Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

(a) Cross – Sections. The minimum right-of-way and roadway width of all proposed streets shall be as specified by this Ordinance, town and County comprehensive plan or component, County highway width map or jurisdictional highway system plan, or neighborhood development plan, and in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the town and, if applicable, County. If no right-of-way width is specified therein, the minimum widths shall be as specified in Table 14.07-1.

Table 14.07-1. MINIMUM RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH REQUIREMENTS FOR STREETS AND OTHER PUBLIC WAYS

Urban Street

Minimum Right-of-Way Width

Arterial

As shown on the County Highway Width Map but generally not less than 130 feet

Collector

80 feet

Minor

66 feet

Pedestrian and Bicycle/Recreation Waysa

20 feet

Cul-de-sac Turn-around

65-foot radius

Rural Street

Minimum Right-of-Way Width

Arterial

As shown on the County Highway Width Map but generally not less than 130 feet

Collector

80 feet

Minor

66 feet

Pedestrian and Bicycle/Recreation Waysa

20 feet

Cul-de-sac Turn-around

65-foot radius

Note: Refer to Section 82.50 of the Wisconsin Statutes for minimum cross-sections for town roads.

aRight-of-way width for combined pedestrian, bicycle, and recreation ways separate from street rights-of-way.

(b) Urban and Rural Arterial Street and Highway Cross-Section Standards shall not apply to freeways and expressways. Freeway and expressway systems shall be based upon detailed engineering studies approved by the County highway commission, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation System Development, or the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

(c) Cul-de-Sac Streets designed to have one end permanently closed shall not exceed 1,000 feet in length, unless otherwise approved by the town board and provisions are made for adequate emergency access. For lengths proposed to exceed 1,000 feet, the subdivider shall present extraordinary circumstances forcing the use of such lengths due to exceptional environmental constraints, the preservation of hilltops, irregular tract shape, or other limiting factors; however, provisions for adequate emergency access must still be provided. Cul-de-sac streets shall typically terminate in a circular or “teardrop” turn-around having a minimum right-of-way radius as specified in Illustration No. 4, depending on the type of design configuration, if landscape islands are provided, and other factors as noted. The design, size, construction, and maintenance of a cul-de-sac shall be as determined by the town board, after considering a recommendation from the town engineer, based in part on the minimum design standards specified in Illustration No. 4. Such turnarounds with landscape planting islands, including “eyebrow” turnarounds (half circular cul-de-sacs or looped streets), may be allowed provided that the islands are maintained by private means such as a homeowners or condominium association. The town may require curb and gutter at the perimeter of such islands (also see Section 14.08-6(a)).

(d) Temporary Termination of streets intended to be extended at a later date shall be accomplished with the construction of a temporary circular – or “T”-shaped turnaround within the street right-of-way. Temporary turnarounds must be connected and extended when the adjoining property is developed. If the right-of-way for the temporary turnaround is wider than 66 feet, then the wider “bump-out” portion shall be a temporary easement which shall eventually be removed or vacated when the subject road is extended and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.08-5 of this Ordinance. Required front yards or building setbacks would be measured from the street right-of-way that is to be permanently dedicated.

(e) Bicycle and Pedestrian/Recreation Ways with a right-of-way, outlot, or public access easement width of not less than 20 feet may be required where deemed necessary by the town or County to provide adequate bicycle, pedestrian, and other recreational circulation or access to schools, parks, houses of worship, shopping centers, or transportation facilities. Bicycle and pedestrian/recreational paths in wooded and wetland areas shall be so designed and constructed as to minimize the removal of noninvasive trees, shrubs, and other vegetation, and to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Also see Sections 14.08-8 and 14.08-17(c) for requirements that may affect such facility design. Design specifications should be determined during engineering studies for specific street and highway projects, and should be based on recommendations in the most recent edition of the “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities,” published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); the “Wisconsin Bicycle Facility Design Handbook,” and “Facilities Development Manual,” published by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Section 7.05, “ Bicycle Lanes,” of the Kenosha County Traffic and Boating Laws Code; and the adopted Kenosha County Comprehensive Bicycle Plan. Signing, traffic control devices, and striping configurations for bicycle facilities should be provided in accordance with the most recent edition of the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,” also published by AASHTO.

(f) Grades.

(1) Street grades shall be established wherever practicable so as to avoid excessive grading, the promiscuous removal of ground cover and tree growth, and indiscriminate leveling of the terrain. All changes in street grades that exceed one (1) percent shall be connected by vertical curves that meet the standards for “stopping” sight distance established in AASHTO, “A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets”.

(2) Unless necessitated by exceptional topography and subject to the approval of the town or County zoning committee, the maximum centerline grade of any street or public way within public street rights-of-way shall not exceed the following:

a. Arterial streets: 6 percent.

b. Collector, minor, frontage, and cul-de-sac streets: 8 percent.

c. Sidewalks/Pedestrian ways: 8 percent. Where a sidewalk/pedestrian way runs along an existing roadway with a grade that exceeds 8 percent, the sidewalk/pedestrian way may also exceed 8 percent but shall be less than or equal to the existing roadway grade in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

(3) The grade of any street shall in no case exceed 10 percent or be less than one-half of one (0.5) percent for streets with an urban cross section, or less than one (1) percent for streets with a rural cross section, unless otherwise approved by the town or County.

(4) See Section 14.07-5(f) for grades at street intersections.

(g) Crowns. Unless otherwise approved, roadway pavements shall be designed with a centerline crown. Offset crowns or continuous cross-slopes may be utilized upon approval of the town or County engineer.

(h) Radii of Curvatures. When a continuous street centerline deflects at any one point by more than 7 degrees, a circular curve shall be introduced having a radius of curvature on said centerline of not less than the following:

(1) Arterial streets and highways: 500 feet.

(2) Collector streets: 300 feet.

(3) Minor streets: 100 feet.

Minimum curve radii shall be further based on the consideration of traffic speed, sight distances, and other factors. A tangent at least 100 feet in length shall be provided between reverse curves on arterial and collector streets.

(j) Half – Streets. Where an existing dedicated or platted half-street is adjacent to the proposed land division, the other half of the street shall be dedicated by the subdivider. The platting of new half-streets should be avoided where possible.

(j) Street Elevations in Floodplains. Elevations of streets passing through floodplains shall be designed in the following manner:

(1) At least 2 feet above the 2 percent annual probability (50-year recurrence interval) flood elevation for arterials streets.

(2) At least 2 feet above the 10 percent annual probability 10-year recurrence interval) flood elevation for collector and minor streets.

(3) Freeways, expressways, and railways shall be designed so that they will not be overtopped by the 1 percent annual probability (100-year recurrence interval) flood.

(k) Bridges and Culverts. All new and replacement bridges and culverts carrying highways and arterial streets over waterways, in addition to meeting other applicable requirements, shall be designed to accommodate the 2 percent annual probability (50-year recurrence interval) flood flow, with the upstream or downstream high water elevation not to exceed a level of 2 feet below the roadway elevation and no hydraulic head loss through the structure. Waterway openings of all new bridges and culverts carrying collector and minor streets and pedestrians over waterways shall be adequate to accommodate the 10 percent annual probability (10-year recurrence interval) flood flow, and with upstream or downstream highwater elevation not to exceed a level of 2 feet below the roadway elevation and no hydraulic head loss through the structure. However, the combination of the waterway opening and the approach road elevations on the floodplains shall not increase the flood stages, either upstream or downstream, upon the occurrence of the1 percent annual probability (100-year recurrence interval) flood established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood stage increases may be acceptable for reaches having topographic or land use conditions which could accommodate increased stages without creating additional flood damage potential upstream or downstream of the proposed structure, provided flood easements or other appropriate legal arrangements have been secured with all affected units of government and property owners and local zoning ordinances affected by the increase in the flood stage are amended. Such bridges and culverts shall be so designed and constructed as to facilitate the passage of ice floes and other debris. New and replacement bridges shall be constructed in accordance with applicable State regulations and shall be submitted to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, excluding ordinary maintenance repair or resurfacing of such bridges, to assure compliance therewith.

(l) Street Curb and Gutters. See Section 14.08-6.

(m) Passing and Acceleration/Deceleration Lanes. When the land to be subdivided is proposed to have a street connection to an arterial street or highway, the town or County zoning committee, after considering a recommendation from the town or County engineer, may require that the subdivider install a “passing” or “bypass” lane adjacent to the traffic lane opposite the intersection as well as an acceleration and a deceleration lane adjacent to the traffic lane nearest the intersection, all of which shall be approved by the town or County engineer. [Code § 14.07-4.]