Chapter 17.32 — ROAD DESIGN STANDARDS

Editor's note— Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), adopted February 7, 2012, amended Chapter 17.32 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 17.32, §§ 17.32.010—17.32.120, pertained to similar material, and derived from Ord. No. 278, 1963; Ord. No. 542, 1991; Ord. No. 542-A and Ord. No. 278N, 2004.

The subdivider shall improve, or execute a secured written agreement to improve, all streets, highways, and public ways in the subdivision. Improvements shall be installed to permanent line and grade to the satisfaction of the county engineer in accordance with the adopted standard specifications of the county of Madera.

Only subdivision road improvement standards in effect at the time the tentative map was accepted as complete pursuant to Section 65943 of the Government Code shall be implemented with the parcel or final map approved under this title. Ref. Section 66474.2 of the Subdivision Map Act.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

The road department will consult the general plan for the minimum required road right-of-way except in such cases where a designation does not exist or where unique road sections have been approved as part

of a specific plan. In these cases, the road commissioner or his designee will assign a designation to provide a safe and efficient road system while assuring access to existing and future development. The road designations and their minimum required right-of-way will be in accordance with the following:

A.

Freeway and highway; the minimum as defined by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) or, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards;

B.

Expressway; the minimum as defined by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) or, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards;

C.

Principal arterial; a minimum right-of-way one hundred feet wide;

D.

Minor arterial and collector; a minimum right-of-way eighty feet wide;

E.

Local roads; a minimum right-of-way sixty feet wide;

F.

Frontage and/or alleys; a minimum right-of-way forty feet wide.

G.

Within subdivisions with lots generally six thousand square feet and smaller, local roads may be as narrow as a minimum right-of-way of forty-two feet, subject to determination by the director that such narrowed rights-of-way will meet all the applicable public requirements for circulation, emergency vehicle access, and slope allowance. Specific roadway sections within the right-of-way shall be submitted to and approved by the director prior to approval of the tentative map or tentative parcel map creating the proposed rights-of- way.

H.

Non-Circulation Element Roads: These roads feed vehicular traffic onto the circulation element system of roads. They provide access to residential neighborhoods and commercial and industrial areas. Non- circulation element road design will be approved on a per-project basis by the road commissioner.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

Except as permitted by this chapter, driveway access to lots shall be from the driveway location within the lot's deeded frontage or offered for dedication frontage as depicted on the subdivision map.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

The proposed location of road right-of-way will be approved by the road department. All proposed road improvements and appurtenances will be located within right-of-way. In the event that cut and/or fill or any proposed improvement necessitates additional right-of-way, it will be included on the final map. Proposed right-of-way must:

A.

Continue along the centerline of existing right-of-way (where applicable);

B.

Include ninety-degree angles (or as close as practical) where road right-of-way intersections exist and/or are proposed;

C.

Centerline curve radii must meet either Caltrans or AASHTO standards; and

D.

Will extend to property lines and/or existing right-of-way in such a manner as to permit future access.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

Prior to recording the final map, a road maintenance mechanism will be created. This will either be a county maintenance district or service area or other type of financing mechanism. The applicant will submit the following as part of his tentative map application:

A.

Letter to the road department summarizing the request and stating the total acreage involved in the proposed district;

B.

Applicable non-refundable application fee and "California State Board of Equalization" filing fees based on district acreage involved;

C.

Written geographic description of the proposed district;

D.

Maps showing the proposed district/annexation per California State Board of Equalization requirements;

E.

List of assessor's parcel numbers within the proposed district;

F.

Engineer's report with estimated maintenance cost for a twenty-year maintenance plan, meeting the requirements of Proposition 218.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

Prior to the recordation of a final subdivision or parcel map, the developer must either construct or post security to construct at a later date all road related improvements. In either case, proposed construction will be approved by the road commissioner or his designee.

A.

Where road construction is proposed within an existing public right-of-way, the developer will apply for encroachment and construction permits at the road department. Prior to any construction, these permits must be approved by the road department.

B.

Where road construction is proposed within an area to be offered for dedication or grant deeded to the county, but such dedication or deed has not been recorded, the developer will apply for a construction permit at the road department. Prior to any construction, this permit must be approved by the road department.

C.

The application materials for these permits will include a plan and profile for all proposed road structure, or related improvements drawn to a scale approved by the road department, copies of R-value tests, calculations of storm drainage facilities, calculations of cut and fill, and an engineer's cost estimate. The plans will include:

Existing and proposed property lines;

Topographic contours at intervals approved by the road department;

Existing fences, buildings and any infrastructure;

Existing tree drip lines and the identification of the types of trees;

A vicinity map;

Typical cross sections and construction details;

Proposed improvements; and

Any other information deemed appropriate by the road commissioner or his designee.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

The design and construction of all roads and road appurtenances will be the responsibility of the developer, who will employ a California registered civil engineer and/or a California registered land surveyor to do all survey work and, a California registered civil engineer to do all road and road appurtenance design, construction supervision and inspection.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

Documentation of all road and road appurtenance construction will include:

A.

A written statement signed and stamped by a California registered civil engineer, which attests to the fact that the road and all road appurtenances were designed and constructed in accordance with county code, and adopted standards (either CALTRANS or AASHTO);

B.

Copies of compaction tests and inspection logs;

C.

Reproducible as-built plans, signed and stamped by a California registered civil engineer or, California licensed land surveyor; and

D.

A written statement signed and stamped by a California registered civil engineer, which certifying to the fact that the road and all road appurtenances were constructed in accordance with the county approved plans.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

All construction documentation must be submitted for review and approved by the road department prior to the recordation of the final map except when a bond or other acceptable form of security is offered. When such security is accepted by the board of supervisors in order to defer construction, construction documentation will be submitted for review and approval to the road department thirty days following construction completion.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

The geometric design of all roads and road appurtenances will be in accordance with county standard road specifications and, for any concept not mentioned, either CALTRANS or AASHTO standards. Pavement design will be based upon R-value tests and will conform to county standard specifications. A traffic index will be prescribed by the road department. In the event that traffic generation calculations are required, the developer will use the Institute of Transportation Engineers (I.T.E.) latest standards. If such standards do not describe the land uses under study, the road department will approve alternate sources.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

All road or road related construction will comply with county standard road specifications and for any concept not mentioned, CALTRANS or AASHTO standards.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

In the event that there exists a compelling reason or reasons to make a road design standard change, the California registered civil engineer in charge of the project may file with the tentative map application a request to change the standard in connection with the same development project. The change in the standard or standards may only be applied to the development project if approved by the Road Commissioner. Cost will not be considered a compelling reason. The road commissioner may only grant a road design standard change when it will not affect public safety and welfare and, when the change in standards is in accordance with state and federal law Ref Section 66474.2 of the Subdivision Map Act.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).

The subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve walkways if deemed appropriate by the road commissioner or his designee.

(Ord. No. 278U, § 1 (Exh. A), 2-7-12).