall be aligned with existing streets whenever feasible.
(a) Number of Streets. No more than two streets shall intersect at any point.
(b) Angle of Intersection. Streets shall be aligned to intersect at right angles whenever possible. The angle of intersection of center lines shall not be less than 80 degrees or more than 100 degrees.
(c) Centerline Offsets. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-B. Minimum Street Centerline Offset.
i. Centerline offsets of less than 200 feet shall be prohibited. Centerline offsets shall also be sufficient for any turn lane storage bays and tapers that are required.
ii. Driveways serving commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-unit dwelling land uses shall not be permitted within the 200-foot offset unless they are restricted to right-in/right-out ingress and egress.
(d) Clear Sight Triangles. Minimum clear sight distance at all intersections shall be in accordance with § 156.05.D.3 (Visibility Obstruction) and other applicable guidelines, whichever is greater.
(e) Vertical Alignment. An extension of the through street cross slope shall be provided.
i. This cross slope shall be carried back beyond the crosswalk of the intersecting street each way from the intersection of the two centerlines.
ii. An allowance of 2% maximum intersection grade shall be permitted.
c. Curb Radii. The following curb radii shall be utilized unless otherwise authorized by the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Village Engineer.
(1) Design Vehicle Used. Intersections shall be designed using the minimum design vehicle that accommodates the street users. The design vehicle used shall consider and balance the needs of the various users of the street, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles, and the volume and frequency of these users.
(a) Corner Radii. Intersections shall be designed for the effective turning radius of the chosen design vehicle, as opposed to the actual curb radius, as illustrated in Figure 156.04.C-C. Effective Right Turn Radius, in accordance with § 156.04.C.3 (Street Type Design Standards).
d. Crosswalks. Crosswalks shall be required at all intersections.
(1) Dimensions. Crosswalks shall be a minimum of six feet in width, measured from mid-stripe to mid-stripe, per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(2) Markings. Crosswalks shall be appropriately indicated on the finished street surface with highly visible painted markings and/or textured or colored pavement, in accordance with the most recent edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
(3) Crossing Distances. To encourage pedestrian activity and safety, pavement width at crosswalks shall not extend over 38 feet without intervening installation of a median pedestrian refuge, curb extensions, or other acceptable pedestrian refuge area, that reduce the pedestrian crossing distance to less than 38 feet. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-D. Pedestrian Crossing Distances.
(4) Required Median Pedestrian Refuge. Regardless of pavement width, at any intersection requiring a pedestrian to cross more than three lanes of vehicle travel, a median pedestrian refuge shall be installed to provide adequate pedestrian safety. The refuge cut-through or ramp width shall equal the width of the crosswalk. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-E. Median Pedestrian Refuge Design.
e. Curb Extensions. Curb extensions shall be installed at the intersections of all street types that contain an on-street parking lane adjacent to the curb, to support pedestrian activity at corners and shorten crossing distances. Curb extensions may contain landscaped bioretention cells to facilitate stormwater infiltration and meet the requirements of § 156.04.C.3.c (Stormwater Management Facilities).
(1) Accessible Ramps and Warning Panels. Accessible ramps and warning panels are required where all sidewalks or trails terminate at a crosswalk or curb, per the Americans with Disabilities Act or any more stringent state requirement. Two ramps per corner at intersecting streets are required and shall be oriented perpendicular to traffic.
(2) Curbs and Gutters. The dimensions and materials of all curbs, driveway curbs, and gutter installations shall be determined in consultation with the Village Engineer.
2. Street Type Design Standards.
a. General Street Type Standards.
(1) Applicability. This Section establishes street types that depict acceptable street configurations to be applied to all new streets within subdivisions. The Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Village Engineer, may require additions or reductions to the right-of-way, pavement width, or additional street elements depending on unique site characteristics. Refer to Table 156.04.C-A. General Street Type Standards, which summarizes the requirements of each street type.
(2) Graphics. The graphics provided to illustrate each street type are examples of potential configurations of that street type. Other configurations may be deemed acceptable by the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Village Engineer.
(3) Typical Street Elements. Typical elements of a street are divided into the vehicle and pedestrian realms. Each street type detailed in this Section identifies which facilities are applicable. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-F. Typical Right-of-Way Elements.
Street Type | Right-of- Way Width | Vehicle Realm | Pedestrian Realm | ||||||
Travel Lanes | Allowable Turn Lanes | Parking Lanes | Pavement Width (F/F of curb) | Median | Bicycle Facilities | Pedestrian Facilities | Minimum Parkway | ||
Street Type | Right-of- Way Width | Vehicle Realm | Pedestrian Realm | ||||||
Travel Lanes | Allowable Turn Lanes | Parking Lanes | Pavement Width (F/F of curb) | Median | Bicycle Facilities | Pedestrian Facilities | Minimum Parkway | ||
Major Thoroughfare | 90-115 ft | 4 | Left permitted only with median; Right permitted in place of parking | Parallel parking lane option on both sides | 54-86 ft | Permitted, minimum 6 ft wide | Dedicated bike lanes or sidepaths | Minimum 10 ft sidepath or 5 ft sidewalk on both sides | 8 ft both sides |
Secondary Thoroughfare | 60-80 ft | 2 | Left permitted; Right permitted in place of parking | Parallel parking lane option on both sides | 28-50 ft | Permitted, minimum 4 ft wide | Dedicated bike lanes, designated shared lanes, or sidepaths | 5 ft sidewalk on both sides | 8 ft both sides |
Industrial Street | 50-90 ft | 2 | Left permitted; Right permitted in place of parking | Parallel parking lane option on both sides; Minimum 8 ft | 28-68 ft | Permitted, minimum 4 ft wide | Dedicated bike lanes or designated shared lanes | 5 ft sidewalk on both sides | 6 ft both sides |
Neighborhood Street | 60-74 ft | 2 | Right permitted in place of parking | Parallel parking lane allowed on 1 side | 28-50 ft | Permitted, minimum 4 ft wide | Dedicated bike lanes or designated shared lanes | 5 ft sidewalk on both sides | 6 ft both sides |
Low Volume Neighborhood Street | 50 ft | 1 Yield Lane | Prohibited | Parallel parking lane allowed on 1 side | 27 ft | Prohibited | Shared lanes | 5 ft sidewalk on both sides | 5 ft both sides |
Alley | 20 ft | 1 Yield Lane | Prohibited | Prohibited | 20 ft | Prohibited | Shared lanes | Shared | None Required |
b. Bicycle Facilities. Three types of bicycle facilities are permitted in the vehicle realm. One off-street bicycle facility is permitted within the pedestrian realm. Refer to Figure 156.04.C-G. Bicycle Facilities.
(1) Dedicated Bicycle Lane. Dedicated bicycle lanes are striped lanes on the outside of the outermost vehicular travel lanes that are designated for bicycle use. This lane occurs on both sides of the street and shall be a minimum of five feet wide.
(2) Designated Shared Lane. A designated shared lane is a lane that is shared by vehicles and bicycles. This designated shared lane shall be a minimum of 14 feet wide, which is wider than a standard vehicle lane in order to accommodate both vehicles and cyclists. The designated shared lane shall include a painted bicycle marker combined with a double arrow (known as a "sharrow" or "shared lane marking"). On two-way streets, a designated shared lane is required in both directions.
(3) Shared Lane. A shared lane refers to a street that does not have dedicated bicycle lanes or designated shared lanes, but the speed and configuration of the street allows bicycles to comfortably share lanes with traffic and appropriate signage installed within the right-of-way to clearly establish that the land is a bicycle route.
(4) Sidepath. A sidepath is an off-street facility that is shared between pedestrians and bicycles. This path functions like a sidewalk but is wide enough to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians simultaneously. Sidepaths are required on both sides of the street and shall be a minimum of ten feet wide. At the Zoning Administrator's discretion, one sidepath on a single side of the street may be allowed, provided the sidepath is a minimum of 12 feet wide.
c. Stormwater Management Facilities. Stormwater management facilities shall be integrated within the right-of-way as part of the design of all street types in the VC District to help clean and infiltrate stormwater runoff in accordance with the following requirements and, at the discretion of the Village, may be integrated within the right-of-way as part of the design of all street types in all other districts. Examples of such facilities are illustrated in this Section (refer to Figure 156.04.C-H. Bioswale Design, Figure 156.04.C-I. Bioretention Planter Design, and Figure 156.04.C-J. Bioretention Curb Extension Design).
(1) Bioswales, bioretention planters, or other stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) accepted by the Village Engineer shall be installed within all new parkways in the VC District and, at the discretion of the Village, may be installed within new parkways in other districts.
(2) Bioretention cells, at the discretion of the Village, may be included within curb extensions at intersections for all street types when a parking lane is adjacent to the parkway. Cells may extend into the parkway.
(Am. Ord. 2021-22, passed 5-3-21)