§ 4-4. Streets.

4-4.1. Conformance with thoroughfare plans. The location and design of streets and roads shall be in conformance with any applicable, adopted thoroughfare plan. Where conditions warrant, right-of-way and pavement widths in excess of the minimum street standards may be required.

4-4.2. Conformance with adjoining road systems. The planned street layout of a proposed subdivision shall be compatible with existing or proposed streets and their classifications on adjoining or nearby tracts.

4-4.3. Access to adjoining property. Where, in the opinion of the planning commission, or the administrator in the case of a minor subdivision, it is desirable to provide for street access to adjoining property, proposed streets shall be extended, dedicated, and, where appropriate, constructed to the boundary of such property. It is the intention of this section to promote the orderly development of a local street system that provides interconnection between developed or developing properties.

Factors that should be evaluated when considering requiring the extension of streets or street rights-of-way to adjoining property include:

(A)

The development potential of the adjoining land;

(B)

The physiographical and man-made characteristics of the adjoining property; and

(C)

The existing and proposed local street system and traffic flow of the entire area surrounding the subdivided tract and adjoining properties.

Generally, "stub streets" shall be required:

(A)

Where the zoning and/or land use on the adjoining property are compatible with the proposed subdivision;

(B)

Where there are no natural or man-made barriers that make the street extension impracticable;

(C)

Where the street extension will result in desirable traffic flows and patterns and where inappropriate levels of through traffic are avoided; and

(D)

Where the street extension will promote the overall orderly development of the area.

All stub streets shall be designed and, where required to be built, constructed in accordance with the appropriate standards as delineated in these subdivision regulations.

4-4.4. Reserve strips. Reserve strips adjoining streets rights-of-way for the purposes of preventing access to adjacent property shall not be permitted under any condition. Reserve strips are also known as "spike strips" and "spite strips."

4-4.5. Street classification. The final determination of the classification of streets in a proposed subdivision shall be made by the county.

4-4.6. Public street design criteria. Public streets shall be designed in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) standards. In the case where a municipality providing the proposed subdivision with utility service(s) requires that its public road standards be adhered to and where those standards exceed the NCDOT road standards, the municipality's road standards shall be complied with.

4-4.7. Private street design criteria.

(A)

Private streets shall be permitted in developments with owners' associations.

(B)

Private streets shall be designed in accordance with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Standards. Certification from a registered, professional engineer that private streets have been constructed in accordance with minimum NCDOT standards and specifications shall be provided to the administrator prior to final plat approval or, in the case of an improvements guarantee, prior to the release of the bond.

(C)

An owners' association is required to own and maintain all private streets allowed under this ordinance. All private streets will be indicated as such on the plat.

(D)

No through street in a residential area connecting two public streets can be designated as a private street, unless approved by the planning commission.

(E)

All private streets, connecting with state-maintained streets, require an approved driveway application from the NCDOT.

(F)

In the event sidewalks are constructed, the minimum width shall be four feet.

(G)

A disclosure statement in accordance with N.C.G.S. 136-102.6 shall be recorded simultaneously with the plat and referenced on the final plat. The disclosure statement must contain the provision(s) for construction and/or maintenance of the private street (see appendix B).

(H)

A 24″ × 30″ sign with two-inch letters shall be posted at all entrances of the private street and shall state, "Private Street Maintained by Property Owners."

4-4.8. Intersecting street angle.

(A)

All streets shall intersect at or as near to 90 degrees as possible within topographic limits, and no street shall intersect any other street at an angle less than 75 degrees.

(B)

All streets crossing natural areas, wetlands, or stream buffers must cross at or as near to 90 degrees as possible within topographic limits.

4-4.9. Cul-de-sac. The maximum distance from an intersecting through street to the end of a cul-de-sac shall be 900 feet, except where, upon the approval of the planning commission, existing conditions warrant a modification of this requirement. The radius of the paved portion of a cul-de-sac shall be a minimum of 35 feet. The diameter of a cul-de-sac shall be a minimum of 96 feet.

4-4.10. Minimum street offset.

(A)

Where streets are offset on both sides of the street, the centerlines shall be offset no less than 150 feet.

(B)

Where streets are on the same side of the street, intersecting streets must be at least 400 feet apart, measured centerline to centerline, except where no other alternative is practicable or legally possible. When any of the intersecting streets is a major thoroughfare, the distance between intersecting streets shall be at least 1,000 feet.

4-4.11. Curb and gutter.

(A)

Curbs and gutters, if provided, shall be constructed in conformance with the NCDOT standards.

(B)

As provided in N.C.G.S. 136-44.14, whenever curb and gutter construction is used on public streets, wheelchair ramps for the handicapped shall be provided at intersections and other major points of pedestrian flow. Wheelchair ramps and depressed curbs shall be constructed in accordance with published standards of the NCDOT.

4-4.12. Temporary turnarounds. Streets stubbed to adjoining property or phase lines may be required to have a temporary turnaround at the end of the street that will be sufficient to permit emergency and service vehicles to turn around. The radius of the temporary turn around shall be a minimum of 35 feet.

4-4.13. Grades at intersections. The grade on stop streets approaching an intersection shall not exceed five percent for a distance of not less than 100 feet from the centerline of the intersection.

4-4.14. Sight distance easements. Triangular sight distance easements shall be shown in dashed lines at all street intersections and so noted on the subdivision plat. These easements will remain free of all structures, trees, shrubbery, and signs, except utility poles, fire hydrants, and traffic control signs. The location and extent of sight distance easements will be in conformance with the NCDOT requirements for public roads.

4-4.15. Street names and property addresses. Streets that are obviously in alignment with existing streets shall generally bear the name of the existing street. Street names shall not duplicate or closely approximate phonetically the names of existing streets in Carteret County. Street suffixes and addresses shall conform to the standards established by the county.

4-4.16. Street name and traffic control signs. Street name and traffic control signs that meet the county and NCDOT specifications shall be placed at all public and private street intersections. The developer shall be responsible for installing all street name and traffic control signs. The maintenance of signs on private streets and drives shall be the responsibility of the owner or of an owners' association, as applicable.

4-4.17. Street construction plans. Construction plans for all subdivision streets that are proposed for state maintenance shall be submitted to the NCDOT following preliminary plat approval. No public street improvements shall be constructed until street construction plans have been reviewed and approved by the NCDOT.

4-4.18. Street inspection. Work performed pursuant to approved street construction plans shall be inspected and approved by the NCDOT.

4-4.19. Bridges. All bridges shall be constructed in accordance with the standards and specifications of the NCDOT.

(Ord. of 7-18-11)