Prior to filing a formal application, the applicant is encouraged to meet with the Planning Administrator (who shall invite representatives of other departments to be present) to discuss the concepts and issues related to the proposed subdivision. The applicant should bring the following to the introductory meeting:
A. 
Any professional representatives which are engaged to work on the project.
B. 
Written documentation regarding the project.
C. 
A sketch plan depicting the project. It is helpful if the sketch plan includes as many of the items listed in § 640-27 below as possible.
D. 
A willingness to candidly discuss the project with planning staff in a nonbinding manner to ascertain the goals, objectives, opportunities, and limitations of both the City and the applicant.
Prior to filing a formal application, the applicant may, at his or her option, submit a sketch plan for a more technical interdepartmental review by City staff. This review is not binding on the Planning Commission but allows the applicant to work out many of the technical issues which typically accompany a subdivision plan. The review takes approximately 15 to 30 days, depending on the issues at hand and ability to communicate. To engage this review, the applicant shall submit the following:
A. 
A brief narrative of the project, which includes a request for a preapplication review of the plans under this section.
B. 
A contact list of professionals working on the project (if hired), the owner, and the applicant submitting the project.
C. 
A list of waivers the project will likely need for approval.
D. 
The fee established by resolution of the City Council from time to time. This amount will be subsequently deducted from the filing fee required for the formal application.
E. 
A sketch plan. The sketch plan shall include at least the following:
(1) 
The title: "Sketch Plan of (name of subdivision)."
(2) 
Date, scale, North point, and if appropriate, a legend to explain any graphic representations or symbols on the plan.
(3) 
The names of the owner of record and the applicant.
(4) 
The name of the draftsman (this need not be a design professional).
(5) 
The outer lines of the subdivision in a heavy shaded line.
(6) 
The names, location, alignment, and width of existing streets and easements.
(7) 
Lines and names of proposed streets and easements in a general manner.
(8) 
The following information for each lot within the subdivision boundaries:
(a) 
Approximate boundary lines.
(b) 
Approximate dimensions, including area and frontage.
(c) 
A numerical designation for each lot, preferably in sequential order.
(9) 
The topography in a general manner.
(10) 
A rough sketch of the proposed drainage system in a general manner.
(11) 
Identification of any existing or proposed public areas.
(12) 
The approximate size and location of new and existing utilities.
(13) 
Any additional items required for a formal proposal which may be helpful in the staff's review of the plan.
(14) 
Any other information the applicant feels would be helpful in the review.
Neither the introductory meeting nor the preapplication review have standing as part of the formal review process. Approval of plans under this Article requires action by the Altoona City Planning Commission, which is specifically and deliberately absent from the processes described in § 640-26 and § 640-27. The purpose of these processes is to familiarize the staff and work out technical kinks in the proposal before it enters into the formal review process. No comments made by staff during these processes are binding on the Planning Commission for its review; however, staff is hereby required to act expeditiously and in good faith in its representations to the applicant. The applicant is not required to engage in the introductory discussion or preapplication review.
Any person wishing to obtain approval of a subdivision shall submit a package meeting the following requirements to the City of Altoona:
A. 
Two completed and executed original application forms.
B. 
A project narrative which describes the project.
C. 
A list of waivers being requested by the applicant, along with an explanation as to why the applicant feels each waiver request is appropriate.
D. 
A copy of the recorded deed for each property included in the proposal. If applicable, this shall include copies of all documents indicating any easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, trusts, or other encumbrances on the land.
E. 
A list of all owners of land abutting the proposal and directly across any streets, watercourses, or railroads. For corner properties, this shall include the land diagonally across the intersection as well.
F. 
Three copies of any studies that may be required by the applicable section of this chapter or other controlling law or regulation.
G. 
The appropriate filing fees as established by resolution of the City Council from time to time. Fees are due at approval.
H. 
If the submittal requires review by the Blair County Planning Commission, the package shall also include the appropriate filing fee for that review.
I. 
A list of all plans being submitted, with the title of the plan, sheet number, and date on a letter-size sheet of paper.
J. 
Seven prints of the plan package described in Subsection K(5) below.
K. 
All plans submitted shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) 
The sheet size shall not exceed 24 inches by 36 inches but shall be at least 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.
(2) 
The different types of plans shall be on separate sheets of paper, all of the same size.
(3) 
Contact prints shall be dark line on light background.
(4) 
The title block shall appear in the same location on all sheets.
(5) 
Plan packages shall be arranged in the order below.
(a) 
Title sheet (optional) - Land Development Plan.
(b) 
Detail sheets.
(c) 
Additional plans as may be necessitated by the project.
L. 
Two copies of sewage facilities module permit application(s), where applicable.
All plans submitted shall depict the proposal, which shall conform to the following basic layout standards for subdividing the land.
A. 
Placement of buildings:
(1) 
Buildings, landscaping, and screening shall be placed so that they conceal the less desirable elements generally installed with construction (items such as air-conditioning units, parking areas, garages, and garbage storage are typical of such elements) so that they are not visible from adjacent lots and streets.
(2) 
Building areas shall be laid out so that any scenic site features and views are preserved, both into and out of the site.
(3) 
Building layout shall promote a sense of neighborhood yet allow individual privacy for each landowner.
(4) 
Buildings sited in such a manner that they may block public scenic views through the site shall be laid out and designed so as to complement the viewshed into which they are placed. Attempts shall be made to preserve a portion of the viewshed, whenever practical.
(5) 
Building sites shall be laid out with consideration given to the provision of adequate solar access and air circulation. New development shall be accomplished such that excessive winds are neither created nor exacerbated.
(6) 
Building sites shall be laid out and graded so as to provide positive drainage away from proposed buildings.
(7) 
Building placement shall not hinder the effective and efficient response of emergency personnel in a fire or medical emergency.
(8) 
Buildings shall not be sited or designed to create a public nuisance or a traffic hazard once constructed.
B. 
Placement of lot lines.
(1) 
Lots shall be laid out so as to provide buildable areas, accessible driveways, and usable yards and open space areas, with the minimum possible disturbance to the site.
(2) 
Lots shall be laid out with consideration given to views and privacy.
(3) 
Lots shall meet the minimum requirements of Chapter 800, Zoning. Where this is not possible or not desired, the lot shall be conspicuously labeled "unbuildable" and appropriate legal instruments restricting construction on the lot shall be executed with the City as party.
(4) 
Lots shall abut on public streets (including new streets intended to be public).
(5) 
Lots should be laid out to avoid driveway access from roadways with three or more lanes. Twin one-way pairs shall be considered as one roadway for purposes of this standard.
(6) 
Lot shape shall be rectangular wherever practical. Where not practical, other shapes may be proposed so long as side lot lines intersect the street right-of-way line at no more than 45° from perpendicular or radial and maintain the intersecting angle until such side line intersects a projected line running parallel to and 20 feet away from the street right-of-way line.
C. 
Layout of blocks.
(1) 
Block length shall be a minimum of 300 feet and no longer than 800 feet.
(2) 
Blocks in residential areas shall be of sufficient depth to allow for two house lots between avenues.
(3) 
Alleys are neither required nor prohibited.
(4) 
Block layout shall be designed giving neighborhood stability and nonautomotive traffic primacy above automotive traffic and parking.
All subdivision proposals shall provide for the following environmental mitigation measures as well as any additional requirements of the state and federal governments.
A. 
Grading and soil removal.
(1) 
It is the intent of this subsection to protect life and property by preventing rock and soil slippage, loss and degradation of natural drainageways, increased soil erosion and sedimentation, and other soil and water management issues.
(2) 
Grading shall be limited to the minimum area necessary to provide for buildings, roads, parking areas, utilities, and other facilities shown on the subdivision plan.
(3) 
A soil erosion and sedimentation plan shall be prepared in accordance with Chapter 580 and Chapter 620.
(4) 
Where required by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System or state regulations, a permit shall be secured prior to the commencement of any grading or earthmoving activities for the following:
(a) 
Development of sites between five and 25 acres in size which are not located within a special protection watershed and which are not ineligible for other reasons specified in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations. In this case, General Permit PAG-2 may be used once obtained from the Blair County Conservation District.
(b) 
Development of sites in excess of 25 acres in size that are not divided into parcels shall obtain individual NPDES permits. Individual NPDES permits are also required for smaller sites that are located in special protection watersheds or are otherwise ineligible for the general permit. Processing of individual NPDES permits has been delegated to the Blair County Conservation District.
(5) 
The applicant is responsible for protecting adjacent and downstream properties from any damage which occurs as a result of earth disturbance on the development site. Such protection shall include cleaning up and restoring to their predamage condition any adjacent or downstream properties adversely affected by silt, debris, flooding, or other damage resulting from the earth disturbance activity.
(6) 
The top and bottom edges of cut-and-fill slopes shall be set back from property lines a minimum of two feet plus 20% of the height of the slope. This setback need not exceed 10 feet.
(7) 
Topsoil stripped from the site in preparation for earthmoving activities shall be stockpiled and replaced on the site over all regraded nondeveloped areas at a minimum depth of six inches.
(8) 
Fill areas shall be prepared by removing organic material such as vegetation or rubbish and any other material which is determined to prevent proper compaction and stability.
(9) 
Proposed grading activities shall be accomplished so that post-development stormwater flows cause no additional harm to abutting properties and streets. The stormwater management provisions of Chapter 620 apply.
(10) 
Maximum gradient of graded slopes shall be no greater than two horizontal feet to one vertical foot, except as follows:
(a) 
Where the height of a proposed slope will not exceed 10 feet, then a maximum gradient of 1:1 may be permitted where soil conditions permit and where doing so will help preserve existing vegetation or other significant natural features.
(b) 
Where a retaining wall, designed and sealed by a registered professional engineer, is constructed to support the face of the slope.
(11) 
Excavation adjacent to any building foundation walls, footings, or structures shall not extend beyond the angle of repose or natural slope of the soil under the nearest point of same unless the footings, foundations, or structures have been sufficiently underpinned or otherwise protected against settlement.
B. 
Steep slopes. The following shall apply to all grading and disturbance on land with slopes of 25% or greater.
(1) 
For slopes between 25% and 40%, no more than 30% of the slope area shall be stripped of vegetation or disturbed through grading. Grading and clearing for roads on these slopes shall be limited to that necessary to accommodate the improvements required by this chapter. Wherever possible, roads should follow the contours of the land.
(2) 
No development or disturbance shall be allowed on slopes exceeding 40%. Limited disturbance for utilities may be allowed where no reasonable alternative location exists.
C. 
Significant natural areas and features.
(1) 
Where a proposed subdivision includes an identified natural area or feature such as endangered species or wetlands, the applicant shall demonstrate compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements.
(2) 
All healthy trees with trunks equal to or exceeding 24 inches in diameter, or any tree which may be noteworthy because of its species, age, uniqueness, rarity, or status as a landmark due to historical or other cultural association, shall be preserved, unless removal is deemed necessary by these criteria:
(a) 
The health of the tree is such that it is dead, dying, or diseased beyond remedy.
(b) 
The tree endangers the public or adjoining property.
(c) 
Site constraints make preserving the tree impossible.
(3) 
Large trees removed pursuant to Subsection C(2) above shall be replaced with a minimum of three trees with a minimum caliper of three inches. Tree placement shall be in such a manner so as to complement the site and ensure the long-term health of the trees planted.
D. 
Water quality.
(1) 
All buildable lots within the subdivision shall be supplied public sewage facilities. The applicant must document application for a sewage facilities planning module prior to approval under Chapter 580. Approval from the Department of Environmental Protection must be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit. A note stating that such approval must be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit must appear on the plan.
(2) 
The applicant shall provide public access to any watercourses located within the project area. This may be done by street, sidewalk, walkway, or bikeway.
(3) 
The applicant is responsible for compliance with any state or federal requirements that may apply to the project when the project is located within 50 feet of a waterway or regulatory wetland.
E. 
Air quality. Design of the subdivision should promote alternative modes of transportation to reduce automotive dependency. Transit-oriented design is encouraged to promote air quality.
F. 
Noise. Subdivisions located in areas which are subject to high levels of noise may install soundproofing measures to mitigate the noise. In all cases, a notation shall be made on the plan that the project is subject to high levels of noise.
A. 
Landslide areas. No grading, removal of vegetation, construction, or other disturbance shall be permitted on soils that are classified as slide-prone or unstable in the soil survey for Blair County or on other areas exhibiting signs of instability, except in accordance with the provisions below.
(1) 
Unstable areas may be set aside for public, common, or private open space.
(2) 
Limited disturbance may be considered if the applicant is able to demonstrate that the proposed disturbance will not cause sliding movement or any unsafe condition either on the subject property or any property adjacent to it.
(3) 
Evidence of the safety of any proposed disturbance shall require site investigation and certification in writing by a registered soils engineer, engineering geologist, or structural engineer that the proposed activity will not create or exacerbate unsafe conditions.
B. 
Undermined and cavernous areas. No subdivision of land intended to create lots for building construction shall be approved on a site which has been undermined, or is known to contain cavernous pockets at shallow depths, or in an area where there is evidence of past subsidence, unless the applicant demonstrates that the proposed subdivision will be safe and will not cause hazards for adjacent properties. Evidence of safety shall be required if the site or any area of the site has less than 100 feet of overburden; evidence of the safety of the proposed subdivision shall require site investigation and certification in writing by an engineering geologist that the proposed development will be safe.
C. 
Flood-prone areas. To the maximum extent feasible, new development shall not be undertaken in areas subject to periodic flooding, including identified floodplain areas and flood hazard areas as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or in other areas where the Federal Emergency Management Agency has not provided maps and studies but may be flood-prone as indicated in local records and histories, field studies, or on-site investigations.
(1) 
Portions of proposed subdivisions that are susceptible to flooding should be preserved as open space or other uses that will not be harmed or cause hazards if exposed to inundation by floodwaters.
(2) 
Construction in the floodway portion of a flood-prone area shall comply with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
(3) 
Where development within flood-prone areas cannot be avoided, such development shall be subject to the flood hazard provisions of Part 4 of the Altoona Planning Code.
D. 
Contaminated sites. No subdivision shall be approved on land known to contain substances which are classified as hazardous, unless the site has been made safe for the proposed use.
(1) 
A contaminated site shall be considered safe for subdivision when a remediation plan has been completed and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, subject to Subsection D(2) below.
(2) 
The subdivision of contaminated land (not including any development or earth disturbance) may be approved prior to remediation if a notation approved by the Commission is placed on the plan that indicates that the site or specified lots within the site contain or may contain hazardous substances.
E. 
Air traffic. Subdivisions located in areas where development may create hazards to aircraft because of height, illumination, or other features that may interfere with aircraft operation shall be designed so as not to create hazards to air traffic.
(1) 
All proposals shall comply with applicable state and federal requirements relative to aircraft hazards.
(2) 
If notice to the state or federal government is required, the applicant shall provide copies of permits or approvals from those jurisdictions or a notice from those jurisdictions that such approval is not required.
(3) 
Subdivisions shall comply with all conditions and restrictions that may be placed on them by the state or federal government, including any requirements to note such restrictions on the subdivision plan.
It is the intent of the City that all newly proposed subdivisions provide for the basic transportation needs of an urban area as well as mitigate the effects of these provisions. These standards herein ensure safe and convenient access to and from the site by pedestrians, cyclists, mass transit, and the automobile.
A. 
General access. New subdivisions must have adequate access. To provide for adequate access, the proponent shall ensure the following:
(1) 
All traffic shall be provided access to the public street system.
(2) 
Proposed connections to the existing street system shall be approved by the jurisdiction owning the street at the point of connection.
(3) 
Where a proposed street must continue into an adjoining municipality, the proponent shall coordinate the street design to maintain traffic safety.
(4) 
Streets shall provide convenient connections and not adversely affect the quality of life in the neighborhood.
(5) 
Residential streets shall be designed to minimize through traffic, discourage excessive speeds, and provide privacy in residential areas.
B. 
Classifications and levels of service.
(1) 
Streets shall be classified as either residential or nonresidential and shall be further classified as arterial, collector, feeder, or local, as defined herein.
(2) 
The classification of each street shall be based upon the projection of traffic volumes 10 years after the completion of the final phase of the proposal. Traffic volumes shall be calculated in accordance with trip generation rates published in the Trip Generation Manual published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (or an alternate source acceptable to the Commission), and shall consider all traffic likely to use that street.
(3) 
Each street shall be designed for its entire length to meet the standards for its classification.
(4) 
Proposed streets shall be designed to function at Level of Service B or higher. Existing streets shall not fall below Level of Service D, unless the existing condition is worse.
(5) 
Private streets shall not be allowed, except in cases where a homeowners' association is established and agreements executed placing full responsibility for street installation, maintenance, replacement, and liability with the homeowners' association.
C. 
Traffic impact study.
(1) 
A traffic impact study shall be required for a subdivision which will generate more than 100 peak hour trips when fully developed. The Commission may also require a study to assess the impacts of smaller projects if traffic congestion or safety concerns already exist.
(2) 
The traffic study shall be conducted in accordance with the recommended practice "Traffic Access and Impact Studies for Site Development," published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (or an alternate source acceptable to the Commission).
(3) 
The scope of the study, study area, and methodology shall be approved by the Commission before the study is initiated. A preapplication conference should be scheduled for this purpose.
(4) 
The study shall be performed by or under the supervision of a professional engineer with training in traffic and transportation engineering studies and experience in the preparation of traffic studies.
(5) 
The traffic study must yield the following results:
(a) 
Demonstrate that the levels of service required in Subsection B above will be met by the proposed subdivision and that the street layout will function safely and efficiently.
(b) 
Describe any measures which have been incorporated into the development plan in order to achieve the required conditions. Such measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
[1] 
Traffic reduction efforts such as clustering of buildings, transit-friendly development, or a location which would allow easy access of pedestrians and bicyclists to other land uses thereby reducing reliance on the automobile.
[2] 
Phasing of construction to coincide with the completion of transportation improvements programmed by the public sector.
[3] 
Construction of on-site transportation improvements.
[4] 
Construction of off-site transportation improvements.
[5] 
Extension of transit, bicycle, or pedestrian services to the site.
(c) 
Any traffic mitigation measures which are not physical site improvements shall be incorporated into a performance covenant or restrictive covenant between the City and the applicant and recorded with the subdivision.
D. 
Street design.
(1) 
Grading.
(a) 
The entire width of the right-of-way of each street shall be graded, except grading and clearing for roads on slopes greater than 25% shall be limited to that necessary to accommodate the improvements required by this chapter. Wherever possible, roads should follow the contours of the land.
(b) 
The minimum grade shall be 1%.
(c) 
Maximum street grades, except for necessary allowance for vertical curves, shall conform to the following:
[1] 
Arterial roads: 6%.
[2] 
Collector roads: 8%.
[3] 
Feeder roads: 10%.
[4] 
Local roads: 12%.
[5] 
Alleys: 10%.
[6] 
Where localized topography does not allow practical application of these standards, the engineer may propose alternative grades or alignments to accommodate the existing conditions.
(d) 
Grades shall be measured along the center line of the street.
(e) 
Center-line grade at the head of a turnaround area shall not exceed 5%. Designers should make all attempts to comply with this standard regardless of local topography.
(f) 
A wooden guide rail shall be provided at any location where the center-line grade of the street is more than six feet above the grade of the abutting land.
(2) 
Alignment.
(a) 
Streets shall be designed so that it is uncomfortable for a driver to travel faster than 25 miles per hour. Arterial streets shall be excepted.
(b) 
Streets shall have a minimum safe stopping sight distance of 150 feet on all vertical and horizontal curves.
(c) 
The minimum center-line radii for horizontal curves shall be 100 feet; except arterial streets, which shall have minimum radii of 700 feet.
(d) 
A minimum tangent of 100 feet shall be provided between reverse curves, and a minimum tangent of 150 feet shall be provided for broken-back curves.
(e) 
Vertical curves shall be provided for all changes in grade exceeding 1%. For each 1% of difference between tangent grades over 3%, a minimum of 15 feet of vertical curve length shall be provided. The minimum vertical curve length shall be 50 feet on all streets; except arterials, where the minimum length shall be 150 feet.
(3) 
Widths.
(a) 
The right-of-way width shall be measured from lot line to lot line and shall be wide enough to contain the cartway, curbs, shoulders, parking, sidewalks, bicycle facilities, trees, lighting, signs, and other improvements which are normally necessary for a City street.
(b) 
The right-of-way width of a street extension shall conform to these standards, except in cases where doing so may endanger life or property.
(c) 
The right-of-way width shall consider future development within the subdivision as well as that projected by the Comprehensive Plan or other development study.
(d) 
Right-of-way widths shall be 50 feet on all streets except arterial streets and alleys. For arterial streets, a minimum width of 70 feet shall be provided to accommodate expansion of the roadway. For alleys, a sixteen-foot-wide right-of-way shall be provided.
(e) 
Pavement widths shall conform to the following.
[1] 
Arterial roads: 48 feet, split by a twelve-foot medial strip between the two twenty-four-foot cartways.
[2] 
Collector roads: 24 feet.
[3] 
Feeder roads: 24 feet.
[4] 
Local roads: 24 feet.
[5] 
Alleys: 16 feet.
[6] 
If parking is to be provided on collector or arterial roads, an additional eight feet of pavement width shall be provided.
(f) 
Lane markings shall be provided for arterial and collector roads, except where such markings may cause driver confusion. Marked lanes shall be 12 feet wide.
(g) 
Additional width may be required to provide for safety, parking, pedestrians, bicycles, transit, or topography.
(4) 
Turnarounds.
(a) 
All dead-end streets over 50 feet in length shall be provided with a turnaround on the closed end.
(b) 
Turnarounds shall be centered on the approaching street or offset to the left of the approaching street.
(c) 
A turnaround shall end in a cul-de-sac with a paved cartway of 12 feet, with a minimum outer radius of 70 feet, surrounding a landscaped island, except in the following cases:
[1] 
A teardrop-style cul-de-sac may be used in an area where longer vehicles are expected to make up a significant proportion of the traffic volume. If used, the engineer shall demonstrate that the pavement width(s) and radii used will serve the traffic and neighborhood well.
[2] 
On residential streets serving fewer than five units, a hammerhead may be installed if insufficient space exists for a cul-de-sac. The legs of the hammerhead shall extend at least 50 feet, and the width shall be consistent with that of the approaching street.
[3] 
Temporary turnarounds shall be installed at the ends of streets which are to be extended within 10 years. Temporary turnarounds shall be designed to the minimum standard necessary to handle projected traffic flow while the temporary treatment is in place. A cul-de-sac, bumpout, hammerhead, "T" or "Y" may be used in these cases.
(d) 
Dead-end streets shall be posted with a "no outlet" sign, or approved equivalent, at the entrance to the street.
(5) 
Intersections.
(a) 
Streets shall intersect as close to 90° as possible. No street intersection shall be at an angle less than 60°.
(b) 
Streets shall not intersect closer than 200 feet, as measured by the nearest right-of-way lines.
(c) 
Intersections shall be limited to four legs or less.
(d) 
Sight distance for all legs of an intersection shall be at least 200 feet, as measured from the pavement center line along the center of the lane carrying the traffic approaching the intersection.
(e) 
Wherever possible, intersections shall not exceed a slope of 3%, and all approaching legs shall not exceed a grade of 5% within 50 feet of the intersection of the center lines.
(f) 
Turning, merging, deceleration, acceleration, and bypass lanes may be required at any intersection along an arterial roadway as is determined by the traffic impact study.
(g) 
Clearly marked pedestrian crossings and handicapped-accessible curb ramps shall be provided across all legs of an intersection.
(h) 
For all streets except arterial roads, the curb radii at an intersection shall be 25 feet. For any intersection involving arterial roads, the curb radii shall be 50 feet.
(i) 
Intersections on arterials shall not cut across the medial strip unless the intersection is signalized.
(6) 
Traffic calming.
(a) 
Traffic-calming measures may be required to mitigate the effect of subdivisions that could create a cut-through for traffic, allow traffic at moderate to high rates of speed, or create hazardous conditions for pedestrian traffic.
(b) 
Such traffic-calming measures shall be appropriate to the situation and shall be the minimum necessary to mitigate the effects of vehicular traffic on the neighborhood.
(c) 
Measures to be considered for cut-through traffic include traffic circles, intersection tables, one-way flows, bump-outs, and on-street parking.
(d) 
Measures to be considered for traffic moving at moderate to high speed include speed humps, intersection tables, on-street parking, and traffic circles (both at intersections and mid-block), and median islands.
(e) 
Measures to be considered for pedestrian hazards include refuge islands, sidewalks, intersection tables, crossing flags, signals, and bump-outs.
(f) 
The above listings are not to be considered exhaustive; if an unlisted measure is deemed appropriate, it may be substituted.
(g) 
All traffic-calming measures shall be installed in accordance with traffic-calming device standards promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
(7) 
Curbs.
(a) 
Vertical or sloped curbs shall be required along both sides of all streets, along both sides of all median strips, and along the full perimeter of all cul-de-sac islands. Curbs shall be granite or concrete; asphalt curbs are not acceptable.
(b) 
A maximum of one fourteen-foot curb cut shall be provided each lot in the subdivision. As Altoona is an urban setting, on-street parking, neighborhood parking or alley access are preferred over driveway cuts.
(c) 
Curbing shall be vertical for a distance of two feet on both sides of all catch basins. Where a swale system is used, drainage cuts in the curbing shall consist of sloped curb.
(8) 
Shoulders and embankments.
(a) 
The area between the curbing and the sidewalk (or right-of-way line, where no sidewalk is required) shall be constructed so as to support a vehicle should one leave the pavement area or need to pull to the far right to park safely.
[1] 
The area between the curb and the sidewalk shall be prepared with a twelve-inch gravel base and a three-inch surface mixture of 2/3 gravel and 1/3 loam.
[2] 
This area shall be graded with a horizontal pitch of 3/8 inch per foot.
[3] 
This area shall be seeded with a fine-bladed lawn grass.
[4] 
The plan should make attempts to keep two feet closest to the curb free of all obstacles, especially in areas where sloped curb is used.
(b) 
Embankments shall be graded so as to blend in with existing topography. Newly created embankments shall be stabilized with vegetation to prevent erosion or movement.
(c) 
Retaining walls in the street right-of-way shall be avoided in residential areas unless such an installation is the only practical way to install the roadway. When used, retaining walls shall be designed to complement the residential nature of the proposal.
(9) 
Lights and traffic control devices.
(a) 
Streetlighting shall be required for all subdivisions, as follows:
[1] 
In residential areas (except arterials), lighting shall be provided at every intersection.
[2] 
In nonresidential areas (except arterials), lighting shall be provided so as to light up the entire street right-of-way independently of any other lighting that may be present. Intersection lighting shall be wired separately so that the City may lower the mid-block lighting during nonbusiness hours.
[3] 
For arterials, lighting shall be placed in the median at sufficient distance so as to provide light to the entire street. Lighting at signalized intersections may be placed on the shoulders.
(b) 
The placement and design of light standards shall provide adequate lighting to the street right-of-way without posing a hazard to drivers or a nuisance to abutting properties.
(c) 
Streetlighting units shall be no higher than 20 feet above grade and shall be designed to direct light downward onto the street.
(d) 
Street name signs shall be provided at all new intersections and shall be of the standard size and placed for maximum visibility.
(e) 
Traffic control signs and other control devices shall be provided by the applicant as needed. The applicant shall use the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, Millennial Edition, for guidance; however, the use of signs shall be minimized.
(10) 
Street trees.
(a) 
Trees shall be required along both sides of all roadways and spaced not more than 50 feet apart. The goal is to provide a complete canopy over the street right-of-way.
(b) 
Trees shall be located no closer than two feet to the curb.
(c) 
Trees to be planted shall have a minimum diameter of two inches at a point four feet above the ground. All stock shall be nursery-grown, balled, and burlapped.
(d) 
In order to protect against the potential for all of the street trees in any neighborhood to be lost to disease or insects, no more than 1/3 of the trees planted shall be of the same species.
(e) 
Tree grates or fencing may be required to protect new trees in dense areas or other high-traffic areas.
(f) 
Trees shall be planted in the following manner:
[1] 
Each tree to be planted shall be placed in a hole dug one foot wider and one foot deeper than any part of the root ball.
[2] 
Soil to be replaced around the root ball is to be a good quality loam.
[3] 
The root ball shall be placed two inches deeper than the surrounding undisturbed soil to create a depression that holds water.
[4] 
Each tree shall be watered immediately after planting to settle the soil and moisten the roots.
[5] 
Trees shall have temporary labels attached so inspectors can determine compliance with the approved plan.
(g) 
The developer is responsible to guarantee all planted trees live through one complete growing season.
E. 
Driveways.[1]
(1) 
All driveways shall enter streets at safe locations. No driveway shall enter a public street within 50 feet of an intersection.
(2) 
Shared driveways for up to four houses are permitted. Shared driveways shall have a minimum width of 10 feet, be set within a twenty-foot easement, and shall be subject to a maintenance agreement entered into by the owners of the lots served by the driveway. Shared driveways shall be permitted only where the physical constraints of the project do not allow proper individual access points for each individual property.
(3) 
Reasonable sight distance shall be provided all driveways.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 300, Driveways.
F. 
Transit facilities. Where a proposed subdivision is to be located along or within reasonable walking distance of an existing or proposed transit route, the developer shall provide the bus shelters and provide any pull-offs for transit vehicles at bus stops, as determined by the Commission in consultation with the transit authority.
G. 
Bicycle facilities.
(1) 
All new streets shall be planned and constructed to safely accommodate bicycle traffic.
(2) 
Where a subdivision is to be located along or within 1/2 mile of an existing bikeway or a bikeway proposed by the city, county, region or state, the subdivision plan shall include connections to the bicycle facility in accordance with the Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 1994 edition, published by AASHTO.
(3) 
Bicycle facilities shall be included within the street right-of-way where practical. The developer may propose off-street bikeways, provided these are eight-feet-wide within a sixteen-foot-wide easement providing full public access to the bikeway. Such facilities shall conform to standards published in the Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, 1994 edition, published by AASHTO.
H. 
Pedestrian facilities.
(1) 
Sidewalks which exist within the street right-of-way and run generally parallel to the street shall meet the following standards:
(a) 
Sidewalks shall be provided in every subdivision.
(b) 
Sidewalks shall be parallel to the street and located so that the outer edge of the sidewalk runs coincident with the street right-of-way line.
(c) 
Sidewalks shall be set back at least four feet from the curbline in residential areas. In commercial areas, with the exception of Business Route 220, the sidewalk width shall be extended to the curb to accommodate the commercial activity. Along Business Route 220, the sidewalk shall be set back from the curbline as in residential areas.
(d) 
Sidewalks shall be a minimum of four feet wide. If the sidewalk is to double for bicycle use, the sidewalk shall be eight feet wide.
(e) 
Sidewalks shall be constructed with concrete.
(2) 
Pathways which exist outside the street right-of-way but are available for general use shall meet the following standards:
(a) 
Pathways shall be installed to connect major use areas, two portions of the same neighborhood, two dead-end streets, or stream crossings. Pathways shall also be installed to provide access to public amenities such as streams, parks, precipices, cemeteries, and so forth.
(b) 
A pathway shall be available for both pedestrian and bicycle use but shall be designed to prevent use by motorized vehicles.
(c) 
Pathways shall be at least six feet wide within a twelve-foot easement providing full public access.
(d) 
Pathways shall be constructed of a permanent nonerosive material conducive to use by pedestrians and bicycles.
(e) 
Pathways shall be named and clearly labeled as public ways.
(3) 
All pedestrian facilities shall provide appropriate wheelchair access where they intersect the street system. All facilities shall be constructed in accordance with federal standards for handicapped accessibility.
(4) 
All pedestrian facilities shall be designed to foster a sense of neighborhood and promote neighborly interaction without posing danger to pedestrians and residents of the neighborhood.
I. 
Common parking. In commercial areas and high-density neighborhoods, the Commission may require installation of a common parking facility to help alleviate future parking shortages. This may require a set-aside of land within the subdivision or a redesign of the street to accommodate additional on-street parking (i.e., angled parking).
A. 
Water service.
(1) 
All new subdivisions shall be required to connect to the public water supply. Water distribution pipes shall be required to serve all lots on the street within the subdivision. All materials, construction, and connections to be dedicated shall be in accordance with the specifications set forth by the Water Division of the Altoona City Authority. No private wells shall be installed in the City from which potable water will be drawn for purposes of human consumption.
(2) 
Water mains shall conform to the following:
(a) 
Pipe diameter shall be eight inches.
(b) 
Mains shall have a minimum cover of four feet six inches above the top of the pipe and shall be centered within a twenty-foot easement.
(c) 
Where a water main crosses any other underground utility, the minimum clearance between the outside of the pipes or conduits shall be 12 inches.
(d) 
Water mains shall be installed in the right-of-way, unless the applicant demonstrates a need to do otherwise.
(e) 
The necessary pipe bends shall be installed if pipe deflection is to exceed 5% at a joint.
(3) 
Valves shall meet the following specifications:
(a) 
At intersections, valves shall be set in line with the street right-of-way lines.
(b) 
Valves shall be set in each block and at all tees and branches, with no more than 1,000 feet between valves.
(c) 
Valves shall be installed on all fire hydrant leads and shall be located three feet from the center line of the tee.
(d) 
Dead-end valves shall have boxes and a cap or plug on the end.
(4) 
Hydrants shall be installed in accordance with the following:
(a) 
Hydrants shall be located not more than 500 feet apart, as close to intersecting lot lines as possible. Hydrants shall be set back from the curb three feet within the street right-of-way.
(b) 
At intersections, the hydrant shall be set back five feet from the rounding or cutback of the property lines.
(5) 
Service connections shall be provided as follows:
(a) 
Connection shall be provided to the property line of every buildable lot and located in the center of the frontage.
(b) 
All tubing shall be a minimum of three-fourths-inch diameter and a minimum cover of four feet.
(c) 
Curb stops shall be located one foot from the property line.
(d) 
Connections shall be installed in a straight line at a ninety-degree angle to the street.
(e) 
Connections shall be located at least 10 feet from any sewer service connection or cellar drain.
(6) 
Wherever possible, water mains shall be designed to avoid dead-end mains. Where water mains dead end, either a hydrant or blowoff shall be required. Air-release valves and blowoff may be required in other areas, as deemed necessary by the physical conditions of the site.
(7) 
Wherever system pressure is deemed insufficient, the applicant may be required to install a storage tank of 250,000 gallons' minimum capacity. Such tank shall provide the required pressure to the system by means of gravity. The applicant shall also be responsible for the installation of any pumping apparatus as may be necessary.
B. 
Sanitary sewer service.
(1) 
All new subdivisions shall be required to connect to the public sanitary sewer system. Sewer collection pipes shall be required to serve all lots on the street within the subdivision. All materials, construction, and connections to be dedicated shall be in accordance with the specifications set forth by the Wastewater Division of the Altoona City Authority. If required, all related installations, including lift stations, pumps, and force mains shall be installed with the sanitary sewer system.
(2) 
In no case shall surface water, roof drainage, cellar drains, or subsoil drainage be allowed to discharge into the sanitary sewer system by design.
(3) 
Sanitary sewer mains shall conform to the following:
(a) 
Sanitary sewers shall have a minimum diameter of eight inches.
(b) 
Mains shall be installed at sufficient depth to serve existing and proposed basements without the use of forced or hung plumbing. Waivers may be issued if topography so requires.
(c) 
All piping shall be laid on straight horizontal and vertical planes between manholes.
(d) 
Where the sanitary sewer main crosses another utility, the minimum clearance between pipes or conduits shall be 12 inches, and the sanitary sewer shall always pass beneath any public water supply line.
(e) 
Sewer mains shall be laid at a grade so as to maintain self-cleansing velocities.
(4) 
Manholes shall be constructed at breaks in the grade of the sewer or changes in alignment and at intervals not exceeding the lesser of one block or 400 feet. Manholes shall have shaped channels connecting all lines.
(5) 
A sewer service connection, consisting of a wye and six-inch pipe, shall be installed from the sewer main to the property line at every buildable lot. The grade of connections shall be at least 2%.
(6) 
Easements for sanitary sewer mains outside the street right-of-way shall be provided wherever necessary. Easements shall be centered on the main and be a minimum total width of 20 feet.
C. 
Storm sewer facilities.
(1) 
Storm drains, culverts, catch basins, and related facilities shall be designed to permit the unimpeded flow of all natural watercourses, to ensure adequate drainage at all low points along streets, to control erosion, to prevent the flow of water into inappropriate areas, and to intercept runoff along streets.
(2) 
To the maximum extent feasible, stormwater shall be recharged into the ground on site rather than piped off the premises.
(3) 
The drainage system shall be engineered so that abutting properties and streets are not adversely affected by runoff water generated by the new subdivision.
(4) 
Stormwater runoff shall not be directed into the sanitary sewer system, and all materials used and the construction of the facilities shall meet with City specifications.
(5) 
Stormwater facilities shall be installed in accordance with Chapter 620.
D. 
Combined sanitary sewer and storm sewer.
(1) 
In areas where only a combination sewer is available for discharge, stormwater shall be redirected to a detention system and treated for quality prior to discharge into the combined sewer system.
(2) 
To the maximum extent possible, stormwater shall be recharged into the ground on site rather than piped off the premises.
(3) 
Stormwater facilities shall be in accordance with Chapter 620.
E. 
Electric utility.
(1) 
All lots within a subdivision shall be provided with electric service.
(2) 
Service shall be installed in accordance with City and utility specifications.
(3) 
Electric service lines shall be kept out of sight along the streets in the subdivision. The utility lines shall be placed in the alley or underground.
(4) 
The applicant is responsible for securing any and all easements necessary to provide electric service to the entire subdivision.
F. 
Natural gas utility.
(1) 
All lots within a subdivision shall be provided with natural gas service.
(2) 
Service shall be installed in accordance with City and utility specifications.
(3) 
The applicant is responsible for securing any and all easements necessary to provide natural gas service to the entire subdivision.
G. 
Telecommunications utilities.
(1) 
The telecommunication utilities include, at a minimum, telephone, television, and Internet services. All lots within the subdivision shall be provided with the necessary installations to provide the occupants the ability to connect to any or all of these services.
(2) 
Any wiring necessary shall be kept out of sight along the streets. The lines shall be placed in the alley or underground.
(3) 
The applicant is responsible for securing any and all easements necessary to provide telecommunications services to the entire subdivision.
H. 
Basic services.
(1) 
The Commission may also require the developer to provide infrastructure necessary to support other basic life services such as mail delivery, trash removal, school bus service, and snow disposal, if it determines a need exists for these services to be specifically designed into the subdivision.
(2) 
The subdivision design shall not hinder the provision of these services.
A. 
The sewage facilities planning module for the project shall be completed and approved, waived, or exempted prior to the issuance of a building permit.
B. 
The developer shall inform the providers of public services and facilities of the new development. Such notification shall include sufficient information so that the service provider is able to determine whether sufficient capacity exists to properly serve the new subdivision. Providers typically informed include the school district, AMTRAN, the post office, and the Recreation Commission.
C. 
Parks and recreation facilities may be provided by the developer and deeded over to the City, a homeowners' association, or nonprofit organization. Recreational facilities shall be designed for the ready use of the neighborhood and shall be shielded from abutting properties to reduce visual and auditory impact.
D. 
Urban gardens and urban art may be included in a subdivision.
A. 
Permanent monuments shall be installed in the subdivision to provide survey and property line control. All monuments shall conform to the standard practices of the surveying profession.
B. 
Monumentation materials shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Monuments shall be made of durable material of sufficient length and cross-sectional area to be reliably permanent and shall clearly indicate the specific survey point. Concrete or stone monuments with a minimum width of four inches and a minimum length of 30 inches shall be acceptable.
(2) 
Markers shall be iron pins or pipes, 30 inches in length.
(3) 
The practice of placing subterraneous crushed glass around the monument is acceptable, provided the glass is buried a minimum of eight inches below finished grade.
C. 
The placement of monuments shall be so that they do not interfere with the normal daily use of the land. Generally, the top of the monument should be flush with finished grade.
D. 
Monuments shall be installed at all points of change in direction of the street right-of-way and lot lines as shown on the subdivision plan.
E. 
Easements need not be monumented unless, in the opinion of the Commission, such monumentation is necessary for a clear demarcation of the easement.
F. 
No permanent monuments shall be installed until after all construction which would disturb the monument is completed.
G. 
Placement and location of monuments and bounds are to be certified by a registered professional land surveyor once construction is complete and shall be shown on as-built plans.
A. 
Submittal and review of subdivisions shall be in accordance with this chapter.
B. 
Upon completion of the review of the application, the Altoona City Planning Commission shall take action on the proposal. Such action may be taken at a subsequent meeting so long as the time lines established under state law are met. Such action shall be:
(1) 
Request further information for a second review. This is done when the submittal and substantive requirements for the plan are not met or when an issue arises during the review which needs to be addressed.
(2) 
Issue a certificate of approval without condition.
(3) 
Issue a certificate of approval with conditions.
(4) 
Issue a certificate of denial which clearly states the reasons for denial.
C. 
All approvals under this chapter shall be accompanied by a performance contract, which shall be recorded in the chain of title with the plan.
D. 
The applicant is required to obtain any and all other approvals which may be required for the proposal. Approval under this chapter does not automatically grant other approvals, except those noted in the certificate of approval.