§ 42-197. Miscellaneous design provisions.

(a)

Fire lanes. The requirements for fire lanes shall be established by the fire marshal. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until the required fire lanes are constructed, inspected and approved.

(1)

Fire lanes shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet. The minimum inside turning radius shall be 25 feet and the minimum outside turning radius shall be 45 feet. All dead end fire lanes exceeding 100 feet in length shall have a turn-around with minimum radius of 50 feet. Fire lanes shall not have a grade exceeding ten percent. Fire lanes shall be clearly marked as a fire lane and parking prohibited. Markings must be maintained at all times.

(2)

Fire lanes shall be constructed of an all-weather pavement designed and maintained to support a 12,500 pound wheel loading. Unless otherwise approved by the city engineer, such pavement shall consist of five-inch thick concrete pavement in light traffic areas and six-inch thick concrete pavement in areas expected to receive heavy truck traffic, such as service drives. In both cases, pavement shall a minimum of 5½ sack concrete with a minimum compressive strength of 3,600 pounds per inch reinforced with No. 3 bars on 24-inch centers in both directions. In both cases, concrete shall be poured over stabilized subgrade. The developer or contractor shall submit a pavement design for the fire lanes prior to construction and the construction must be inspected. The contractor shall provide test results verifying the strength of the concrete, at the direction of the city inspector.

(b)

Utilities.

(1)

Utility lines under pavement. All water, sewer, and natural gas utility lines and conduit for electrical, telephone, and cable television that pass under a street or alley shall be installed before the street or alley is paved. When it is necessary that utility lines pass under the street or alley pavement, they shall be installed to a point at least three feet beyond the edge of the pavement.

(2)

Underground electrical, telephone, and cable television utilities. All telephone, cable television, and electrical utility lateral and service lines shall be placed underground throughout new subdivisions for which final plats are approved subsequent to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, subject to the following conditions:

a.

All electrical transmission lines, meaning those electrical lines operated at nominal voltages of 60,000 volts or higher, may be placed overhead.

b.

Any electric feeder lines, meaning those electrical lies than emanate from substations to distribute power throughout an area, may be placed overhead. Subdivisions located within commercial corridors designated on the comprehensive plan shall provide sufficient easement to locate feeders at the rear of lots, away from thoroughfare frontage, wherever possible.

c.

Lateral electric lines, meaning those electric lines that emanate from an electric feeder line and are used to distribute power to small areas of electric consumers, and service lines, meaning those electric lines which through a transformer connect a lateral line to a customer's service entrance, may be placed overhead only when they are located along rear property lines to provide service from the rear of the lot. Generally perpendicular overhead street crossings are permitted when connecting rear lateral lines in one block to rear lateral lines in an adjacent block.

d.

Any electric feeder or transmission line crossing any Interstate Highway may be placed overhead.

e.

Where electrical service is to be placed underground, electrical service for street or site lighting shall also be placed underground except for the lighting standards.

f.

Temporary electrical service during construction may be provided by overhead utility lines and facilities prior to activation of the underground service. Following activation of the underground permanent service, the temporary overhead electrical service shall be removed within 60 days.

g.

The electrical utility company may plan and construct overhead lines on perimeters of subdivisions or property without obtaining a variance. Telephone and cable television lines may be constructed overhead where overhead electric utility lines are permitted.

h.

Each of the utility companies shall be responsible for developing administrative policies and cost reimbursement procedures for the installation and extension of their underground utilities. Nothing herein shall prohibit or restrict any utility company from recovering the difference in cost of overhead facilities and underground utilities from the owner or developer in accordance with the provisions of such utility's approved tariff. No utility company shall be required to begin construction of underground facilities unless and until the owner or developer of the subdivision has made arrangements satisfactory to the specific utility company for the payment of such underground facilities. If the planning and zoning commission denies a variance for overhead construction under subsection (b)(3) of this section, the city council may, by the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of its members determine that the developer should not pay the difference in cost between overhead and underground construction by overruling the planning and zoning commission and granting a variance. The city shall not be responsible for any portion of such cost unless specifically authorized by the city council.

i.

All electrical, cable television and telephone support equipment (transformers, amplifiers, switching devices, etc.) necessary for underground installation shall be pad-mounted or placed underground and the difference in cost of such facilities and overhead facilities shall be paid to the installing utility company in accordance with provisions established under subsection (2)h of this section.

(3)

Variances. In special or unique circumstances, or to avoid undue hardship, the planning and zoning commission may authorize variances in conjunction with plat approval to the requirements to provide underground facilities.

(4)

Existing facilities. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require any existing overhead facilities to be placed underground or to prohibit the upgrading, reconstruction or reconductoring of any existing overhead facilities with overhead construction.

(5)

Existing franchise. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to alter the intent of any utility franchise agreement ordinance in effect on the effective date of the ordinance adopting these rules, regulations and procedures.

(c)

Street lights.

(1)

Basic policy. It is the policy of the city to encourage that adequate street lights be installed in all new developments. Detailed procedures and standards shall be governed by the city's comprehensive utility standards, when available, and/or on acceptable industry standards.

(2)

General standards. Developers shall furnish satisfactory easements for installation of services to the street lights, normally five feet in width. Developers shall pay the cost of purchasing and installing all street lighting equipment. Street lights shall be installed by TU Electric Company or Denton County Electric Cooperative, at the developer's expense, in accordance with the following standards:

a.

Local residential streets.

1.

A light shall be installed at each intersection and shall be installed midblock at a spacing of not more than 600 feet, or as approved by the city engineer.

2.

Lights shall be installed on a cul-de-sac if the length of the block exceeds 200 feet.

3.

As a minimum, lamps of not less than 9,500 lumens (100-watt high pressure sodium or equivalent) shall be installed on galvanized steel, fiberglass, or other approved non-wood poles at a height of not less than 25 feet. Power shall be provided by underground service or by overhead lines perpendicular to the street.

b.

Collector streets and local nonresidential streets.

1.

A light shall be installed at each intersection and shall be installed midblock at a spacing of not more than 600 feet, or as approved by the city engineer.

2.

As a minimum, lamps of not less than 27,000 lumens (250-watt high pressure sodium or equivalent) shall be installed on galvanized steel, fiberglass, or other approved non-wood poles at a height of not less than 25 feet. Collector streets adjoining residential areas may provide lamps of not less than 9,500 lumens (100-watt high pressure sodium or equivalent) upon approval of the city engineer. Power shall be provided by underground service or by overhead lines perpendicular to the street.

c.

Thoroughfares.

1.

A light shall be installed at each intersection and shall be installed midblock at a spacing of not more than 160 feet.

2.

As a minimum, lamps of not less than 50,000 lumens (400-watt high pressure sodium or equivalent) shall be installed on galvanized steel, fiberglass, or other approved non-wood poles at a height of not less than 35 feet. Power shall be provided by underground service or by overhead lines perpendicular to the street.

(Code 1994, ch. 9, art. 55; Ord. No. 248, exh. A(art. 55), 3-24-1997; Ord. No. 344, § 1, 11-11-2002)