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ITEM 8 <br /> .k./ -\( <br /> agfic <br /> TO: PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> R• <br /> iver FROM: STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING AND ZONING <br /> ADMINISTRATOR S <br /> DATE: FEBRUARY 16, 1993 1� <br /> SUBJECT: ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, SECTION <br /> 1008 . 14 "LENGTH OF DEAD-END ROADS" <br /> BY THE CITY OF ELK RIVER/PUBLIC <br /> HEARING <br /> Each year the Building and Zoning Department' s Annual Report <br /> reviews the zoning requests for the year to identify trends . <br /> During the preparation of the 1992 Annual Report, variances on <br /> the maximum length of dead-end roads was the most frequent type <br /> of variance request. <br /> Section 1008 . 14 (5) ( j ) , "Subdivision Design Standards" states <br /> "the maximum length of a street terminating in a cul-de-sac <br /> shall be 500 ft measured from the center line of the street of <br /> origin to the end of the right-of-way. " The rationale for <br /> limiting the maximum length of a dead-end road is for safety <br /> sake. For example, if a dead-end road is blocked (car <br /> accident, fallen tree, etc. ) , the longer the road, the farther <br /> • a stretcher would have to be carried in, and the longer it <br /> would take to string hose in case of a fire. A further reason <br /> for restricting the length of a dead-end road is the more hose <br /> you string out the more pressure you loose from that hose. <br /> Attached is a memo from Tom Zerwas, Police Chief, and Russ <br /> Anderson, Fire Chief, responding to the possibility of <br /> increasing the length of dead-end roads . It appears that some <br /> increase to the maximum length for a dead-end road is feasible. <br /> Terry Maurer, City Engineer, and Phil Hals, Street <br /> Superintendent, have also commented on this issue. Mr. Maurer <br /> feels the length of dead-end roads has no bearing on <br /> engineering with the exception of that cul-de-sacs typically <br /> result in dead-end water lines . The longer the cul-de-sac, the <br /> more people using the water line, which is of benefit. <br /> Mr. Hals has commented that cul-de-sacs typically require more <br /> time for snow plowing per house served than do through <br /> streets . Citizens find it desirable to live on cul-de-sacs and <br /> they are the ones paying taxes for the snow plowing, therefore, <br /> staff does not feel snow plowing is a great issue. Mr. Hals is <br /> recommending houses on cul-de-sacs have a common mail box <br /> location to help alleviate the problem of cul-de-sacs lacking <br /> room for snow storage. <br /> • Another street issues with cul-de-sacs is that they do not <br /> allow for very much on-street parking. Dead-end roads that are <br /> 720 Dodge Avenue N.W., Elk River, Minnesota 55330 (612) 441-7420 <br />