[Ord. 2011-03, 6/27/2011, § 22-602; as amended by Ord. 2013-02, 7/22/2013, §§ 2, 3; and by Ord. 2014-03, 4/14/2014, § 4]
1. General Arrangement. The following criteria shall be considered in the design of streets in all subdivision and land development plans:
A. The arrangement of streets shall conform to applicable municipal comprehensive plans, official maps, and Township and state street and highway plans as have been duly adopted.
B. For streets not shown on a comprehensive plan, official map or adopted highway plan, the arrangement shall provide for the appropriate extension of existing streets and shall conform as closely as possible to the original topography.
C. Residential streets other than arterials, collectors and marginal access streets shall be arranged so as to discourage excessive speeds.
D. Streets shall be designed with drainage grates that are safe for crossing by bicycles or horse-drawn vehicles.
E. Adequate vehicular and pedestrian access shall be provided to all lots.
F. Curvilinear streets and cul-de-sacs should be utilized only where their use will be consistent with adjoining development patterns, topography, and natural features of the site. Curvilinear streets shall not be used immediately adjacent to an existing grid street system without providing a transition that continues and protects the existing grid pattern. New street systems platted adjacent to an existing village shall not be merely looped back on local access streets within the village, but shall connect with, or be designed to connect with in the future, streets of a higher class. Consideration shall be given to the dispersal of traffic from commercial and employment centers and to the ultimate functioning of the street system.
G. Cul-de-sacs shall not be permitted unless the applicant shows to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors that a loop street cannot be provided, that adequate access for emergency vehicles can be provided, that areas to accommodate snow removal will be provided and that improved pedestrian access will be provided. The applicant shall also show that such cul-de-sac will be consistent with adjoining development patterns, topography, and natural features of the site. See §
22-602.16.
H. Streets shall be laid out to provide convenient and safe access to all lots. Where appropriate, the Board of Supervisors may require additional cartway improvements and right-of-way width along existing street frontages to accommodate the anticipated traffic increases and to facilitate vehicular turning movements to and from individual lots.
I. Where a development abuts an existing or proposed arterial street, the Board of Supervisors may require the use of marginal access streets, reverse frontage lots or other such treatment that will provide protection for abutting properties, reduce the number of intersections with the arterial street, and separate the local and through traffic.
J. Where a development abuts an existing or proposed arterial or collector street, the Board of Supervisors may require the use of shared access drives or driveways between adjacent lots or uses in order to reduce the number of access drives and driveways connecting to such arterial or collector streets.
2. Street Hierarchy.
A. Streets shall be classified in a street hierarchy system with design tailored to function, subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
B. Each street shall be classified and designed to the standards for the appropriate street classification for its entire length.
C. Private Streets. Private streets are prohibited unless such streets meet the design standards of these regulations for local access streets. All subdivision streets shall be dedicated to the public unless design objectives of the development warrant private ownership. Approval of a subdivision involving a private street shall be solely at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors. Applications that propose a private street shall be accompanied by an agreement, which shall be recorded with the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds as part of the final plan. This agreement shall establish the conditions under which the street will be constructed and maintained, as well as conditions controlling an offer of dedication, and shall stipulate:
(1) The street shall be constructed and maintained to conform to the specifications of this chapter.
(2) The landowners of the abutting lots shall include with any future offer for dedication sufficient monies, as estimated by the Township Engineer, to restore the street to conformance with Township standards.
(3) An offer for dedication of the street shall be made only for the street as a whole.
(4) The method of assessing maintenance and repair cost.
(5) An agreement by the landowners of 51% of the front footage thereon shall be binding on the landowners of the remaining lots.
D. Arterial Street Design. The design standards for arterial streets shall be as specified by PennDOT for state highways, and as specified by Township standards for Township streets classified as arterial streets under the federal Aid System.
3. Determination of Required Right-of-Way and Cartway Width for Local and Collector Streets.
A. Right-of-way, cartway and shoulder widths for each local and collector street shall be as follows:
| Table 22-6-1 |
|---|
| | Minimum Required Width |
|---|
| Street Classification | Right-of-Way | Cartway |
|---|
| Collector | | |
| | With parking or non-motorized lane | 60 feet | 36 feet |
| | Without parking or non-motorized lane | 60 feet | 28 feet |
| Local Access | | |
| | With parking or non-motorized lane | 50 feet | 34 feet |
| | Without parking or non-motorized lane | 50 feet | 28 feet |
B. All plans shall be designed to provide for the entire required right-of-way and cartway, except as provided below. The right-of-way shall be measured from street line to street line and shall be sufficiently wide to contain the cartway, curbs, shoulders, sidewalks, graded areas, utilities and shade trees.
(1) Within the T-1 and T-2 Districts where lots fronting on an existing street are being subdivided or are the subject of a land development plan, the developer shall only be required to provide the entire required right-of-way along the existing street.
C. The right-of-way width of a new street that is a continuation of an existing street shall in no case be continued at a width less than the existing street. Where the right-of-way width of the new street is greater than the existing street, a transition area shall be provided, the design of which is subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
D. The right-of-way shall reflect future development as indicated by the Comprehensive Plan or Official Map, if any.
4. Drainage Swales. The construction of drainage swales shall be provided where curbs are not required.
5. Curbs.
A. Curbs shall be provided as follows:
(1) Along all new streets in subdivisions except within the T-1 or T-2 Districts.
(2) Along all new streets and parking compounds within a land development.
(3) Along each side of any existing street required to be improved by the Board of Supervisors.
B. Curbs shall be constructed according to the specifications set forth in Appendix 22-16.
C. Curbs shall be the standard vertical curb type except that standard slant curbing may be used in residential subdivisions. The transition from one type of curb to another shall be affected only at a street intersection.
D. Depressed curbs at driveways shall be no higher than 1 1/2 inch above the street surface. The length of a depressed curb shall not exceed 35 feet without a safety island. This safety island shall not be less than 15 feet in length. Pipes or grates or other construction shall not be placed in the gutter to form a driveway ramp.
E. Curbing shall be designed to provide a ramp for bicycles and wheel chairs at each intersection, at the principal entrances to buildings that front on parking lots, and at all crosswalks. All ramps shall comply with applicable state and federal regulations pertaining to handicapped access.
F. The Board of Supervisors may waive the installation of curbs when:
(2) Soil or topographic conditions make the use of shoulders and drainage swales preferable.
(3) It is in the best interest of the Township to preserve its rural character by using shoulders and drainage swales instead of curbs.
6. Sidewalks.
A. Sidewalks and associated graded areas within existing and proposed street rights-of-way shall be required by the Board of Supervisors as follows:
(1) Along all new streets in subdivisions and land developments except within the T-1 or T-2 Districts.
(2) Along each side of any existing street required to be improved by the Board of Supervisors.
(3) When the subject tract is within 1/2 mile of pedestrian generators such as schools, community facilities, shopping centers, and the like.
(4) To continue a sidewalk on an existing street, to link areas, or as indicated in the Comprehensive Plan.
B. Sidewalks shall be placed parallel to the street within the right-of-way unless a waiver has been granted to preserve topographical or natural features, or to provide visual interest, or unless the applicant shows that an alternative pedestrian system provides safe and convenient circulation.
C. Within land developments, sidewalks shall be located to provide pedestrian access between uses and parking areas, other uses within the lot and with adjacent streets.
D. Pedestrian way easements 10 feet wide may be required by the Board of Supervisors through the center of blocks more than 600 feet long to provide circulation or access to schools, playgrounds, shopping or other community facilities.
E. Sidewalk width shall be a minimum of four feet six inches; wider widths may be necessary near pedestrian generators and employment centers. Where sidewalks abut the curb and cars overhang the sidewalk, widths shall be six feet.
F. Sidewalks and graded areas shall be constructed according to the specifications set forth in Appendix 22-17.
7. Vertical Alignments. Vertical street alignments shall be measured along the street centerline. The minimum grade of all streets shall be 1% and the maximum grade of all streets shall be 10%.
A. Vertical curves shall be used in changes in grade exceeding 1%. The minimum lengths (in feet) of vertical curves shall be 30 times the algebraic difference in grade. For example, if a 3% upgrade is followed by a 4% downgrade, the algebraic difference in grade is 7 [+3-(-4)=7]; the minimum length of the vertical curve would then be 210 feet [30 by seven equals 210].
B. Where the approaching grade exceeds 7% on any or all streets at a four-way street intersection, or the terminating street at a three-way intersection, a leveling area shall be provided on the streets with such excessive grade. Such leveling areas shall have a maximum grade of 4% for a minimum length of 75 feet measured from the intersection of the centerlines.
C. The maximum grade within the diameter of a turnaround at the terminus of a permanent cul-de-sac shall be 5%.
8. Horizontal Alignments. Horizontal street alignments shall be measured along the street centerline. Horizontal curves shall be used at all angle changes in excess of 2°. Single long radius curves shall be used rather than a series of curves with varying radii or a series of short curves separated by short tangent segments. The minimum horizontal curve radius for streets shall be 150 feet.
A. Perimeter Streets. Plans with street locations along the perimeter of the subject tract shall be required to show setback lines and clear sight triangles within the adjacent lots. Permission to place such setback lines and clear sight triangles within the adjacent lots shall be obtained from the adjacent landowners.
B. Cartway Alignment. The centerline of the street cartway shall correspond with the centerline of the street right-of-way.
9. Street Intersections.
A. Multiple intersections involving the junction of more than two streets are prohibited.
B. The distance between the centerline of streets intersecting at grade with a local access street shall be no less than 150 feet measured along the centerline of the street being intersected.
C. The distance between the centerline of streets intersecting at grade with a collector street shall be no less than 300 feet measured along the centerline of the street being intersected.
D. The distance between the centerline of streets intersecting at grade with an arterial street shall be no less than 600 feet measured along the centerline of the street being intersected.
E. Right angle intersections shall be used whenever possible. No street shall intersect another at an angle of less than 75°.
F. The cartway edge at street intersections shall be rounded by a tangential arc with a minimum radius of 20 feet for local access streets and 30 feet for intersections involving arterial and collector streets. The street right-of-way radii at intersections shall be substantially concentric with the edge of the cartway.
G. Where appropriate, the Board of Supervisors may require additional traffic lanes to facilitate safe vehicular turning movements at existing or proposed street intersections within or bordering subdivision or land development plans.
H. Clearly marked crosswalks shall be provided at all intersections when sidewalks or pedestrian easements are provided in a development. Crosswalks may also be required by the Board of Supervisors at other locations to promote the convenience and safety of pedestrian traffic. The design of crosswalks and the materials used shall be consistent with the standards of PennDOT.
10. Sight Distance at Street Intersections.
A. Proper sight distance shall be provided at all new street and all new access drive intersections in accordance with the latest edition of the PennDOT Design Manual, Part
2, "Highway Design" (Publication 13), § 2.17.F.
B. At all street intersections where stop signs or other stop control devices are not proposed, clear sight triangles shall be required and shall include the area on each street corner that is formed by a triangle where the two legs of the triangle extend 100 feet from the centerline intersection of the two intersecting streets along the centerlines of said streets. The planting of trees or other plantings or the location of structures exceeding 30 inches in height that would obstruct the clear sight across the area of the clear sight triangle shall be prohibited; and a public right-of-entry shall be reserved for the purpose of removing any object, material or otherwise, that obstructs the clear sight.
11. Lot Access.
A. The Board of Supervisors may disapprove any point of ingress or egress to any lot or development from any street when the proposed ingress or egress would create unsafe conditions, reduce the capacity of the adjoining street, result in substandard circulation and impaired vehicle movement, or be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan.
B. The Board of Supervisors may require the applicant to provide ingress and egress to a particular lot through the remainder of the subject tract or other properties over which he has control. The Board of Supervisors may also require the use of shared access drives or driveways between adjacent lots or uses in order to reduce the number of access drives and driveways connecting to such arterial or collector streets.
C. In approving ingress or egress from any state highway, the Board of Supervisors can only approve those access points that are not in conflict with safety standards of PennDOT. A highway occupancy permit is required for each access point onto a state highway.
D. The receipt of a highway occupancy permit does not assume direct approval of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors may require the applicant to reapply for such a permit if the location of the access approved by said permit is in conflict with any provision of this chapter or if the Board of Supervisors feels the location of the access will hinder the safe and efficient movement on any state highway or the proper development of the subject tract. In the event that, after such reapplication, PennDOT refuses to modify the highway occupancy permit to conform with the provisions of this chapter, the PennDOT decision shall prevail.
12. Non-motorized Vehicle Lanes. All non-motorized vehicle lanes shall be designed according to one of the following standards:
A. Separate bicycle paths shall be required if such paths have been specified as part of the Comprehensive Plan or recommended in an adopted recreation or transportation plan or study, or where determined by the Board of Supervisors to be appropriate due to existing or projected bicycle use patterns.
B. Bicycle lanes, where required, shall be placed in the outside lane of a street, adjacent to the curb or shoulder. When on-street parking is permitted, the bicycle lane shall be between the parking lane and the outer lane of moving vehicles. The lanes shall be delineated with markings, preferably striping. Raised reflectors or curbs shall not be used.
C. Separate carriage lanes shall be required if such lanes have been specified as part of the Comprehensive Plan or recommended in an adopted transportation study.
D. Carriage lanes, when required, shall be located adjacent to the outside travel lane of the cartway and may be contained within the shoulder. When on-street parking is permitted, the carriage lane shall be located between the outside travel lane and the parking lane.
E. Movement within the non-motorized lanes shall flow in the same direction as the adjacent travel lane.
F. Non-motorized vehicle lanes shall be constructed according to the specifications set forth in Appendix 22-18.
13. Street Provisions for Future Developments. Where appropriate, areas shall be reserved for future street usage in conjunction with the development of adjacent lots. Areas reserved for future street usage shall not be required to be improved; however, these areas shall be reserved for street improvements to be provided by the developer of the adjacent lot. Wherever there exists a dedicated or platted area reserved for future street usage along the boundary of the subject tract, the adjacent street shall be extended into the subject tract provided this use is not adverse to the man-made or natural features of the site.
14. Extension of Existing Streets. The extension of existing streets that are presently constructed with a cartway different from the standards of this chapter shall be provided with a transition area, the design of which is subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
15. Street Improvements. All street paving shall conform to the following specifications:
A. All new streets, other than those owned and maintained by (PennDOT) shall be designed with the following cross-sectional specification: (all courses are compacted thickness): An eight-inch thick 2A stone sub base, a four-inch thick 25-millimeter Superpave base course, and a 1 1/2-inch thick 9 1/2-millimeter Superpave wearing course. All pavement shall be Superpave HMA and mixed with PG-64-22 oil at 0.3 to < 3,000,000 ESAL's, and Skid Resistance Level (SRL-H), unless otherwise requested by the Township.
B. All streets to be owned and maintained by PennDOT shall be designed in accordance with PennDOT specifications.
16. Cul-de-Sac Streets.
A. A cul-de-sac street shall not be permitted when a through street is feasible. The feasibility of a through street shall be based on the physical features of the subject tract, the potential for extension of the street to adjoining lots, restrictions imposed by other government regulations and the ability of the design to meet all other requirements of this chapter. When cul-de-sac streets are proposed, the application shall be accompanied by written analysis of the merits of the design and the reasons that a through street would not be feasible. Approval of cul-de-sac streets shall be at the sole discretion of the Board of Supervisors.
B. Permanent cul-de-sac streets, when permitted, shall be designed to serve a maximum of 250 AADT for residential development and a maximum of 500 AADT for nonresidential development.
C. All cul-de-sac streets shall have a minimum length of 250 feet and a maximum length of 600 feet.
D. The length of a cul-de-sac street shall be measured from the centerline intersection with the through street to the center point of the turnaround.
E. Cul-de-sacs shall have a paved circular or "P" shaped turnaround. The minimum radius of the outer edge of the paved turnaround shall be 50 feet. The right-of-way for the turnaround shall maintain the same distance between the cartway edge and the right-of-way line as maintained for the straight sections of the street.
17. Future Access Strips. Future access strips are street rights-of-way reserved for future street improvements. They shall be designed in conformance with the design requirements of a street, and the contiguous lots shall contain proper setbacks and sight distance reservations.
18. Access Drives. Access drives shall be designed to meet the following requirements:
A. Any lot that utilizes an access drive shall have frontage along a public or private street. Only one access drive shall be permitted per lot, except in accordance with Subsection
18H below.
B. The plan shall note that the access drive does not qualify for dedication to the Township and that the landowners assume all responsibility for its maintenance. A maintenance and access agreement shall be recorded for all shared access drives.
C. Access drives shall be designed for their intended function. All travel lanes shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide, however, sufficient design information shall be submitted to indicate the number of travel lanes and width proposed have been designed to accommodate the anticipated traffic to and from the development.
D. Parallel parking shall only be permitted along access drives when sufficient cartway width is proposed to accommodate both the travel lanes and parking stalls. Perpendicular parking that would require vehicles to back into travel lanes of an access drive is prohibited.
E. Proper sight distance shall be provided at access drive intersections with existing streets according to the requirements of Subsection
10.
F. The Board of Supervisors reserves the authority to disapprove the location of any access drive intersection with an existing or proposed street as stipulated in Subsection
11.
G. Access drives shall be constructed and maintained with a paved surface of concrete or bituminous materials, or another approved dust-free material suitable to the Board of Supervisors.
H. An additional access drive may be permitted only under one of the following:
(1) One additional access drive may be allowed for properties with a continuous frontage along one roadway of 500 feet or more, and one additional driveway for each additional 500 feet of frontage, if the Board of Supervisors determines the design meets the purpose of this Part.
(2) Two one-way access drives may be permitted along a frontage along a single road of at least 125 feet, provided the access drives do not interfere with operations at other access drives or driveways or along the street.
(3) An additional access drive designed and designated for service vehicles may be considered for commercial or industrial uses of over 50,000 square feet where the location of the access will not interfere with traffic operations along the cartway or conflict with nearby access points.
(4) The Board of Supervisors may determine additional access drives are justified when the traffic impact study, submitted by the applicant and accepted by the Township, clearly demonstrates that a poor level of service (E or F, as described in the Highway Capacity Manual, by the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.) would result at the access point and the additional access point will not compromise traffic operations along the cartway. The burden of such documentation is on the applicant.
I. To reduce left-turn conflicts, new nonresidential access drives shall be aligned with those across the cartway where possible. If alignment is not possible, access drives should be offset a minimum of 150 feet from those on the opposite side of the roadway. Longer offsets may be required depending on the expected inbound left-turn volumes of the driveways.
J. Minimum spacing between two nonresidential access drives, measured from near edge to near edge of the access drives, shall be determined based upon posted speed limits along the parcel frontage as follows:
| Spacing Between Commercial Driveways |
|---|
| Posted Speed Limit (MPH) | Minimum Driveway Spacing (in feet) |
|---|
| 25 | 125 |
| 30 | 155 |
| 35 | 185 |
| 40 | 225 |
| 45 and higher | 300 |
K. Access drives shall be from a lesser classified street when available, unless physical features such as mature trees, steep slopes, wetlands, streams, or other such physical features would preclude such access from a lesser classified street, as determined by the Board of Supervisors.
L. The use of shared access drives and service roads, in conjunction with driveway spacing, is intended to preserve traffic flow along major thoroughfares and minimize traffic conflicts, while retaining reasonable access to the property. Where noted above, or where the Board of Supervisors determines that reducing the number of access points may have a beneficial impact on traffic operations and safety while preserving the right of the property owner to reasonable access, access from a side street, a shared driveway or service road connecting two or more properties or uses may be required. In particular, access drives or parking lot maneuvering lane connection between properties or uses may be required to be constructed by the applicant, or easements for such a drive in the future; provided, in the following cases:
(1) Where the spacing standards between driveways or from intersections cannot reasonably be met.
(2) When the driveway could potentially interfere with traffic operations at an existing or potential traffic signal location.
(3) The property frontage has limited sight distance.
(4) The Township Engineer recommends a second means of emergency access.
19. Residential Driveways. Proposed driveways shall be designed in accordance with the Township Zoning Ordinance [Chapter
27]; however, the Board of Supervisors reserves the authority to disapprove the location of any driveway intersection with an existing or proposed street.
A. A single means of direct or indirect access shall be provided for each separately owned residential parcel. Where access is taken from an existing Township Road, the Township may request that this access be via a shared driveway. Where access is taken from a new street proposed as part of the application, this access may be from a single driveway.
B. Driveways shall be from a lesser classified street when available, unless physical features such as mature trees, steep slopes, wetlands, streams, or other such physical features would preclude such access from a lesser classified street, as determined by the Planning Commission.
C. Proper sight distance shall be provided at access drive intersections with existing streets according to the requirements of Subsection
10.
21. Street Names. Continuations of existing streets shall be known by the same name. Names for new streets shall not duplicate or closely resemble names of existing streets. All new street names are subject to the approval of Lancaster County-Wide Communications. All street names shall conform, where applicable, to any Township plan for street names. Private streets shall be named in conformance with this section.
22. Signs.
A. Design and placement of traffic signs shall follow the requirements specified in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as amended, published by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
B. At least two street name signs shall be placed at each four-way street intersection and one at each "T" intersection. Signs shall be installed under light standards and free of visual obstruction. The design of street name signs should be consistent, of a style appropriate to the Township, of a uniform size and color, and erected in accordance with Township standards.
C. Private streets shall be provided with street name signs in conformance with this section. The plan shall note that it is the responsibility of the developer to install street name signs for private streets.
D. Parking regulation signs shall be placed along streets within the right-of-way in areas that restrict parking.
E. Site information signs within all land developments shall follow a design theme related and complementary to other elements of the overall design of the development.
23. Utility and Shade Tree Areas.
A. Utilities and shade trees shall generally be located within the street right-of-way on both sides of and parallel to the street. (An alternative placement for shade trees is outside the public right-of-way.)
B. Utility and shade tree areas shall be planted with grass, ground cover, or treated with other suitable cover material.
24. Underground Wiring.
A. All electric, telephone, television, and other communication facilities, both main and service lines servicing new developments, shall be provided by underground wiring within easements or dedicated public rights-of-way, installed in accordance with the prevailing standards and practices of the utility or other companies providing such services.
B. Lots that abut existing easements or public rights-of-way where overhead electric or telephone distribution supply lines and service connections have heretofore been installed may be supplied with electric and telephone service from those overhead lines, but the service connections from the overhead lines of the utilities shall be installed underground. In the case of existing overhead utilities, should a street widening, or an extension of service, or other such condition occur as a result of the subdivision and necessitate the replacement or relocation of such utilities, such replacement or relocation shall be underground.
C. Where overhead lines are permitted as the exception, the placement and alignment of poles shall be designed to lessen the visual impact of overhead lines as follows: alignments and pole locations shall be carefully routed to avoid locations along horizons; clearing swaths through wooded areas shall be avoided by selective cutting and a staggered alignment; trees shall be planted in open areas and at key locations to minimize the view of the poles and the alignments; and alignments shall follow rear lot lines and other alignments.
D. Subject to regulations and restrictions of the applicable utility company, year-round screening of any utility apparatus appearing above the surface of the ground, other than utility poles, shall be required.
25. Mass Transit Routes. Where mass transit routes exist, or where the Comprehensive Plan, an adopted traffic impact study, or an adopted transit plan has proposed the establishment of a mass transit route, the developer of any subdivision or land development adjacent to the transit route shall provide pedestrian access, vehicular pull-off areas, transit shelters with associated street furniture and lighting, and signage as required by the Board of Supervisors to adequately provide safe access to the transit route.