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3 NCDOT Public Road Construction Standards Long-term maintenance costs of private roads have led to many requests for NCDOT to accept these roads into the State-maintained system. The construction standards for NCDOT acceptance are higher than the County’s Class B private road standards, and are typically prohibitively expensive to overcome. Subdivision roads with a right- of-way dedicated, recorded, or with preliminary approval from a county planning board dated after September 30, 1975 will not be added to the State system unless the road is built to the minimum construction standards of the Division of Highways. The minimum State construction standard is 18 feet of pavement within a 50-foot right-of-way. Additional information regarding NCDOT construction standards can be found at: http://orangecountync.gov/planning/documents/SubdivisionManualJanuary2010.pdf Staff Recommended Options for Revisions to the Private Road and Access Standards of the UDO: To provide an appropriate level of service for emergency services vehicles and ensure the provision of adequate public safety protection standards for development, staff believes the following options should be discussed: 1. Do away with the Class B private roads and allow only the Class A private roads, which requires a minimum 18-foot travel-way. 2. Develop a requirement that all newly created lots have access to a complying road (either private or public). To continue to allow a reasonable and affordable development option for small subdivisions, staff suggests consideration of the following UDO revision: 3. Allow subdivisions with up to three lots or dwelling units to be served by a shared driveway, subject to provision of a minimum driveway width, maximum driveway length, and a turnaround area that can accommodate Emergency Services vehicles. (The UDO currently allows two lots or dwelling units to be served by a shared driveway.) Fire Council comments that can be addressed in the UDO: Upon reviewing the comments within Attachment 3, Planning staff believes the following can be addressed in the UDO: 4. Cul-de-sac: Require a minimum clearing width for all proposed cul-de-sacs of 50 feet to accommodate emergency vehicle access/staging within Section 7.8.5 (D) (10) of the UDO. There is currently no ‘minimum clearing width’ separate from the development of the actual, improved, travel area. This is something staff would verify before the subdivision is recorded. 5. Drainage pipes under driveways: Section 7.8.5 (D) (9) could be amended to establish a minimum width for all drain pipes of 16 feet, to address the concern of trucks being ‘hung up’ when attempting to access/leave a property. 6. Gates/Walls: With respect to required widths and setbacks for gates/privacy walls regulations could be adopted to require minimum travel widths and stacking areas to accommodate the Fire Council’s concerns. Staff would need to determine where such regulations would best fit within the UDO. 101