Article IV General Requirements and Design Standards

These standards are issued as guides for design and construction of facilities by private developers. They are formulated so that all facilities may eventually be accepted for maintenance by the Town. Within this objective, adequate design life, ease of operation and maintenance and standardization have been given primary consideration. The Town desires to provide accommodations for all modes of travel on its roadways in order to achieve Complete Streets objectives. Each facility shall be designed and constructed as part of a future complete system.

Any standard or specification referred to shall be understood to be the current version of that standard or specification. The Board may require higher standards where it believes they are justified. The Board will also consider approval of a design or construction method which is not included in these standards.

The list of approved materials is under constant review by the Board, and submission of requests for inclusion of such new material is encouraged. Such requests should be substantiated by test results, specifications and other data. Listing of a material or component in the list of approved materials or approval of a new material does not prevent the Board from requiring inspections or tests deemed by the Board to be necessary before such material or component is installed.

In general, the subdivision plat, development map, and the plan/profiles included in the final submission shall include enough detail to show compliance with design standards. The Board may require the submission of design calculations for review by the Board's Engineer.

(5)

Compliance with all standards cited herein will be required prior to final approval for construction. Failure to do so shall prevent the issuance of building permits for construction on the individual lots.

Surveying and mapping.

General. The procedure shall include tension, temperature and slope corrections to distance measurements; adjustment of closed baseline traverses; presentation of all necessary data clearly and completely; and the use of proper methods to obtain the required standards of accuracy cited in the Code of Practice.

Surveying accuracy. The position closure of a traverse after distribution of azimuth errors shall not exceed one over 15,000. Discrepancies in levels between forward and backward runs shall not exceed 1/10 of a foot times the square root of the length of section in miles.

Mapping accuracy. The limits of error in any map shall not exceed 1/10 inch between points, as scaled on the original map. The elevation error shall not exceed 1/2 of the contour interval.

Monuments and benchmarks.

Monuments shall be reinforced concrete or stone, four inches square and minimum of 30 inches long.

There shall be a minimum of two monuments within each subdivision to control the location of lot corners and road lines. If these monuments are at road intersections or along road lines, they should not be set until the road has been constructed. They should be in position when the Town Superintendent of Highways inspects the road prior to dedication.

(c)

The number of monuments to be set should depend on the size of the subdivision. In general, a pair of intervisible monuments should be set along each road.

(d)

The subdivision map should show the location of the monuments to be set, along with the coordinate values and elevation of the top of each monument. The elevation of the monuments should be referred to sea level datum, as established by the United States Geological Survey or other governmental agencies.

(e)

If an elevation control monument does not exist within one mile of the subdivision, then the elevation shown on the United States Geological Survey topographic map, at the nearest road intersection, shall be used as a benchmark and so noted on the subdivision map.

Streets and roads.

General.

All streets and roads shall be designed to provide safe and convenient routes for the traveling public. The Town desires to include a complete streets approach when designing and planning new and reconstructed streets and roads. All streets and roads shall incorporate measures for all modes of travel by a variety of users where practicable.

All streets and roads shall be logically related to the existing topography, soils, vegetation and other natural features and shall be coordinated into a logical and efficient system. Streets shall follow lowland, excepting wetlands, wherever feasible. Road layout shall minimize stream crossings.

(c)

Installation of utility distribution and service lines shall be planned at the time the road layout is determined. Areas with steep slopes, shallow soils, soils with a water table at or near the surface and soils that are highly susceptible to erosion or slippage shall be avoided as far as practical.

(d)

Subdivision streets shall be the responsibility of the developer and shall be built according to the Town of Warrensburg design standards for road construction.

(e)

The Town has developed two road design standards: a typical section for open drainage (or rural roadways) generally located outside the official hamlet, and a typical section for closed drainage roadways located within the hamlet.

[1]

Open drainage/rural roads. This typical road design standard is appropriate in most subdivisions outside of the busy hamlet core. It is comprised of two ten-foot travel lanes with an open drainage system. Shoulders shall be gravel for stability. Where side slopes adjacent to roadways exceed 3:1, a guiderail is appropriate. This is a shared roadway where vehicle speed and traffic volumes allow. A paved/gravel walking path (minimum of six feet in width) is appropriate to accommodate pedestrians and other modes of travel. The pathway shall be located on that side of the roadway providing the greatest connectivity, safety accommodations, subject to physical site constraints as determined by the Planning Board and/or Highway Superintendent. (See Figure A, Typical Cross-Section for Open Drainage Roadways.[1])

[1]

Editor's Note: Said figure is included at the end of this chapter.

[2]

Closed drainage roadways (roads within the hamlet). This typical road design standard is appropriate within the hamlet and those areas in close proximity to the developed core of the Town. It is comprised of two ten-foot travel lanes and closed drainage system. The ten-foot travel lane serves as a shared roadway to accommodate bicyclists. The standard also provides an option for an eight-foot parking lane where on-street parking is preferred or provided. Sidewalks may be located on both sides of the road where demand exists or connections are desired. Sidewalks shall be located on one side of the road at a minimum. Within the most active areas and commercial core of the hamlet, sidewalks shall be a minimum of five feet from the curb and the area between the curb and walk shall be planted or paved as appropriate to the adjoining land use. (See Figure B, Typical Cross-Section for Closed Drainage Roadways.[2])

[2]

Editor's Note: Said figure is included at the end of this chapter.

(f)

Bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and other accommodations to address other travel modes and needs (i.e., safety, access, etc.) shall be incorporated into street design. The typical standards allow flexibility in implementation and may be modified based on the determination of the specific needs for a particular location.

(g)

When identifying the need and desire for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, the Town may vary from the typical standards.

Street access. Access to arterial streets shall be restricted as far as practicable. Where possible and desirable, subdivisions containing 20 lots or more shall have at least two street connections with existing public streets.

Continuation of projection of certain streets. The arrangement of streets in the subdivision shall provide for the continuation of principal streets of adjoining subdivisions and for proper projection of principal streets into adjoining properties which are not yet subdivided, in order to make possible necessary fire protection, movement of traffic and the construction or extension, presently or when later required, of needed utilities and public services, such as sewers, water and drainage facilities. Where, in the opinion of the Planning Board, topographic or other conditions make such continuation or projection undesirable or impracticable, this requirement may be modified. Approved future connector links shall be dedicated at the same time the principal streets are dedicated.

Intersections.

In general, all streets and roads shall intersect so that for a distance of at least 100 feet, each street is approximately at right angles to the street it joins. Minor street intersections with collector streets or arterial highways shall be separated by at least 300 feet.

When a subdivision street intersects an existing street, the Board may require the subdivider to improve the existing street within 100 feet of said intersection to meet the requirements of these regulations for intersection design.

(5)

Street alignment.

A curve shall be required whenever a collector or local street deflects more than 10°. A curve shall be required for any deflection in an arterial street. Minimum center-line radius for horizontal curves shall be as follows:

	Street Type	Minimum Radius (feet)
	Collector	300
	Local	300
	Marginal access	250

A tangent of at least 150 feet shall be required between reverse curves, except where the topographical conditions of the site being subdivided would require a lesser radius or tangent without disturbing major portions of unexcavated soil and foliage.

(6)

Street grades.

Grades of roads shall conform as closely as possible to the original topography. However, maximum street grades shall be as follows:

	Street Type	Minimum Grade
	Collector	8%
	Local	10%
	Marginal access	10%

Street grades shall not be less than 0.5%. Grades at street intersections shall be held to a maximum of 3% for a distance of 100 feet from the edge of pavement of the intersected street. Vertical parabolic curves shall be introduced at changes of grade exceeding an algebraic difference of 1% and shall provide the following minimum sight distances:

	Street Type	Minimum Sight Distance (feet)
	Collector	250
	Local	100
	Marginal access	100

(7)

Fill slopes.

Where streets are constructed on new fill, the side slopes of the fill shall be as follows:

	Fill Height (feet)	Slope (vertical to horizontal)
	0 to 6	1 to 4 or flatter
	8 to 12	1 to 3 or flatter
	Above 12	Not allowed

The width of the top of embankment shall be at least 20 feet wider than the width of roadway.

(8)

Guardrailing. Where streets are constructed on fills of greater than six feet in height, guardrailing shall be installed along the side of the road eight feet from the edge of the roadway.

(9)

Dead-end streets.

Dead-end or loop residential streets are discouraged, but may be permitted wherever the Board finds that such type of development is necessary to accommodate the character of the land and will not interfere with normal traffic circulation in the area.

Dead-end streets shall not be longer than 1,000 feet and shall be provided with a turnaround at the closed end. The Planning Board may seek an advisory opinion from the Town Highway Superintendent to determine what form of dead-end turnaround is preferred. A circular cul-de-sac or hammerhead options are available.

(c)

A hammerhead turnaround shall conform to Figure C, Typical Detail for Hammerhead Turnarounds.[3]

[3]

Editor's Note: Said figure is included at the end of this chapter.

(d)

A circular cul-de-sac shall have a street right-of-way diameter of least 140 feet and an outside edge of pavement diameter of at least 110 feet.

[1]

The pavement radius at the entrance to the turnaround shall be at least 50 feet for symmetrical turnarounds and greater for offset turnarounds.

[2]

If an island is left in the turnaround, it shall be nearly level to facilitate snow plowing, and there shall be no curbs around the island.

[3]

The turnaround pavement shall slope to the outside of the circle. When a street is extended beyond an intersection to make provision for its future extension, a temporary turnaround shall be provided at the end of the street, unless no lots are served by the extension. The temporary turnaround shall meet the requirements for a permanent turnaround.

(e)

In the case of a dead-end road, the Board may require the reservation of an easement 20 feet wide to provide for continuation of pedestrian traffic, emergency access, and utilities to the next street when the Board, in its discretion, feels such an easement is necessary or desirable.

(10)

Special treatment along arterial highways. When a subdivision abuts or contains an arterial highway, the Board may require marginal access streets, reverse frontage with screen planting contained in a non-access reservation along the rear property line, deep lots with rear service alleys or other such treatments as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation of through and local traffic.

(11)

Other required streets. Where a subdivision borders on or contains a railroad right-of-way or limited access highway right-of-way, the Planning Board may require a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way, at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of the intervening land (as for park purposes in residential districts or for commercial or industrial purposes in appropriate districts). Such distances shall also be determined with due regard for the requirements of approach grades and future grade separations.

(12)

Street setbacks. Setbacks from existing streets shall be in accordance with Chapter 211, Zoning.

(13)

Commercial development.

Service streets or loading space. Paved rear service streets of not less than 20 feet in width or, in lieu thereof, adequate off-street loading space, suitably surfaced, shall be provided in connection with lots designed for commercial use. This requirement is in addition to street requirements of any such development.

Free flow of vehicular traffic abutting commercial developments. In front of areas zoned and designed for commercial use or where a change of zoning to a zone which permits commercial use is contemplated, the street width shall be increased by such amount on each side as may be deemed necessary by the Planning Board with consultation of Superintendent of Highways or Town Board to assure the free flow of through traffic without interference by parked or parking vehicles and to provide adequate and safe parking space for commercial or business districts.

Storm drainage. In designing for storm drainage, the Water Pollution Control Federation Manual of Practice on Design and Construction of Sanitary and Storm Sewers (MOP-9) (the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Stormwater Management Guidelines for New Development, most recent edition) shall be used as a guide. The procedures of said manual are not binding, and other good engineering practices may be accepted by the Town.

Erosion control. On properties where construction activities will occur, erosion control measures may be required during construction. Based upon site conditions, temporary erosion control measures, as outlined in the most recent edition of New York Guidelines for Urban Erosion and Sediment Control, may be required to prevent potentially damaging siltation caused by upland erosion. Permanent erosion control measures will be required where site conditions indicate they are needed.

Water system.

General. All components of the water system shall meet the requirements of the Warrensburg Department of Water or the Rural Water Supply Manual of the New York State Department of Health. Fire hydrants and shutoffs shall be located as per requirements of the Rural Water Supply Manual, New York State Health Department. Where subdivisions are located within the Town of Warrensburg Water District, all water service laterals shall be installed to the boundary of each lot prior to the surfacing of the roadway.

Water supply. A source of supply shall be developed which will yield 100 gallons per resident in approximately 16 hours over a prolonged period of time without disturbing the normal groundwater reserve.

Water quality. Water supplies for community water systems shall meet all requirements of the New York State Public Drinking Water Standards.

Hydro-pneumatic pressure system. Pumps, tanks and accessory equipment shall provide adequate pump capacity and pressure with one-day storage.

Sewage disposal systems.

Sanitary sewers. Where an existing (approved by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) sanitary sewer is within 500 feet of the subdivision, the developer shall extend it to accommodate the proposed subdivision. All elements of the system must be approved by both the Town of Warrensburg and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Where subdivisions are located within the Town of Warrensburg Sewer District, all sewer laterals shall be installed to the boundary of each lot prior to the surfacing of the roadway.

Individual septic systems. Where the daily discharge of sanitary sewage into an individual system for an individual residential structure is less than 1,000 gallons per day per structure, the waste treatment (septic) system shall be designed and constructed according to the provisions and standards of the Waste Treatment Handbook, Individual Household System (blue book), New York State Department of Health Division of Sanitary Engineering or the Town of Warrensburg Sanitary Code, whichever is more restrictive.