[Adopted 6-18-1980 (§§ 13-128 to 13-146 of the 1974 Code)]
A. 
The purpose of this article is to provide for the manner of design, construction and acceptance of new streets, highways or public ways and establish minimum standards and specifications therefor in the Town of Ridgefield.
B. 
On and after the effective date of this article, no new street, highway or public way shall be laid out or offered for acceptance as a public thoroughfare in the Town of Ridgefield which does not conform to the standards and specifications as herein provided.
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to lay out and construct any proposed new street, highway or public way in the Town of Ridgefield shall first submit a plan for the proposed facility to the Planning and Zoning Commission for approval as prescribed in C.G.S. § 8-24. This plan shall conform to the standards set forth in the subdivision regulations of the Town of Ridgefield.
[Amended 3-10-1993]
Before any work is commenced on a proposed roadway, including clearing of the site, the owner shall apply for and have issued a roadway construction permit from the Director of Public Services. Said permit shall not be issued unless the applicant has complied with the bond and surety requirements of § 310-55 of this article. In addition, the Director may revoke any such permit subsequent to issuance in the event said applicant should at any point cease to be in compliance with said section, whether noncompliance is occasioned by acts or omissions of the applicant or otherwise. The Director will supply an application form which must be completed and returned to the Director together with one set of roadway construction plans and the required fee (as the same may be from time to time established by the Director of Public Services) prior to the issuance of the permit and start of construction.
A. 
Before securing approval of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the subdivision plan, the developer shall submit to the Director of Public Services a detailed plan showing the proposed road profiles and the layout of any proposed utilities, including storm sewers, waterlines, sanitary sewers, and any other underground utility.
B. 
These plans shall be prepared by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of Connecticut. Each sheet of said plans shall bear his seal and title box.
C. 
Plans shall be drawn in ink on plan-profile linen the size of which shall be 24 inches in width and 36 inches in length.
D. 
The plan shall include the following data:
(1) 
The scale. Generally the vertical scale shall be one inch equals four feet and the horizontal scale shall be one inch equals 40 feet.
(2) 
The existing center-line profile based upon actual field measurements taken every 50 feet along the proposed roadway.
(3) 
The center-line profile of the proposed roadway, which profile shall indicate gradient and data concerning vertical curves.
(4) 
The plan portion of the submission shall show the proposed road layout as approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission with lot lines as they intersect the road lines as well as lot numbers.
(5) 
The plan shall also show roadway stationing as it relates to the accompanying profile with each proposed road starting 0 + 00.
(6) 
The plan shall show in detail the location and size of all drainage conduits, including existing pipes which drain onto or off the proposed land to be serviced by the roadway. The plan shall also indicate the location of all proposed catch basins, manholes, headwalls, and streams or open ditches which relate to the proposed construction. The plan shall show invert elevations at influent points, catch basins, manholes, and discharge points. Proposed conduits shall be shown on the profile with their relation to the proposed center line of the roadway.
(7) 
Proposed underground utilities other than storm drains shall be shown on the same general detail, including location, size, etc.
(8) 
Each proposed roadway shall be shown on a separate sheet.
(9) 
Where streams discharge onto the parcel to be subdivided, the applicant shall submit hydrologic data concerning area of watershed and estimated flow information. This data shall be prepared by a licensed professional engineer and shall be used in the design of all conduits which relate to the watercourse in question.
E. 
The proposed road plans shall be submitted to the Director of Public Services for his review and comment. The Director shall report (either written or verbal) his findings to the Planning and Zoning Commission for its consideration.
All proposed Town roads shall be designated into one of the following classifications by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to final approval:
A. 
Arterials (major): generally carry traffic between communities or major activity centers.
B. 
Collectors: provide intracommunity traffic service and neighborhood access to arterials.
C. 
Local streets: link individual properties with collectors and arterials and include the following:
(1) 
Local street: a through road linking properties with collectors and arterial roads and serving an unlimited number of residential and nonresidential properties.
(2) 
Tertiary road: a permanent dead-end road (cul-de-sac) serving not more than seven interior residential lots.
A. 
Classification.
(1) 
Arterial (major).
(2) 
Collector.
(3) 
Local.
(a) 
Local street.
(b) 
Tertiary road.
B. 
Right-of-way. The minimum width of the right-of-way shall be as follows:
(1) 
Arterial (major): 60 feet.
(2) 
Collector: 50 feet.
(3) 
Local:
(a) 
Local street: 50 feet.
(b) 
Tertiary road: 40 feet.
C. 
Pavement width. The minimum width of the paved surface as measured from edge of pavement to edge of pavement or from face of curb to face of curb shall be as follows:
(1) 
Arterial (major): 27 feet.
(2) 
Collector: 22 feet.
(3) 
Local:
(a) 
Local street: 22 feet.
(b) 
Tertiary road: 18 feet.
D. 
Curve radius. The minimum radius of all horizontal curves measured from the inside of the curve shall be as follows:
(1) 
Arterial (major): 250 feet.
(2) 
Collector: 150 feet.
(3) 
Local:
(a) 
Local street: 150 feet.
(b) 
Tertiary road: 125 feet.
E. 
Maximum and minimum gradient.
(1) 
Maximum gradient.
(a) 
Arterial (major): 10%.
(b) 
Collector: 10%.
(c) 
Local:
[1] 
Local street: 12%.
[2] 
Tertiary road: 12%.
(2) 
The minimum gradient of all streets shall be 1%.
F. 
Cul-de-sac standards.
(1) 
The following minimum standards shall be met when dead-end roads are permitted:
(a) 
Width of right-of-way: 100 feet in diameter.
(b) 
Paved area: 80 feet in diameter.
(2) 
Arterial (major) and collector streets shall not be dead-ended.
G. 
Maximum length of dead-end roads. Dead-end local and tertiary street: 1,400 feet, including turnabout.
H. 
Minimum radius of traveled way at intersections. All roads and streets: 30 feet.
I. 
Sight distances.
(1) 
Arterial (major): 150 feet.
(2) 
Collector: 150 feet.
(3) 
Tertiary: 125 feet.
J. 
Sidewalk and walk path, when required. When required by the Planning and Zoning Commission, sidewalks and walk paths shall be:
(1) 
Sidewalk: five feet wide.
(2) 
Walk paths: two feet six inches wide.
K. 
Curbing. Curbs shall be required on all streets.
(1) 
Arterial (major): granite or concrete.
(2) 
All others: bituminous concrete.
L. 
Cross slope of pavement. The transverse slope of all paved sections shall be at the rate of 3/8 inch per foot.
M. 
Minimum length of vertical curve. All roads: 100 feet, but not less than 15 feet for each percent difference in gradient. The grade of any street shall not exceed, however, 4% within 100 feet of the point where it intersects another street.
[Amended 9-14-1988]
A. 
Subgrade. The subgrades shall be prepared in an approved manner by excavating or filling as required. Filling shall be done in layers not to exceed 12 inches in depth using suitable material, each layer to be consolidated by rolling before the next layer is placed. Stones in earth fill shall be well distributed, and no stone over four inches in diameter shall be left within 12 inches of the finished subgrade.
(1) 
Wherever soft clay or spongy or other types of unsuitable soil which will not compact under rolling are encountered, such soil shall be removed and replaced with gravel or other approved material which shall be compacted as specified above.
(2) 
Wherever soil is of such nature that it retains an excessive amount of moisture, or where conditions do not afford ready natural drainage, subdrains and side drains shall be provided, in accordance with the requirements of the Town Engineer.
(3) 
Preparation of the subgrade shall be performed upon completion of required excavation, filling and the installation of utilities. Where roadways are in cut, they shall be brought to subgrade elevation for a width of at least two feet wider than the finished pavement width, i.e., one foot on either side.
(4) 
Where roadways are in embankment, the fill shall extend to subgrade level and for a width not less than six feet outside the curbline on each side. The total subgrade area shall then be thoroughly consolidated by repeated rollings, using a self-propelled roller, weighing not less than 10 tons. Side slopes, whether in cut or fill, shall not exceed a slope of 2.5:1. These areas should be graded and seeded.
B. 
Shoulders and side slopes. A five-foot graded shoulder shall be required on all streets. The shoulder shall slope from the top of the curb at the rate of 1/4 inch per lined foot. The shoulder areas shall have a minimum of four inches of topsoil and they shall be fine graded and seeded. Side slopes, whether in cut or fill, shall be graded at a slope of 2:1 except in rock cuts which may be steeper as directed by the Town Engineer. All disturbed areas shall be graded and seeded.
C. 
Surface drainage. There shall be installed, prior to the final construction of the subgrade, a complete system of surface drainage, as shown on approved plans. Catch basins, manholes, and pipe shall comply with the highway construction specifications of the Department of Transportation of the State of Connecticut.
D. 
Foundation course. Upon the prepared subgrade there shall be placed a foundation course consisting of one-and-one-fourth-inch processed trap-rock. This course shall be eight inches in thickness. After this material has been placed and properly graded, there shall be placed an additional two-inch layer of three-fourths-inch processed trap-rock which shall be compacted and fine graded to an elevation which is three inches below the approved finish grade. The total depth of this foundation course shall be 10 inches. The trap-rock shall conform to the standard specification (Form 811, Section M.02) of the Department of Transportation of the State of Connecticut.
E. 
Final wearing surface. The final wearing surface shall consist of bituminous concrete placed in two courses. The compacted thickness of each course shall be 1 1/2 inches. Material for this course shall conform to the requirements of Article M.04.01, Class I of the Standard Specifications for Roads, Bridges, and Incidental Construction of the Connecticut State Highway Department, Form 811, 1974 Revision. This article is titled "Bituminous Concrete Mixture." The method of placing shall conform to all the requirements of Article 4.02.03 of the above-described standard specifications.
F. 
Inspection. Before commencing any of the herein-described roadway items, it shall be the responsibility of the builder to notify the Engineer at least 48 hours in advance of his intent to proceed. No construction shall take place without the specific authorization after inspection of the Engineer.
G. 
Utilities. Prior to the placement of the base course, all utilities are to be installed together with service extensions to each lot within the proposed subdivision.
H. 
Scheduling of roadway construction. In all cases, the first paving course shall weather at least one full winter (November 1 through March 31) in place.
I. 
The placement of the first course of the final wearing surface may be at the discretion of the builder if all previous work has been approved by the Engineer. The final wearing surface shall be placed only at the discretion of the Engineer and only after all patches and repairs have been made to the base course as directed. In general, this final surface shall not be installed until a majority of the residences in the subdivision have received certificates of occupancy. In no case shall bituminous concrete be placed after November 1 unless specific written approval is granted by the Engineer.
[Amended 6-26-2002]
A. 
No zoning or building permits shall be issued until the road process base course has been placed and the fire suppression cistern tank and hydrant system is in place and certified by the Director of Public Services and, where required, certified by the Fire Department.
B. 
No zoning certificate of compliance or certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the first paving course has been placed and so certified by the Director of Public Services.
Storm drainage shall be provided and designed in accordance with the following standards:
A. 
Pipe. Sufficient pipe shall be installed within the subdivision to carry existing watercourses and to drain the proposed roads and/or easements which may reasonably be expected to be constructed at some future date on adjoining property which normally drains across the area of the proposed subdivision or which, in the opinion of the Town Engineer, would be the most practical course for such drainage. If in his judgment there will be no substantial danger from soil erosion or danger to the public health and safety, the Town Engineer may permit the discharge of rivers and large streams in their natural courses and may permit the discharge of stormwater and established watercourses in open ditches across proposed lots of one acre or larger. All pipe shall be of such diameter (not less than 15 inches) as will, in the judgment of the Town Engineer, be sufficient to properly carry stormwater expected to enter the pipe from the proposed subdivision and from other properties when developed which normally drain across the area of the proposed subdivision. The minimum slope for the fifteen-inch pipe shall be 0.75%. The intent of this subsection is that pipes shall be installed the full length in all proposed roads to permit the connection of house storm drains and cellar drains where required by ground conditions.
B. 
Manholes. Manholes shall be provided at each change in direction or grade of the pipe and shall not be spaced more than 400 feet apart. Manholes shall be constructed as shown on the standard detail. Only precast concrete units or solid concrete blocks shall be used.
C. 
Catch basins.
(1) 
Catch basins shall be provided in order that surface water will not travel without interception more than as shown in the following schedule of grades and distances:
0.50% to 1%
250 feet
1% to 2%
300 feet
2% to 5%
350 feet
5% to 8%
300 feet
8% to 10%
250 feet
(2) 
Each catch basin shall be connected to a manhole or adjacent catch basin where no manhole exists. Construction shall conform to the standard detail. Only precast concrete units or solid concrete blocks shall be used.
D. 
Underdrains. In all roadway areas where a high water table is found to exist, either before commencing or during actual construction of the roadways, the developer shall be required to install underdrains as directed by the Town Engineer or his duly authorized agent to protect the stability of the roadway.
(1) 
If required, perforated concrete or metal pipe shall be used, backfilled with washed gravel or crushed rock of 1/2 inch nominal size to a depth of at least 12 inches over the top of the pipe. The remainder of the trench shall be backfilled with bank-run gravel as approved by the Engineer.
(2) 
Sufficient pitch shall be provided to allow this underground water to run freely to a point of discharge. The size and type of conduit shall be as directed by the Engineer.
E. 
Discharge. This discharge of all stormwater shall be into suitable drainage structures of watercourses. Where the discharge shall be onto private property within or adjoining the proposed subdivision, proper easements and discharge rights for the Town shall be secured by the applicant before approval of the final map and acceptance of the drainage plan by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The storm drainage system shall be constructed in accordance with the following standards and procedures:
A. 
Pipe. All pipe used shall be of reinforced concrete meeting State Highway Department specifications. In some instances, the Town Engineer may recommend use of corrugated metal pipe where in his judgment such pipe will provide a more satisfactory drainage system.
B. 
Joints. The joints of all pipes shall be shoved tight. Pipe laid in sandy, silty, or other soil where, in the judgment of the Town Engineer, there is the possibility of silting shall have joints thoroughly sealed with a 1:3 Portland cement mortar or other approved method.
C. 
Catch basins and manholes. Catch basins and manholes shall be constructed in accordance with the approved plans. Manholes shall be constructed of solid concrete radial manhole blocks eight inches thick, and catch basins shall be constructed of eight-inch solid concrete blocks. Precast concrete units are acceptable.
D. 
Headwalls, culverts and bridges. Headwalls, culverts and bridges shall be constructed where required, in accordance with good engineering practice and as specified by the Town Engineer.
E. 
Cement block construction will not be permitted.
F. 
Open ditches. Open ditches may be permitted at the discretion of the Town Engineer. The size of the waterway shall be of sufficient size to convey all water expected to be discharged and shall be suitably stabilized against erosion. The side banks shall be moderately sloped, not less than three horizontal to one vertical, and then seeded or otherwise stabilized. Paved bottom sections and rip-rap slopes shall be provided when directed by the Town Engineer to prevent scour and erosion.
Where driveways have been constructed prior to the petition for acceptance, said driveways shall be constructed in accordance with the Ridgefield Driveway Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 155, Driveways.
Street signs shall be required at all intersections. To ensure uniformity, the developer shall pay to the municipality a fee as may be required by the Director of Public Services for each required sign, and his responsibility under this provision shall end upon payment of this sum to the Board of Selectmen.
When homes within a subdivision are occupied prior to acceptance of the street, it shall be the responsibility of the developer to erect mailboxes where said street intersects the nearest public highway. The mailboxes shall be erected as directed by the postmaster and they shall be maintained in good order until the street is accepted as a public highway. The developer shall remove the same when postal service is supplied to the individual home. On a cul-de-sac, all mailboxes shall be placed in a cluster, the location of which shall be determined by the Director of Public Services.
When in the opinion of the Town Engineer guardrailing is necessary to protect the traveling public, the subdivider shall install the same as directed. The guardrailing shall consist of the two-cable variety, or approved equal, and shall conform to the applicable State Highway Department specification.
A. 
When the foundation course has been completed, the developer shall submit as-built drawings. Such drawings shall be in ink on plan-profile linen and shall be 36 inches by 24 inches in size. Drawings shall be prepared by a person registered as a professional engineer or land surveyor in the State of Connecticut and shall show the following detail:
(1) 
Concrete monuments delineating the right-of-way.
(2) 
Edge of paved surfaces as they relate to right-of-way.
(3) 
A center-line profile of the graded surface.
(4) 
The location and size of all sanitary and storm sewer conduits and structures, including invert elevations of the same.
(5) 
Bearings and distances on all right-of-way boundaries tied into the monuments described above.
(6) 
Drainage easements as shown on the approved subdivision plan.
B. 
The original drawings shall be delivered to the office of the Director of Public Services, and said plans shall be reviewed as to conformance with these standards before submission to the Board of Selectmen for public acceptance.
[Amended 3-28-1990; 9-26-1990; 6-26-2002]
A. 
Bond or other security required. Prior to the start of any work activity, a performance bond, passbook, acceptable surety, irrevocable letter of credit, certificate of deposit or cash shall be deposited with the Director of Public Services to guarantee the satisfactory performance of the work as shown in the plans, as modified in the field by the Town Engineer.
(1) 
The size of the bond or other security shall be determined by the Town Engineer and shall represent his estimate of the cost of the proposed improvements.
(2) 
Twenty percent of the total security pledged must be in cash, which cash portion shall be the final 20% to be released as later set forth in Subsection B. The Director of Public Services reserves the final right to determine the adequacy of the form of bond or security, and the criteria for adequacy shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the duration of the security and the Town's ability to draw on the security without third party consent. The Director of Public Services will also be bound by any reasonable rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Selectmen as a result of changes and modifications to accepted banking and surety practices.
B. 
Release of bond or other security. When the drainage and asphalt binder have been completed and so certified by the Town Engineer, and the fire suppression cistern tank and hydrant system is in place and in working order and has been tested and certified by the Fire Chief, the bond or other security will be reduced by 50%.
(1) 
When the final wearing surface has been installed (including curbs) and when the shoulders have been properly graded and stabilized, there will be an additional thirty-percent reduction in the bond or other security.
(2) 
The remaining 20% of the original bond or other security (the mandated cash portion thereof) shall be released when the road has been accepted as a public highway and when all required instruments of conveyance have been properly executed and placed on the land records.
(3) 
All persons requesting release of bond or other security shall do so by written request to the Director of Public Services.
C. 
Waiver. In the event of an unanticipated, accidental failure of a bank or other security, due to no intentional fault of the developer, the Board of Selectmen may authorize work or completion of the improvements in question upon terms and conditions it deems in the best interest of the municipality.
A. 
All petitions for the acceptance of new streets as public highways shall be presented to the Board of Selectmen. After inspection, a report shall be delivered to the petitioner setting forth any repairs which will be necessary to bring the roadway up to standard.
B. 
All repairs and/or modifications shall be effected by the developer. If the Town Engineer determines that the construction meets the standards as set forth herein and provided that all other statutes and requirements are met, the petition shall be acted upon by the Board of Selectmen.
A. 
Applicability. The provisions of this article shall apply to the construction and acceptance of all roads in the Town of Ridgefield, the actual construction of which commences subsequent to the effective date of this article.
B. 
Standards on file. The standards and specifications provided for in this article shall be on file and open for inspection in the office of the Director of Public Services.
[Added 9-26-1990]
A. 
Upon petition of 80% or more of the owners of property on or directly serviced by a private road, the Board of Selectmen may designate said road for municipal private road maintenance. Upon designation, the owners shall collect (in any lawful manner arranged for by them) and pay to the Town a sum determined by the Town Engineer as adequate to complete an initial upgrade of said road to bring it up to passable condition. A maintenance fee shall likewise be collected and paid to the Town, which maintenance fee shall be determined by a proportional formula based upon the latest state aid road account figures. The maintenance fee shall be billed June 1 of any given year and paid by September 1 of that year. The maintenance period shall be from September 1 of the year of the payment to September 1 of the following year. Failure to pay said maintenance fee in full by said date, or the upgrade costs when due, shall operate to rescind the designation and absolve the Town of any responsibility to commence or continue maintenance. Redesignation after default shall be within the discretion of the Board of Selectmen for good cause shown. The initial petition shall specify a private road contact person and an alternate to serve in case of his or her unavailability who shall receive the annual billing.
B. 
Limited maintenance to be performed by the Town shall be adequate to keep the road in safe and passable condition and shall be limited to plowing and sanding, pothole repair, basic drain cleaning and sweeping. Maintenance above and beyond the foregoing, including but not necessarily limited to drainage work and tree and brush removal, shall not be the responsibility of the Town. Owners of property shall continue to be responsible for any maintenance and repairs over and above that provided by the Town under this section.
C. 
Performance of limited maintenance as set forth above shall not serve to establish in any way that said road has been accepted as a Town road, de facto or otherwise.
D. 
Structural deterioration subsequent to designation which may cause said road to cease to be passable will be the responsibility of the owners, and the Town may require that said road be upgraded to passable condition before maintenance may continue, in the same manner as with initial designation.
E. 
An affected owner of property objecting to designation and prospective maintenance shall notify the First Selectman in writing within 30 days of designation or by September 1 of said given year, and said objection shall be reviewed by the Board of Selectmen to determine whether said objection is a basis (because of legal concerns or otherwise) for rescinding designation and/or terminating or modifying limited maintenance.
F. 
A private road is defined as a roadway open to public passage whose ownership can be attributed to an individual or group of individuals. Roads within condominium limits are not open to public passage and as such do not fall under this definition. Roadways serving three lots or fewer (maximum of four if permitted by the Planning and Zoning Commission) are designated as accessways and are also excluded from this definition.