The provisions of this chapter shall be the minimum requirements for roads and intersections. If any other public agency having jurisdiction, including the Ingham County Road Commission, shall adopt any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation imposing additional, or more rigorous requirements, then the provisions of the statute, ordinance, rule or regulations shall govern.
(A) Compliance with Ingham County and Michigan Department of Transportation standards. The standards of this section are intended to comply with the public road standards of the Ingham County Road Commission and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The township reserves the right to adopt written standards which are more restrictive, upon a determination that the additional regulations meet special needs or goals in the township which may not be appropriate on a county-wide basis.
(B) Conformance with Township Master Plan and County Street Plan. The layout of the street system shall conform to the goals, policies, street functional classification system, alignment and minimum rights-of-way recommended in the transportation element of the Township Master Plan. Street functional classification, rights-of-way and alignments shall also conform with any street or road plan of the County Road Commission or the Michigan Department of Transportation.
(C) Relationship to natural features and grades. Streets shall be aligned to maximize the preservation of natural features and existing grades to the extent feasible.
(D) Continuity of road system. The arrangement of roads shall provide for the continuation of existing roads from adjoining areas into new subdivisions, unless otherwise approved by the Township Board due to documented environmental constraints or where the abutting road system is not deemed capable of safely handling additional traffic volumes. Where adjoining vacant areas are zoned or planned for development similar to the proposed subdivision, roads shall be extended to the boundary line of the parcel to make provision for the future road connections. The applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed stub road is a reasonable location for extension into the adjacent lands, in consideration of such factors as grades, water bodies, wetlands and lot configuration. A temporary cul-de-sac shall be provided if any lots front solely on the stub road; if no lots front solely on the stub road, then a T-turnaround shall be permitted, subject to approval by the Ingham County Road Commission. A sign shall be placed at the end of the stub road or cul-de-sac with a sign face on both sides stating "Future Street Extension".
(E) Minor roads (collectors and local roads).
(1) The proposed subdivision road layout shall be designed to discourage through traffic and excessive speeds. This shall be accomplished by incorporating offset street intersections within the subdivision, curvilinear street alignments and discontinuities in the street pattern where appropriate. In general, straight sections of roads shall not exceed 1,320 feet in length, except that at subdivision entrances the straight sections of subdivision streets that intersect arterial streets shall generally not exceed 660 feet in length.
(2) These restrictions shall not prevent continuation of roads to adjoining properties where deemed desirable by the township. In determining the need for the connections, the township shall consider the need for adequate access and response time for emergency vehicles, the impacts such connections may have on reducing congestion along arterials, the projected traffic volumes and the compatibility with adjacent developments.
(F) Alleys. Alleys shall not be permitted in areas of detached single- or two-family residences. Alleys shall be allowed in multiple dwelling or commercial subdivisions unless other provisions are made for service access, off-street loading, and parking. Dead-end alleys are prohibited.
(G) Half roads. Half roads shall be prohibited. Wherever a half road exists adjacent to the parcel to be subdivided a dedicated or platted and recorded, the other half shall be platted.
(H) Existing roads. Where a subdivision incorporates existing roads which are not in conformance with current standards, such facilities shall be reconstructed as necessary to improve the road to the extent required by the County Road Commission.
(I) Maximum length for blocks.
(1) Blocks, or the length of any road constructed for any phase of a subdivision, shall not be less than 500 feet long, nor longer than 1,320 feet measured from centerline to centerline of the intersections at each end of the block, except that the Township Board, upon recommendation from the Planning Commission, may approve a plat which varies from these dimensions upon consideration of the following:
(a) Documented evidence that significant natural features will be preserved or stub road to connect to vacant land are being provided which will result in a conforming condition in the future;
(b) Recommendations from the police and fire departments;
(c) Recommendations from the Ingham County Road Commission; and
(d) Evidence that the longer block length will not create a threat to public safety.
(2) The minimum block length dimensions do not apply to approved stub roads.
(J) Cul-de-sac dead-end and loop roads.
(1) The length of cul-de-sac and dead-end roads shall not exceed 660 feet measured from the centerline of the street to the center point of the cul-de-sac or end of the traveled portion of the dead- end street, unless a longer street is necessary and appropriate because of topography or other natural features, existing conditions or other circumstances as may be approved by the Township Board and the County Road Commission. Each cul-de-sac street, dead-end street, or loop road having more than 35 single-family lots or uses shall intersect with a road that provides access from two different directions. Thirty-five lots would result in approximately 350 trips or more per average weekday, based on the most recent edition of Trip Generation, published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
(2) All lots that have their sole means of vehicular access to a cul-de-sac or dead-end street, or extension thereto, shall be counted when determining the number of lots on the cul-de-sac or dead-on street. For the purposes of this regulations, therefore, the cul-de-sac or dead-end street shall include:
(a) The turnaround circle at the end of a cul-de-sac; plus
(b) The dead-end road; and
(c) Any road extension of the cul-de-sac or dead-end road that have no other outlet except through the cul-de-sac or dead-end road.
(K) Minimum right-of-way widths. The minimum road right-of-way (r.o.w.) width for subdivisions shall be based on applicable Ingham County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation standards. However, a greater right-of-way may be required by the township or the Road Commission in consideration of the intensity of development, the expected traffic volumes, the need for additional area for utilities or grading or to accommodate planned or expected street cross sections, and the expected traffic volumes and characteristics associated with the types of uses which may access the street based on the zoning.
(L) Location of major entrances along principal and minor arterial streets.
(1) The intersection of subdivision streets with arterial streets should be limited to half-mile or quarter-mile points along the arterial streets where both of the following conditions exist:
(a) The subdivision street is expected to have an average daily traffic volume of over 2,000 trips per day; and
(b) The potential for traffic signalization exists on the arterial in the future.
(2) Intersections that do not meet these conditions shall comply with the spacing requirements in division (M) below. Deviations from this standard shall be permitted if needed to provide adequate sight distance or if a modification is supported by a traffic impact study provided by the proprietor.
(M) Spacing of intersections along principal and minor arterials or collector roads. Except as noted in the previous division (L), streets intersecting an arterial or collector road shall be spaced at least 660 feet from the intersection of another platted street on the same side of the street, and shall be aligned with public streets or private roads across the street, or offset at least 250 feet from the streets or roads, measured between centerlines. Lesser offsets may be approved where there are numerous streets or where adequate sight distance would be compromised.
(N) Design at entrances. Streets which intersect with a paved arterial or collector road shall provide a paved deceleration lane with an adequate taper if more than 50 right turns would expected during a peak hour. Deceleration and acceleration lanes and tapers shall also be provided if required by the County Road Commission. A passing lane shall be provided at any entrance where more than 50 left turns are expected during a peak hour, where projected intersection level of service would be D or worse, or where required by the County Road Commission. Deceleration and acceleration facilities and passing lanes shall be designed according to the standards of the County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation, as applicable. Boulevard entrances to subdivisions shall be permitted by the Township, subject to the County Road Commission approval.
(O) Internal street offsets. Three-way intersections ("T" type intersections) are encouraged within the plat, rather than four-way intersections. No more than two streets shall cross at any intersection. Street intersections within a plat shall be offset at least 250 feet, measured between centerlines. Lesser offsets may be approved where less than ten homes are served by the intersection or where significant natural features would be preserved that would otherwise be destroyed.
(P) Road geometrics. Road geometrics, including horizontal curves, tangents between reverse curves, sight distance at intersections, street gradients and vertical alignment at intersections, shall comply with the standards of the Ingham County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation, as applicable.
(Q) Intersection angles. Streets shall be laid out to intersect as nearly as possible to 90 degrees; in no case shall the intersection be less than 80 degrees.
(R) Street names. Street names shall be sufficiently distinct from other street names in the area to avoid confusion, particularly for emergency service providers. A review of the master list of existing street names retained by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission is required to avoid duplicate names. Proposed street names shall be reviewed by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and approved by the Road Commission as a part of the preliminary plat approval process.
(S) Signs. The developer shall be responsible for placement of street name signs at all street intersections in accordance with the requirements of the County Road Commission. The developer shall also be responsible for placement of pavement markings and regulatory street signs (such as no parking signs, stop or yield signs, speed limit signs and warning signs) as requested by the township or the Road Commission. All regulatory signs shall be in conformance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(T) Stormwater drainage. Open drainage along roads may be permitted by the township, except where curb and gutters are required by the County Road Commission or Michigan Department of Transportation. Open drainage or curb and gutter design and construction shall be in accordance with the specifications of the County Road Commission or the Michigan Department of Transportation, as applicable.
(U) Street lighting. Street lighting may be required throughout the subdivision or at road intersections for the purposes of public safety. When determining the need for street lights consideration shall be given to the location of the subdivision, density of development, existing traffic conditions, desire to maintain rural character and other public safety criteria.
(V) Street construction requirements. All streets and appurtenances thereto shall be constructed in accordance the specifications of the Ingham County Road Commission or the Michigan Department of Transportation, as applicable; except private roads built to township standards may be permitted, if approved by the township.
(W) Phasing. Each phase of the plat shall be designed to meet the street requirements above, regardless of whether future phases are constructed.
(Ord. passed 3-18-1997)