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Private Streets <br /> Applicable Planning Principle: <br /> * Streets should be designed to efficiently and safely accommodate emergency fire and <br /> medical service vehicles. <br /> * New streets should be designed to meet the needs of pedestrians and encourage walking <br /> as a transportation mode. <br /> * The range of local street types should be broad enough to allow a great deal of flexibility <br /> for residential developers, thus discouraging the construction of private streets. <br /> Discussion: <br /> The City has limited authority to require public streets in new developments. No authority or <br /> criteria exists for public street requirements in medium and high density residential <br /> developments, manufactured dwelling parks, or industrial developments. The proposed Street <br /> Connectivity standards will broaden the existing criteria for subdivisions, partitions, and PUD's. <br /> In discussions with private engineers, the reasons cited for choosing to construct private streets, <br /> rather than public streets, include the ability to reduce cost, the ability to align the street with the <br /> existing topography, and the desire for exclusivity. <br /> The only current standards for design or construction of private streets are: <br /> a.) The grade restrictions contained in the design manual for public streets have been <br /> adopted by the Department of Public Safety (maximum grade of 15% with up to <br /> 200' lengths of grades up to 20 %, but no driveway access in areas with grades <br /> above 15 %), and <br /> b.) A minimum width of 20' per Fire Code. <br /> No design review or inspection of private streets currently occurs. Public Works staff is <br /> authorized to work only within the public right -of -way. Building staff has neither standards, <br /> expertise, or authority to inspect them. A building permit is required, but that is primarily a <br /> vehicle for collecting stormwater systems development charges. <br /> The lack of standards, and inability of city staff to inspect private streets, has resulted in <br /> problems in several areas: <br /> 1. Private streets may prevent logical and efficient extension of the public street system to <br /> adjoining properties. <br /> J 2 <br />