San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 26.28 Streets

Except as otherwise required, or as may be incorporated in the general plan, or such specific plans as may have been adopted, street rights-of-way and pavement widths shall conform to the minimum standards set forth in the design standards and specifications. The types of streets referred to therein are set forth and defined in Sections 26.28.020 through 26.28.060.

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(part)

Street classifications shall be defined as follows:

(1) "Expressway" means a divided arterial highway for through traffic with direct access to abutting property fully or partially controlled, and with intersections generally at grade at widely spaced intervals;

(2) "Freeway" means a divided arterial highway for through traffic with direct access to abutting property prohibited and with access at connecting streets fully controlled;

(3) "Frontage road" means a short parallel street in conjunction with a limited access arterial, functioning as a connector between interrupted streets and as access to abutting properties;

(4) "Local service street" means a public or private street primarily for access to abutting property and designed for limited traffic use;

(5) "Major arterial" means an arterial street designed for safe movement of through traffic, with or without a median, with intersections at grade and with access to abutting properties or intersecting streets limited to the optimum extent;

(6) "Major collector" means a secondary arterial functioning as a feeder and a connector between arterial streets and local service streets and with full access to abutting properties;

(7) "Minor collector" means a secondary arterial of short length functioning as a feeder and connector between local service streets and major collectors or major arterials, and with full access to abutting properties.

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(c)

The specific standards for the types and classifications of streets set forth below shall be as established in the design standards and specifications and as they may from time to time be amended. Such standards are established for the following types of areas:

(1) Residential;

(2) Nonresidential including commercial, executive and industrial;

(3) Hillside;

(4) Planned development (private).

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(a)

As used in this title, "pavement width" means the width as measured from curb face to curb face.

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(b)

Grades, curves and sight distances shall be subject to the approval of the City engineer to ensure safety of vehicles and pedestrians while minimizing grading to the maximum extent feasible. The minimum standards which shall be observed shall be as contained in design standards and specifications.

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(d)

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 (freeway) or expressway right-of-way, the subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve a frontage road and/or off-street parking to provide ingress and egress to and from such lots.

prior code § 139.20(c)(3)(e)

The street pattern in the subdivision shall be in conformity with the general plan, and shall provide for the development of adjoining areas and the entire planning area or district. The following principles and standards shall be observed:

(1) Where appropriate in the design, proposed major arterials and collectors shall be continuous and in alignment with existing planned or platted streets with which they are to connect. The centerlines of connecting or intersecting streets not in alignment shall be offset to midblock or at least as specified in the design standards and specifications;

(2) Proposed streets shall be extended to the boundary lines of the land to be divided in all cases where it is determined 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;

(3) The maximum length of culs-de-sac shall be related to the nature of adjacent land use, but shall not exceed the length specified in the design standards and specifications, and they shall terminate in a circle with a diameter satisfactory to the City engineer. Other turning patterns may be approved on recommendation of the City engineer if, in his or her opinion, the nature of the topography necessitates, or can accommodate, such modified design;

(4) In the case of stubend streets extending to the boundary of the property, the entire street shall not be dedicated, but a one foot strip the width of the right-of-way shall be deeded to the City at the end of the stub-end street. Improvement of the strip shall be suspended and a barrier erected, pending the extension of said street into adjacent property. Where required, a temporary turnaround or a temporary connection to another street shall be provided within a public right-of-way by the subdivider;

(5) Proposed streets shall intersect one another at approximately ninety degrees but in no event more than fifteen degrees off ninety degrees where topography, other limiting factors, or good traffic design indicate the desirability of modifying this rule;

(6) The corners of both curbs and property lines shall be rounded as indicated in the design standards and specifications. Where necessitated by traffic safety considerations, greater corner radii may be required;

(7) Excessively long, straight residential streets, conducive to high-speed traffic, requiring steep grades, and/or requiring excessive grading, shall be avoided.

prior code § 139.20(c)(1)

A street which is a continuation of an existing street shall bear the name of that street. Names of new streets shall be submitted to the City engineer who shall check for them for conformity to such system of naming as may be adopted. The City engineer shall submit proposed names to local postal authorities, the fire chief, and the police chief, in order to avoid duplication of street names or use of street names difficult to pronounce or easily misunderstood within the areas served by these services and others.

prior code § 139.20(c)(2)

Where required for traffic safety; for safe access to schools, parks and playgrounds, shopping facilities, or other community facilities; to provide more convenient access to other streets and areas where the topography or the length of the block would cause undue hardship on the pedestrian; the dedication and development of pedestrian paths in accordance with the design standards and specifications may be required. Easements for such pathways shall be as specified therein unless local conditions dictate a greater or lesser width. At the option of the City, pedestrian easements may be combined with other easements or rights-of-way when such easements comply with the purposes of this title.

prior code § 139.20(d)