Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17H Engineering Standards

Chapter 17H.010 Street Development Standards

Section 17H.010.030 Street Layout Design

1. Street design is governed by the comprehensive plan and city design standards.

2. Streets shall be designed in light of topography and existing and planned street patterns. It is encouraged that low impact development principles be considered, evaluated and utilized where practical as described in the Eastern Washington Low Impact Development Guidance Manual.

3. Adequate access shall be provided to all parcels of land. The street system shall facilitate all forms of transportation including pedestrians, bicycles, vehicles, transit and emergency services.

4. When property is divided into large parcels, streets shall be laid out so as to allow the addition of future streets in a consistent pattern in the event of redivision.

5. Street names should be logical, consistent and understandable to satisfy the needs of emergency and delivery vehicles. Street names must be approved by the City and comply with the requirements of chapter 17D.050A SMC, Roadway Naming.

6. The layout of new streets shall provide for the continuation of existing streets in adjoining subdivisions. If a public street or right-of-way terminates at a plat boundary, provisions shall be made for the extension of the public street to the adjacent property or to another public street in a manner consistent with public mobility and utility infrastructure needs.

7. Street layout shall provide for future extension of streets into areas which are presently not subdivided.

8. Traffic generators within the project should be considered and the street system designed appropriately. Individual projects may require a traffic study subject to chapter 17D.080 SMC, Transportation Impact Fees, chapter SMC 17D.075, Concurrency Certification, or chapter 17E.050 SMC, SEPA.

1. The minimum centerline distance between intersections shall be one hundred fifty feet.

10. Bordering arterial routes should be considered and design continuity provided.

11. When any parcels in a subdivision adjoin an existing or proposed arterial street, the hearing examiner may require access by way of frontage streets and may restrict access to the arterial.

12. Subdivisions comprised of more than thirty lots shall include two access points acceptable to the city fire department and the director of engineering services.

13. A grid pattern featuring more street intersections and shorter block lengths should be implemented wherever possible.

14. Block lengths should not exceed six hundred sixty feet.

15. A block width should allow for two tiers of lots between parallel streets and double frontage lots should be avoided.

16. Permanent dead-end or cul-de-sac streets may be allowed when the property is isolated by topography or the configuration of existing platted lots and streets. Dead-ends and cul-de-sacs will be reviewed in every case for connectivity.

Date Passed: Monday, November 30, 2020

Effective Date: Sunday, January 3, 2021

ORD C35985 Section 1