STATE OF ALABAMA, DEKALB COUNTY, CITY OF RAINSVILLLE
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS OF THE CITY OF RAINSVILLE, ALABAMA AND PUBLIC HEARING
The Planning Commission of the City of Rainsville proposed to make a certain amendments to the subdivision regulations of the City of Rainsville DATED October 2018 pursuant to the authority of Section 11-52-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975. A copy of the proposed changes shall be published in the Mountain Valley News or a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Rainsville at least 15 days in advance of a public hearing to be held by the Planning Commission for the consideration of the proposed amendments. The public hearing will be held on the 20th day of November. 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the Rainsville City Hall. A copy of the proposed amendments is on file in the office of the Rainsville City Clerk.
Done this the 24th day of October, 2023.
The Planning Commission of the City of Rainsville
By: /s/ Skeeter Logan, Chairman, Rainsville Planning Commission
Attest: /s/ Carol Laney, Secretary, Rainsville Planning Commission
Proposed Requested Changes To Rainsville City Subdivision Regulations
October, 2023
Section 4-5 Submission of Preliminary Plat
Sub-Section 4-5-2 Public Hearing
Any plat submitted to the Planning Commission shall contain the names and addresses of all persons to whom notices of a public hearing shall be sent.
Section 4-5-7 Preliminary Plat Requirements
Item 4. Becomes the following:
Name of licensed Home Builder Contractor hired by the Developer, along with current certification. If the Developer is a licensed Contractor and will be performing all requirements necessary as set forth by these regulations, a current license and certification must be presented. If at any time during construction of the development or improvements required by these regulations, the Contractor is replaced, the new Contractor must present a current license and certification before any work is initialized.
Current Items 4 through 14 are renumbered to items 5 through 15.
Section 4-5-8 Construction Plans
Item 4. Water Distribution Plan containing the following information.
Add subsection (b)
Where a public water main is accessible, the applicant shall install adequate water facilities, including fire hydrants, subject to the specifications of the City of Rainsville and the applicable Water Board or Water System. A fire hydrant shall be located no further than 1,000 LF from the center of each lot. All fire hydrants shall be placed on a water line at least six (6) inches in diameter. Water mains shall be looped along all roads in subdivisions where possible. Dead end water lines are permitted only along dead-end roads. Dead end water lines that do not support a fire hydrant shall be at least three (3) inches in diameter and shall be provided with a flushing capability at the end as approved by the applicable Water Board or Water System. In addition, the Water Board or Water System shall approve the placement of all gate valves, air release valves, meters and any other appurtenances they may require.
Section 4-6-5 Final Plat Requirements
Add section 11 (L)
A Certificate of Approval by the Fire Chief of the City of Rainsville.
Section 5-1. Minimum Standards
Section (E)
The rules and standards of the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) if the subdivision or any lot contained therein abuts a state highway.
Section 5-3-10 (C) Grading
Only suitable material shall be used in the construction of embankments. No brush, roots, stumps, heavy vegetation or other unsuitable materials shall be placed in embankments. All unsuitable materials shall be disposed of and the entire right-of-way brought to a suitable and pleasing appearance to the eye.
Embankments shall be constructed in uniform layers of not more than eight (8) inches depth loose measurement and shall be compacted to a minimum of ninety-five (95) percent of the theoretical maximum density and within plus or minus two (2) percent of the optimum moisture content in accordance with the specifications of ASTM D-698. The theoretical maximum density is the density obtained from laboratory test (standard proctor). Test results shall be provided to the City, prior to the placement of the next corresponding layer. Appropriate equipment will be required to keep each layer of embankment properly shaped and compacted with proper moisture content.
Subgrade width: 26 feet minimum
Depth of ditch:
from finished shoulder grade: 1.0 foot minimum
Slopes of cuts, fills, and
Back slopes: 4:1 ratio
Paved surface width: 20 feet minimum
Slope of paved surface
from center: 2% grade
Exhibit “A”
Section 5-3-10 (E) Base Course
The top twelve (12) inches of subgrade shall be shaped and rolled to ninety-five percent (95%) density prior to placement of the base material. Base material shall consist of a minimum of six (6) inches of pit mixed chert or a minimum of five (5) inches of compacted crushed aggregate base. Base materials are to be approved by the City Engineer or a Licensed Professional Engineer acceptable to or chosen by the City of Rainsville prior to placement on the roadway. The base is to fully cover the 26’ width of the roadway and slopes to conform with front roadway slopes. The base course shall be compacted to a minimum of ninety-five (95) percent of the theoretical maximum density and within plus or minus two (2) percent of the optimum moisture content in accordance with the specifications of ASTM D-698. The theoretical maximum density is the density obtained from laboratory test (standard proctor). Test results shall be provided to the City, prior to the placement of the next corresponding layer.
(G) Driveways:
The property owner or the developer shall connect all driveways from the existing city road to the property line of each subdivision lot or parcel. If a drain tile and/or excavation of a ditch are needed, the City Engineer must be notified in advance of such work or installation being performed. The City Engineer will then determine the proper size of such needed drain tile, the proper grade of such ditch and other matters regarding this work. When a tile is placed and backfilled, a headwall shall be constructed according to Alabama Department of Transportation Special Drawing No. HW-614-SP at each end of the tile for safety reasons and to prevent washing or erosion of fill into the ditch, as directed by the City Engineer. Driveways, either concrete or asphalt must connect to existing street.
(H) Concrete Driveways:
Concrete surfacing of driveways must be a minimum depth (thickness) of four inches (4”) on the 60 feet (60’) right-of-way for streets. Such driveway surfacing must be performed without causing damage or interruption to the existing paving surface of the City Street. All such driveways shall be level with, on grade with, or at an elevated grade up from the grade of the pavement surface of the existing road or street, except where the driveway has an overall downward grade from the road or street and toward the house. When the overall grade of such a driveway from the road or street and toward the house is downward, a minimum rise or slope of six inches (6”) will be required where the concrete pour crosses the drain tile or between the property owners’ line and the City road or street. A break or expansion joint shall be installed in the poured concrete at the drain tile and at the owner’s property line.
Section 5-3-13 Intersections
Subsection (3)
Minimum curb radius at the intersection of two (2) minor streets shall be at least twenty five (25) feet; and a minimum curb radius at an intersection involving a collector street shall be at least thirty-five (35) feet.
Section 5-3-17 – Cul-de-sacs
Permanent dead end streets shall be provided with a cul-de-sac having a roadway diameter of at least one hundred (100) feet, a right-of-way diameter of at least one hundred twenty (120) feet and a minimum transition radius of 25’. Cul-de-sacs shall not be used to avoid connection with an existing street or to avoid the extension of an important street.
These dimension changes are needed to allow this section to align with the dimension requirements of a cul-de-sac as defined in Section 5-3-10(B) “Right of Way”.
Section 5-6 Easements
Table 5-1, Schedule 1, Designs Standards
TABLE 5.1
SCHEDULE 1
DESIGN STANDARDS
Major Thoroughfare Collector Street Minor Street Cul-de-sac ? Marginal Access Street
Minimum Right-of-Way Width 80′ 60′ 60′ ? 120′ 60′
Maximum Grade 6.0% 8.0% 12.0% 12.0% 12.0%
Minimum Grade 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
Minimum Radius of Curves** 1000′ 500′ 200′ 25′ ? 200′
Minimum Tangent Length Between Reverse Curves 200′ 100′ 100′ * 100′
Minimum Grades Within 100′ of Centerline Intersections 5% 5% 5% * 5%
Minimum Distance Between Centerline Offsets at Street Jogs * 125′ 125′ * 125′
Minimum Pavement Width 48′ 40′ 20′ 100′ ? 20′
- No standard or not applicable.
** All roadway curves shall have a minimum of two (2) feet of asphalt pavement widening on the inside of the curve. The transition shall
take place over a distance of forty-eight (48) linear feet prior to the Point of Curvature (P.C.) and forty-eight (48) linear feet after the
Point of Tangency (P.T.). This shall provide for a transition of one (1) inch of width per two (2) linear feet of roadway length.
This minimum width requirement will allow the City to adjust the required width on a case by case basis, if deemed necessary.
? Amended by Ordinance 03-20-2017.
? Applies only to minor streets.
? Transition radii.
? Required 50′ radius.
Section 6-1 Improvements
(Existing Regulation on Improvements)
Approval of the Final Plat shall be subject to the installation of the improvements and utilities hereinafter designated and satisfactorily completed in accordance with the City of Rainsville specifications and standards, or the posting of an Improvement Guarantee with sufficient surety to secure the City the actual construction and installation of such improvements and utilities.
It is the expressed intent of the City of Rainsville to maintain the integrity of the City’s streets and to eliminate the paved streets in subdivisions from being cut, trenched, or otherwise excavated following pavement installation. Consequently, and anticipating the development of subdivisions that will require several kinds of utilities normally or capable of being located underground; and with consideration of potential future additions or extensions to such subdivisions and utilities; the City of Rainsville shall require the use of underground duct vaults, sleeves, or conduit systems to be installed crossing under roads for both public and private utility uses.
In order to prevent such street pavement disruptions, Subdivision developers must adequately plan and provide for all utilities, present and future.
Section 6-1-1 Streets and Alleys
After water, sewer and other underground utilities have been installed by the applicant, the applicant may construct curbs and gutters and shall surface, or cause to be surfaced, roadways to the widths prescribed in these regulations. All road pavement, shoulders, drainage improvements and structures, curbs, cul-de-sacs and sidewalks shall conform to all construction standards and specifications adopted by the Planning Commission and the City of Rainsville, and shall be incorporated into the construction plans required to be submitted for plat approval.
Section 6-1-6 Water Facilities
- General Requirements:
(a) Necessary action shall be taken by the applicant to extend the public water supply system capable of providing domestic water use and fire protection.
(b) Where a public water main is accessible, the applicant shall install adequate water facilities (including fire hydrants) subject to the specifications of the Section-Dutton Water Board and the City of Rainsville.
All water mains shall be at least six (6) inches in diameter.
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