Article 6: Complete Streets Regulations

Intent. The standards outlined in this section are intended to:

Create complete streets that address all modes of travel, including people walking, biking, taking transit, or driving.

Address all features of the right-of-way, including but not limited to sidewalks, landscaped buffer areas, parking lanes, traffic lanes, bicycle lanes, and street furniture.

(3)

Provide adequate access for people walking, biking, and driving.

(4)

Create streets that are appropriate for their surroundings in residential, commercial, mixed-use, or industrial districts and that are designed to encourage travel at appropriate volumes and safe speeds.

(5)

Create streets and public rights-of-way that result in reduced quantity of stormwater runoff, a diminished heat island effect, and improve quality of stormwater runoff.

(6)

Support road types and infrastructure design that increases sustainable transportation options, namely pedestrian traffic, bicycle traffic, and transit use which would in turn decrease the carbon footprint of the Village.

(7)

Develop stronger connections between Village and state rights-of-way and the buildings and structures which line them.

Applicability. The standards in this subsection apply to all new streets, the substantial improvement (including milling and repaving) of an entire block length of a roadway or sidewalk of an existing street, and for public or private development projects that involve improvements within the right-of-way, unless the Village Board of Trustees finds that applying this chapter in a particular instance is either practically infeasible or detrimental to the safety of people who walk or bike and these detrimental effects cannot be mitigated.

§ 169-30 Street construction; street types; streetscape design; street details.

General requirements.

(1)

All street improvements made in accordance with this chapter may be located within and outside the public right-of-way.

(2)

Street types.

(a)

All streets shall match one of the following street types, whether publicly dedicated or privately held.

[1]

Community commercial.

[2]

Neighborhood mixed-use.

[3]

Neighborhood/cross-town connector.

[4]

Neighborhood street.

[5]

Industrial.

(b)

Public use. All streets shall be available for public use at all times, except gated and private streets approved by the Village Board.

(3)

Work within the New York State right-of-way. The New York State Department of Transportation owns and operates Route 32. Any work within the New York State right-of-way requires a highway work permit. Please see Appendix 1, Commercial Access Highway Work Permit Application and Checklist, for more information on highway work permits.[1] As the Village of Menands pursues complete streets investments within the site plan approval process for amenities such as sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, and bicycle racks, the Village will be required to work with the New York State Department of Transportation to obtain the proper permits and agreements. Please see Appendix 2, Highway Work Permit Application for Utility Work, for more information on the New York State Department of Transportation's permit and agreement processes.[2]

[1]

Editor's Note: Appendix 1, Commercial Access Highway Work Permit Application and Checklist, is included as an attachment to this chapter.

[2]

Editor's Note: Appendix 2, Highway Work Permit Application for Utility Work, is included as an attachment to this chapter.

Street construction specifications. Any construction related to streets shall follow these regulations and the Department of Public Works construction specific standards, which shall be consistent with these regulations. The principles contained in the Urban Street Design Guide of the National Association of City Transportation Officials published in 2013, as amended, shall serve as a guide for these regulations and decisions made pursuant thereto.

Selection of street types.

(1)

Selection of street types for new streets. For new streets, the Village Board shall select the applicable street type as part of the review process for an overall development or as part of any decision regarding streets.

(2)

Selection of street types for existing streets. When an existing street becomes subject to this section, the Village Board, in consultation with the Department of Public Works and the New York State Department of Transportation, where applicable, shall select the applicable street type for the design of the street.

(3)

Selection criteria. When selecting the street type for a new or existing street, the Village Board shall take into account the following factors:

(a)

The intent of the street types.

(b)

The street requirements for the street types.

(c)

The most recent average daily traffic counts available to the Village.

(d)

Existing and projected intersection counts for pedestrian and bicyclists, if available.

(e)

Existing and projected on-street parking utilization and demand data, if available.

(f)

Existing land uses and zoning districts on adjacent parcels.

(Reserved)

Streetscape design submittal. Once a street type has been selected, the Village or a private property owner, as applicable, must develop a streetscape design to be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer in consultation with the Village Board, the Department of Public Works, and where applicable, the New York State Department of Transportation, which includes the following elements:

(1)

Landscape zone or furnishings zone. Refer to the street type requirements for the street to determine which type or buffer area is required or allowed.

(2)

Street trees. Tree planting and installation shall be guided by § 169-23C(7) of this chapter.

(3)

Sidewalk pavement design. Sidewalk paving materials and pattern shall be identified in the submittal.

(4)

Street furnishings. For buildings with commercial or mixed-uses, benches, seat walls, planters, planter fences, trash receptacles, and bicycle racks shall be specified, and quantities and locations listed.

(5)

Landscape design. Ground plane vegetation shall be designated for any landscaped bed areas, planter areas, and tree wells.

(6)

Lighting. Lighting in the right-of-way shall be specified, and locations and quantities noted. Installation shall be coordinated with the Village Board and Department of Public Works, and the light fixture shall be consistent with the Village's preferred light fixture. Refer to Schedule 2, Permitted Pedestrian Lights.[3]

[3]

Editor's Note: Schedule 2, Permitted Pedestrian Lights, is included as an attachment to this chapter.

(7)

Identity elements. Any other elements designed to establish the identity of each street, such as banners, pavement markings, wayfinding, artwork, or signage, shall be included in the streetscape design submission.

(8)

Bicycle facilities. Bicycle facilities shall be required pursuant to the requirements of § 169-39 (Bicycle parking).

Complete street details.

(1)

Community commercial street.

Description	Zoning Districts		Example Streets		Existing/Desired Characteristics
Broadway/Route 32 serves small to large-scale retail centers, light industrial uses, mixed-uses, offices and business parks/large-scale commercial buildings. There are nodes of high pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of BRT stations, bus stops, and multifamily housing. Bicycle lanes are provided along Broadway south of Riverview Center. Future improvements to Broadway should seek to enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety, including expanded bicycle lanes. Additional street trees along both sides of Broadway are also strongly encouraged, along with pedestrian gathering spaces, including outdoor cafes and plazas.	○	BBD	○	Broadway/Route 32	○	Two travel lanes with a center turning lane north of Riverview; three to four lanes with turn lanes south of Riverview
	○	T5			○	Varying pedestrian volumes depending upon proximity to transit and multifamily housing
	○	R1			○	Major transit route/key transit stops
	○	R2A			○	Long block lengths
	○	R3			○	Minimum five-foot sidewalks
	○	R4			○	Street trees within five-foot planted buffer
					○	Street furniture
					○	Outdoor cafes, plazas, and other pedestrian gathering areas
					○	Bicycle lanes
					○	Bicycle racks in appropriate locations

(2)

Neighborhood mixed-use street.

Description	Zoning Districts		Example Streets		Existing/Desired Characteristics
Neighborhood mixed-use streets serve a mix of residential and neighborhood commercial uses, with some serving as neighborhood connectors. Medium volumes of local and commuting traffic are present. There is a strong need to safely accommodate and encourage pedestrian activity as these streets provide continuous walking routes and connections to other parts of the Village and the City of Albany (Wolfert Avenue and North Pearl Street). Future improvements and new neighborhood mixed-use streets shall emphasize pedestrian safety, clear routes to key destinations and landscaped sidewalk buffers.	○	T4	○	North Pearl Street	○	Two travel lanes
	○	T5	○	Wolfert Avenue (Route 32)	○	Predominantly residential with a mix of residential, neighborhood-scale commercial/office and service uses
			○	Irving Place	○	Medium volumes of local traffic
			○	Canal Road (between Irving Place and East Elmwood Road east of Broadway)	○	Minimum five-foot sidewalks
					○	Street trees within five-foot planted buffer
					○	Street furniture in key locations
					○	Bicycle racks in appropriate locations
					○	Seek to safely accommodate bicycle traffic

(3)

Neighborhood/cross-town connector street.

Description	Zoning Districts		Example Streets		Existing/Desired Characteristics
Neighborhood/cross-town connectors serve primarily residential areas, although limited commercial uses may be located at intersections with Broadway. While some connector streets only link neighborhoods with Broadway (e.g., Brookside Avenue and Tillinghast Avenue), others provide cross-town routes with moderate to high motor vehicle volumes (e.g., Menands Road and Wards Lane). Neighborhood/cross-town connectors must safely accommodate and encourage pedestrian activity with sidewalks and highly visible crosswalks, as they link residential areas with commercial centers and other destinations. There may be sufficient residential density along certain streets, including Ward Lane, where bus stops could be provided in the future.	○	R	○	Menands Road	○	Two travel lanes, additional lanes on Van Rensselaer Boulevard
	○	R1	○	Wards Lane	○	May have long block lengths
	○	R2	○	Amsterdam Avenue	○	Medium to high motor vehicle volumes
	○	R3	○	Van Rensselaer Boulevard	○	On-street parking may be permitted
	○	R4			○	Motor vehicle speeds may be higher than on neighborhood streets
	○	BBD			○	Should serve transit in high-density locations
	○	T4			○	Minimum five-foot sidewalks should be provided
					○	Street trees within a five-foot planting buffer where feasible
					○	Occasional nodes of street furniture and bicycle racks in appropriate locations
					○	Bicycle lanes where appropriate

(4)

Neighborhood street.

Description	Zoning Districts		Example Streets		Existing/Desired Characteristics
Neighborhood streets serve residential areas with low volumes of motor vehicle traffic. Walking is common along these streets. Future new and improvements to existing neighborhood streets should focus on encouraging slow speeds, pedestrian safety, a consistent street tree canopy, and direct routes to nearby parks, transit, and other public facilities.	○	A	○	Louis Ave	○	Two travel lanes (often without a center line)
	○	R	○	Harts Lane	○	Predominantly residential land uses
	○	R1	○	Glenwood Road	○	Relatively low motor vehicle speeds and volumes
	○	R2	○	Clifford Road	○	Low to medium pedestrian activity
	○	R2A	○	Jones Court	○	No transit present
	○	R3	○	Tillinghast Avenue	○	Minimum five-foot sidewalks and other forms of pedestrian connections recommended
	○	R3A	○	Villa Road	○	Street trees within a five-foot planting buffer where feasible
	○	R4	○	North and South Lyons Avenue	○	Nodes of street furniture and bicycle racks in appropriate locations
			○	Brookside Avenue	○	Seek to safely accommodate bicycle traffic
			○	Park Drive
			○	Scott Drive
			○	Park Lane

(5)

Industrial street.

Description	Zoning Districts		Example Streets		Existing/Desired Characteristics
Industrial streets serve light and heavy industrial, office, large commercial and a variety of smaller-scale commercial uses. While there may be fewer pedestrians in these locations, new streets and improvements to existing should focus on safely accommodating pedestrians and providing greater separation from traffic, where possible.	○	LI	○	Oakland Ave	○	Two travel lanes
	○	HI	○	Canal Road South (north of East Elmwood Road)	○	Low pedestrian volumes
	○	BBD	○	East Elmwood Road	○	Buildings generally setback from curb
	○	T5	○	Elmwood Road	○	Dominated by car and truck traffic
			○	Simmons Lane	○	Minimum five-foot sidewalks are encouraged
			○	Erie Boulevard	○	Street trees within a five-foot planting strip are encouraged with nodes of street furniture
					○	Transit facilities recommended where feasible
					○	Seek to safely accommodate bicycle traffic