§ 10.409. SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS — ALTERNATIVE STREET UTILITY AND DRAINAGE STANDARDS APPLICABLE IN A TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD

A.

TND Subdivision Objectives

1.

The Traditional Neighborhood Development should be based on a harmonious, cohesive plan of buildings, streets, and open space, including the arrangement of vehicular and pedestrian circulation, the relationship of buildings to streets, parking, and open space, reflecting the layout and planning principles of traditional neighborhoods in the region and historic residential sections of the City of Galveston.

B.

This ordinance recognizes that TN's require alternative design and planning standards in order to encourage a human-scaled, pedestrian-oriented, built environment, reflecting the character of the traditional, historic districts of Galveston, balancing the functional needs of vehicular-pedestrian circulation and neighborhood residential life.

C.

The intent and purpose of these TND subdivision regulations are as follows:

1.

To provide for streets and R.O.W.'s typical of successful current-day TND's and of the older historic areas of Galveston.

2.

To provide for the traditional neighborhood character through the modifications of certain subdivision standards, consistent with promoting the health, safety, welfare and appearance of the community, including a variety of street types, with minimum street pavement widths, and where appropriate, wider sidewalk widths, and provisions for pedestrian and bikeways throughout the neighborhood.

3.

To establish the street geometry should maintain a basic geographic orientation and directional legibility throughout the neighborhood.

4.

To encourage a village-wide pedestrian circulation system, linking the major elements of the community, including neighborhood parks, plaza and squares, and other destinations such as shopping, recreation and civic uses, with provisions for bicycle ways.

5.

To provide for the majority of residential lots served by service lanes in the rear or alleys.

D.

Street and Road Definitions

Shall be amended to include, in a TND, to include, in addition to the City's typical standards, the following street types:

1.

Residential Local Streets and Roads. Residential local streets include streets with a R.O.W. of 60-feet or less, except Minor streets (as described below). They serve traffic within a neighborhood district and provide access to residential and other uses. The design speed shall not to exceed 20 MPH. On-street parking is encouraged.

2.

Major Streets and Roads. Major streets and roads include streets with a R.O.W. of greater than 60-feet (Major Street, Small Avenue). They serve to carry traffic from Minor and Local streets to Major Collector and Arterial streets, including entrances to a TND, with a design speed of 25-to 30 MPH.

3.

Minor Streets and Roads. Minor streets and roads include generally short streets or alley type streets (Close, Minor road, Service lane, Rear lane, Passage). Minor streets lanes are used for service access to the rear of properties otherwise abutting on a street or on a Passage. This category of streets also includes a PASSAGE or pedestrian street, which is a linear pedestrian street with sidewalks on both sides, and may be used for emergency vehicle access. The design speed should not exceed 15 MPH.

4.

"Streets" are defined as having curbs and gutters, occur in the more urban, higher density and mixed-use areas. "Roads", without curb and gutter (but with shoulders and drainage swales on both sides) primarily occur in the lower density, less urban areas.

5.

See the following chart "Street Types" for R.O.W. and pavement widths and street section details.

E.

Street Standards in a TN

1.

The following street standards are permitted in a TN:

NOTE: Lane widths are back-to-back of curb, where curbed; parking spaces are counted as seven feet (7') wide. Typical lane widths are 10-to 12-feet wide. On streets without curbs, seven foot (7') wide drainage swales slope to a maximum 12-inches deep maximum. Additional width for infrastructure (drainage, underground utilities, and sidewalks) may be provided in utility easements parallel to street R.O.W.'s.

CHART I: STREET TYPES AND STANDARDS
	Curb/Gutter	R.O.W.	Pavement Median	Swale Sidewalk	Parking	Curb Radii	Comments
MAJOR BLVD.	no	100'	2 x 24' w/12' median, 2 one way (4 lanes divided)	20' each side	none	15'-20'	Attractive landscaping, lighting, future bikeway (20' access)
AV-70 SMALL AVENUE	yes	70'	2 x 18' with parking and 14' median (3' stabilized base each side of median)	10' each side; 5-6' sidewalk each side	2 sides	15'	Center landscaping OK in esplanade (14' access)
RD-66 MAJOR ROAD or ENTRY STREET	no; varies	66'	34'	16' swale each side plus 5' sidewalk in easement	2 sides	15' — 20'	ST-66 with optional curb (20' access)
ST-60 MAJOR ENTRY STREET/ROAD	yes	60'	28'	16' each side; 5' sidewalk, 11' swale each side	1 side	15'	20' access
RD-60 LOCAL ROAD ALONG BEACH, WATER FEATURE OR PARK LANDS	no	60'	28'	16' each side; 5' sidewalk, 11' swale each side	1 side	15'	20' access
RD-50 RESIDENTIAL ROAD' (ST-50 same except curbed)	no	50'	27'	13' w/4' sidewalk, and 9' swale each side	1 side	10'	17' access
RD-46 MINOR RESIDENTIAL ROAD	no	46'	20'	13', w/6' sidewalk, 7' swale one side; 9' swale other side, with 4' sidewalk	1 side on shoulder. Separate 7' gravel shoulder	10'	20' access
LN-32 SERVICE LANE	no	32'	22'	No sidewalk; 2-5' swales plus easements	none	10'	Inverted section OK (additional easements on rear of lot if nec.)(20' access)
LN-22 SMALL (rear) LANE 250' or less in length. Alley OK.	no	22'	14' one way; 18' two way	No sidewalk; swales each side, plus easements	none	10'	One way 190 feet maximum inverted section OK (14' access)
PL-40 PLAZA STREET — One Way	yes	40' or varies	23'	5' sidewalk adjacent to rolled curb, all sides of plaza	1 side	15' (w/increased turning radius)	19' access including sidewalk (See Note 1)
PA-48 PASSAGE; Pedestrian street, U.E. and emergency access	n.a.	48'	15' stabilized base in center for emergency access	2'-5' sidewalks, and 11' swales each side	none	n.a.	Pedestrian way; 15' emergency access
CL-60 CLOSE; Short esplanade street; 190 feet long maximum	one side	60'	2 x 21' w/10' median	4' sidewalks; optional curb and gutter one side; swales in easements	1 side each way	15'	Esplanade limited to "ornamental" planting; deleted 38' from terminus

 

F.

Other Street Provisions

1.

Rear Alleys and Service lanes are encouraged in residential areas. Where rear alleys serve lots, driveways and curb cuts from front streets are prohibited.

2.

Although streets generally intersect at right angles, streets may intersect at oblique angles, where the design speed is 20 MPH or less.

3.

Streets with "T" intersections and focal points or view corridors are encouraged.

a.

Site distances , shall be as per Section 29-4(A)8, except where commercial or mixed-use buildings front on 10-to 12-feet wide sidewalks with the public R.O.W.

b.

Fire Vehicle Access. All front entries of dwelling units shall be within 150-feet of all weather access by Fire Vehicles. The minimum unobstructed emergency vehicle access on an all-weather surface is 20-feet in commercial and mixed-use areas and 14-feet in residential areas. Where 14-feet access occurs, there shall be a secondary means of access a minimum of 14-feet wide.

c.

Each lot shall be provided with adequate vehicular and pedestrian access, which may be a service lane, alley, or shared common access drive. The minimum distance between structures for fire access is eight feet (8').

d.

Street types within a TN may be either public or private.

e.

The maximum vertical grade for an elevated street (five feet (5') or more above existing grade) is eight percent (8%); otherwise, the horizontal curve provisions of Section 29-4(A)6 shall apply.

f.

Required shoulder parking lanes on streets without curb and gutter may be constructed of an all-weather wearing surface material, such as crushed limestone, different than main travel lanes.

g.

Streets with reduced pavement widths (skinny streets) are intended to be used in lower density, lower speed, single family residential areas.

h.

Commercial and mixed-use areas of a TND shall have a 20-foot wide unobstructed access to within 150-feet of all buildings for Fire and Emergency vehicles.

i.

Commercial and mixed-use areas of a TND shall have streets with a minimum 20-foot wide unobstructed access way.

j.

The 20-foot wide access way may include adjacent sidewalks with a mountable curb, or an adjacent stabilized base in a median or planting area, provided there are no vertical obstructions such as fire hydrants, trees, lamp posts, etc. However, on-street parking shall not be counted as part of the unobstructed width.

k.

A 20-foot wide unobstructed access may be provided by an adjacent stabilized shoulder or sidewalk with a mountable curb.

l.

The above stated street standards and layout (Chart I), are subject to approval by the Development Services Director, the City Traffic Engineer, City Engineer and the City Fire Marshall or Fire Chief, based on standards contained herein.

m.

The above street standards and layout (Chart I) are permitted, subject to a drainage plan approved by the City Engineer

G.

Lot Lines: Configuration

1.

Lots may front on a street or on a Passage or public or common open space, if served (in the rear) by a Lane or Alley type street.

2.

Side lot lines are generally at right angles to streets, although angled side lot lines and irregular lot lines are permitted.

3.

Flag lots, which is defined as a lot fronting on a street by means of a narrow access way, are permitted, with a private common driveway easement a minimum of 20-feet wide and a maximum length of 120-feet

H.

Utilities and Drainage

1.

Utility easements on lot frontages as per Section 6.308 of these regulations may not be required where alleys or service lanes provide access to the rear of lots.

2.

Lots not served by rear Alleys or Service Lanes shall have adequate utility easements adjacent to the public R.O.W. and if necessary, additional easements within the front yard of lots, as well as utility easements in the rear of lots.

3.

In general, for lots without rear access lanes or Alleys, electrical, gas, and cable may be provided in adjoining easements in the rear of lots, a minimum of 10-foot wide, or as per utility company standards. Sanitary, sewer and water lines shall be located within the street R.O.W. or within lot easements adjacent to the property line abutting the street R.O.W. If dry utilities (electrical, gas, cable) and wet utilities (sanitary sewer, water) are located in the same easement, that easement shall be sixteen feet (16') wide, adjacent to the street right-of-way.

4.

For streets without curbs and gutters, storm drainage may be located in swales on each side of the street pavement section, a minimum of seven feet (7') wide, excluding sidewalk areas, except for service lanes, where width may vary. Driveways across swales require a 12-inch diameter minimum culvert. Alleys and lanes may have a depressed concrete apron at the driveway entrance for storm water flow. No culverts shall be permitted in swales less than 10-feet in width.

5.

Service lanes and Alleys may have an inverted pavement section, with surface flow or with inlets and subsurface storm lines where feasible.

I.

Platted Lots

The minimum lot width in a TN is 18 feet. A variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment may be granted for single family detached homes or non-residential uses, occupying more than one lot, where the minimum required lot width for a primary use is greater than 18-feet.

J.

Procedure

All subdivisions within a TN shall follow the procedures described in Section 29-5 of the Subdivision Ordinance of the City of Galveston. Prior to submission of a preliminary plat, site plan approval is required by the Planning Commission, in accordance with Section 29-88 of the Zoning Standards.

( Ord. No. 18-037, § 2, 6-21-18 )