A. 
Streets: general principles. Streets must be designed to integrate with the topography and natural features and provide safe travel for all users of the street. Streets shall be designed to move vehicle and pedestrian traffic safely. Any new street or road approved through the development review process shall be based upon the written recommendations of the Public Works Director, Town Engineer, Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Director of Planning and Development, who shall review the project for safety and the capacity to serve all users. Design of streets shall address pedestrian and bicycle safety and movement.
B. 
All new streets shall be classified based upon the standards found in Appendix A, Table 1, [1] and incorporate the following standards:
(1) 
Sight distance. Any intersecting street or road shall be so designed in profile and grading to provide minimum sight distances measured in each direction. Measurement shall be from 10 feet behind the travel way line with the height of eye three and one half (3.5) feet above the pavement and a height of object of four and one quarter (4.25) feet.
Allowable Speed
Distance *
(miles per hour)
Minimum Sight
(in feet)
25
200
30
250
35
305
40
360
45
425
50
495
55
570
NOTES:
*
Based on MDOT standards, if 30% or more of the traffic are large trucks, there may be a need for greater sight distances.
(2) 
Driveways. Driveway placement shall be such that an exiting vehicle has an unobstructed sight distance according to the above schedule. Driveways to corner lots shall gain access from the street of lower classification when a corner lot is bounded by streets of two different classifications.
(3) 
Signs. The installation of street name signs and other traffic control signs shall be the responsibility of the developer as directed by the Planning Board and in conformance with the requirements of the Department of Public Works. All signs shall be erected in conformance with the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
(4) 
Curbs. Curbing shall be required where grades require that stormwater drainage be channeled along the curbline to avoid shoulder erosion, and with typical sections as noted in this code.
(5) 
Utility easements. Easements are required for sewers, storm drains, public water supplies and other utilities located outside of proposed rights-of-way. Utility easements in general shall not be less than 20 feet in width and in specific cases may require increased width, as recommended by the Public Works Director or the Director's designee.
(6) 
Sidewalks. At the discretion of the Planning Board, sidewalks may be provided within all subdivisions or other development review where a potential connection to the existing sidewalk network is provided for the safety and convenience of the public, per the standards in Table 1. The sidewalk location as depicted in the cross section figures is preferred; however, it may, at the discretion of the Planning Board, be positioned at curbline with zero esplanade. Sidewalks, when required, shall be a minimum of five (5) feet in width.
C. 
Design characteristics.
(1) 
The proposed street system shall be integrated within the existing street network.
(2) 
The pattern of circulation should be obvious to the motorists, with local streets subordinate to collector streets. Pavement width, street alignment, frequency and degree of curves, setback of homes, landscaping or other means should heighten the distinction between local and collector streets. Local streets should discourage through traffic by the use of curves, or other means to slow traffic speeds.
(3) 
Street layout shall reflect the natural terrain and special features and retain those features to the best extent practicable. Areas of cut and fill shall be minimized to inhibit erosion. Drainage shall utilize natural systems, where possible, with adequate protection against erosion.
(4) 
Reserved streets for future street connections to adjoining undeveloped property shall be required by the Board to be dedicated to the Town. The developer of the adjoining property can be required by the Board to connect to and build over the reserved strips. Reserved strips not to be used shall be dispensed with according to 23 M.R.S.A. § 3027.
(5) 
Street design shall conform to the following standards. Road classification shall be determined by the Planning Board in accordance with Table 1. Intersections should be at angles in accordance with Table 1. Distance between street intersections should be in accordance with Table 1.
A. 
This section sets the minimum standards for public street, sidewalk and utilities construction:
(1) 
Roadway construction materials standards shall conform to the current "State of Maine Department of Transportation Standard Specifications."
(2) 
The Standards and Dimensions contained in Tables 1 and 2[1] shall be considered minimums.
[1]
Editor's Note: Tables 1 and 2 are included as attachments to this chapter.
B. 
Construction.
(1) 
Engineering work. All engineering work, including the setting of grade stakes necessary for the construction of the street and sidewalks, and storm sewers, shall be performed by the developer at his or her expense.
(2) 
Underground utilities. Any sewers and appurtenances, drains, including house drains and catch basins which are to be built in the street or sidewalk, and all underground utilities and their respective services shall be constructed before any road material is placed. Underground utilities, although not required, are encouraged for every new proposed street.
(3) 
Sewers. Sanitary sewer pipes and appurtenances must be installed in conformance with the requirements of the Topsham Sewer District.
(4) 
Grading. All streets, roads, walks, etc., shall be graded to their full width by the developer so that pavements and sidewalks can be constructed on parallel profiles.
(5) 
Preparation. Before grading is started, the right-of-way area shall be cleared of all stumps, roots, brush and other objectionable material and all trees not intended for preservation, as designated by the Public Works Director of the Director's designee.
(6) 
Cuts. Tree stumps and other organic materials shall be removed to a minimum depth of 2 feet below the subgrade. Rock and boulders, when encountered, shall be removed to subgrade.
(7) 
Fill. All material used in the construction of embankments shall be of the quality to meet the standards for embankment construction, Section 203 of the Maine Department of Transportation Standard Specifications, except that compaction shall not be less than 95% of maximum density (per ASTM D 1557 Mod.). Excess materials, including organic materials, soft clays, wet and noncompactable materials, etc., shall be removed from the street site. The fill shall be spread in layers not to exceed 8 inches loose and then compacted. The filling of utility trenches shall be mechanically compacted.
(8) 
Side slopes. All side slopes shall not exceed a slope of 3 horizontal to 1 vertical unless shown otherwise on typical cross sections in Figures 1 through 3B.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Said figures are included as attachments to this chapter.
(9) 
Bases and pavement. The appropriate sections of the Bases and Pavements Divisions of the Maine Department of Transportation Standard Specifications currently in effect at the date of submission of the preliminary plan shall be applicable to this section except as follows:
(a) 
Bases.
[1] 
Aggregate subbase course. Gravel aggregate subbase shall meet the requirements of MDOT Specification 703.06.(c) Type D.
[2] 
Aggregate base course. Crushed aggregate base shall meet the requirements of MDOT Specification 703.06.(a) Type A.
(b) 
Pavement.
[1] 
Where pavement placed joins an existing pavement, the existing pavement shall be ground and cut along a smooth line and to a neat, even, shiplap joint. Broken or raveled edges will not be permitted, nor deviation from grade. A tack coat shall be applied to all joints prior to placement of new pavement.
[2] 
Bituminous asphalt intended for placement as base or wearing roadway course shall be an approved MDOT mix. Mix designs will be provided to the Public Works Director or the Director's designee, for approval, prior to placement. Unless otherwise submitted and approved, bituminous asphalt cement base and wearing course shall meet the following specifications:
[a] 
Surface: "C" mix or HMA 9.5 mm - dense graded.
[b] 
Base: "B" mix or HMA 19.0 mm - dense graded.
[3] 
Placement of bituminous pavement will be subject to calendar and temperature limitation as specified in the MDOT Standard Specifications Section 401.06 Weather and Seasonal Limitations for b. Zone 2 or with the approval of the Public Works Director.
[4] 
Core samples of the base pavement will be conducted at the direction of the Public Works Director or the Director's designee and the cost of the coring will be paid for by the applicant.
[5] 
Where the average coring thickness of base pavement is less than that specified in Table 2[3] (minimum standards and dimensions), the shortfall will be calculated and the resultant tonnage will be added to the specified wearing course depth in accordance to the correction table as follows:
BASE PAVEMENT CORRECTION TABLE
Average Coring Thickness
Corrective Action
1 3/4 inch to 2 1/2 inch (up to 3/4 inch deficient)
Calculated tonnage of pavement deficiency will be doubled and added to the specified overlay.
1 3/4 inches or less
Additional "2 inch" lift of base pavement will be the standard corrective action. However, the Public Works Director may require additional corings (the number will be determined by the Director of Public Works) which will be evaluated, by a MDOT certified lab, for gradation, % bitumen, and compaction at the applicant's expense. After an analysis of results, the Town may require the initial base pavement to be removed and a new base pavement placed in accordance with appropriate specifications.
(10) 
Curbing.
(a) 
The following curbing materials shall be allowed, subject to the recommendation of the Public Works Director or the Director's designee:
[1] 
Granite curb: MDOT Type 1.
[2] 
Slipform concrete curb.
(b) 
All curbing shall be constructed per Section 609 of the Maine Department of Transportation Standard Specifications, except as follows:
[1] 
Granite curbing shall be provided at all street intersections with radii less than 50 feet where curbing is proposed or required. All other areas with greater than 50 feet radii will be evaluated as site conditions dictate. A minimum reveal of 7 inches shall be required.
[2] 
Cape Cod slipform concrete curbing may be utilized in lieu of other curbing when approved by the Public Works Director or the Director's designee.
(11) 
Sidewalks. Section 608 of the State of Maine Department of Standard Specifications shall apply. Aggregate to build new sidewalks shall meet the requirements of Section 703.06(a) Type A.
(12) 
Driveways. All driveway aprons shall be paved with four (4) inches of bituminous concrete. The paved apron will extend from the edge of the existing roadway edge and will extend to the limit of the public right-of-way. Paved aprons will be a minimum of 12 feet in width having five (5) foot radii, minimum.
(13) 
Dead end street turnarounds.
(a) 
Cul-de-sacs and dead end streets that provide the sole vehicular access to improved or improvable land shall be provided with a suitable turning circle or turnaround, as applicable, at the closed end.
[1] 
A hammerhead turnaround shall be constructed and paved to specified street standards, whether temporary or permanent, for a distance of 50 feet from the roadway edge at ninety degrees (90°) to the street it serves.
[2] 
All turning circles shall be paved to specified street standards and have the following minimum diameter:
[a] 
Right-of-way: 100 feet.
[b] 
Outer pavement edge: 85 feet.
[c] 
Inner pavement edge: 65 feet.
[3] 
Temporary turnarounds may be allowed where future road extensions are planned if designed to allow discontinuance of the turning circle while not creating any lots with less than the required frontage for the zone in which located.
[4] 
Loop roads that provide the sole vehicular access to developable or improved land shall meet the required centerline radii and minimum tangent distance between curves shown in Table 1[4] and shall be constructed and paved to specified street standards.
[5] 
Driveways shall not be located off the ends of hammerhead turnarounds.
C. 
Storm drainage design standards.
(1) 
Intent. An adequate piped storm drainage system, including appurtenances such as catch basins and manholes, shall be provided for proper drainage of stormwater collected in streets and areas tributary to the street system. Discharge of the collected storm drainage shall be by piped system or ditches when approved by the Planning Board. Appropriate conveyances for outlets to drainage systems must be provided. Drainage easements must be a minimum width of 30 feet.
(2) 
Design standards. All stormwater systems within the subdivision shall be designed to meet the criteria of two-year and twenty-five-year storms. Flows shall be computed by the TR-55, TR-20, or Rational methods as appropriate, with design computations being submitted for approval. All stormwater management plans shall be completed by, or under the supervision of and signed by, a Maine registered professional engineer.
(a) 
Upstream drainage shall be accommodated by an adequately sized system through the proposed subdivision for existing conditions and future potential development in the upstream drainage area or areas tributary to the proposed subdivision, as determined by the Planning Board.
(b) 
Existing downstream drainage facilities shall be studied to determine the effect of the proposed subdivision's drainage. The developer shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Planning Board that the storm drainage from the proposed subdivision will not, in any way, overload existing storm drainage systems downstream from the proposed subdivision.
(c) 
Three hundred feet shall be considered as the maximum length for carrying open stormwater in a street gutter prior to intake at a catch basin. No stormwater will be permitted to drain across a street or across an intersection.
(d) 
Design standards for drainage systems shall be approved by the Planning Board. Minimum pipe size for any storm drainage pipe shall be 12 inches.
(e) 
Where open ditches, channels, streams or natural drainage courses are used, either to collect or discharge stormwater, adequately sized perpetual easements shall be provided. Minimum width shall be 30 feet. Approval of the Planning Board shall be required for any open storm drainage system.
(f) 
Where surficial soils and/or the road typical section are of the nature requiring an underdrainage system, underdrains shall be installed and discharged in a positive manner.
(g) 
House foundation drains may be connected to the storm drainage system upon approval by and under the direction of the Director of Public Works.
D. 
Storm drain construction standards. The following material shall be utilized for storm drain construction and provided and installed in accordance with State of Maine Department of Transportation Standards and Specifications:
(1) 
Reinforced concrete pipe.
(2) 
Corrugated metal pipe.
(3) 
Corrugated smooth bore polyethylene pipe.
(4) 
Underdrain pipe. Underdrain pipe may be perforated PVC or HDPE. Minimum diameter of underdrain piping shall be 6 inches when used to provide roadway subgrade drainage. Perforated tubing shall not be permitted.
(5) 
Manholes. Manholes shall be of precast concrete construction. Precast sections shall meet the requirements of ASTM Designation C-478. Castings shall be of cast iron meeting Topsham Sewer District standards for sewer construction.
(6) 
Catch basins. Catch basins shall be of precast concrete construction. Castings shall be square cast iron as required for the particular inlet condition with the gratings perpendicular to the curbline. All catch basins shall be provided with a Type 1 curb face inlet when the typical road section is curbed.
E. 
General construction requirements.
(1) 
Trenching. All trenching shall be accomplished in accordance with all appropriate state and federal safety requirements.
(2) 
Trench width. Trench width at the pipe crown shall be 4/3 the inside diameter of the pipe plus one foot six inches, with a minimum trench width of 3 feet.
(3) 
Pipe bed. Pipe bedding and backfill shall be undertaken in accordance with MDOT Standard Specifications.
(4) 
Drain alignment. Drain alignment shall be straight in both horizontal and vertical alignment unless specific approval of a curvilinear drain is obtained in writing from the Director of Public Works or his designee.
(5) 
Drain outlets. All drain outlets shall be riprapped to prevent erosion. Facilities for energy dissipation shall be provided.
(6) 
Underdrains. Underdrains shall be laid with perforations down, with a crushed stone envelope wrapped in an appropriate nonwoven fabric, unless it is also functioning as a stormdrain, in which case perforations would be up.
F. 
Water district standards. Water pipes and related equipment, such as hydrants and main gate valves, must be constructed to serve all lots of the subdivision in conformity with the standards of the Brunswick-Topsham water district.
G. 
Utility capacity. All utilities installed must have a capacity judged by the Planning Board to meet foreseeable future requirements.
H. 
Backfilling utilities. No subsurface utility installation may be backfilled until it has been inspected and approved by the appropriate review authority and confirmed by the Topsham Code Enforcement Officer.
I. 
Monumentation. The right-of-way lines of streets to be accepted shall be marked with 3/4 inch diameter iron pins. All other lot corners shall be marked with iron pipe or rod not less than 3/4 inch in diameter and 36 inches long, set flush with the finished grade.
J. 
Planting. Lots shall be landscaped with trees and shrubs of a type natural to the area. These must be planted at a rate of at least two trees per house lot and be bonded for one year. The Board may, however, grant variances on this requirement in consideration of natural trees remaining on the house lot.
K. 
Inspections. The developer shall coordinate the construction of streets, drains, sewers, and utilities with the responsible agencies. The Town Planner shall work with the developer to schedule a preconstruction meeting. The developer shall present his construction program and schedule inspections. At a minimum, the Director of Public Works (and/or his designee), the Superintendent of the Topsham Sewer District (and/or his designee), and the Town Planner shall be contacted by the developer to schedule inspections. When a minimum length of 300 feet (or the entire length of a street if it is less than 300 feet in length) has been excavated to subgrade and properly prepared for the placement of gravel, the Public Works Department must be called to perform an inspection and approval granted before gravel is placed. Gravel shall be placed in compacted layers of not more than 8 inches. Before any surface material is placed in any area, the work shall again be inspected by the Director of Public Works. The placement of bituminous concrete shall be in accordance with this chapter, and be inspected by the Department of Public Works. Prior to any sewer construction, necessary permits shall be obtained from the Topsham Sewer District. A representative of the District shall be present whenever an existing sewer is to be cut, entered, or in any way disturbed. The Sanitary District is to be notified immediately if any of its lines are damaged or in need of repair. All utilities must certify in writing that the work has been accomplished to their satisfaction prior to acceptance by the Town of any street or way.