Portola Valley Municipal Code Ch. 17.40 Streets

The street pattern in the subdivision shall be in conformity with the classification, definition and description of streets in the general plan and provide for the development of adjoining areas and the entire neighborhood or district. The principles and standards in Sections 17.40.020 through 17.40.080 shall be observed.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (part)), 1967)

Where appropriate to the design, proposed collector and thoroughfare roads and streets shall be continuous and in alignment with existing planned or platted streets with which they are to connect. The centerlines of the streets not in alignment shall be offset at least one hundred feet.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (A)), 1967)

Proposed streets shall be extended to the boundary lines of the land to be divided in all cases where in the opinion of the planning commission such extension is necessary for traffic circulation and coordination of the layout of the proposed subdivision with existing development, or the advantageous future development of adjacent property.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (B)), 1967)

Cul-de-sacs shall not exceed one thousand feet in length; provided, however, that where turnouts or turnarounds are provided to the satisfaction of the fire chief and in his opinion adequate fire protection is possible, cul-de-sacs may be increased to two thousand feet in length. They shall terminate in a circle with a diameter of not less than eighty feet at the property line and diameter of not less than sixty-eight feet at the inside face of the curb, or other turning pattern approved by the planning commission on recommendation by the town engineer. The planning commission may require the subdivider to improve and dedicate to the town emergency escape routes including right-of-way and improvements from the ends of cul-de-sacs.

(Ord. 1979-169 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (C)), 1967)

In the case of stub-end streets extending to the boundary of the property, a one-foot strip the width of the right-of-way shall be deeded to the town at the end of the stub-end street, and improvement of the strip shall be suspended, pending the extension of the street into adjacent property. Where required by the planning commission, a temporary turnaround or a temporary connection to another street shall be provided within a public right-of-way by the subdivider.

(Ord. 1979-169 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (D)), 1967)

Proposed streets shall intersect one another approximately at right angles, unless topography, other limiting factors, or good traffic design dictate a modification of this rule.

(Ord. 1979-169 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (E)), 1967)

The lot corners at local street intersections shall be rounded at the property line by a curve having a radius of not less than fifteen feet at the property line and not less than twenty-five feet at the curb line. Wherever a thoroughfare intersects any other street or highway the radius of curvature for corner rounding shall be not less than thirty feet at the property line and not less than forty feet at the curb line. Comparable cut-offs or chords may be permitted at the property line instead of rounded corners. Greater radii or cut-offs shall be required where necessary for traffic safety.

(Ord. 1979-169 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (F)), 1967)

Excessively long, straight residential streets, conducive to high speed traffic and/or requiring excessive grading, shall be avoided.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979; Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.41 (G)), 1967)

A street which is a continuation of an existing street shall bear the name of the existing street. Names of new streets shall be submitted to the town planner who shall check for conformity to such system of naming as the council may adopt. Names of new streets shall have a historical or geographical basis. Historical names shall be based on the heritage of the area. Geographical names shall be based on established area features. Names of native plants and animals are also appropriate. The town planner shall check for conformity with these naming standards and shall submit proposed names to the Woodside fire protection district and local postal authorities, in order to avoid duplication of street names within the areas served by these agencies.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.42), 1967)

Except as otherwise required or permitted by the general plan or any specific plans which have been adopted, street rights-of-way and pavement widths shall conform with the following minimum standards:

A. Pavement Width Defined. Pavement width means width from curb face to curb face or to the edge of the traveled way where no curb is required.

B. Residential Streets.

1. Cul-de-sacs, Other Land Service Streets. Right-of-way, sixty feet; pavement width, twenty feet, unless the planning commission requires pavement width of twenty-two feet upon recommendation of town engineer.

2. Minor Collector Streets. Right-of-way, seventy feet; pavement width, twenty-two feet.

3. Major Collector Streets. Right-of-way, seventy feet; pavement width, twenty-eight feet.

4. Arterial Street. Right-of-way shall be a minimum of one hundred feet, and pavement widths shall be as required by the planning commission upon recommendation of the town engineer.

5. Split-Level Street. Where due to difficult terrain split-level roads will minimize cut and fill, the planning commission may approve two-level roads with a right-of-way of eighty feet and two one-way paved sections each of sixteen feet in width.

C. Nonresidential Streets. The town is primarily a residential community and therefore street standards in such nonresidential areas as may be required for public convenience will be the same as for B (3) and B (4) of this section. Where any specific plan is or may hereafter be adopted, and such plans specify greater widths, the greater widths shall govern.

D. Planned Unit Development. Street rights-of-way and pavement widths for streets which are part of a planned unit development approved under the zoning ordinance shall conform to such approved plan.

(Ord. 1979-168 § 5 (part), 1979: Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.43), 1967).

Grades, curves and sight distances shall be subject to the approval of the town engineer to ensure proper drainage and/or safety for vehicles and pedestrians while minimizing grading required to the maximum extent feasible. The following minimum standards shall be observed:

A. Grades of streets shall not be less than five-tenths percent nor greater than fifteen percent except that the planning commission upon recommendation of the town engineer may authorize grades up to eighteen percent for portions of a street not exceeding four hundred feet in length. All breaks in vertical alignment shall be joined by a vertical curve as determined by the town engineer, using American Association of State Highway Officials design formulae, to be required to provide safe sight distance at the design speed appropriate for the particular type of facility.

B. The minimum centerline radius of curvature of all roads and streets shall be as determined by the town engineer, using American Association of State Highway Officials design formulae, to be appropriate for the topography and the design speed of the particular type of facility.

(Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.44), 1967)

Street cross sections including pavement, type of berm, gutter, and pathways, if any, shall conform with standards as may be herein set forth, or as may be recommended by the town engineer and adopted by the council.

(Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.45), 1967)

When the front of any lot proposed for commercial usage abuts upon any thoroughfare, or when the front of any residential lot fronts upon any present or future state highway or parkway right-of-way, the subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve a service road to provide ingress and egress from such lots, except as such service road may already have been installed in conjunction with the highway facilities.

(Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.46), 1967)

When any lots border upon any state highway or parkway, the subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve a planting strip adjacent to such parkway or highway. Installation of suitable irrigation facilities may be required. Responsibility for maintenance shall be stipulated by the planning commission.

(Ord. 1967-71 § 1 (7650.47), 1967)