All required improvements shall be installed by the subdivider at his cost. In cases where specifications have been established either by the Virginia Department of Transportation for streets, curbs, gutters, etc., or by local ordinances, such specifications shall be followed. The subdivider's bond shall not be released until construction has been inspected and approved by the appropriate engineer. All streets shall be in accordance with the following requirements.
[Amended 2-16-1988 by Ord. No. 1988-1]
All streets in the proposed subdivision shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following minimum requirements by the subdivider at no cost to the locality.
A. 
Alignment and layout. The arrangement of streets in new subdivisions shall make provisions for the continuation of existing streets in adjoining areas. The street arrangement must be such as to cause no unnecessary hardships to owners of adjoining property when they plat their own land and seek to provide for convenient access to it. Where, in the opinion of the agent, it is desirable to provide for street access to adjoining property, proposed streets shall be extended by dedication to the boundary line of such property. Half streets along the boundary of land proposed for subdivision shall not be permitted. Wherever possible, streets should intersect at right angles. In all hillside areas, streets running with contours shall be required to intersect at angles of not less than 60º, unless approved by the agent upon recommendation of the Highway Engineer.
B. 
Service drives. Whenever a proposed subdivision contains or is adjacent to a limited access highway or expressway, provision shall be made for a service drive or marginal street approximately parallel to such right-of-way at a distance suitable for an appropriate use of the land between such highway and the proposed subdivision. Such distances shall be determined with due consideration of the minimum distance required for ingress and egress to the main thoroughfare. The right-of-way of any major highway or street projected across any railroad, limited-access highway or expressway shall be of adequate width to provide for the cuts or fills required for any future separation of grades.
C. 
Approach angle. Major streets shall approach major or minor streets at an angle of not less than 80º, unless the agent, upon recommendation of the Highway Engineer, shall approve a lesser angle of approach for reasons of contour, terrain or matching of existing patterns.
D. 
Minimum widths.
(1) 
The minimum width of proposed streets, measured from lot line to lot line, shall be as shown on the major street plan or, if not shown on such plan, shall be:
(a) 
Major streets: not less than 80 feet.
(b) 
Minor streets: not less than 50 feet.
(c) 
Minor terminal streets (culs-de-sac), as herein described in Subsection F, having concrete curbs and gutters: not less than 40 feet.
(d) 
Local service drives or other minor streets which cannot be extended in the future: not less than 50 feet.
(e) 
Alleys, if permitted: not less than 20 feet nor more than 28 feet.
(f) 
Building setback lines in residential subdivisions shall be not less than as specified in Chapter 165, Zoning.
(2) 
No new street shall have a right-of-way width less than that of any existing street of which it forms an extension. Should the subdivision contain lots which abut on an existing street, road or highway which does not have 50 feet in width, the subdivider shall make provisions by the dedication of a minimum of 25 feet from the approximate center of the existing road or street.
E. 
Construction requirements. All construction of streets must comply with the requirements and specifications of the Virginia Department of Transportation for secondary roads, which may be found on file at the office of the Resident Engineer of Louisa County, Virginia, Department of Transportation, and must have his approval.
F. 
Culs-de-sac. Generally, minor terminal streets (culs-de-sac) designed to have one end permanently closed shall be no longer than 400 feet to the beginning of the turnaround of not less than 100 feet in diameter.
G. 
Alleys. Alleys should be avoided wherever possible. Dead-end alleys, if unavoidable, shall be provided with adequate turnaround facilities as determined by the agent.
H. 
Private streets and reserve strips. There shall be no private streets platted in any subdivision without the consent of the governing body. There shall be no reserve strips controlling access to streets.
I. 
Names. Proposed streets which are obviously in alignment with other already existing and named streets shall bear the names of the existing streets. In no case shall the names of proposed streets duplicate existing street names, irrespective of the use of the suffix "street," "avenue," "boulevard," "drive," "way," "place," "lane" or "court." Street names shall be indicated on the preliminary and final plats and shall be approved by the agent. Names of existing streets shall not be changed except by approval of the governing body.
J. 
Identification signs. Street identification signs of a design approved in accordance with signs and designs approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation shall be installed at all intersections.
[Added 11-18-1986 by Ord. No. 1986-2]
A. 
Concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be constructed at the expense of the developer along the frontage of the proposed subdivision on Route 22, Route 33, Route 208, Route 628, Route 669 and Route 761.
B. 
Requirements; construction; previously filed plats.
[Amended 2-18-2003]
(1) 
When required; utilities.
(a) 
Concrete, curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be required and constructed at the expense of the developer along all new streets in any proposed subdivision for the full parcel frontage (parcels comprising proposed subdivision) along said new streets, and along all existing streets abutting a proposed subdivision for the full parcel frontage (parcels comprising proposed subdivision) along said existing streets.
(b) 
Unless waived by the agent, any proposed subdivision shall be served by underground utilities and shall contain street lights.
(2) 
Any preliminary or final subdivision plat which has been filed with the appropriate Town agent prior to the effective date of this subsection, and which substantially complies with the provisions of the subdivision ordinance in effect on the date of filing of said plat, shall not be subject to February 18, 2003, amendments to this § 143-24B, but shall rather be subject to the provisions of § 143-24B as the same were in effect at the time of filing of the plat.
C. 
Curbs and gutters shall be constructed in conformance with the specifications established by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
D. 
Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with details and specifications as established by the Town and in accordance with the following standard provisions:
(1) 
Minimum width: Four feet.
(2) 
Beginning distance from property line: Two feet.
(3) 
Grade: to follow a line sloping up and away from the top of the curb at a slope of 1/4 inch per foot.
(4) 
The agent may authorize variances from standard sidewalk provisions where no curb exists or when unusual topographical conditions, the nature of existing construction or similar factors would make adherence to standard provisions unreasonable.
(5) 
All work shall be subject to inspection by the agent during construction and upon completion. The agent shall be notified by the owner, developer or his agent after forms are set, and no concrete shall be poured or further construction started until approved by the agent.
As required by this chapter, all monuments must be installed by the subdivider and shall meet the minimum specifications. Upon completion of subdivision streets, sewers and other improvements required, the subdivider shall make certain that all monuments required by the agent are clearly visible for inspection and use. Such monuments shall be inspected and approved by the agent before any improvements are accepted by the governing body.
A. 
Concrete monuments. Concrete monuments four inches in diameter or square, three feet long, with a flat top, shall be set at all street corners, at all points where the street line intersects the exterior boundaries of the subdivision and at right-angle points and points of curve in each street. The top of the monument shall have an appropriate mark to identify properly the location and shall be set flush with the finished grade.
B. 
Iron rods. All other lot corners shall be marked with iron rods not less than 3/4 inch in diameter and 24 inches long and driven so as to be flush with the finished grade. When rock is encountered, a hole shall be drilled four inches deep in the rock, into which shall be cemented a steel rod 1/2 inch in diameter, the top of which shall be flush with the finished grade line.
Where central water is available, the service shall be extended to all lots within a subdivision, including fire hydrants, where reasonably possible, by the subdivider in accordance with the design standards and specifications for water, construction and improvements in the Town or as required by the appropriate state agency and meeting the approval of the agent. Every subdivision containing 25 or more lots to which central water from a municipal supply cannot or will not be provided shall be supplied by the subdivider with a complete central water supply and distribution system to serve each and every lot containing less than 30,000 square feet per lot.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Where central sewerage facilities are available, the service shall be extended to all lots within a subdivision. Every subdivision shall be provided by the subdivider with a satisfactory and sanitary means of sewage collection and disposal in accordance with the design standards and specifications for sewerage construction and improvements in the Town or as required by the appropriate state agency and meeting the approval of the agent, provided that the area of the lots is such as to require a public sewage disposal system under Chapter 165, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Louisa. In case of a subdivision in which the area of the lots meets the minimum area required for an individual sewage disposal system under the Chapter 165, Zoning, an individual sewage disposal system for each lot may be permitted, subject to the approval by the Health Officer serving Louisa County.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Nothing in this article shall prevent the installation of privately owned water or sewerage facilities in areas where central water or sewerage facilities are not available, provided that such installations must meet all the requirements of the State Water Control Board, the State Health Department and any other state or local agency having authority over such installation.
A. 
Lot size shall be controlled by the applicable provisions of Chapter 165, Zoning.
B. 
Greater lot areas may be required where individual septic tanks or individual wells are used if the Health Officer determines that there are factors of drainage, soil condition or other conditions to cause potential health problems. The agent shall require that data from percolation or soil tests, or both, be submitted as a basis for passing upon subdivisions dependent upon septic tanks as a means of sewage disposal, such tests to be made by or approved by the State Health Department.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
The subdivider shall provide all necessary information needed to determine what improvements are necessary to properly develop the subject property, including contour intervals, drainage plans and flood-control devices. The subdivider shall also provide plans for all such improvements, together with a properly qualified certified engineer's or surveyor's statement, that such improvements, when properly installed, will be adequate for proper development. The Highway Engineer shall then approve or disapprove the plans. The subdivider shall also provide any other information required by the Highway Engineer or the State Health Department.
The installation of adequate fire hydrants in a subdivision at locations approved by the agent may be required, provided that necessary public water is available. The agent shall consult with the proper authority before approving such location.
The agent may require that easements for drainage through adjoining property be provided by the subdivider. Easements of not less than 10 feet in width shall be provided for water- , sewer and power lines and other utilities in the subdivision when required by the agent.
Before any subdivision plat will be finally approved by the agent, the subdivider shall, in lieu of construction, furnish bond with surety to be approved by the governing body, in an amount calculated by the agent, to secure the required improvements in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with specifications and construction schedules established or approved by the appropriate engineer, which bond shall be payable to and held by the governing body.
Two blue or black line prints of the plans and specifications for all required physical improvements to be installed shall be prepared by an engineer and shall be submitted to the agent for approval or disapproval. If approved, one copy bearing certification of such approval shall be returned to the subdivider. If disapproved, all papers shall be returned to the subdivider with the reason for disapproval in writing. If the agent does not approve or disapprove such plans and specifications within 45 days from the date of submission to it, the subdivider shall have the right to appeal his case directly to the governing body for immediate consideration, in accordance with § 143-9.