Article I. - Design Standards and Improvements


16.12.010 - Conformance to the comprehensive plan and zoning code.

The design of subdivisions, short plats and binding site plan developments, including, but not limited to, layout of streets, lots and blocks shall be consistent with the town of Naches comprehensive plan update. Dimensional lot standards shall be as required by Naches' zoning code.

(Ord. 496 § 7.0, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.0, 1998)

16.12.020 - Lot and block design standards.

A.   Block Dimensions. The lengths, widths and shapes of blocks shall be determined with regard given to: (1) provision of adequate building sites suitable to the special needs of the type of use contemplated; (2) needs for convenient access, circulation, control and safety of street traffic; and (3) limitations and opportunities of topography.
1.   Block lengths shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) feet.
2.   Pedestrian crosswalks, not less than ten (10) feet wide, may be required where deemed essential to provide circulation or access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, transportation and other community facilities. Such crosswalks may be required to be marked and maintained annually.
B.   Lot Dimensions. Lot size, width, depth, shape and orientation shall conform to the zoning standards applicable to the area within which the property is located. Sufficient area for the proposed use, setbacks and other area requirements shall be accommodated.
1.   Through Lot, also known as Double Frontage Lot.
a.   No residential lots shall have road frontage along two opposite boundaries unless justified by topographical features or the need to provide separation of the lots from arterials, railways, commercial activities or similar uses.
b.   An easement of at least ten (10) feet, and across which there shall be no right of access, shall be provided along the line of lots abutting the arterial or other area of disadvantageous use.
2.   Flag Lots. Flag lots, as defined in Section 16.04.100, may be permitted to accommodate buildable area which does not have standard frontage on a public street and where access to the buildable area is not feasible by any other standard land division method or lot design. In general, flag lots are only allowed to encourage infill development, preserve natural areas or to allow development of land-locked (buildable) areas. The narrow (access) portion of the flag lot shall not be used to grant access to other property not having frontage on a public street.
3.   Lot Access/Frontage
a.   Every lot shall be provided with frontage on a public street or approved private lane as provided in Section 16.12.060 connecting to an existing public street.
b.   The lot frontage of a flag lot as provided in subsection (D)(2) of this section, shall be at least twenty (20) feet in width. The building site portion of the flag lot shall meet the dimensional standards of the applicable zone. The length, width and improvement of the access to the building site shall comply with the requirements of Yakima County Fire District No. 3.
c.   Developments abutting principal arterial streets shall be designed to provide access from interior streets. Access to arterial streets by individual lots shall only be permitted with specific findings demonstrating compelling need based on lot size, shape, topography or other property characteristics and addressing public safety.
d.   Corner lots for residential use shall have extra width to permit appropriate building setback from and orientation to both streets.
4.   Cul-de-sac (Turnaround) Lots.
a.   No more than four lots may be located exclusively on the turnaround of a cul-de-sac.
b.   The minimum lot width for lots on cul-de-sac turnarounds shall be fifty (50) feet measured at the required setback line.
5.   Parks and Recreation Areas. Pursuant to RCW 58.17.110 and related statutes, the town council may require subdivisions to designate up to five percent of their land area exclusive of streets, as either private or public parks and recreational areas, the nature of which shall be clearly indicated on the plat; provided, not less than a contiguous minimum of ten thousand (10,000) square feet shall be so allocated. The acquisition of land required by the town for public parks or recreational areas, other than streets and alleys, shall be obtained by deed from the developer prior to final approval of the plat. As an alternative to dedication of public parks and recreational areas, the developer may be required to contribute to the town for park purposes to benefit the area up to five percent of the developed value of the lots to be sold in the plat. Payment of cash in lieu of land for park purposes in the area shall be made by the developer to the town before final approval is given. The moneys to be exclusively used for park development purposes, shall be deposited in a special park fund to be dedicated by the town to benefit the area platted.

(Ord. 496 § 7.1, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.1, 1998)

16.12.030 - Street design standards

A.   Street right-of-way and Improvement Width. Street right-of-way and improvement width for residential, collector and principal arterial streets shall comply with Section 16.12.160.
B.   Subdivision Street Access. Subdivisions shall be served by one or more improved streets providing ingress and egress to and from the subdivision as follows:
1.   A subdivision of fourteen (14) or fewer lots on a cul-de-sac which does not exceed four hundred (400) feet, or on an approved stub street which does not exceed four hundred (400) feet in length may have one access point;
2.   A subdivision of fifteen (15) or more lots shall have a minimum of two access points. More may be required based on factors in subsection (C)(2) of this section.
C.   Conformance to Street Plan—Continuation of Streets.
1.   Subdivisions and short plats shall provide for the location and necessary right-of- way to conform to the town street plan.
2.   Subdivisions and short plats shall provide for the continuation or appropriate projection of local access (residential), collector and principal arterial streets.
3.   Where a subdivision borders on or contains a railroad right-of-way or limited access highway right-of-way, the town may require a street approximately parallel to and on each side of such right-of-way, at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of the intervening land, as for park purposes in residential districts, or for commercial or industrial purposes in appropriate districts. Such distance shall also be determined with due regard for the requirements of approach grades and future grade separations.
D.   Cul-de-sac Streets. Cul-de-sac streets shall have a maximum length of four hundred (400) feet measured from its centerline intersection with the public access street right-of-way to the turnaround. The turnaround at the end of a cul-de-sac street shall have a minimum right-of-way radius of sixty (60) feet and a minimum curb radius of fifty (50) feet.
E.   Street Intersections. Street intersections shall be as nearly as possible at right angles as is practicable but shall not intersect at less than eighty (80) degrees. Offset street intersections of less than two hundred (200) feet for collector and arterial streets or one hundred (100) feet for residential or local access streets will not be permitted unless otherwise approved by the town engineer. Property lines at street intersections shall be rounded with a twenty (20) feet or greater radius where the town engineer may deem it necessary.
F.   Stub Streets. Stub streets shall be allowed only to provide for the planned continuation of streets on adjacent property. A standard turnaround shall be required at the end of a stub street.
G.   Half Streets. Half width streets shall be prohibited.
H.   Street Grades. Street grades shall be kept to minimum town standards depending upon topographic conditions and whether the street is designated as an arterial, collector or local access street. No street grade shall be less than two-tenths (0.20) percent nor more than twelve (12) percent.
I.   Street Designations.
1.   Streets that are in general alignment with others already existing and named shall bear the names of the existing streets. Other streets shall not bear names that duplicate or phonetically approximate the names of existing streets. Street names shall be subject to approval of the town council.
2.   A street with a general north-south alignment shall be designated "avenue"; one with a general east-west alignment shall be designated "street"; a cul-de-sac shall be designated "court" or "place."
3.   The designations "drive" or "way" shall be reserved for long continuous curved streets with thoroughfare characteristics.
4.   Insofar as possible, new streets shall preserve and continue any alphabetical or numerical sequence and type of name already established in nearby subdivisions.

(Ord. 496 § 7.2, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.2, 1998)

16.12.040 - Sidewalks and street trees.

A.   Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of principal and minor arterial streets and collector streets and on one side of local access (residential) streets in new developments in conformance with town sidewalk standards in Section 16.12.160(B).
B.   Street Trees. Street trees may be provided in new developments in conformance with 16.12.100(E) of this title.

(Ord. 496 § 7.3, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.3, 1998)

16.12.050 - Alley design standards.

Alleys are not required in any zoning district, except that the town may require alley access in commercial or industrial districts where provisions have not been made for service access, such as for off-street loading, unloading and parking consistent with and adequate for the uses proposed. If an alley is required by the town in commercial or industrial districts or the developer at his or her option includes alleys within a subdivision, the following standards must be met:

A.   Alleys shall be improved with a three-inch compacted, crushed gravel surface;
B.   Alleys shall have a minimum width of twenty (20) feet;
C.   Alley intersections and sharp changes in alignment shall be avoided, but where necessary, corners shall be cut off sufficiently to permit safe vehicular movement; and
D.   Dead-end alleys shall be avoided where possible, but if unavoidable, shall be provided with adequate turnaround facilities at the dead end as determined by the town engineer.

(Ord. 496 § 7.4, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.4, 1998)

16.12.060 - Private lane standards and restrictions.

A.   Private Lanes—Prohibited. Private lanes shall only be permitted in short plats with four lots or less.
B.   Private Lanes—Permitted. The following minimum standards apply to permitted private lanes:
1.   Right-of-way width of a private lane shall be thirty-five (35) feet. The right-of-way radius at the turnaround shall be sixty (60) feet.
2.   The length of a private lane shall not exceed four hundred (400) feet. A turnaround shall be provided at the end of a private lane exceeding one hundred fitly (150) feet in length and improved with a turnaround radius of fifty (50) feet to adequately provide for emergency services.
3.   Private lanes shall be improved with twenty (20) feet width of pavement consisting of four-inch crushed rock compacted base with two and one-half inch asphalt concrete pavement surface. Compacted two-foot gravel shoulders shall be provided. Adequate roadside drainage shall be provided for driveway and culvert installation.
4.   Private lanes shall be named and identified as private by means of a suitable permanent marker.
5.   A utility easement shall be dedicated to the town for the total width of the lane right-of-way, unless easements are provided in other locations for residences being served.
6.   A recorded binding covenant shall be prepared for maintenance of the lane, drainage structures, curb and gutter, and associated parking areas by owners in the development. In addition, the following notation shall be placed on the plat map face: "The Town of Naches has no responsibility to build, improve, maintain or otherwise serve any private lanes in this short plat."
7.   An approved driveway approach from the street to the lane shall be provided.

(Ord. 496 § 7.5, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.5, 1998)

16.12.070 - Drainage storm sewer easements.

Easements shall be provided for drainage of channels, streams and surface runoff with sufficient additional width to allow adequate improvement and maintenance.

(Ord. 496 § 7.6, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.6, 1998)

16.12.080 - Utility easements.

A.   Utility easements for electric, telephone, television, water, gas and similar public utilities shall have a minimum width of ten (10) feet or sufficient additional width to assure future maintenance as determined by the serving utility.
B.   Utility easements shall be provided to permit future installation of underground utilities.
C.   Utility easements shall be located adjacent to the lot line and entirely on one lot.

(Ord. 496 § 7.7, 1999: Ord. 462 § 7.7, 1998)