Chapter 17.34 — STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND PRIVATE STREETS[[1]]

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), adopted May 20, 2015, amended Ch. 17.34 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 17.34, §§ 17.34.010—17.34.060, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. 1277 N.S., adopted in 1996; Ord. 1285 N.S. (part), adopted in 1996; and Ord. No. 1992 N.S., Exh. A, adopted Oct. 6, 2010.

All local streets providing access to residential developments shall be constructed to conform to the street design standards as maintained by the director of public works. An exception to the street width and rightof-way requirement may be approved provided such streets are constructed in accordance with the requirements contained in this chapter. The street design standards establish minimum dimensions and design requirements for primary residential streets, secondary residential streets, culs-de-sac, and rural residential streets as defined below.

(Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), 5-20-2015)

All Primary residential streets are defined as those streets where anticipated traffic volume would exceed one thousand vehicles per day. All such streets shall be designed and improved by the developer to provide two travel lanes and two parking lanes as follows:

A.

The total street section shall be sixty feet in width. Sidewalk and park strip may be provided either within the public right-of-way or within a public access/service easement on an adjoining property. Surface roadbed must be forty feet in width from curb to curb;

B.

Detached sidewalks and park strips required;

C.

Parking shall be allowed on both sides of the street.

(Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), 5-20-2015)

Secondary residential streets are defined as those streets where traffic volumes would not exceed one thousand vehicles per day. All such streets shall be designed and improved by the developer to the Primary residential street standard or as follows:

A.

The total street section shall be shall be fifty-six feet in width. Sidewalk and park strip may be provided either within the public right-of-way or within a public access/service easement on an adjoining property. Surface roadbed shall be thirty-six feet from curb to curb;

B.

Detached sidewalks and park strips required;

C.

Parking shall be allowed on both sides of the street.

(Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), 5-20-2015)

17.34.040 - Cul-de-sacs.

Residential Cul-De-Sac Streets Serving No More Than Twenty Single or Multi-Family Units. All such streets shall be designed and improved by the developer to the secondary street standard or as follows:

A.

Publicly accessible right-of-way shall be fifty-six feet minimum in width. Sidewalk and park strip may be provided either within the public right-of-way or within a public access easement on an adjoining property. Surface roadbed shall be thirty-six feet minimum in curb to curb width;

B.

Detached sidewalks and park strips required on both sides of street;

C.

Parking shall be provided along both sides of the street.

(Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), 5-20-2015)

Rural residential streets are those defined as serving a rural residential neighborhood having an anticipated traffic volume of less than one thousand vehicles per day, and are lots that are forty thousand square feet minimum in area. All such streets shall be designed and improved by the developer to provide two travel lanes as follows:

A.

Right-of-way shall be fifty-two feet in width. Surface roadbed shall be twenty-eight feet in width with no curbs;

B.

Five foot shoulders and graded v-ditches will be provided on both sides of roadbed;

C.

Maximum slope of v-ditch flow line shall be two percent unless otherwise approved by city engineer.

(Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), 5-20-2015)

Residential units may take primary access from a private street or paseo in the R-4, R-3, R-2, CL-R, CC-R or R-1 4,500 zoning districts. Minimum standards for private streets and paseos shall be as determined by the community development director in consultation with the fire marshall.

A.

Private streets shall incorporate pedestrian-friendly design features that integrate public and private spaces and promote connectivity to nearby neighborhoods, schools, parks, shopping, transit routes, and other destinations. The design of private streets shall conform to all applicable city standards, as established elsewhere in the development code, subdivision regulations, or Morgan Hill Municipal Code.

B.

Private streets shall provide multiple ingress and egress points within and into subdivisions wherever feasible; cul-de-sac and dead-end streets shall be avoided unless other options are not available.

C.

Private streets shall be designed to connect to adjacent uses wherever feasible.

D.

Design measures which slow traffic and encourage walking and bicycling shall be incorporated. Typical features include curb bulbs, street trees, raised crosswalks, and roundabouts. A minimum of one street tree per unit is required.

E.

Decorative or accent paving shall be used at neighborhood entries, crosswalks, and major pedestrian areas within the development.

F.

Rolled curbs are prohibited.

G.

Street lights shall be designed and scaled at a pedestrian scale with a maximum height of sixteen feet. "Cobra head" type street lights are prohibited.

H.

Bike lanes and pedestrian walkways shall be incorporated wherever feasible, connecting to existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the perimeter of the development. The design and dimensions of bike lanes and pedestrian walkways shall conform to all applicable provisions of the Morgan Hill Municipal Code.

I.

Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of any street, driveway, or courtyard which serves six or more units. Sidewalks which are located on one side of the street only are acceptable on streets within developments of fewer than six homes, provided they are at least four feet in width.

J.

Street trees may be provided in either a park strip or within bulb outs. The minimum dimension for a tree planting area shall be five feet in width and five feet in length.

K.

Private streets must be designed and constructed to a structural section that meets the current city engineering design standards or as approved by the city engineer.

(Ord. No. 2164, § 6, 10-7-2015; Ord. No. 2237 N.S., § 1, 6-7-2017)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2164, § 6, adopted Oct. 7, 2015, amended § 17.36.060 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former § 17.36.060, pertained to private streets and paseos, and derived from Ord. No. 2135, § 3(Exh. A), adopted May 20, 2015.

Alleys may be used to provide vehicle access to lots within small lot and medium density development within the R-2 and R-3 zoning districts.

A.

Rear lot alleys are permitted for service vehicles and access to garages. Where they are used, alleys shall be designed as follows:

Alleys shall be configured to provide good visibility, enabling activities in the alley to be easily observed from adjoining properties.

2.

Alleys shall incorporate special paving treatment, accenting entries, and walkways.

3.

Alleys shall incorporate landscaping, including planters for trees. A minimum of one tree shall be provided for one unit.

4.

Building or pedestal lighting shall be provided on each lot as feasible, in order to illuminate the alley.

5.

If dead-end alleys are necessary, they shall be no more than one hundred feet in length and shall be at least twenty-four feet wide, or meet other design standards as determined by the fire department.

(Ord. No. 2164, § 7, 10-7-2015)

Chapter 17.36 - CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION

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