§ V. Design standards.

A.

Street plan. The subdivision of land, including the arrangement, character, extent, width, grade and location of all streets, alleys, or other land to be dedicated for public use, shall conform to the General Development Plan of the City of Pontiac as approved and adopted by the City Council and other responsible governmental bodies, if any; and shall be considered in their relation to existing and planned streets, to topographical conditions, to public convenience and safety, and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of the land to be served by such streets.

B.

Minimum street standards.

1.

All rights-of-way shall conform to the following minimum dimensions, or as designated on the official General Development Plan for the City of Pontiac and environs:

Primary or Major Streets	100 ft.
Secondary or Collector Streets	80 ft.
Minor Streets	50 ft.
Culs-de-sac	50 ft.
Cross-walkways	10 ft.
Utility Easements	10 ft.

 

2.

Minor streets shall be so laid out that their use by through traffic will be discouraged.

3.

Street jogs with center line offsets of less than 125 feet shall be avoided.

4.

Clear visibility, measured along the center line of the street, shall be provided for at least 300 feet on all primary streets, 200 feet on secondary streets, and at least 100 feet on all other streets.

5.

It must be evidenced that all street intersections and confluences encourage safe traffic flow.

6.

Alleys are not permitted, except where deemed necessary, and at the discretion of the Plan Commission or the City Council.

7.

The maximum length cul-de-sac shall be 500 feet measured along the center line from the intersection at origin through center of circle to end of right-of-way. Each cul-de-sac shall have a terminus of nearly circular shape with a minimum diameter of 100 feet.

8.

Half streets shall be prohibited, except where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision in conformity with the other requirements of these regulations; and where the Plan Commission or the City Council finds it will be practicable to require the dedication of the other half when the adjoining property is subdivided.

Wherever a half street is adjacent to a tract to be subdivided, the other half of the street shall be planned within such tract.

9.

No street names may be used which will duplicate, or be confused with, the names of existing streets. Existing street names must be projected wherever possible.

C.

Easements.

1.

Easements across lots or centered on rear or side lot lines shall be provided for utilities where necessary and shall be at least ten feet wide.

2.

Where a subdivision is traversed by a water course, drainage way, channel, or stream, there shall be provided a storm water easement or drainage right-of-way conforming substantially with the lines of such water course, and such further width or construction, or both, as will be adequate for the purpose. Parallel streets or parkways may be required in connection therewith.

D.

Block standards.

1.

The maximum lengths of blocks shall be 1,800 feet. Blocks over 800 feet may require cross-walkways. Cross-walk easements not less than 10 feet in width shall be provided where deemed necessary by the Plan Commission at the approximate centers of the blocks. The use of additional cross-walkways in any instance to provide safe and convenient access to schools, parks or other similar destinations may be recommended by the Plan Commission, or required by the City Council.

2.

No specific rule concerning the shape of blocks is made, but blocks must fit easily into the overall plan of the subdivision and their design must evidence consideration of lot planning, traffic flow, and public areas.

3.

Blocks intended for commercial and industrial use must be designated as such, and the plan must show adequate off-street areas to provide for parking, loading docks and such other facilities that may be required to accommodate motor vehicles.

E.

Lot standards.

1.

The minimum lot dimensions for residential development shall be 60 feet wide at the established building line and not less than 100 feet in average depth, except that a corner lot shall have a minimum width of 80 feet, and a minimum depth of 85 feet, and containing not less than 6,800 square feet in area, where permitted under the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, and provided the subdivided lots are served with municipal water and sanitary sewer facilities. (This minimum requirement shall not apply to land subdivided for non-residential development.)

2.

Corner lots shall be sufficiently larger than interior lots to allow maintenance of building lines on both streets.

3.

Within the incorporated limits of Pontiac, building lines shall conform to the front yard provisions of the zoning ordinance. Building lines for territory outside the incorporated limits, but within the jurisdiction of this ordinance, shall conform to the provisions of the applicable county ordinance, except that in no instance, shall the building line be less than 25 feet from the street line.

4.

All lots shall abut on a publicly dedicated street.

5.

Side lines of lots shall be approximately at right angles or radial to the street line.

6.

Double frontage lots are forbidden except where lots back upon a primary street (major thoroughfare) and in such instances, vehicular access between the lots and the thoroughfare is prohibited or where topography of the land might render subdividing otherwise unreasonable. Such lots shall have an additional depth of at least 10 feet in order to allow for a protective screen planting.

7.

Lots abutting a water course, drainage way, channel or stream, shall have additional minimum width or depth as required to provide an adequate building site and afford the minimum usable area required in the zoning ordinance for front, rear and side yards.

F.

Parks, schools and public areas.

1.

Where a proposed park, playground, school or other public use area included within the duly adopted official Comprehensive City Plan for the City of Pontiac and shown in the Development Plans made a part thereof, is located in whole or in part in an area being subdivided, the subdivider shall dedicate such lands to the proper public agency or agencies as a part of the final subdivision plat; provided, however, that in no case shall the amount of required public areas to be dedicated, in addition to public streets and alleys, exceed ten percent of the total gross acreage owned or controlled by one developer. Where such area for park, school, or other public use exceeds ten percent of the total gross area owned or controlled by one developer, that part of such lands in excess of ten percent of the total area shall also be shown on all subdivision plans and plats; and the acquisition of such additional area needed for parks, playgrounds, schools or other public uses, other than streets and alleys, shall be secured by the proper governing body, or arrangements made for the acquisition of the area from the subdivider within a period not to exceed three years from the date of approval of the preliminary plan. (Ord. of 9-6-67)

2.

In the subdividing of any land within the City, or within one and one-half miles of the corporate limits, due regard shall be shown for all natural features, such as tree growth, water courses, historic spots, or similar conditions which, if preserved, will add attractiveness and value to the proposed development.