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Notes: <br />a. Class B private roads serve 1 to 5 lots or dwelling units; however, <br />subdivisions with two lots or dwelling units may be served by a shared driveway. <br />b. Class A private roads serve 6 to 12 lots or dwelling units. <br />c. Both Class A and Class B private roads may be graveled. <br />W <br />2. Roads constructed to NCDOT standards for all subdivisions having 13 or more lots. <br />NCDOT's Minimum Construction Standards for Subdivision Roads may be found at the <br />following link: <br />http: / /orangecountync.gov /planning/ documents/ SubdivisionManuaIJanuary2010 .pdf <br />The County's two - tiered approach to requiring private roads was originally intended to allow an <br />affordable development option for small subdivisions of no more than 5 lots. <br />It should be noted North Carolina General Statutes exempt certain types of subdivisions from <br />the County's subdivision review process: <br />1. The combination or recombination of portions of previously subdivided and recorded <br />lots if the total number of lots is not increased and the resultant lots are equal to or <br />exceed the standards of the County, including private road justification standards, as <br />detailed within the UDO. <br />2. The division of land into parcels greater than 10 acres if no street right -of -way <br />dedication is involved. <br />3. The public acquisition by purchase of strips of land for widening or opening streets. <br />4. The division of a tract in single ownership of the entire area of which is no greater than <br />two acres into not more than three lots if no street right -of -way dedication is involved <br />and if the resultant lots are equal to or exceed the standards of the County, as detailed <br />within the UDO. <br />Lots created via the exempt process do not have to comply with established road development <br />standards as detailed herein regardless of the number of lots proposed. <br />Summary of Concerns: Problems have been reported by the County's Emergency Services <br />Department and the Volunteer Fire Departments regarding emergency vehicle access on <br />private roads. The narrow width of the Class B road has presented public safety issues as it <br />does not provide adequate access for emergency services vehicles, and thus impacts <br />response times. There have also been issues for emergency vehicle access on roadways <br />serving exempt subdivisions due to road width issues, and admittedly our regulations cannot <br />address the issue because of the exemption. <br />2 <br />TABLE <br />7.8.5.D BASIC STANDARDS <br />AND SPECIFICATIONS <br />FOR PRIVATE <br />ROADS <br />_JA <br />Max. Number of Lots <br />12 <br />2 <br />3 <br />5 <br />Right -of -Way Width <br />50 ft. <br />50 ft. <br />50 ft. <br />50 ft. <br />Travel -Way Width <br />18 ft. <br />No Standard <br />12 ft. <br />12 ft. <br />Road Maintenance <br />Yes <br />Yes <br />Yes <br />Yes <br />Agreement Required <br />Maintenance <br />Property Owners <br />Property <br />Property Owners <br />Property <br />Responsibility <br />Owners <br />Owners <br />Notes: <br />a. Class B private roads serve 1 to 5 lots or dwelling units; however, <br />subdivisions with two lots or dwelling units may be served by a shared driveway. <br />b. Class A private roads serve 6 to 12 lots or dwelling units. <br />c. Both Class A and Class B private roads may be graveled. <br />W <br />2. Roads constructed to NCDOT standards for all subdivisions having 13 or more lots. <br />NCDOT's Minimum Construction Standards for Subdivision Roads may be found at the <br />following link: <br />http: / /orangecountync.gov /planning/ documents/ SubdivisionManuaIJanuary2010 .pdf <br />The County's two - tiered approach to requiring private roads was originally intended to allow an <br />affordable development option for small subdivisions of no more than 5 lots. <br />It should be noted North Carolina General Statutes exempt certain types of subdivisions from <br />the County's subdivision review process: <br />1. The combination or recombination of portions of previously subdivided and recorded <br />lots if the total number of lots is not increased and the resultant lots are equal to or <br />exceed the standards of the County, including private road justification standards, as <br />detailed within the UDO. <br />2. The division of land into parcels greater than 10 acres if no street right -of -way <br />dedication is involved. <br />3. The public acquisition by purchase of strips of land for widening or opening streets. <br />4. The division of a tract in single ownership of the entire area of which is no greater than <br />two acres into not more than three lots if no street right -of -way dedication is involved <br />and if the resultant lots are equal to or exceed the standards of the County, as detailed <br />within the UDO. <br />Lots created via the exempt process do not have to comply with established road development <br />standards as detailed herein regardless of the number of lots proposed. <br />Summary of Concerns: Problems have been reported by the County's Emergency Services <br />Department and the Volunteer Fire Departments regarding emergency vehicle access on <br />private roads. The narrow width of the Class B road has presented public safety issues as it <br />does not provide adequate access for emergency services vehicles, and thus impacts <br />response times. There have also been issues for emergency vehicle access on roadways <br />serving exempt subdivisions due to road width issues, and admittedly our regulations cannot <br />address the issue because of the exemption. <br />2 <br />