(a) 
Thoroughfare Plan.
The streets of a proposed development shall conform to the general intent of the Thoroughfare Plan. The City’s Engineer shall determine final alignment and related right-of-way dedications.
(b) 
Continuity of Street Systems.
Proposed streets for a subdivision shall be effectively related to the present and future street system and development of the surrounding area. Any proposed streets shall provide for appropriate continuation or completion of any existing streets, whether constructed or dedicated, which project to the limits of a proposed subdivision or are adjacent to the subdivision.
(c) 
Substandard Street Improvements.
Where an existing thoroughfare that does not meet the City’s right-of-way or design standards abuts a proposed subdivision, the City may require that the entire right-of-way be dedicated and/or improved to the City’s Design Standards, based upon factors including the impact of the proposed development on the road, safety to the traveling public, conditions and life expectancy of the road, the impact of the proposed subdivision on other roads, the timing of this development in relation to need for improving the road, the impact of the traffic on the road and City’s roadway system as a whole.
(d) 
Layout.
The street layout shall be in conformity with a plan for the most advantageous development of the entire neighborhood areas. Whenever the proposed development contains or is adjacent, or parallel to a railroad right-of-way or a major thoroughfare or freeway, provision shall be made for a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way to provide reasonable use of the intervening land.
(e) 
Participation in Costs of Improvements.
The City may participate in the costs of improvements required by this Section in order to achieve proportionality between the traffic impacts created by the proposed development and the obligation to provide adequate roadways. The construction of improvements and the provisions for participation in costs by the City shall be included in a developer’s agreement.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Access.
To ensure adequate access to each subdivision, there should be at least two (2) points of ingress and egress to the City’s improved thoroughfare system. The City may require that more than two access points be constructed if the configuration, number of lots, or other consideration creates the need for the additional access points. “Two (2) points of vehicular access” shall be construed to mean that the subdivision has at least two (2) road entrances accessing the subdivision from the City’s improved thoroughfare system.
(b) 
Limitations on Driveway Access.
(1) 
To minimize traffic hazards created by numerous intersections along major thoroughfares, where a residential subdivision will abut on or contain an existing or proposed arterial street, the street shall be designed so that direct vehicular access from any residential lot to such arterial street is prohibited. Where other means of access are not available or permitted, private easements for access shall be provided when approved by the Council. The street system should be designed to allow a minimum of individual access drives to collector streets.
(2) 
Streets shall be designed to conform to existing or proposed driveway openings (including those on the other side of an existing or planned median-divided arterial, in which case new streets shall align with such driveway openings such that median openings can be shared).
(3) 
To the greatest extent possible, the number of lots fronting along residential collector streets shall be minimized in order to ensure adequate traffic safety and efficiency. No more than twenty percent (20%) of the total centerline length of a collector street may have residential lots fronting onto the collector on each side of the street.
(4) 
If, in the opinion of the City Engineer, traffic safety concerns so necessitate, the Engineer may require a residential subdivision to be designed to provide rear entry access from a private access easement.
(5) 
The following note may be required on the face of any plat intended to be filed in the county plat records. “No lot within this addition shall be allowed driveway access onto _____ Street.”
(c) 
Reserved Strips.
The reservation of private ownerships of strips of land at the end of or alongside proposed or existing streets intended solely or primarily for the purpose of controlling access to property not included in the development is prohibited.
(d) 
Half-Streets.
Half-streets are prohibited except where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision in conformance with other requirements of this Ordinance and where the City Council finds it will be practicable to obtain dedication when the adjoining land is platted.
(e) 
Emergency Access.
Each subdivision shall be designed to provide adequate emergency access for public safety vehicles.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Generally.
Subject to the provisions of Article 3, the applicant shall be required to dedicate right-of-way as shown in the Thoroughfare Plan, or as required in this section for all streets, or parts thereof, within or at the perimeter of the subdivision. Such roadways are shown on the City’s Comprehensive Plan and all affected areas being platted are required to conform to this plan. The design speeds, right-of-way and pavement widths, street classifications, drive lanes, edge lanes, median requirements and center turn lanes shall be as set forth in the Design Standards and Thoroughfare Plan. The street classifications are as follows: Major Freeway, Minor Freeway, Major City Thoroughfare, Normal City Thoroughfare, Arterial, Collector, Major Residential and Minor Residential.
(b) 
Additional Right-of-Way.
Additional right-of-way may be required for the following purposes:
(1) 
At intersections where adjacent property is zoned for commercial, industrial, or other high intensity use to provide free right turns, center turn lanes, or other beneficial alignments intended to alleviate existing or potential traffic congestion; or
(2) 
To eliminate street intersection offsets, as determined by the City Engineer; or
(3) 
When necessitated by one or more of the factors set forth in Section 7.01.
(c) 
Slope Easements.
The dedication of easements, in addition to dedicated rights-of-way shall be required whenever, due to topography, additional width is necessary to provide adequate earth slopes. Such slopes shall be no steeper than three feet (3') horizontal run to one foot (1') vertical height, or a three-to-one (3:1) slope.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Curvilinear Design Requirements.
Curvilinear streets will be required in residential subdivisions. Horizontal curve design must be such that safe travel through the curve can be anticipated at the design speed for the roadway. In no case shall the centerline horizontal curves be less than as shown in the Design Standards.
(b) 
Design Speed.
Streets should be designed for a maximum speed based upon their classification, as set forth in Section 7.03(a).
(c) 
Intersections.
(1) 
All thoroughfares shall be continuous or in alignment with existing streets, unless variations are deemed advisable by the Commission and City Council upon consideration of the City Engineer’s recommendation.
(2) 
Off-center street intersections (in which intersections are closer than 200 feet for thoroughfares or 100 feet for residential streets) shall not be approved except in unusual cases.
(3) 
More than two (2) streets intersecting at one point shall be avoided except where it is impractical to secure a proper street system otherwise. Where several streets converge at one point, setback lines, special rounding or cutoff of corners and/or a traffic circle may be required to ensure safety and facility of traffic movement.
(4) 
No street shall intersect any other street at an angle of less than seventy-five (75) degrees.
(5) 
The number of minor or local street offsets shall be minimized but, when approved, shall be offset a minimum distance of one hundred twenty-five (125) feet on centerlines. At the intersection of two collector and/or arterial streets, no offsets are permitted.
(6) 
Acute angle intersections approved by the City Engineer are to have 25 feet or greater radii at acute corners.
(d) 
Hierarchy of Street Pattern.
(1) 
Where a development will abut or contain an existing or proposed arterial street, a plan shall be approved which would provide a minimum number of intersections along each arterial street.
(2) 
Arterial streets should be intersected only by other arterial streets or collector streets rather than minor streets.
(3) 
There shall be a minimum of two thousand (2,000) feet between intersections of arterials and/or collector streets.
(4) 
There shall be no median break at intersections of arterial streets and/or collector streets, and they must be at an interval of six hundred (600) feet or greater.
(5) 
Minor collector streets may intersect arterial streets upon specific approval of the City Engineer and the Administrative Official.
(6) 
Minor or local streets should be planned to serve only local traffic.
(e) 
Horizontal Alignment and Vertical Alignment.
Horizontal and vertical alignment shall be in accordance with the Design Standards. Reverse circular curves having a common tangent shall be separated by a tangent section in accordance with the minimum tangents set forth in the Design Standards.
(f) 
Street Cross Slopes.
For drainage, all streets shall have a cross slope. The typical cross slope is 2.00%. At intersections, the minimum cross slope allowed is 0.50% and the maximum allowed is 2.00%.
(g) 
Street Drainage.
(1) 
Topographic maps with contour intervals of two (2) feet (or less) and details of existing drainage structures and watercourses shall be submitted along with calculations for all watersheds affecting areas of the proposed storm drain design. Drainage design shall be computed as noted in the drainage section of this Ordinance. Maps showing the delineation and flow from each drainage area must be included in the plans along with all hydraulic calculations. Street and drainage profiles shall show the location of the hydraulic grade line.
(2) 
No streets shall be designed or constructed to a grade less than established in the Design Standards.
(h) 
Curb Radii.
Radii at street intersections shall not be less than twenty (20) feet for residential streets and thirty (30) feet for thoroughfare streets. If necessary, property lines shall be adjusted accordingly.
(i) 
Variations.
If existing topographic features prohibit the reasonable use of the above-specified design requirements, the City Engineer may approve a variation. A request for the variation must be made in writing to the City and must include an accurate topographic map of the area in question showing the proposed design.
(j) 
Cul-de-Sacs.
(1) 
A maximum number of twenty (20) dwelling units is permitted on a cul-de-sac street permanently designed as such.
(2) 
The length of the cul-de-sac should not exceed four hundred (400) feet or be less than one hundred and fifty (150) feet in length. However, density of development, topography, lot sizes and other significant factors will be weighed in determining the length of a cul-de-sac street.
(k) 
Block Lengths.
Residential blocks shall not be longer than one thousand feet. Six hundred (600) feet is the desirable minimum. Conditions of topography, surrounding platted subdivisions or circulation requirements may dictate further study of the block length. Extremely short block lengths should be avoided as well to eliminate the potential for increased traffic congestion created by too many intersections.
(l) 
Dead-End Streets.
(1) 
Dead-end streets shall be permitted only where a future extension or connection is to be made. Street stubs shall be provided into adjacent property at a minimum of one thousand (1,000) feet apart. If adjacent property is undeveloped and a street must terminate temporarily, the right-of-way must extend to the boundaries of the plat.
(2) 
Barricades and other traffic controls shall be installed by the developer at dead ends as required by the Design Standards.
(3) 
In the event that dead-end streets either dedicated or constructed are not to be extended, permanent turnaround facilities shall be constructed by the developer not extending such street. Appropriate provisions shall be made for access to adjoining undeveloped land.
(4) 
Temporary paved turnarounds which meet the requirements of the Design Standards are to be provided at ends of streets more than one lot deep that will be extended in the future. The following note should be placed on the plat:
“Cross-hatched area is temporary easement for turnaround until street is extended [insert direction] in recorded plat.”
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Generally.
Upon request of the applicant, the obligation to dedicate or improve thoroughfare rights-of-way or to make intersection improvements imposed on a subdivision application may be deferred to a later stage of the development process. As a condition of deferring the obligation to dedicate rights-of-way for or to improve thoroughfares, which deferral shall be in the sole discretion of the City, the City shall require the developer to execute a developer’s agreement specifying the amount and timing of the rights-of-way dedication or improvements to thoroughfares.
(b) 
Options.
Whenever the proposed development’s share of the costs of a thoroughfare or traffic-control improvement needed to mitigate traffic generated by the subdivision is less than 100%, the City in its sole discretion, may participate in the excess costs for one or more improvements, or aggregate the costs of improving multiple thoroughfares or intersections identified in the traffic impact analysis, and require improvements to only some of the thoroughfares or intersections affected by the development.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Streets.
All streets shall be constructed and paved to City standards and within right-of-way as required by the Thoroughfare Plan and in accordance with the City’s Design Standards, as may be amended from time to time. All streets, public and private, excluding residential areas where lot size is three-quarters (3/4ths) of an acre or larger, shall include curb and gutter drainage with enclosed underground conduit and meeting the following requirements:
(1) 
Local streets shall be minimum of six inches thick and thoroughfares shall be a minimum of eight inches thick.
(2) 
Where the plasticity index of the natural soil is equal to or exceeds fifteen (15), lime stabilization will be required.
(3) 
A minimum of six (6%) percent by weight of lime to a depth of six inches shall be required.
(4) 
Soil samples for determining the plasticity of the natural soils will be taken at locations specified by the City Engineer.
(5) 
The pavement width and materials shall be as required in the Design Standards as may be adopted and amended from time to time.
(b) 
Parking Lots.
Parking lots shall be constructed of concrete a minimum of four inches in thickness and shall have curbs and adequate outfall for drainage. The use of asphalt is prohibited.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Generally.
The City shall not approve a development with private streets unless the requirements of this section are satisfied. If approved, a homeowner’s or property owner’s association is responsible for the cost of maintenance of private streets.
(b) 
City Services.
The City has no obligation to maintain private streets. Depending on the characteristics of the subdivision, the City may not provide certain other services, such as routine police patrols, enforcement of traffic and parking ordinances, and preparation of accident reports.
(c) 
Maintenance Standards.
Maintenance, amenities, and landscaping of private streets shall conform to the same standards regulating the maintenance, amenities, and landscaping of public streets.
(d) 
Retention of Easements.
The developer shall dedicate a utility, drainage, and emergency access easement in private streets for the City and other utility companies for the following purposes:
(1) 
To provide unrestricted use of the property for utilities and their maintenance;
(2) 
To extend easement rights to all utility providers including cable companies operating within the City;
(3) 
To provide the City with the right of access for any purpose related to the exercise of a governmental service or function, including but not limited to fire and police protection, inspection and code enforcement; and
(4) 
To permit the City to remove any vehicle or obstacle within the private street lot that impairs emergency access.
(e) 
City Assumption of Maintenance.
The covenants of the deed restrictions shall provide that if the homeowner’s association, its successors or assigns, fails or refuses to adequately maintain private streets and related appurtenances, the City shall have the right, but not the obligation, to assume temporarily the duty of performing the association’s maintenance obligations at any time after the expiration of sixty (60) days after receipt by the association, its successors or assigns of written notice from the City specifying the nature and extent of the failure to maintain.
(1) 
Upon assuming maintenance obligations, the City shall have the right to collect, when they become due, the assessments levied by the homeowner’s association for the purposes of repairing and maintaining the private streets and related appurtenances, and if necessary, the City shall have the right to enforce the payment of delinquent assessments in the manner set forth in the association’s documents.
(2) 
The City shall also have the right to levy an assessment upon each lot on a pro-rata basis for the cost of such maintenance, which assessment shall constitute an assessment lien upon the lot against which each assessment is made.
(3) 
Under no circumstances shall the City be liable to the association or any lot owner or their respective heirs, successors or assigns for negligent acts or omissions relating in any manner to maintaining, improving and preserving the private streets and related appurtenances.
(f) 
Access Restrictions.
(1) 
Each entrance to a private street shall be marked with a sign stating that it is a private street.
(2) 
Either a guard house or an access-control device such as a gate or cross arm shall be constructed at each entrance.
(3) 
All restricted access entrances shall be manned twenty-four (24) hours every day, or an alternative means shall be provided of ensuring access to the subdivision by the City and other utility service providers with appropriate identification.
(4) 
If the association fails to maintain reliable access as required to provide City services, the City shall have the right to enter the subdivision and remove any gate or device which is a barrier to access at the sole expense of the association.
(g) 
Restricted Access Entrance Design Standards.
Private streets which have access controlled by a gate, cross arm, or other access-control device shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) 
The street must have a minimum uninterrupted pavement width of twenty-four (24) feet at the location of the access-control device.
(2) 
If an overhead barrier is used, it shall have a minimum height above the road surface as required by the Fire Code for fire lanes.
(3) 
The design of all gates, cross arms and access-control devices, including automatic opening systems and manual backup systems, shall be approved by the Fire Department before installation.
(4) 
The gates, cross arms, and access-control devices shall be tested and accepted by the Fire Department before being put into operation;[.]
(5) 
Gate designs may incorporate one or two gate sections to meet the required minimum width of twenty-four (24) feet.
(6) 
If the entrance incorporates a median, guard shack, or similar structure that necessitates a divided gate arrangement, the gate and street pavement widths may be reduced if approved by the Fire Department. This approval shall be contingent upon the subdivision having a second approved means of access, but in no case shall any single gate or street pavement have a clear opening of less than fifteen (15) feet.
(h) 
Visitor Entrance Design Standards.
At least one entrance to a subdivision with private streets shall be equipped for visitor access. In addition to the above Restricted Access Entrance Design Standards, the visitor entrance shall be equipped with a call or code box located at least fifty (50) feet from the boundary of the subdivision to provide for visitors calling in an automobile queuing. A turnaround space with a minimum outside radius of thirty (30) feet shall be located between any call or code box and the access-control device to allow vehicles denied access to safely exit onto public streets in a “head out” position. A sign shall be erected next to the edge of such turnaround space to prohibit vehicle parking in such space. A residents’ entrance used in combination with a visitor entrance shall comply with the requirements of this subsection.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Requirements Generally.
Any new development in the City, excluding residential areas where lot size is three-quarters (3/4ths) of an acre or larger, shall provide for the location and construction of sidewalks on one side of the street. This shall include the dedication of necessary right-of-way or pedestrian access easement and the construction of sidewalks according to the specifications provided herein.
(b) 
Requirements for Nonresidential Subdivisions.
(1) 
Sidewalks, where required by the Comprehensive Plan, shall be required to be dedicated and constructed for all nonresidential subdivisions.
(2) 
The developer or builder of a nonresidential subdivision shall install sidewalks along the tract being developed adjacent to all arterial and collector streets, including all development adjacent to US 180, as per Texas Department of Transportation requirements.
(3) 
Each developer and/or builder of a nonresidential subdivision shall construct sidewalks at the time of construction of the development. In those circumstances where a sidewalk would impact the construction of driveways and access walks, the sidewalks shall be constructed before the City’s final building inspection. A certificate of occupancy will not be issued until required sidewalks are in place.
(c) 
Sidewalk Specifications.
All sidewalks shall be at least four (4) feet wide within a residential subdivision and at least five (5) feet wide in a nonresidential subdivision and along thoroughfares and major collectors. Sidewalks shall be constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Design Standards.
(d) 
Wheelchair Access Ramps.
(1) 
A wheelchair access ramp shall be constructed at any point a proposed sidewalk intersects a street with the exception of walks leading from the street to the door of a residence. If there is no sidewalk, provisions shall be made for a wheelchair access ramp at each corner of an intersection. Access ramps must be constructed with a maximum one (1) inch wide expansion material between the street and ramp flush with the finish grade.
(2) 
Care shall be taken to ensure a uniform grade meeting ADA requirements on the ramp, free of sags and short grades.
(e) 
Maintenance.
(1) 
It shall be the duty and obligation of the owners and occupants of real property abutting upon sidewalks, at their own cost and expense, to maintain and keep the sidewalks bordering their property level and free of depressions, excavations, elevations, inconsistencies, obstacles, obstructions or encroachments, natural or artificial, above or below ground level, or which overlap, impinge upon, or appropriate any part of the sidewalk area or the space eight (8') feet above it.
(2) 
Any damage done to a sidewalk by the City or a City-hired contractor shall be repaired by the City or contractor.
(3) 
Any damage done to a sidewalk by a utility shall be repaired by the utility.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
Generally.
The cost and installation of the following items are the responsibility of the developer and are required at the time the infrastructure improvements are constructed:
(1) 
Streetlights, where required.
(2) 
Traffic signals.
(3) 
Traffic signs and street name blades.
(4) 
Pavement markings.
(5) 
Temporary traffic-control devices for use during construction.
(b) 
Streetlights.
Any new development in the City, excluding residential areas where lot size is three-quarters (3/4ths) of an acre or larger, shall provide streetlights. The developer is responsible for engineering, material, installation, and activation of streetlights as required by the approved street lighting plans. All plan approvals and construction scheduling must be coordinated through the Administrative Official.
(c) 
Traffic Signals.
When the area being platted adds a driveway or street approach to an existing signal, the signal hardware must be modified to serve the development. The developer is responsible for engineering, material, and construction of the upgrade to the existing signal.
(d) 
Traffic Signs and Street Name Blades.
The developer shall supply, erect, and install all of the required traffic signs and street name blades as determined by the City Engineer. All signs must be specific to the neighborhood development, in accordance with the adopted Design Standards. The developer is responsible for supplying all necessary posts, hardware, and concrete to complete the sign assembly installation.
(e) 
Specialty Signs and Lighting.
Specialty lighting and signs shall not be approved unless provision is made for maintenance by a homeowner’s or property owners association.
(f) 
Pavement Markings.
The developer shall install pavement markings necessary to serve the property being platted in accordance with the approved plans.
(g) 
Traffic-Control During Construction.
The developer is responsible for installing and maintaining all necessary barricades, temporary signs, pavement transitions, and pavement markings to safely convey traffic through the construction area in accordance with the Texas Uniform Traffic-Control Device Manual, State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, and the Barricades Manual of the City. The owner is also responsible for the removal of all barricades, temporary signs, pavement transitions, and pavement markings.
(h) 
Speed Bumps.
Speed bumps shall not be permitted on City streets without approval of the City Council.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
(a) 
When Required.
Every application for a proposed development that generates traffic in excess of 1,000 average daily trips based upon the latest edition of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual, or with respect to an application which the City Engineer determines that the characteristics of the proposed subdivision necessitate analysis, shall be accompanied by a traffic impact analysis based on the ITE Manual, prepared by the developer at the developer’s expense in accordance with standard transportation engineering practices. The analysis shall be prepared for purposes of determining the adequacy of the road network to serve the proposed subdivision, and whether off-site road dedication and improvements should be made to mitigate the effects of the proposed subdivision.
(b) 
Requirement for Update.
An updated traffic impact analysis shall be submitted by the applicant with each final plat submitted for approval and shall be generally consistent with the initial traffic impact analysis.
(c) 
Analysis.
The traffic impact analysis shall determine:
(1) 
trips to be generated by the proposed subdivision;
(2) 
assignment of such trips to the road network analyzed;
(3) 
the capacity of affected thoroughfares before and after the proposed subdivision;
(4) 
specific recommendations for thoroughfare improvements and traffic-control modifications needed to mitigate the traffic from the proposed subdivision[;] and
(5) 
the subdivision’s proportionate share of the costs of such improvements and modifications.
(d) 
City Evaluation and Action.
The City shall evaluate the adequacy of the applicant’s traffic impact analysis. Based upon such evaluation, the City shall determine:
(1) 
whether the application may be approved in the absence of dedication of rights-of-way or construction of improvements to each affected thoroughfare[;] and
(2) 
the extent of the applicant’s obligations to make such dedications or improvements.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)
Alleys or loading courts are prohibited.
(Ordinance 2014-01 adopted 1/23/2014)