§ 5.3. Minimum right-of-way and street improvements.

5.3.1 Right-of-way and pavement widths.

Table 5-A
Minimum Right-of-Way and Roadway Widths
for New Streets and Project Access Improvements

Street Category		Minimum Right-of-Way (in Feet) (1)	Minimum Roadway (2) (in Feet)
Principal arterial		124 to 144	6 through lanes
Major arterial		124 to 144	Undivided 60 100 divided - 2×29 6 lanes
Minor arterial		104	48
Major collector		84	48
Minor collector		66	36
Local street
	Nonresidential	60	28
	Nonresidential cul-de-sac	60 radius	50 radius
Local street with curb and gutter
	Residential-S1	50	20
	Residential-S2	50	22 (4)
	Residential-S1 and S2 cul-de-sacs	55 radius	40 radius
	Residential-S3	60	24 (4)
	Residential-S3 cul-de-sac	60	50 radius
Local Street without curb and gutter
	Residential-S1 and S2	50	22
	Residential-S2 cul-de-sac	55 radius	40 radius
	Residential-S3	60	24
	Residential-S3 cul-de-sac	60 radius	50 radius

 

FOOTNOTES:

1)

The greater right-of-way width shall apply under circumstances as described in section 5.3.2(c).

2)

Roadway width dimensions are asphalt only (no curb and gutter).

3)

Utility easement shall be provided in a location and size as required by the Paulding County Department of Transportation.

4)

Roadway width may be reduced to 20 feet on S2 streets and 22 feet on S3 streets if L-back curb is used.

5.3.2 Street rights-of-way.

1)

The minimum width of street right-of-way shall be dedicated based upon the street categories as shown on the Roadway Classification Map of Paulding County and as contained in these regulations.

2)

Additional street right-of-way width shall be required to be dedicated at intersections or other abutting locations which the property abuts upon where deceleration lanes, turning lanes, storage lanes, medians, or realignments are required for traffic safety and minimum right-of-way standards would be inadequate to accommodate the improvements.

3)

If a new street or thoroughfare is proposed by the comprehensive plan or the State of Georgia to adjoin or traverse the property, permits shall not be issued until the department has submitted the project to the board of commissioners for review in order to seek a determination if Paulding County should acquire the right-of-way or if a study of alternate routes should be undertaken. The review period by Paulding County shall be 90 days from the date of permit application.

5.3.3 Project access improvements; single-family detached, single-family attached, and duplex residential subdivisions.

1)

When property that abuts upon an existing or proposed county road is to be developed or redeveloped as a single-family detached or duplex subdivision and the county street will provide access to the property, Project access improvements to the county road (deceleration lanes, turn lanes, etc.) shall be provided by the developer as required herein.

2)

A deceleration lane shall be required at each subdivision street entrance that is provided street access as applicable. In the event a street has an existing or proposed median, and the developer desires to construct a median break to serve the subdivision, a left turn lane leading to the median break shall be required by the developer and shall meet the standards contained herein.

3)

Deceleration lanes shall have a length of 75 - 200 feet (refer to the standard drawing), with an additional 50-foot taper length, a pavement width of 12 feet (exclusive of curb and gutter) and shall be provided with curb and gutter. Additional right-of-way to accommodate the deceleration lane and an 11-foot shoulder shall be dedicated by the developer to Paulding County at no cost. Associated drainage improvements as deemed necessary by the construction of the deceleration lane shall also be required.

4)

Other project access improvements may be required by the department of transportation in order to ensure adequate site access, pedestrian access, convenience and safety to the motoring public.

5)

The developer shall be responsible for the relocation of public or private utilities and drainage structures, as may be occasioned by the required project access improvements.

5.3.4 Project access improvements; multi-family and nonresidential developments.

1)

When property that abuts upon an existing or proposed county road is to be developed or redeveloped for multi-family or nonresidential uses and the county road will provide access to the property, access improvements to the county road (deceleration lanes, turn lanes, etc.) shall be provided by the developer.

2)

A deceleration lane shall be required to be provided at each project driveway or subdivision street entrance as applicable. In the event a street has an existing or proposed median, and the developer desires to construct a median break to serve the project, a left turn lane leading to the median break shall be required to be provided by the developer and shall meet the standards contained herein.

3)

Deceleration lanes shall have a length of 75 - 200 feet (refer to the standard drawing), with an additional 50-foot taper length, pavement width of 12 feet (exclusive of curb and gutter) and shall be provided with curb and gutter. Additional right-of-way to accommodate the deceleration lane and an 11-foot shoulder shall be dedicated by the developer to Paulding County at no cost. Associated drainage improvements as deemed necessary by the construction of the deceleration lane shall also be required.

4)

Other project access improvements may be required by the department in order to ensure adequate site access, pedestrian access, convenience and safety to the motoring public.

5)

The developer shall be responsible for the relocation of public or private utilities and drainage structures as may be occasioned by the required project access improvements.

5.3.5 New streets.

1)

All new streets proposed to be constructed in a subdivision or other development, whether to be public or private, shall be designed and constructed at least to the standards contained in these regulations in accordance with the category of said streets.

2)

In residential subdivisions, a dead end ("stub") street required under section 5.4.4 to provide access to an abutting property may be exempt from construction of roadway improvements and public utilities under the following circumstances:

(a)

No lot within the proposed subdivision will gain access from the "stub" street.

(b)

A concept plan has not been submitted or approved on the neighboring tract.

(c)

The "stub" street shall be fully designed as part of the construction plans. However, the right-of-way shall only be cleared and rough graded in accordance with the approved plans and all disturbed areas grassed.

(d)

Connections for future extension of all public utilities shall be constructed as part of the subdivision. Curb returns shall be constructed as part of the subdivision. Curb returns shall be provided to the future "stub" street roadway location, and curb and gutter shall be installed across the roadway stub at the right-of-way line (extended).

(e)

The right-of-way for the "stub" street shall be dedicated as part of the final plat. Slope easements or construction easements, if required by the street design, shall be shown on the final plat.

5.3.6 Substandard streets.

1)

In the event that a development has access to a substandard street (i.e., a dirt, surface treatment, or gravel road), the following project access improvements shall be required:

(a)

If the abutting substandard street providing access to the development is dirt, surface treatment or gravel, the street shall be upgraded by the developer to a paved roadway from the project entrance to the nearest standard paved road along the route of access.

2)

Off-site project access improvements required under (1)(a) above, shall at a minimum, result in a full-section roadway meeting the requirements of a local residential rural roadway (22 feet edge to edge of pavement, with drainage swale ditches as needed).

3)

The developer shall design the road and provide the labor, equipment, and materials required for roadway improvements and necessary drainage improvement.

4)

All right-of-way required for these off-site improvements shall be acquired by the developer at no expense to the county.

5)

The county reserves the right to negotiate for additional improvements beyond the rural roadway classification or length of the rural roadway.

5.3.7 Improvements along state highway. For any development which abuts a state highway or other right-of-way controlled by the State of Georgia, improvements to the roadway and the location and design of any street or driveway providing access from the state highway shall comply with the standards and requirements of the Georgia Department of Transportation. A permit for the proposed access or improvement shall be approved by the Georgia DOT and incorporated into the construction drawings for the project prior to issuance of a development permit by the Paulding County Department of Transportation.