A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to ensure adequate and safe pedestrian and vehicle circulation within the City and ETJ, and into adjoining areas.
B. General.
1. Every Subdivision must be accessed by a public street, and each lot or unit within the Subdivision must have access to a public street or a private street that meets City standards and provides access to a public street through the Subdivision.
2. Gated subdivisions are not permitted within the City limits or ETJ, except for single-family residential subdivisions with lots one acre or greater in size, in which case gating of roads is permitted under the following conditions:
(i) Gating does not impede the current or future roadway connections depicted in the City's adopted Thoroughfare Plan;
(ii) Roads are privately owned and maintained pursuant to
Section 2.5.7;
(iii) The method to be used to ensure City and emergency access into the subdivision shall be approved by applicable emergency services district. If the association fails to maintain reliable access as required herein, the City may enter the subdivision and remove any gate or device which is a barrier to access at the sole expense of the association. The association documents shall contain provisions in conformity with this Section which may not be amended without the written consent of the City Council. Any private street which has an access control gate or cross arm must have a minimum uninterrupted pavement width of twenty-two feet (22') at the location of the gate or access control device, both ingress point and egress point, regardless of the type of device used. If an overhead, or lift-up, barrier is used, it must be a minimum of fourteen feet (14') in height above the road surface, and this clearance height shall be extended for a minimum distance of fifty feet (50') in front of and behind the location of the device. All gates and cross arms must be of a breakaway design. A minimum vehicle stacking distance of one hundred feet (100') shall be provided from the right-of-way line of the public road from which the private street subdivision is accessed to the first vehicle stopping point, which is usually an access request keypad or telephone or a guard's window. Adequate distance shall be provided between the access request point(s) and the entry barrier, or gate, to accommodate a vehicle turnaround as described below.
(iv) A paved turnaround space must be located in front of any restricted access entrance barrier, between the access request device and the barrier or gate, to allow vehicles that are denied access to safely exit onto public streets without having to back up, particularly into the public street upon which the entrance is located. The design and geometry of such turnaround shall be of such pavement width and having such inside turning radius that it will accommodate smooth, single-motion U-turn movements by the following types of vehicles:
(1) Larger passenger vehicles, such as vans and pickup trucks;
(2) Passenger vehicles with short trailers up to twenty-four feet (24') in length, such as small flatbed, camping or box-type trailers; and
(3) The types of service and utility trucks that typically visit or make deliveries to neighborhoods that are similar to the proposed private street development, such as utility service vehicles, postal and delivery trucks, and two- to three-axle flatbed or box-type trucks used by contractors and moving companies.
3. All Subdivisions must provide for streets and sidewalks to serve the Subdivision in accordance with requirements included or referenced in this
Section 2.5.
4. The Subdivider shall pay for, or, by Improvement Agreement, participate in the cost to construct all roadways, public or private, within or adjacent to the Subdivision, other than Arterials (see subsection 2.5.2, Rough Proportionality and Fair Share Policy Statement).
5. The Subdivider is responsible for the cost of dedicating public right-of-way and Public Facilities, including streets, in accordance with the policies and standards of this
Section 2.5.
6. Additional public right-of-way may be required at some street intersections to accommodate utilities, sidewalks, traffic control devices, or sight distances, as determined by the City Engineer with reference to a particular standard of the UDC or the City's adopted Technical Manuals.
7. See
Section 5.1.2, Fencing and Screening Standards for fence requirements related to lots backing to Arterial or Collector roadways.
C. Street classification and design.
1. Street classifications shall be as defined in the adopted Thoroughfare Plan.
2. All streets shall conform to the construction criteria contained in the Engineering Criteria Manual.
3. The City may prescribe vertical or horizontal geometric design features to streets to facilitate bike and pedestrian traffic and to slow auto traffic in areas intended for bike and pedestrian traffic. These features may include speed tables, chicanes, curbs, drive aprons, or other measures as approved by the City Engineer.
D. Street layout.
1. The Subdivider will coordinate and connect the Subdivision's street system with existing future streets in the surrounding area, consistent with the City's adopted Thoroughfare Plan.
2. New streets created by the Subdivision shall connect to streets in each adjacent Subdivision for the direct and convenient movement of traffic between properties and Subdivisions.
3. Where an existing residential Subdivision or property abuts the proposed Subdivision, a street connection between the two properties must occur at least every nine hundred (900) feet, or in alignment with abutting Subdivision streets along each boundary of the Subdivision.
4. Intersections and offsets.
(i) Streets must intersect at safe and convenient locations at ninety (90) degree angles. When ninety (90) degree angles are not possible, the City Engineer may approve a skewed intersection. Skewed Intersections should in no case have an angle less than 80 degrees or greater than 100 degrees.
(ii) All proposed median openings will be spaced according to the design criteria in the City's Technical Manuals, unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer, or TxDOT as applicable.
(iii) The spacing between curves and intersections shall be in accordance with the City's Technical Manuals, unless the City Engineer determines that no other practicable alternative exists.
5. Stub-outs and cul-de-sacs.
(i) Stub-out streets must be provided for connections to future development.
(1) If no development occurs and a stub-out street is to be terminated, the Subdivider is responsible for creating a permanent turnaround at the street that meets the City's standards.
(2) The Subdivider must provide a temporary turnaround for any stub-out street that exceeds one hundred and fifty (150) feet in length from the nearest intersection. Dimensions are subject to the adopted Fire Code.
(ii) A cul-de-sac street must be platted and constructed with a concrete cul-de-sac at the closed end having a turnaround with a large enough radius to accommodate fire access.
(iii) The maximum length of a Cul-de-sac or dead-end street is three hundred (300) feet in length, unless the City Engineer approves a greater length after determining no alternative layout is practical.
6. "Knuckle" street corners.
Figure 2.5.9-1: Street Knuckle |
|
(i) The minimum centerline radius for the knuckle is fifty (50) feet;
(ii) From the point of intersection of the centerlines of the street sections leading into the turn, the minimum radius to the right-of-way is fifty (50) feet and the minimum radius to the edge of pavement is forty (40) feet;
(iii) The minimum return radius of the knuckle is twenty-five (25) feet; and
(iv) The interior angle of the knuckle may not be less than eighty (80) degrees or more than one hundred (100) degrees.
E. Access for single-family developments.
1. The minimum number of access points shall comply with Table 2.5-1: Minimum Number of Subdivision Access Points:
Table 2.5-1: Minimum Number of Subdivision Access Points |
# Lots |
Minimum Access Points |
0-149 |
2 |
150-299 |
3 |
300-499 |
4 |
500+ |
1 + 0.7 per 100 lots |
2. Access must be to a Collector Street or larger facility.
3. Access points will be calculated by the total number of lots shown on the Preliminary Plat.
4. The Planning and Zoning Commission may require additional access points if the configuration, number of lots, or other consideration creates the need for additional access.
5. In case of a conflict between this
subsection 2.5.9.E and the adopted Fire Code, the most restrictive standard applies.
F. Street names and signs.
1. Streets will be named to provide continuity with existing streets. Names of new streets must comply with Article
16.05 of the Code of Ordinances.
2. Street signs will be furnished and installed by the Subdivider for all intersections within or abutting the Subdivision.
3. Such signs shall be of a type approved by the City.
4. The Subdivider is responsible for installing street signs and street marking in compliance with requirements set forth in the Technical Manuals and the most recent edition of the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
5. All lots on which construction is proposed must have direct access to a named street dedicated to the City or referenced on a Final Plat.
6. A Private Street must be named on a Final Plat if it provides the only direct access to two (2) or more lots.
G. Alleys. Unless explicitly required, alleys are optional improvements and may be constructed at the discretion of the Subdivider. If alleys are constructed, they must meet the regulations of this subsection 2.5.9.G and be in a separate lot(s) dedicated to and maintained by a Property Owners' Association.
1. Reinforced concrete or asphalt construction. Alleys must be paved with reinforced concrete or asphalt with concrete curbing.
2. Alley fences. Where a driveway connects to an alley, a fence may be constructed along the rear lot line to a point within five (5) feet of the intersection of the driveway and the alley.
3. Alley right-of-way width and design. Minimum alley right-of-way width and design will conform with the City's Technical Manuals.
4. Intersections at right angles. Alleys shall intersect streets at right angles or radially to curved streets.
5. Intersections at arterial streets prohibited. Alleys shall not intersect Arterial Streets.
6. Dead-end alleys. The Subdivider must construct alleys with adequate turnaround facilities meeting the standards in subsection
2.5.9.D.5.
7. Access. If an alley is the sole point of access to a particular lot, the alley must meet minimum fire access requirements.
8. Drainage conveyance. If the surface or subsurface area under an alley is to be utilized for the conveyance of drainage from multiple lots, the Subdivider must design and install proper drainage structures and place them within drainage easements.
H. Street right-of-way dedication. Any Subdivision with new streets, existing streets, or adjacency to existing streets must dedicate sufficient public right-of-way in accordance with the following regulations.
1. General dedication requirements.
(i) Travis County right-of-way.
(1) Per agreement between Travis County and the City of Bee Cave, all new developments in the ETJ must dedicate public right-of-way pursuant to the Travis County Transportation Plan or Bee Cave's Thoroughfare Plan.
(2) If there is a difference in the width required in the Travis County Plan and the Bee Cave Plan, the width of the dedication must meet the wider requirement.
(ii) Right-of-way alignment. The required alignment of the public right-of-way is determined with respect to property boundaries, safety, design, topography, and traffic management consideration.
(1) Principles of efficient traffic management will be applied in accordance with the City's goals and objectives as expressed in the current Comprehensive Plan, including but not limited to the Thoroughfare Plan.
(2) The appropriate alignment of any public right-of-way will be determined by examining the property and topographical conditions along the entire length of the street.
(3) In order to provide adequate information to establish appropriate public right-of-way alignment, the Subdivider must provide a survey showing property and topographical information for a minimum distance of two hundred (200) feet in every direction that the street extends from the property.
2. New streets. The Subdivider will provide streets where there is not an existing street, roadway, or passage.
(i) The City's adopted Technical Manuals will determine the design of internal streets.
(ii) Perimeter streets.
(1) When a Subdivision develops that abuts an existing or planned Arterial Street or Collector Street, the Subdivider must dedicate enough public right-of-way within the Subdivision to accommodate the future build-out of the Arterial or Collector Street.
(2) The Subdivider must construct their proportional share of the abutting street and its appurtenances (such as curbs and gutters, sidewalks, barrier-free ramps, street trees, etc.) to the City's standards for the applicable street type (see
subsection 2.4.4, Improvement Agreements and Fiscal Security).
(3) The Subdivider's proportional share of the street construction is determined by the City Engineer and is roughly proportional to the impact the Subdivision causes on the street system (see
subsection 2.5.2, Rough Proportionality and Fair Share Policy Statement).
(4) If the Subdivider disagrees with the City Engineer's determination of rough proportionality, then the Subdivider may file a Subdivision Proportionality Appeal (see subsection
2.6.2, Subdivision Proportionality Appeal).
3. Existing streets. If the existing geometric configuration of a street does not accommodate the standards of the Technical Manual, the City may require the dedication of additional public right-of-way to address safety, design, topography, and traffic management considerations.
(i) Adjacent to a platted subdivision.
(1) The right-of-way dedication is based on the distance between the final platted Subdivision boundary and the centerline of the street.
(2) Reasonable geometric adjustments will be made to accommodate safety, design, topography, and traffic management considerations.
(ii) Along a right-of-way described by a metes and bounds or a general written description.
(1) The right-of-way dedication is based on the geometric centerline of the right-of-way as described.
(2) Reasonable geometric adjustments will be made to accommodate safety, design, topography, and traffic management considerations.
(3) All existing right-of-way dedications within the Subdivision must be converted from "separate instrument" to a platted right-of-way on the Final Plat.
(iii) Along a prescriptive right-of-way.
(1) The right-of-way dedication is based on the apparent centerline of the existing pavement or of the travel way if unpaved.
(2) Reasonable geometric adjustments will be made to accommodate safety, design, topography, and traffic management considerations.
(3) The Subdivider must indicate on the Preliminary Plat and, if required, on the Final Plat any property lines and features that identify the prescriptive right-of-way. Features may include fences, borrow ditches, utility lines, drainage improvements, limits of plowed fields, etc.
(4) All existing prescriptive right-of-way dedications within the Subdivision must be converted from prescriptive to a platted right-of-way on the Final Plat.
4. Private street.
(i) A Subdivider may receive approval of one (1) or more private streets if the following conditions are met:
(1) The street is not shown on the City's Thoroughfare Plan and is not or will not serve as the primary route between two (2) or more Subdivisions or developments and an existing or future public street;
(2) The proposed street is built to City Standards or with modifications approved by the City Engineer;
(3) The private street is dedicated on a Final Plat as a single and separate lot labelled as "Private Street" and deed is granted to a Property Owners' Association for ownership and maintenance.
(ii) The Planning and Zoning Commission may deny a Final Plat on the basis of requested private streets or approve the Final Plat with the condition that streets be dedicated to the City.