[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 16-15]
The Virginia Department of Transportation Road Designs and Standards,
as amended, a copy of which is on file in the City Public Works Department,
is hereby adopted as the City's design standards and specifications
for the installation or construction of streets and alleys, curbs
and gutters, sidewalks, stormwater sewer or drainage systems, pavement
items, and other related improvements required in subdivisions within
the City; provided that, in cases where the Department of Transportation
specifications are lacking or are less restrictive than the requirements
of any City ordinance or standards, then such ordinance or standards
shall prevail.
The arrangement, character, extent, width, grade
and location of all streets shall conform to the Master Plan or Trafficways
Plan and shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned
streets, to topographical conditions, to public convenience and safety
and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of the land
to be served by such streets.
Where such street is not shown in the Master
Plan, the arrangement of streets in a subdivision shall either:
A. Provide for the continuation or appropriate projection
of existing principal streets in surrounding areas; or
B. Conform to a plan for the neighborhood approved or
adopted by the agent to meet a particular situation, where topographical
or other conditions make continuance or conformance to existing streets
impracticable.
The location, alignment and arrangement of minor
streets shall be such that their use by traffic destined for places
beyond the subdivision will be discouraged.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 16-15]
Whenever a subdivision designed for dwelling or residential
uses abuts or contains an existing or proposed major street, the Director
of Planning and Community Development shall require that effective
means be provided to allow access to such street without adversely
affecting the reasonable use of the subdivision property.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 16-15]
Where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed
expressway, toll road, parkway, major street or primary thoroughfare,
the Director of Planning and Community Development may require marginal
access streets, reverse frontage with screen planting contained in
a nonaccess reservation along the rear property line, deep lots with
rear service alleys, or such other treatment as may be necessary for
the adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation
of through and local traffic.
Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect
at right angles or on the radii of curves.
Curves in opposite directions shall be separated
by a tangent of at least 100 feet long on arterial and collector streets.
This shall be applicable only where the radius is less than 6,000
feet.
When two consecutive tangents deflect from each
other at any one point by more than 10º, they shall be connected
by a curve with a radius adequate to ensure a sight distance within
the right-of-way of not less than 300 feet for minor and collector
streets and 500 feet for major streets and primary thoroughfares.
Property lines at street intersections shall
be rounded with a curve of sufficient radius to permit easy turning
movement of vehicles.
All street right-of-way widths shall be as shown
in the Master Plan, and streets not included in the Master Plan shall
have a right-of-way width of not less than 50 feet unless otherwise
provided in this chapter.
Half streets shall be prohibited.
Major street grades, wherever feasible, shall
not be in excess of 5%. Minor street grades shall not be in excess
of 7%. Street grades less than three-tenths percent (0.3%) shall be
prohibited. Curbs, gutters and necessary storm sewers with adequate
inlets or drains shall be provided.