06-20-2016 Planning Commission Packet

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specifications by the city engineer, in accordance with the construction plans required to be submitted prior to final subdivision approval. (b) Topography and arrangement. (1) Roadways shall be related appropriately to the topography. Roadways shall be curved wherever possible to avoid conformity of lot appearance. All roadways shall be arranged so as to obtain as many as possible of the building sites at or above the grades of the street. Grades of streets shall conform as closely as possible to the original topography. A combination of steep grades and curves shall be avoided. (2) All streets shall be properly integrated with the existing and proposed system of thoroughfares and dedicated rights-of-way as established in the comprehensive municipal plan. (3) All thoroughfares shall be properly related to specific traffic generators, such as industries, business districts, schools, churches, and shopping centers; to population densities; and to the pattern of existing and proposed land uses. (4) Roadways shall be laid out to conform as much as possible to the topography, to discourage use by through traffic, to permit efficient drainage and utility systems, and to require the minimum number of roadways necessary to provide convenient and safe access to property. (5) The gridiron roadway pattern need not necessarily be adhered to, and the use of curvilinear roadways or U-shaped roadways shall be encouraged where such use will result in a more desirable layout. (6) Culs-de-sac shall be discouraged; proposed roadways shall be extended to the boundary lines of the tract to be subdivided unless prevented by topography or other physical conditions or unless in the opinion of the city such extension is not necessary or desirable for the coordination of the layout of the subdivision with the existing layout or the most advantageous future development of adjacent tracts. (7) In business and industrial developments, the roadways and other accessways shall be planned in connection with the grouping of buildings, location of rail facilities, and the provisions of alleys, truck loading and maneuvering areas, and walks and parking areas so as to minimize conflict of movement between the various types of traffic, including pedestrian. (c) Blocks. (1) Blocks shall have sufficient width to provide for two tiers of lots of appropriate depths. Exceptions to this prescribed block width shall be permitted in blocks adjacent to arterial roadways, railroads or waterways. (2) The lengths, widths, and shapes of blocks shall be such as are appropriate for the locality and the type of development contemplated; but block lengths in residential areas shall not exceed 1,500 feet or 12 times the minimum lot width required in the zoning district, nor be less than 400 feet in length from centerline to centerline of adjacent streets. Wherever practicable, blocks along arterial collector roadways shall be not less than 1,000 feet in length.