(a) General Standards for Streets. The location and alignment of streets within the subdivision shall conform to the County General Plan and development plans proposed by the Planning Commission and adopted by the Council.
(1) All streets shall be designed so as to:
(A) Preserve natural features and topography and protect the natural environment;
(B) Protect public health and safety;
(C) Require adequate rights-of-way to serve the type and intensity of proposed land used within the subdivision, future traffic demand calculated according to vehicle type and anticipated volume, adequate access for public service vehicles, and adequate parking;
(D) Minimize land coverage and disturbance to the soil;
(E) Provide for the separation of motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, where feasible;
(F) Create conditions of proper drainage;
(G) Provide for proper landscaping; and
(H) Accommodate multi-modal circulation networks and travel by bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and their passengers, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities, taking into account local context and sensitivity to community character.
(2) The street pattern in a subdivision shall make provision for the adjacent area, whether these streets are existing or proposed. Streets that are continuous shall bear the same name throughout their length.
(3) Where the preliminary subdivision map covers only a part of the subdivider's tract, a sketch of the future street system of the unsubdivided part shall be submitted.
(4) Where a tract is subdivided into parcels large enough for future resubdivision, the applicant shall show an arrangement of lots and streets that will permit later resubdivision in conformity with the street requirements of this Chapter.
(5) Cross type street intersections, intersections located on the inside of curves and intersections near crest vertical curves shall be avoided wherever possible.
(b) Reserve Strip and Access.
(1) There shall be no reserve strips controlling access to streets either existing or proposed, except where the control of strips is placed in the jurisdiction of the County. The subdividing of the land shall be such as to provide each lot, by means of either a public or private street of approved width, with satisfactory access to an existing public street.
(2) Whenever avoidable, no access to individual lots or parcels in a new residential subdivision shall be permitted from a major thoroughfare or a major street.
(3) Driveway access from collector streets within a residential subdivision may be limited as deemed necessary by the Planning Director.
(4) Driveway access from minor and dead-end streets shall be unlimited when consistent with other requirements of this Chapter and the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.
(5) The number of street intersections shall be kept to a minimum on major thoroughfares and streets and collector streets, consistent with the desirable block lengths or design factors.
(c) Street Rights-of-way.
(1) The minimum street rights-of-way shall conform to the following requirements:
CLASSIFICATION | RIGHT-OF-WAY |
|---|
Major Thoroughfare | Undivided 80′ |
Divided 88′ |
Major Street | 60′ |
Collector Street | 56′ |
Minor Street | 44′ |
Dead-End Street | 40′ |
(2) Dead-end streets exceeding 600 feet in length shall be increased in width as required by the Planning Commission.
(3) A dead-end (cul-de-sac) street shall not be considered as a cul-de-sac when the end of the street is terminated at the property line adjacent to another property owner who may subdivide the adjacent property. In that case, this street shall be classified as a minor street, except when a proposed future subdivision will provide a connection between two major streets, then the street shall be classified as a collector street. The street may also be classified as a collector street when a proposed future subdivision will provide a connection between two collector streets.
(4) The minimum street right-of-way for agricultural subdivisions shall be 44 feet in width provided, that when the street length exceeds 2,000 feet, the minimum right-of-way shall be 56 feet in width.
(5) The minimum street right-of-way for dead-end streets serving six lots or less, excluding those lots also bounded by a public street, and not exceeding 400 feet in length, may be 30 feet in width. This subsection shall apply only to subdivisions of lots of record existing prior to or on July 3, 1973.
(d) Private Streets. All private streets shall conform to the requirements of the public streets.
(e) Improvements.
(1) All public and private streets, common driveways and parking areas shall be provided with allweather surfaces.
(2) Pavement widths for the various classifications of streets shall conform to the standards established by the Department of Public Works.
(3) Curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of all proposed or existing streets within or abutting the subdivision in Commercial, Industrial and Resort Districts; in Residential Districts where the density permitted is four units or more per acre; and in any other Zoning Districts within the State Land Use-Urban District that are located within 1/2 mile from any elementary, intermediate, high school, or college. For existing streets abutting subdivisions, sidewalks shall be required on the side of the street fronting the subdivision for the length of the subdivision frontage.
(A) In Residential Districts, swales may be constructed in lieu of curbs and/or gutters in accordance with the drainage standards and design guidelines established by the Department of Public Works.
(B) In Residential Districts, the requirement of sidewalks may be waived if the Planning Commission determines that sidewalks are infeasible or unnecessary, taking into account local context and sensitivity to community character, and an alternate method of pedestrian circulation exists or will be provided by the applicant.
(C) If the requirement of sidewalks is waived, the subdivider shall be required to pay a fee in lieu of required sidewalk construction. The fee in lieu of sidewalk construction shall not be required for subdivision approvals for less than six lots. The fee in lieu of required sidewalk construction shall be equal to or greater than 100% of the cost of constructing the sidewalk as determined by the County Engineer. There is hereby established and created a "side-walk/shared use path fund" for the deposit of fees collected in lieu of required sidewalk construction. The fees collected pursuant to this Subsection (C) are hereby deemed appropriated upon receipt and shall be expended by the County Engineer for sidewalk or shared use path planning, design, land acquisition, construction and/or repair and maintenance. The County Engineer shall submit an annual written report to the Council of each fiscal year's expenditures and balance of the sidewalk/shared use path fund on or before the 15th day of March of each year. If the 15th day of March falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the report shall be submitted on the prior working day. The fees collected shall not lapse at the close of the fiscal year.
(D) Payment of said fees shall be made in a lump sum at the time of final subdivision map approval or payment shall be made according to the following schedule: 50% at the time of preliminary subdivision map approval and the balance paid at the time of final subdivision map approval. When funds are needed for sidewalk or shared use path planning, design, land acquisition, construction and/or repair, the County Engineer shall submit a written request to the Planning Director and Mayor for approval. Upon approval, the Finance Director shall be authorized to release monies from the fund.
(4) Street monuments shall be placed and properly coordinated with the government survey triangulation stations at all angle points, points of curvature in streets and at intermediate points as shall be required by the Department of Public Works.
(5) All traffic signs, street name signs and traffic stripes shall be provided by the subdivider as required by the Department of Public Works.
(6) All street design and improvements shall be constructed in accordance with the standards established by the Department of Public Works.
(f) Improving Existing Streets for Access.
(1) The Planning Commission may deny any subdivision if a traffic problem would be created due to the inadequacy of existing public streets to handle vehicles entering public streets. In denying a subdivision, the Planning Commission shall prepare a statement specifying the traffic problem presented by the subdivision. The subdivider shall have the right to make all necessary improvements to eliminate the problem at his or her own expense. Only upon completion of the required improvements, or upon executing an agreement with the County to provide improvements, may the Planning Commission approve the subdivision.
(2) In the event the Planning Commission determines that the existing street right-of-way width abutting a proposed subdivision is less than the width necessary for a street of the proper classification, the Planning Commission may require the subdivider to dedicate additional right-of-way to the County.
(g) Street Names.
(1) Authority to Name Streets. The authority to name streets and to approve the change of street names within the County of Kaua'i is hereby delegated to the Planning Department to be exercised in accordance with the standards as set forth herein.
(2) Definitions. When used in this Subsection, the following words or phrases shall have the meaning given in this Paragraph unless it shall be apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
"Avenue"means a fully improved through-roadway serving local or minor collector traffic, landscaped and planted with trees.
"Boulevard"means a major collector with or without a medial strip generally shorter than a highway, usually serving through-traffic on a continuous route.
"Circle"means a roadway having a circular form with only one access point to the adjoining street.
"Court"means a short roadway partially or wholly enclosed by buildings giving the impression of a small open square.
"Drive"means a long winding collector roadway; usually through a valley, mountainous area or plateau, having scenic qualities.
"Highway"means a roadway generally serving through traffic on a continuous route providing the primary access between communities. Whenever practicable, highways shall be named after Hawaiian royalty.
"Lane"means a narrow and short roadway without curbs or sidewalks.
"Loop"means a looped roadway having two access points off the same roadway.
"Mall"means a street or portions thereof on which vehicular traffic is to be restricted in whole or in part and which is to be used exclusively or primarily for pedestrian travel or promenade.
"Parkway"means a major collector roadway usually containing a medial strip with landscaped setback parklike areas on each side of the right-of-way, generally heavily planted with trees for its entire length.
"Road"means a collector roadway in the rural district. A roadway with the characteristics of a "road" or a "lane" shall be given a name only in circumstances where such a roadway is an extension of an already existing and named "road" or "lane."
"Street"means the entire width between boundary lines of every roadway publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic.
"Way"means a cul-de-sac which is off another cul-de-sac.
(3) Requirements Relative to Street Names. Street names within the County of Kaua'i shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) Street names selected shall consist of Hawaiian names, words or phrases, along with their proper spelling, meanings, and diacritical marks, and shall be selected with a view to the appropriateness of the name to historic, cultural, scenic and topographical features of the area; however, non-Hawaiian names may be selected based on justifications presented by the applicant.
(B) Street names selected shall not duplicate nor be similar to existing street names in spelling or sound.
(C) Street names selected shall fit the space limitation of a standard street name sign of the Department of Public Works.
(D) Streets that are a continuation of an existing street shall be given the same name as the existing street.
(E) Streets that are continuous shall bear the same name throughout.
(F) A street shall be entitled to a street name only if:
(i) The roadway has a legally defined right-of-way, by roadway lot or easement; however, street names shall be considered for subdivisions for which construction plans have been approved by the County;
(ii) The roadway serves two or more lots or units.
(G) Any street names adopted after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Subsection shall include appropriate diacritical marks, which shall appear on the street name sign prepared by the Department of Public Works. Appropriate diacritical marks shall also be required for all replacement signs for street names in effect on the effective date of this Subsection and to all signs where a newly named street constitutes an extension of a street for which a name is in effect on the effective date of this Subsection. The Planning Department and the Department of Public Works may take all steps necessary to redesignate the names of existing streets to include appropriate diacritical marks where such redesignation is found to be necessary or appropriate.
(4) Procedural Requirements.
(A) Any owner, including public agencies, of a street or lot fronting a street, may request a new street name or a change of an existing street name by submitting an application to the Planning Department.
(B) Street name applications shall include the following:
(i) A map showing the street for which a name or name change is sought and the surrounding streets and their names.
(ii) The street name proposed, and its meaning in English. The applicant may request the Planning Department to choose the name.
(iii) In the case of a request to name a street or to change an existing street name, other than as part of the subdivision process, the reasons for the proposed name or name change.
(iv) The names and addresses of all residents fronting the street.
(C) Notices that a street name or name change has been proposed shall be circulated by the applicant to all residents on the street.
(D) The Planning Director's approval of a name or name change shall be subject to the approval of a majority of the residents on the street.
(E) The applicant shall conduct a poll to determine the approval of residents on the street.
(5) Approval.
(A) The Planning Director shall approve or disapprove an application not later than 45 days after its filing.
(B) The decision of the Planning Director may be appealed to the County Council not later than 10 days after mailing of the Planning Director's decision to the applicant.
(C) A street name shall become effective on the date of its approval.
(D) Upon approval of the street name, the applicant may install street name signs for the naming of the streets. The sign shall conform to the standards of the Department of Public Works. The applicant may also bear the total cost of the purchase and installation of the sign and shall notify the Fire Department, Police Department and Post Office of such change. The County will otherwise install street signs at the discretion of the County Engineer based on prioritization of the request and the availability of funds.
(h) Bus Stops and Bus Shelters.
(1) Dedication. Every subdivider seeking subdivision approval for residential units, as a condition precedent to approval of the residential subdivision, may be required to provide land in perpetuity or dedicate land for bus stops with adequate exits or turnaround routes and to construct and assume all costs for the materials and construction of bus shelters thereon.
(2) Location and Design. The location of bus stops and design of bus shelters, including materials to be used, shall conform to the standards established by the appropriate agencies.
(3) Procedure. The Planning Director, after consulting with the Department of Accounting and General Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Public Works, and in consideration of the nature, location, and size of the subdivision, the existing bus stops, the traffic circulation pattern, the distance to school, the climatic conditions, and other health, safety, and welfare reasons, may recommend to the Planning Commission that the subdivider of a residential subdivision be required to dedicate land for bus stops with adequate exits or turnaround routes and to construct and assume all costs for the materials and construction of bus shelters thereon. The improvement of the land dedicated for the bus stop and the construction of the bus shelter, if required, shall be completed prior to its acceptance by the County.
(4) The Planning Director may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to Chapter 91, H.R.S., necessary for the purposes of this Section.
(Ord. No. 175, July 3, 1973; Ord. No. 270, December 24, 1975; Sec. 9-2.3, R.C.O. 1976; Ord. No. 331, October 26, 1977; Sec. 9-2.3, 1978 Cumulative Supplement; Ord. No. 356, January 26, 1979; Ord. No. 373, October 9, 1979; Ord. No. 406, January 22, 1981; Ord. No. 701, February 27, 1996; Ord. No. 946, June 26 2013)