§ 40-431. Street standards.

(a)

Intersections.

(1)

Segments of straight streets should be interrupted by intersections designed to:

a.

Disperse traffic flow and reduce speeds, thereby eliminating the creation of de facto collector streets with high speed, high volume traffic; and

b.

Terminate vistas with a significant natural feature, a building, a small park, or other public space.

(2)

Other traffic calming measures such as neckdowns, chicanes, mid-block diverters, intersection diverters, curb bulbs, and related devices will be considered on a case by case basis, based on safety and appropriateness in the proposed location.

(b)

Access management. Access management should be a critical component of thoroughfare design, land subdivision and property development, especially along major thoroughfares. Access management techniques should be used in the town center district wherever possible to keep the area's thoroughfares functioning safely and efficiently. Good access management on major roads should employ one or more of the following:

(1)

Shared driveways or alleyways with inter-parcel access between adjacent commercial properties.

(2)

Minimizing of curb cuts to reduce ingress/egress along major roads.

(3)

Adequate throat length to accommodate stacking of vehicles merging into a thoroughfare from a driveway.

(4)

Landscaped medians to control left turns or U-turns between intersections.

(5)

Road connectivity and circulation increasing the number of alternative routes.

(6)

Alternatively, the following characteristics are contrary to good access management, and should be avoided if at all possible:

a.

Continuous two-way left turn lanes.

b.

Multiple curb cuts for one development or adjacent group or row of businesses.

c.

Individual parking lots for each business or parcel.

(c)

Off-street parking standards.

(1)

Off-street parking areas should be designed to minimize breaks in the pedestrian environment along the public street and create safe and comfortable passage for pedestrians. The following standards shall apply in the City:

a.

Parking lots shall be placed behind buildings; side of the building parking will be permitted only as indicated by building type and shall be measured along the build-to line. Off-street parking is not permitted in front of the primary building facade, except where specified in an adopted street section.

b.

Uninterrupted areas of parking lot shall be limited in size. Large parking lots shall be broken by buildings or landscape features.

c.

Parking lots are to be treated as enclosed rooms for cars, with enclosure provided by tree planting or building walls. For small lots (30 spaces or less), landscaping shall be required at the perimeter; for large lots (more than 30 spaces), landscaping shall include one canopy tree and ten shrubs planted for every ten parking spaces.

d.

Parking lots shall be designed to allow pedestrians to safely move from their vehicles to the building. On small lots, this may be achieved by providing a sidewalk at the perimeter of the lot. On larger lots, corridors within the parking area should channel pedestrians from the car to the perimeter of the lot or to the building. These corridors may be delineated by a paving material which differs from that of vehicular areas and planted to provide shade. Small posts or bollards may be included.

e.

To maintain pedestrian comfort and calm the speed of entering traffic, driveways to parking areas should be no wider than 24 feet. Driveways connecting to state roads shall meet the requirements of the state department of transportation.

f.

To the extent practicable, adjoining parking lots serving non residential buildings shall be inter-connected.

g.

All commercial driveway and parking areas shall be paved with asphalt, concrete, or brick pavers except for areas used for overflow, special events, and peak parking.

(2)

Amount required. While it is expected that on-street parking will contribute substantially to every day parking needs, sufficient off-street parking must also be provided to serve the particular needs of the buildings. The following minimum requirements apply:

a.

Residential.

1.

One bedroom dwelling unit: one space.

2.

Dwelling units with more than one bedroom: 1.5 spaces.

b.

Commercial: one space per 500 square feet.

c.

Office: one space per 500 square feet.

d.

Civic: one space per 300 square feet.

e.

Hotels and inns: one space per room plus one space per 500 square feet of ancillary use.

(3)

Exceptions.

a.

Within the town center district boundaries, existing buildings which were legally constructed without the provision of on site parking, and infill housing on existing lots of record may meet requirements with on-street parking and will be construed conforming as to parking.

b.

Where vehicular access is provided between adjoining non residential sites and the peak operating hours of adjoining uses do not overlap, the uses may share up to 50 percent of required parking spaces. Shared use of parking shall be guaranteed by a contract or other legally binding agreement.

(d)

Sidewalk standards.

(1)

Sidewalks are required on both sides of public streets, except low traffic local roads and alleys.

(2)

Along the west side of Emory Street, sidewalks should be a minimum of eight feet in width in the town center district.

(3)

Sidewalks shall be a minimum be six feet in width in the town center district.

(e)

Street lighting standards.

(1)

The purpose of street lighting is to ensure public safety and welfare and to protect the night sky.

(2)

Street lights shall in all cases use fully shielded fixtures except that decorative street light fixtures shall be designed with caps so that light does not shine upward at more than a 135-degree angle measured above straight down (three-quarters of the way between straight down and straight to the top) from the pole or mounting wall. The Planning Commission may approve the use of decorative light fixtures as an alternative to fully shielded fixtures, where such fixtures would enhance the aesthetics without causing light pollution.

(f)

Street tree standards.

(1)

The purpose of this section is to regulate the protection, installation, and long-term management of trees and shrubs within the City. The regulation of street trees along public and private streets within the City ensures a pedestrian-friendly environment along with providing distinct aesthetic, economic, and environmental significance.

(2)

Street trees are required to be within a minimum four-foot planting strip located between the existing street and proposed sidewalk.

(3)

Street tree planting shall be provided as follows:

a.

Large maturing canopy trees shall be planted at a spacing not to exceed 40 feet on center except that spacing may be altered slightly to accommodate driveways.

b.

Small maturing canopy-like trees shall be planted 30 feet on center where existing overhead utility lines prohibit the use of large maturing canopy trees.

(g)

Public open space.

(1)

A plaza is an open area adjacent to a civic or commercial building. Plazas function as public gathering spaces and may incorporate a variety of non-permanent activities, such as vendors and display stands. Plazas are always paved in brick or another type of paver, or crushed stone. Plazas shall be level, stepped, or gently sloping (less than five percent grade).

(2)

Plazas may not have trees or planted materials. However, trees may form the geometric frame of the plaza space or for the structure the plaza services. Spacing shall be a minimum of ten feet on center and 30 feet on center maximum.

(Code 1997, § 40-414; Ord. of 2-6-2012, § 1(40-414))