§ 30-366. Blocks.

(a)

General. The length, width, and shape of blocks shall be determined with due regard to provisions for adequate building sites; zoning requirements, as to lot area and dimensions; limitations and opportunities of topography; and needs for convenient access and circulation, control and safety of streets, and pedestrian traffic. A block is any portion of a subdivision tract delineated by street rights-of-way or by the rights-of-way and boundary of the subdivision conforming to the requirements for length and depth.

(b)

Length. Blocks shall not be more than 1,320 feet in length; except that in blocks with lots averaging 20,000 square feet or more, this maximum may be exceeded by 440 feet. The minimum block length shall be 500 feet. When fronting on collector or higher road classifications, longer blocks shall be provided in order to reduce the number of intersections. These blocks shall not be less than 1,320 feet in length nor more than 2,000 feet in length. Rectangular and curvilinear-shaped block lengths shall be measured along the back lot line. Irregular shaped block lengths shall be measured along a straight line connecting the extreme corners of the block. The director may waive these requirements via the exception from standard, per section 30-10, when lots are adjacent to the subdivision boundary.

(c)

Depth/width.

(1)

Residential blocks shall normally be of sufficient depth to accommodate two tiers of lots, except where lots border on a freeway, parkway, expressway, collector or arterial roadway, drainage way, railroad right-of-way, or other similar barrier. Commercial blocks may be single-tiered. There shall be no lots with double or triple frontage; except a corner lot may be fronted on two sides, as outlined in these regulations. If terrain warrants, or a large lot such as a church or school site is planned, double or triple frontage may be allowed.

(2)

A typical method of acceptably mitigating double-fronted or single-tiered lots, if requested and approved through the exception to standards provisions of these regulations, is by the construction of a six foot tall block wall (or, depending on whether the wall is also used for visual screening or as a noise barrier, other forms of wall acceptable to the reviewing county departments). Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the project design and other variables.

(d)

Pedestrian crosswalks. Pedestrian crosswalks, with a right-of-way width of not less than ten feet and appropriate pavement markings, may be required along long blocks or when determined to be necessary by the county engineer to provide circulation or access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, or other community facilities.

( Ord. No. 2001-01 , § 5.2(N), 2-20-2001; Ord. No. 2004-04 , § 5.2(N), 12-6-2004; Ord. No. 2010-06 , § 5.2(N), 4-5-2010)