The design, layout and plans for construction, reconstruction, alteration or replacement of all sidewalks, curbs, driveways (either private or commercial), curb ramps, street curbs, and gutters shall confirm to and be constructed according to the design, layout, plans and details shown and provided by the “Standard Details for Construction of Sidewalks, Driveways, Curbs, and Gutters,” dated March 8, 2006, and including Plates No. 24-86 (A); 24-86 (B); 24-86 (C); 24-86 (D); 24-86 (E); 24-86 (F); 24-86 (G); 24-86 (H); 24-86 (I); 24-86 (J); 24-86 (K), which plates are hereby adopted. Copies of said plates are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as though set out completely in detail herein. References in this article to the city’s standard plans and specifications or to specific plates shall mean the versions dated February 1, 2010. Copies of said plates shall be kept in the offices of the building official and the city engineer.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 2, adopted 10/8/1953; Ordinance 1710 adopted 4/28/1955; Ordinance 1765 adopted 9/8/1955; 1959 Code, sec. 28-48; 1983 Code, sec. 24-86; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1984; Ordinance 9043, sec. 2, adopted 3/12/1987; Ordinance 9263, sec. 2, adopted 4/13/1989; Ordinance 9580, sec. 2, adopted 1/14/1993; Ordinance 10174, sec. 1, adopted 6/24/1999; Ordinance 2006-O0038, sec. 1, adopted 4/13/2006; Ordinance 2010-O0029, sec. 1, adopted 4/8/2010)
All work on street curbs and gutters shall be done in accordance with the city’s standard plans and specifications for the construction of street curbs and gutters as approved and adopted by the city council.
Editor’s note–Ordinance 5057, sec. 1, adopted 7/14/1966, implemented the section above by adopting plans and specifications, known as standard details for construction of sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters, and providing that copies be kept in the offices of the city secretary and the building official. Ordinance 5057 was later repealed by Ordinance 9043, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/1987.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-49; 1983 Code, sec. 24-87)
(a) 
Sidewalks shall be constructed along all streets and avenues abutting the property being developed or improved and shall extend to the curbline on each corner lot simultaneously with any construction or development on the property except:
(1) 
On any one side of a residential street into which lots front when more than sixty (60) percent of the frontage between street intersections has been developed without sidewalks prior to the time a permit is requested.
(2) 
When the planning commission shall approve a specific use zone within which the site plan specifically does not provide sidewalks as required within this article. Otherwise, sidewalks shall be provided as required by this article. The planning commission shall consider the intent of this article for sidewalks when hearing any specific use zone case requesting deviation from existing location requirements.
(3) 
Where, in a single-family residentially zoned area, the minimum lot frontage on the side of the street in question between street intersections, as platted and as developed, is one hundred fifty (150) feet and the minimum lot area is thirty thousand (30,000) square feet.
(4) 
In M-1 and M-2 zoning districts, where the abutting street is not designated as a highway or is not designated as E (expressway), T (thoroughfare), or C (collector) on the master thoroughfare plan of the city.
(5) 
When an addition or improvement is made to an existing single-family or duplex structure except when the estimated cost of the improvement exceeds thirty (30) percent of the current tax district appraised tax value of the structure and when forty (40) percent or more of the lots or tracts on the same side of the street and between street intersections are developed with sidewalks.
(b) 
At locations where sidewalks are not required by this code or where sidewalks do not exist it shall be the duty and responsibility of the property owner to maintain the parkway area in such a condition so as to permit safe use by pedestrians. No sidewalk shall be removed except for repair or replacement, and then it shall be repaired or replaced in accordance with this code.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-50; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; Ordinance 5349, sec. 1, adopted 11/9/1967; 1983 Code, sec. 24-88; Ordinance 8568, sec. 22, adopted 3/8/1984)
(a) 
All sidewalks shall be constructed in that area between the curb or grade of the public street and the abutting property line. Required sidewalks shall have three (3) options for location and width:
(1) 
Sidewalks in any location shall be a minimum of four (4) feet wide, and the inner edge of the sidewalk shall be contiguous and parallel with the abutting property line; or
(2) 
Sidewalks may be five (5) feet in width in residential districts, and the outer edge of the sidewalk shall be contiguous and parallel with the existing curb; or
(3) 
Sidewalks may be six (6) feet in width in commercial districts, and the outer edge of the sidewalk shall be contiguous and parallel with the existing curb. The six-foot design of sidewalk shall be required in association with all public streets abutting school sites intended for primary or secondary education.
(b) 
In no instance shall curbback sidewalks be installed where curbing does not exist.
(c) 
In areas where the sidewalk construction would leave twenty-four (24) inches or less of space between the back of the curb and the outer edge of the sidewalk, the sidewalk width shall be extended sufficiently to extend to the back of the curb.
(d) 
Sidewalk construction for the options above shall continue with the same design for the block frontage between street intersections and no new construction shall vary from the established design of sidewalks within a single block face.
(1959 Code, sec. 28-50.1; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; 1983 Code, sec. 24-89; Ordinance 8568, sec. 23, adopted 3/8/1984; Ordinance 9044, sec. 1, adopted 3/12/1987; Ordinance 10174, sec. 2, adopted 6/24/1999)
(a) 
Concrete sidewalks.
The thickness of concrete sidewalks shall be a minimum of four (4) inches and shall be of a cross-section as approved by the city council. Plates describing this cross-section shall be kept on file in the office of the city engineer.
(b) 
Driveways.
The thickness and cross-section of driveways will vary in accordance with the type of construction materials and the type of usage to which it is subjected. In general, all concrete driveways shall have a minimum thickness of four (4) inches. Reinforced gutter sections required at commercial driveways shall be constructed prior to and separate from the driveway slab.
(c) 
Inner curbs.
Inner curbs shall be a minimum of four (4) inches in width, unless otherwise specified by the city, and shall extend a minimum of four (4) inches above the driving surface, except that they may taper at driveway returns so that the top of the inner curb meets the sidewalk grade as indicated on such plates that are filed in the office of the city engineer. Separate inner curbs shall extend a minimum of six (6) inches below the driving surface.
(d) 
Street curbs and gutters.
The thickness and cross-sections for street curbs and gutters shall be shown and designated as specified by the city and as shown on plates filed in the office of the city engineer, except where there is an existing street curb and gutter of a different section to be met or reconstructed, in which case the thickness and cross-section shall conform to the existing pattern.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-51; 1983 Code, sec. 24-90; Ordinance 8568, sec. 24, adopted 3/8/1984)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to excavate, commence construction, or place any material for any work described in this article in a public street or public place until a permit for such work has been obtained from the building official as provided herein, or until stakes or lines and grades for such work have been given by the city, unless for sidewalk and driveway construction the curb adjacent to the property is existing, and then the contractor shall follow the grade of the existing curb.
(b) 
The alignment of the sidewalk shall parallel the adjacent property line unless the building official grants permission for the sidewalk to parallel an existing street curb. The property owner shall have his property line established before issuance of a permit by the building official.
(c) 
The grade of the sidewalk shall parallel the grade of the top of street curb when the curb exists at the time of the sidewalk construction, or shall conform to grades established by the city when there is no curb existing. A minimum fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be charged by the city to set two (2) grade stakes for the elevation of the sidewalk, and an additional five dollars ($5.00) shall be charged for each additional grade stake required or requested by the contractor. The contractor shall preserve the grade stakes set by the city until the final inspection by the city.
(d) 
The elevation of the sidewalk at the edge nearest the street shall be at least as high as but not more than two (2) inches above the top of the adjacent curb and the elevation of the sidewalk may rise as much as one-quarter of an inch per foot of width. The elevation of the sidewalk at a private driveway shall continue the grade of the sidewalk on either side of the driveway except:
(1) 
When the distance from the edge of the sidewalk to the back of the curb is four (4) feet or less in which case not more than two (2) feet of the sidewalk width may be sloped and used as a part of the driveway transition between the gutter and the property line.
(2) 
When the sidewalk is constructed adjacent to the back of the curb a minimum of two (2) feet of the inner edge of the sidewalk shall continue the grade of the sidewalk on either side of the driveway. The remaining width may be sloped for the driveway transition approach.
(3) 
When in the opinion of the building official on-site or private property drainage cannot be provided with the sidewalk placed at curb grade, in such event the longitudinal grade of the sidewalk on either side of the driveway may be sloped down at the rate of one inch per foot of length not to exceed four (4) inches but the concrete sidewalk shall be continuous across the driveway.
(4) 
In commercial areas, when new sidewalks are constructed, or existing sidewalks are replaced, the elevation of the sidewalk on either side of an alley shall be in accordance with the applicable drawing on the plats entitled “Typical Locations For Wheelchair Ramps.”
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-52; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; Ordinance 6666, sec. 1, adopted 6/28/1973; 1983 Code, sec. 24-91; Ordinance 8568, secs. 25–27, adopted 3/8/1984; Ordinance 9043, sec. 3, adopted 3/12/1987)
Excavations shall be done to line and grade as established by the city engineer and all excess excavated materials shall be removed from the right-of-way dedicated for street purposes. Before placement of concrete, the subgrade shall be wetted and tamped to secure a firm foundation.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-53; 1983 Code, sec. 24-92)
Forms may be either metal or wood. In case forms are wood, they shall be of material well seasoned and cleaned. All forms must everywhere extend the full depth of the concrete and must be set true to lines and grades. All forms must be well braced so that bracing and tamping the concrete will not displace them. Before concrete is placed, forms must be thoroughly wet with water or, preferably, well greased with a heavy oil or grease.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-54; 1983 Code, sec. 24-93)
Sidewalks, driveways, or inner curbs shall be constructed of concrete composed of Portland cement and fine aggregate, except as herein specified, except that other comparable material may be used when approved by the building official. The concrete shall contain not less than five (5) sacks of cement per cubic yard and not more than eight (8) gallons of water net per sack of cement when coarse aggregate is used. The amount of coarse aggregate shall not exceed eighty-five-one-hundredths (0.85) cubic foot per cubic foot of concrete (dry, loose volume). The minimum compressive strength at twenty-eight (28) days shall be three thousand (3,000) pounds per square inch.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-55; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; 1983 Code, sec. 24-94; Ordinance 8568, sec. 28, adopted 3/8/1984)
Concrete sidewalk slabs shall be reinforced with steel where a driveway crosses the sidewalk in a business area. The area of steel used shall be sufficient to prevent any failures in the concrete slab and shall be designed for a nH-20 loading. Where the remainder of the driveway area is to be of concrete, it shall be similarly reinforced.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-56; 1983 Code, sec. 24-95)
The sand and cement shall be thoroughly mixed dry until the mixture is of uniform color and free from sand streaks. Wetted stone or gravel shall be added and the entire mass wetted and thoroughly mixed by turning it at least three (3) times, or until the stone is thoroughly coated with mortar and the mass uniformly mixed, whereupon the whole shall immediately be deposited in proper place in the work and thoroughly rammed at once to the required thickness. The concrete must be sufficiently wet but shall not run and must be so thoroughly tamped that all the voids will be filled, resulting in a thoroughly compact mass. In case a machine is used, it shall be a batch mixer. The contractor shall not mix any concrete or cement materials on the surface of any paved street, unless heavy kraft paper or paper of similar weight is placed to protect the splashing and dripping of the concrete mixture upon the pavement.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-57; 1983 Code, sec. 24-96)
The finish on the surface of the concrete sidewalk shall be monolithic with the slab and shall be such that it does not present a hazardous condition. The marking of the top of the sidewalk slab must be done with a specially devised marking tool at four-foot intervals. The marking must cut at least one-half way through the slab and shall be done after the slab has set sufficiently so that the concrete will not flow. The exposed edges of all concrete shall be neatly finished with a special edging tool. The contractor shall employ adequate measures to protect all work from the action of the sun, cold and wind until the same has thoroughly hardened and set.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-58; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; 1983 Code, sec. 24-97)
(a) 
Transverse expansion joints for all sidewalks, three-quarter inch in thickness, and extending the full width of the concrete slab, shall be provided at intervals not more than thirty-six (36) feet apart. These joints must be the full depth of the concrete and shall be well filled with some satisfactory and elastic joint filler approved by the city engineer or building official.
(b) 
Where walk or driveway transition join or abut on the street curbing line, an expansion joint of not less than three-fourths inch thickness across the entire section of walk must be made and filled as provided.
(c) 
Where a new section of sidewalk is to connect with a previously constructed walk, a three- quarter-inch expansion joint must be made and filled as provided.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-59; 1983 Code, sec. 24-98; Ordinance 8568, secs. 29, 30, adopted 3/8/1984)
Where a public parkway area is adjacent to an off-street parking area, a concrete bumper curb or an iron pipe bumper rail shall be built to prevent encroachment of vehicles onto the public way. The bumper curb or rail shall be set back from the property line so that no part of a parked vehicle will extend over public property. Any such concrete bumper block shall be at least four (4) inches in width, be four (4) inches high, and be securely anchored. Iron pipe used for a bumper rail shall have a minimum outside diameter of three (3) inches and have the standard or supports permanently anchored in the ground.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-60; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; Ordinance 5057, sec. 2, adopted 7/14/1966; 1983 Code, sec. 24-99; Ordinance 8568, sec. 31, adopted 3/8/1984)
The person in charge of the work shall not construct any step or offset along the grade of the sidewalk. Where conditions necessitate a grade change along the sidewalk, the change shall be accomplished by a ramp consistent with the building code which requires no greater slope than one (1) vertical in eight (8) horizontal. When conditions exist which require a step or offset from the grade of the sidewalk to the grade of the curb top, such step or offset shall occur only at the instance of written instructions from the city engineer or building official.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-62; 1983 Code, sec. 24-100; Ordinance 8568, sec. 32, adopted 3/8/1984)
All driveways into private property shall be paved from the street curb line to the property line. The design and construction of such driveways shall be in accordance with section 36.04.111 of this code, and the following:
(1) 
The number of driveways on thoroughfares shall be limited to a maximum of one (1) for the first one hundred (100) feet of frontage on a street and a maximum of one (1) additional driveway for each additional two hundred (200) feet of frontage except at intersecting thoroughfares. At intersecting thoroughfares there shall be no driveway within the first one hundred and fifty (150) feet of frontage on the thoroughfare approaching the intersection and one hundred (100) feet of frontage on the thoroughfare exiting the intersection.
(2) 
To comply with subsection (1), above, shared driveways and on-site access easements may be required dependant on lot size and configuration.
(3) 
No driveway access to “R-1,” “R-1A,” or “R-2” residential property shall be permitted from a street which is designated as a thoroughfare (“E” or “T”) by the master thoroughfare plan except when the planning commission shall have approved such access by site plan.
(4) 
When deemed necessary by the city engineer due to traffic volume, trips generated, and/or other relevant means, an acceleration/deceleration lane adjacent to the property line and connecting to the property’s driveway shall be considered during the platting process.
(5) 
All paved surfaces of city streets that are cut for the construction of commercial driveways shall be replaced by the contractor who caused the street cut and shall be inspected by, and repaired to the satisfaction of, the city. The contractor shall pay the city an administrative fee for the city’s inspection services at the time of issuance of the building permit. The rate shall be as set forth and established in the adopted annual budget.
(6) 
The planning and zoning commission may authorize upon request in specific cases of unnecessary hardship a variance of the driveway location, distance and width regulations as may be necessary to secure appropriate development of a parcel of land which differs from other parcels under like circumstances and where such parcel cannot be reasonably developed or used without such modification. In exercising its power to grant a variance, the planning and zoning commission shall make findings and show in its minutes such facts and/or special conditions by which each of the following conditions has been satisfied:
(A) 
There are special circumstances existing on the property on which the application is made related to size, shape, area, topography, surrounding condition or location that do not apply generally to other property under the same or similar circumstances and that said circumstances or conditions are such that the strict application of the provisions of this chapter would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of such land or building;
(B) 
That granting of the variance on the specific property will not cause an unreasonable traffic safety or traffic control problem to be created upon the property or the streets and rights-of-way abutting such property;
(C) 
That the variance to be granted is the minimum variance that will relieve the proven hardship; and
(D) 
A raised median designed and constructed by the developer separating traffic of opposing directions will be included in any variances to the driveway requirements at thoroughfare corner lots. The median shall have a minimum width of three (3) feet, a minimum length of one hundred twenty-five (125) feet, and shall have a cutout in the crosswalk for pedestrian access. Planning and zoning commission may waive the median requirement if existing site conditions are incompatible with driveway location requirements.
(Ordinance 1466, sec. 3, adopted 10/8/1953; 1959 Code, sec. 28-63; Ordinance 4371, sec. 1, adopted 6/30/1964; Ordinance 5057, sec. 3, adopted 7/14/1966; Ordinance 5580, sec. 1, adopted 12/19/1968; Ordinance 5758, sec. 1, adopted 10/9/1969; Ordinance 6891, secs. 1–3, adopted 5/9/1974; Ordinance 8239, sec. 1, adopted 9/24/1981; 1983 Code, sec. 24-101; Ordinance 8568, secs. 33–35, adopted 3/8/1984; Ordinance 9043, secs. 4, 5, adopted 3/12/1987; Ordinance 9044, sec. 2, adopted 3/12/1987; Ordinance 9263, sec. 1, adopted 4/13/1989; Ordinance 2010-O0029, sec. 2, adopted 4/8/2010; Ordinance 2017-O00159, sec. 59, adopted 12/18/2017; Ordinance 2019-O0136 adopted 9/24/2019)
Any newly constructed or altered intersections having curbs or other barriers to entry from street level pedestrian walkways shall contain curb ramps, except as described in this section. The design and construction of such curb ramps shall be in accordance with section 36.04.111 of this article, and the following:
(1) 
New subdivision street paving plans shall indicate and be constructed with three (3) feet of down curb and five (5) feet of transition on either side of the down curb located at the center of each street intersection radius.
(2) 
The concrete flatwork required for the actual ramp construction in new intersections will not be required until the sidewalk is constructed with the building permit for that corner lot.
(3) 
Ramp construction will be required at existing intersections with the issuance of a building permit in all cases where sidewalk construction is a part of the permit except that ramp construction will not be required with the issuance of a building permit on existing streets in “RR,” “R-1,” “R-1A,” or “R-2” zoning areas.
(4) 
Ramp construction required at existing street intersections will require removal of the complete curb and gutter section or a vertical sawcut adjacent to the face of the curb for the curb removal. Removal of approximately thirteen (13) linear feet of curb and gutter or sawcut will be required. The typical curb ramp location at an intersection is the center of radius. A deposit for paving repair costs will be required if the complete curb and gutter section is removed.
(1983 Code, sec. 24-102; Ordinance 2017-O00159, sec. 60, adopted 12/18/2017; Ordinance 2018-O0066, sec. 76, adopted 6/14/2018)