13 PCSR 04-27-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ordinance Amendment, Section 1008 . 14 Page 3 March 17, 1993 • The Building and Zoning staff does not feel comfortable with the 1, 000 foot length for dead-end roads mentioned by the Police Chief and Fire Chief. However, all of the variances for permanent dead-end roads in 1992 could have been eliminated, if the City' s standard was increased to 700 feet. Staff is recommending the City Code of Ordinance is amended to allow cul-de-sacs to be 700 feet long measured from the center line of the street of origin to the center of the circle. Measuring to the center of the circle is more consistent with surveying practices . Attachment No. 6 is an excerpt from Cottage Grove's subdivision ordinance. Under d. 1, "Cul-de-sac Streets, " the rationale for allowing a variance is detailed. Staff feels the City of Elk River should incorporate similar language in our own ordinance adding that consideration will be given for dead-end roads exceeding the maximum length in order to extend to the plat boundary. FUTURE EXTENSIONS Section 1008 . 14 ( 1) (b) , states; "Wherever feasible, the arrangement of streets in new subdivisions shall provide for continuation of existing streets in adjoining areas . Also, the arrangement of streets in a new subdivision shall make • provisions for the proper projection of streets into adjoining, unsubdivided areas by carrying the new streets to the boundaries of the subdivision at appropriate locations . " Staff is recommending these road extensions to plat boundaries are actually accomplished by building the street, and providing a turn around through temporary easements, which would be removed when the street is extended. Further, staff is recommending provisions are made to protect the unsubdivided adjacent property from vehicle traffic entering it by the proper placement of barricades . There is an issue of whether or not these future street extensions should be tarred or left class 5 . One concern is that the tar would deteriorate and have to be resurfaced when the adjacent property subdivides . Also, there is a question of whether a future street extension will be used in the subdivision of the adjacent property. WHEN TO ALLOW CUL-DE-SACS There are currently 82 cul-de-sacs within the City limits . Cul-de-sacs do take extra effort to snow plow. They also provide for lots that are typically more desirable and, therefore, more valuable because they tend to be safer and have a higher degree of privacy. • There are clearly times to allow cul-de-sacs . The language under d. 1 in Attachment 6, "Cul-de-sac Streets" addresses when