§ 23-61. Streets.

(a)

Street layout. The arrangement, character, extent, width, grade and location of all streets shall conform to the master development plan of the city and shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, to topographical conditions, to public safety and convenience, and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of land to be served by such streets. The street layout shall be devised for the most advantageous development of the entire neighborhood development. If the right-of-way or pavement width required by the city comprehensive plan is in excess of the minimum right-of-way or pavement width or base called for in section ___________ subparagraph ___________ of this same part, then the subdivider may request the participation of the city in the additional costs which would be required for residential street construction. In any such instance, a written contract with the city is required as part of the application for final plat approval. Said written contract shall be considered as part of the application for final plat along with the other information and data required by the subdivision ordinance.

(1)

Where such is not shown in the city comprehensive plan, the arrangement of streets in a subdivision shall either:

a.

Provide for the continuation of appropriate projection of existing principal streets in surrounding areas; or

b.

Conform to a plan for the neighborhood to meet a particular situation where topographical or other conditions make continuance or conformance to existing streets impracticable.

(2)

Minor streets on which single-family housing is the majority use shall be so laid out that their use by through traffic will be discouraged, and that significant amounts of internal traffic will not be generated.

(3)

Where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial street, the commission may require:

a.

Marginal-access streets;

b.

Reverse frontage with screen planting contained in nonacess strips along the rear property line;

c.

Deep lots with rear service alleys, and/or minimum distances between intersecting driveways and street, or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation of through and local traffic.

Arterial Street Speed (mph)	Minimum Separation in Feet
20	85
25	105
30	125
35	150
40	185
45	230
55	800

 

(b)

Relation to adjoining streets. Where necessary to the neighborhood pattern, existing principal or major streets in adjoining areas shall be continued, and shall be at least as wide as such existing streets and in alignment therewith. Where streets change design in alignment and width, an appropriate transition shall be provided for safe and efficient traffic flow.

(c)

Projection of streets. Where adjoining areas are not subdivided, the arrangement of streets in the subdivision shall make provision for the proper projection of streets into such unsubdivided areas.

(d)

[Curve radius.] When connecting street lines deflect from each other at any one (1) point by more than ten (10) degrees, they shall be connected by a curve with a radius adequate to ensure a minimum sight distance as shown in the table below; however, the commission reserves the right to require a greater radius in special cases to ensure safety.

Safe Sight Distance Minimum Requirements For Horizontal Curves

Street Type	Minimum Requirement (feet)
Arterial	1,000
Collector	800
Minor	600
Marginal-Access	500

 

(e)

Half streets or adjacent streets. Half streets shall be prohibited, except in most unusual circumstances, where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision in conformity with the other requirements of this chapter and where the commission finds it will be practicable to require the dedication of the other half when the adjoining property is subdivided. Where the proposed subdivision abuts upon an existing half street, the other remaining half of the street shall be platted within such subdivision. Existing half streets shall be improved in compliance with the city standards specified by this chapter.

(f)

Street intersections. Street intersections shall be as nearly at right angles as practicable, giving due regard to terrain and topography. No two-way street shall intersect another street at less than sixty (60) degrees. The planning commission may permit intersection angles of forty-five (45) degrees on one-way streets, if sufficient width is provided at the intersection to permit safe merging of traffic. Property lines at street intersections shall be rounded with a radius of twenty (20) feet, or of a greater radius where the commission may deem it necessary. The commission may permit corner cutoffs of a minimum of fifteen (15) feet set back from projected property line intersection, upon the recommendation of the public works director.

(g)

Dead-end streets. Dead-end streets shall be prohibited except as short stubs (not exceeding the depth of one (1) lot or one hundred fifty (150) feet, whichever is greater) to permit future expansion. A "short stub" is defined as being the length of the adjacent lot depth.

(h)

Cul-de-sac streets. In general, cul-de-sac streets shall not exceed six hundred (600) feet in length, and shall have a turnaround of not less than one hundred (100) feet in diameter in residential areas, and not less than two hundred (200) feet in diameter in commercial and industrial areas. Where there is not sufficient fall, inverted concrete crowns shall be construed at each of these sites, with concrete swales of a minimum of eight (8) feet in width, so that all water shall be directed towards the center, then to be drained in the direction of the current. If the water drains towards undeveloped land, the subdivider shall be required to provide a drainage easement to the City of Eagle Pass in recordable form approved by the city attorney at no cost to said city. The commission will accept or reject a plan with longer cul-de-sac streets based on its merits after considering density, land use, safety and convenience.

(i)

Marginal access streets from major thoroughfares to subdivision lots. Where a subdivision has frontage on an arterial street, there shall be provided a marginal access street on both sides or on the subdivision side of the arterial street, unless the adjacent lots back up to the arterial street, or unless the commission determines that such marginal access streets are not desirable under the facts of a particular case for adequate protection of the lots and separation of through and local traffic.

In addition, where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial street, the planning commission may require reverse frontage with screen planting contained in a non-access reservation along the rear property line, deep lots with rear service alleys, or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation of through and local traffic for effective traffic control.

(j)

Non-access easement. When deemed necessary, a vehicular non-access easement may be required on a lot or lots for the purpose of controlling ingress and egress to vehicular traffic.

(k)

Streets on development plan. Where a subdivision embraces a principal or secondary street as shown on the master development plan of the city, such principal or secondary street shall be platted in the location and of the width indicated by the requirements of the master development plan and dedicated to the city on said plat.

Where such is not shown in the master development plan, the arrangement of streets in a subdivision shall either:

(1)

Provide for the continuation or appropriate projection of existing principal streets in surrounding areas; or

(2)

Conform to a plan for the neighborhood approved or adopted by the planning commission to meet a particular situation where topographical or other conditions make continuance or conformance to existing streets impracticable.

(l)

Minor local streets. Minor streets shall be laid out so as to discourage their use by through traffic and high speed traffic. Minor streets, however, should be reasonably accessible from collector streets to ensure prompt access by emergency vehicles and other essential services.

(m)

Pavement width, rights-of-way width, and construction standards.

(1)

Definitions.

Principal arterials: U.S., state, or county highways which carry the major portion of trips entering or leaving the city, as well as the majority of through movements desiring to bypass the central city. Service to abutting land is secondary to the provision of travel service to major traffic movements.

Minor arterials: Major intracity streets which interconnect and augment the principal arterial system and provide service to smaller geographical areas than do the principal arterials.

Collectors: Streets which penetrate neighborhoods, collect traffic from local streets, and channel it onto the arterial system. A small amount of through traffic may be carried on collector streets, but the primary purpose is to provide land access service and carry local traffic movements within residential, commercial, or industrial areas.

Local residential: Streets which provide direct access to abutting land and access to the higher systems, primarily to the collector system. Through traffic is deliberately discouraged, and traffic volumes originating within the system should not be great.

Access or service roads: A marginal-access street used adjacent to arterial streets in order to provide traffic control to the abutting land development.

(2)

[Right-of-way widths.] The subdivider shall dedicate all interior streets within the subdivision. Street right-of-way widths shall be not less than as follows:

Street Type	Right-of-Way* (Feet)	Paving Width (Feet)
Arterials	80—150	60—120
Collectors	60—80	42—60
Minor	50—60	30—40
Marginal Access or Service Roads	30—40	24

 

* Exact width of the right-of-way shall be dependent upon the length of the street, the traffic-generating potential of land development, and public utility or storm drainage requirements.

(3)

Construction standards.

a.

All streets shall be constructed with respect to base, surfacing, curbs and geometric design criteria in accordance with the standards and specifications of the master development plan of the city and the regulations set forth herein, and shall be subject to the inspection and approval by the city manager. Samples of caliche shall be required to be laboratory tested prior to initiation of construction. All costs incurred in meeting this requirement shall be borne by the subdivider.

b.

No trees or shrubs shall be planted within a street right-of-way. No structures shall be placed within a street right-of-way. Within key areas where beautification is desired, street trees may be permitted if approved by the Public Works Department, but must not impede driver and pedestrian sight lines.

(4)

Adjacent streets. The subdivider shall dedicate right-of-way width and provide pavement width of streets forming part of an adjacent subdivision as required in the master development plan.

(5)

Existing streets. Where the proposed subdivision includes or abuts upon an existing half street, the subdivider shall dedicate right-of-way sufficient to make the full right-of-way width conform to this chapter, and there shall be paved so much of such right-of-way as to make the full pavement width comply with this chapter. Before any pavement is laid to widen existing pavement, the existing pavement shall be cut back to two (2) feet to assure an adequate sub-base and pavement joint.

(6)

Railroad right-of-way. Where a subdivision borders on, or contains a railroad right-of-way or limited access highway right-of-way, the planning commission may require a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way, at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of the intervening land, as for park purposes in residential districts, or for commercial or industrial purposes in the appropriate district. Such distances shall also be determined with due regard for the requirements of approach grades and future grade separations.

(n)

Curbs. Curbs shall be required and installed by the subdivider on both sides of all interior streets and on the subdivision side of adjacent streets. The curb shall be of concrete using the ratio of four (4) sacks of cement to one (1) yard of sand, and shall not be less than eighteen (18) inches wide, and shall be installed over a compacted caliche base of not less than eight (8) inches in depth. Samples of caliche shall be required to be laboratory tested by the subdivider prior to the initiation of construction, at no cost to the City of Eagle Pass.

(o)

Street names. Names of new streets shall not duplicate or cause confusion with the names of existing streets, unless the new street is a continuation of or in alignment with an existing street. Names of new streets shall be subject to approval of the commission.

(p)

Street lights. All new subdivisions (excluding replats) shall be provided with street lighting, and a plan for the installation of street lighting shall be presented by the property owner to the commission. Minimum lighting standards shall be as follows:

(1)

Arterial streets, twenty-seven thousand (27,000) lumens approximately every three hundred (300) feet of street length.

(2)

All other streets, sixteen thousand (16,000) lumens approximately every three hundred (300) feet of street length.

(3)

Minor variations in positioning of lamp poles due to lot and block configuration may be allowable with the approval of the commission.

(4)

On streets that serve as exterior boundaries of the subdivision, the commission may allow alternate spacings for lamp poles, where the adjacent land can be expected to develop and provide for its alternate half of the street lighting.

(5)

Installation and the first year's electricity costs shall be borne by the owner and considered as a utility cost for bonding requirements or alternative guarantees as may be allowed.

(q)

Street name signs. Within the city limits and within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, the subdivider, at his sole cost and expense, shall provide and install street name signs bearing also the number of the block at all intersections within and abutting the subdivision. In addition, the subdivider shall provide and install at his sole cost and expense traffic-control signs at locations designated by the city manager. All such name and traffic-control signs shall be of a type approved by the city, and shall be installed in accordance with the standards of the city. Street name signs and traffic-control signs shall not be installed until the street has been accepted for maintenance by the city, unless approved by the city manager to provide mail service.

(r)

[Street grades.] Street grades, wherever feasible, shall conform to the list below, with due allowance for reasonable vertical curves and the proper storm drainage.

Street Type	Maximum % Grade	Minimum % Grade
Arterial	6.0	0.20
Collector	6.25	0.20
Minor	7.0	0.20
Access/Service Roads	8.5	0.20

 

Proposed street grades shall be approved by the commission, with due regard being had for topography, contemplated land use, and the general drainage plan and facilities in the area surrounding the area subdivided.

(s)

[Street crown.] The crown of all streets shall be based on three-eighths of an inch per foot of street width, but in no case less than four (4) inches nor more than eight (8) inches. All alleys shall have an inverted crown on one-eighth of an inch per foot of alley width, but in no case less than three (3) inches nor more than five (5) inches.

(t)

Laboratory testing. All materials to be used in new land development construction shall be subject to testing if warranted. The preponderance of testing to be performed in new developments is directly related to public improvement construction, and a series of laboratory tests normally associated with public improvement construction will be required in new developments. Said tests shall be performed by an independent testing laboratory using qualified personnel.

The testing laboratory may be selected by the developer no more than five working days from the date of final plat approval by the planning and zoning commission. Selection shall be submitted to the city engineer in writing from a list of testing laboratories approved by the city. In the event no qualified laboratory is selected within the specified time period, the testing laboratory shall be selected by the city from the approved list on a rotational basis.

Changing of laboratory firm, once selected, shall be prohibited. If unforeseen circumstances arise, and an alternative laboratory is required, the replacement laboratory shall be selected by the city engineer from the list of approved laboratories on a rotational basis.

The testing laboratory shall bill directly to the developer.

It is assumed that the preponderance of testing required in the development is that testing related directly to street construction. For this reason, the following ratio of testing is established:

Ratio of Testing:
Subgrade	Minimum 1 per 150 feet of street
Under curb and gutter	Minimum 1 per 150 feet of curb
Caliche base	Minimum 1 per 150 feet of street
Lime stabilized base	Minimum 1 per 150 feet of street
Sand base	Minimum 1 per 150 feet of street
Backfill density control	Minimum of 10

 

Proctor (Moisture/Density Relationship):
Subgrade (new)	1 per development, unless material changes
Lime stabilized base	1 per development, unless material changes
Caliche	1 per 5,000 cubic yards material or less

 

Atterberg Limits and Gradation:
Caliche	1 per 5,000 cubic yards material
Sand base	1 per 2,500 cubic yards material

 

Hot-Mix Control:
Surface course design	1 per development
Base course design	1 per development
Extractions	2 per day run/minimum 1 per 500 ton
Densities (in place)	1 per 1,000 feet of street

 

Concrete:
Curb/gutter	1 set (3) per 500 feet
Sidewalk	1 set (3) per 4,000 square feet
Inlets	1 set (3) per 6 inlets

 

The above schedule is a minimum schedule for testing, failures are not included. In the event of failures, additional tests will be taken. If excessive rain occurs on a previously tested section, the city shall have the right to order re-testing as necessary.

The contractor shall notify the city public works director at least twenty-four (24) hours prior that he is ready for testing, and the city's representative shall inspect the work and concur with the contractor before testing can be authorized. The public works director or its representative shall notify the testing laboratory when tests are to be taken. In the event that neither the city public works director nor his/her representative is available for inspection of the work within four (4) hours, the contractor may order the laboratory testing. Provided, however, in the event of failures, retesting shall be at the contractor's expense. Except as otherwise provided above, it is the intent of the city that the contractor not contact the laboratory for the purpose of requesting routine test. The scope of materials incorporated in new development construction is not necessarily limited to those tests outlined herewith. In the event of unusual conditions or factors which may give the city reason to question the quality of the materials in any portion of the development, the city will have the right to order such tests as are necessary at the developer's expense. However, the city will consult with the project engineer on reasons for such additional tests before a testing laboratory will be asked to conduct such test.

All testing in accordance with these requirements will be performed in accordance with the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) latest revision, and/or as elsewhere provided unapproved plans and specifications for the development. The city will require all development test reports to be certified by a registered professional engineer (Texas registration) and will further require that the city be furnished a minimum of two (2) copies of testing reports.

Further, the project engineer shall provide the city for the testing laboratory a set of plans and specifications as well as a tabulation showing the estimate of quantities of material in the development.

(Ord. No. 05-22, § 1, 8-2-2005)