(A) The purpose of this chapter is to protect, maintain and enhance the public health, safety and general welfare by establishing minimum standards for construction as required by the latest version of the city’s Utility and Infrastructure Construction Standards. Also, this chapter provides procedures to control, review and approve the construction of public improvements as well as procedures for the control and maintenance of the city rights-of-way.
(B) The city is responsible for maintaining all streets and structures accepted within the city rights-of-way, and it is therefore necessary to set minimum standards for the construction of all improvements for which the city will be responsible in order to avoid assuming unnecessary maintenance costs and inconvenience to the citizens and businesses of the city.
(C) All improvements intended for public use, to be constructed in a city right-of-way or easement, or to be constructed as a privately maintained improvement must conform to city standards according to the latest version of the utility and infrastructure construction standards and shall conform to or exceed the standards as set forth in this chapter.
(D) The standards set forth in this chapter are intended to be minimum standards. Variances from these standards may be considered by the Public Works Director or designee upon written application. Variance requests must cite unusual conditions and justify changes based upon sound engineering practices. Proposed variances shall have been reviewed by any applicable agency of jurisdiction before consideration by the Public Works Department. Also, any proposed variances must be supported by a professional engineer that is registered in good standing with the state.
(E) All improvements shall be constructed to conform to the most current Standard Specifications of the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), referred to in this chapter as “standard specifications”, except where deviations are hereinafter allowed or variances granted. Copies of the standard specifications are on file at the Public Works Department and are available for review.
(Prior Code, § 54-91) (Ord. 03-04, passed 2-10-2003)