§ 154.05.02. STREETS.

All streets, which shall hereafter be established in connection with the development of a subdivision, shall comply with the design standards of the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the Town and County of Lexington. Should the County not accept the new street or road, the following requirements will apply:

(A)

The layout of the streets as to arrangement, character, width, grade and location may be required to conform to the Town's master plan, official map, comprehensive plan, to adjoining street systems or adjoining properties, and to the topography, natural features and drainage systems provided. Streets constructed in a gas or electrical transmission line right-of-way will not be platted or dedicated as a public street. Exception: A street constructed to cross the right-of-way at no more than forty-five (45) degrees from perpendicular, as permitted by the utility company, may be platted and dedicated as a public street.

The Planning Commission may also grant exceptions as permitted by the utility company providing that all of the following pertain:

(1)

There exists no reasonable alternative to placement of the street within the power line easement and that without an exception, the developer will suffer substantial financial hardship; and

(2)

An alternative means of ingress and egress is available in the event of an emergency. Provided, however, the Planning Commission may grant exceptions to this requirement if it is determined that the entire tract under consideration cannot be developed without such exception; and

(3)

The developer agrees to post sufficient security to reimburse the Town of Lexington for expenses incurred by the Town to repair streets and appurtenances damaged by any work of the utility because of maintenance and repair in connection with the transmission line easement.

(B)

Minor streets shall be so laid out so that their use by through traffic will be discouraged, but to encourage use by local traffic.

(C)

Where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed collector or through street, the Planning Commission may require marginal access streets, reverse frontage with screen planting, deep lots or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and to afford separation of through and local traffic.

(D)

Roads of an existing subdivision shall not be used as the sole means of ingress and egress in developing a new subdivision or extending an existing one unless granted by the Planning Commission. If, in judgment of the Planning Commission, the increased traffic and noise would create a safety hazard or otherwise be detrimental to residents of the existing subdivision, additional access shall be provided.

(E)

Continuation of existing street pattern. Whenever topography will permit, the arrangements of streets in a subdivision shall provide for the alignment and continuation or projection of existing streets in adjoining areas. This is to mean the interconnectivity of subdivision developments.

(F)

Cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sacs shall terminate in a circular turnaround having a minimum right-of-way of at least one hundred feet (100') in a diameter and a paved turnaround with a minimum out side diameter eighty feet (80') or other approved type of turnaround. Maximum length shall not exceed eight hundred feet (800') unless unusual circumstances require a greater length.

(G)

Temporary dead-end streets. Temporary dead-end streets, which extend for a greater distance than the depth of one abutting lot, shall be provided with a temporary turnaround having a diameter of eighty feet (80'), or other suitable turnaround.

(H)

Half Streets. Half streets are prohibited along property lines. Whenever a street is planned adjacent to the proposed subdivision tract boundary, the entire street right-of-way shall be platted within the proposed subdivision.

(I)

Intersections. The centerline of no more than two (2) streets shall intersect at any one point. Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles and no street shall intersect any other street at an angle of less than sixty (60) degrees (angles of intersection to be measured at the intersection of street centerline). Curved streets shall have a minimum tangent of one hundred feet (100') at intersections.

(J)

Reverse curves. Where practical, a tangent of at least two hundred feet (200') on minor streets and three hundred feet (300') on collector streets shall be provided between reverse curves. On major thoroughfares, tangent distances shall be determined by the State Highway Department.

(K)

Street access. Where it is essential to the development of a logical street pattern, street right-of-way shall be extended to the boundary of adjoining property. Incompatible characteristics of adjoining property shall be given due consideration in making a determination of what shall constitute a logical street pattern. Each residential collector road shall have either:

(a)

Two (2) or more access points to roads of equal or higher classification; or

(b)

Substantial improvement, satisfactory to the Town Engineer, to accommodate projected traffic flow, i.e., acceleration/deceleration lanes, stop lights, etc.

(L)

Street jogs. Street jogs should be avoided. Where unavoidable, street jogs at intersections shall have a centerline offset of not less than one hundred fifty feet (150').

(M)

Street names. Streets that are extensions of, or obviously in alignment with existing named streets, shall bear that name. The name of new streets shall be subject to the approval of the Town Planning Commission and shall not duplicate or be similar in sound to existing names in Lexington County, irrespective of the use of the suffix street, avenue, circle, way, boulevard, drive, place or court or the like.

(N)

Additional right-of-way. Subdivisions which include an existing platted street that does not conform to the minimum right-of-way requirements of these regulations shall provide additional width along one or both sides of such street so that the minimum right-of-way required by these regulations is established. Subdivisions abutting only one side of such street shall provide a minimum of one-half (½), measured from the centerline of the existing right-of-way, of the right-of-way required by these regulations.

(O)

Right-of-way and pavement widths. Minimum right-of-way and pavement widths shall be as follows:

Street Classifications	**ROW (feet)	*Pavement (feet)
Arterial	85	50
Collector - direct access	66	33 - Roll back curbs
- no direct access	50	27 - Barrier curbs
Local (minor)	50	25 - Roll back curbs

 

* 

Measured from:

(1)

Back-to-back of curbs; or

(2)

Low point of the valley to low point of the valley.

**

As shown on the major thoroughfare plan. Right-of-way usually reserved or dedicated by subdivider and improved by others.

(P)

Street grades. Grades on major thoroughfares shall be established by the State Highway Department. Grades on collector streets shall not exceed eight percent (8%) unless topographic conditions make this impractical. Grades on minor residential streets shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%). All streets shall have a minimum grade of not less than one-half percent (.5%).

(Q)

Horizontal curves. Where a deflection angle of more than ten (10) degrees occurs in the alignment of a minor street, a curve of reasonable radius shall be introduced. A curve shall be introduced at any change in direction of a collector street or major thoroughfare. On major thoroughfares, the centerline radius of a curvature shall be determined by the State Highway Department. On collector streets the centerline radius of curvature shall not be less than three hundred fifty feet (350'). On minor streets, the centerline radius of a curvature shall not be less than one hundred fifty feet (150').

(R)

Vertical curves. Minimum stopping sight distance on major thoroughfares shall be determined by the State Highway Department. On collector streets minimum stopping sight distance shall be two hundred seventy-five feet (275') (forty (40) mph), and on minor streets one hundred sixty feet (160') (twenty-five (25) mph). Stopping sight distances shall be measured from height of eye of three feet (3') nine inches (9") to an object with a height of six inches (6"). Both distances measured above the centerline of the street. Stopping sight distances shall conform to the standards of the American Association of State Highway Officials.

(S)

Split level streets. Streets which are constructed so as to have two (2) traffic ways, each at different levels within the same right-of-way, shall provide a paved traffic surface of at least twenty feet (20') on each level and a slope between the two (2) traffic ways of three to one (3:1) or flatter.

(Ord. 99-004, § 2 (§ 5-2), passed 2-1-99; Am. Ord. 99-021, passed 6-7-99; Ord. 2003-04, § 1, passed 1-6-03; Ord. 2005-66, § 1, passed 12-5-05)