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H. The modification of street requirements for affordable housing. As adopted, the county's existing sidewalk and street requirements provide for minimum construction standards to ensure public safety. According to section 913.09(b)(1) (Subdivisions and Plats) of the LDRs, all subdivisions must comply with the minimum standards set forth in Chapter 952 (Traffic). While Chapter 952 sets the minimum right- of-way width for a Local or residential street at 60 feet, the minimum right-of-way width may be reduced to 50 feet if the street is constructed with a curb and gutter drainage system. In both cases, however, minimum lane widths remain the same at 11 feet. Although there is a higher cost associated with curb and gutter construction than with swale drainage, the reduction in the amount of right-of-way can produce a higher yield for a project. These street right-of-way requirements can be modified through the Planned Development (PD) process. Following is the county's current minimum right-of-way requirement. 913.09(b)(1) Minimum street and rights-of-way widths. The minimum street and rights-of-way widths shall be as stated in Chapter 952, Traffic, of the LDRs. The board of county commissioners may require the increase of right-of-way and pavement widths if it finds that the modification in width is consistent with the projected traffic needs and good engineering practice. No variance will be granted on minimum right-of-way widths for public streets. Right-of-way widths for one-way streets may be reduced from the above standards as approved by the public works director. ANALYSIS: As structured, the county's minimum street right-of-way width requirements are based on the minimum area needed to accommodate the various improvements that must be located in the right-of-way. Besides travel lanes, sidewalks, and drainage facilities, these improvements include water and sewer lines, gas lines, phone lines, cable lines, and others. Since the referenced improvements must be provided for in the road right-of- way, the county has determined that the minimum right of way width generally must be 60 feet for swale drainage roads and 50 feet for curb and gutter roadways. Reductions in those widths, however, may be accommodated via special designs approved through the County's PD (Planned Development) process. Because the county's minimum local road right-of-way width requirement may be modified through a PD process, when warranted, the county accommodates the subject incentive. RECOMENDATION: The county's current street right-of-way general requirements are appropriate to ensure public safety, and the County's current allowance for modifications through the PD approval process should be maintained. F:\Community Development\SHIP\AHAC\AHAC 2014\AHAC 2014 report.doc 19 64