(Adopting Skamania County Road Approach and Private Roads Standards Development Assistance Manual)
WHEREAS, On November___, 2007, the Board of Commissioners held a public hearing amending Skamania County Code Title 12.03 Private Road Requirements by Ordinance 2007-11; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2007-11 authorizes the adoption of a Skamania County Road Approach and Private Roads Standards Development Assistance Manual to aid in the design of private roads; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the attached document consisting of 33 pages and titled Skamania County Road Approach and Private Road Standards Development Assistance Manual is hereby adopted.
PASSED IN REGULAR SESSION this ________ day of ____________, 2007.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON
___________________________________
Chairman
_____________________________ ___________________________________
Clerk of the Board Commissioner
___________________________________
Commissioner
APPROVED AS TO FORM For________
Against______
______________________________ Abstain______
Prosecuting Attorney Absent______
SKAMANIA COUNTY
ROAD APPROACH AND
PRIVATE ROADS STANDARDS
Development Assistance Manual
The purpose of this handbook is to assist you in understanding Skamania Countys Private Road Standards.
The content of this handbook provides guidance not referenced by Ordinance No. 2007 11 which establish the Private Road Standards for Skamania County.
This handbook, adopted by Resolution No. 2007 34 is the guide to provide the required criteria to aid in your design of the road. It is not intended to replace engineering, legal and other professional services.
The Skamania County Board of Commissioners
Paul Pearce
Jim Richardson
Jamie Tolfree
Skamania County Department of Public Works
(November, 2007)
INDEX
RESOLUTION 2007-34. 1
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.. 3
Before you Start 3
PERMITTING CONDITIONS.. 4
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS.. 6
Design.. 6
Right-Of-Way/Easement 6
Clearing Right-Of-Way.. 6
Warning.. 6
Private Road Categories.. 7
Permit Issuance and Inspections.. 7
Construction.. 8
WARNING!!!! 8
Driving Surface.. 8
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT. 9
Maintenance Requirements.. 9
Maintenance Compliance.. 9
Security Gates.. 9
VARIANCES.. 11
OVERVIEW OF POLICY GUIDELINES.. 12
APPENDIX 1 - MINIMUM DESIGN STANDARDS.. 13
ROAD DESIGN.. 15
Driveways Single and Joint 15
Private Road Standards Categories 3 6.. 16
Storm Water Plan on Categories 3 6 Roads.. 18
Private Road Standards Category 7.. 18
Storm Water Plan on Category 7 Roads.. 19
Category 7 Notice to Purchaser. 20
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS.. 20
APPENDIX 2 TYPICAL PRIVATE ROADWAY SECTIONS.. 22
APPENDIX 3 APPROACH REQUIREMENTS.. 24
CHAPTER 12.03 - PRIVATE ROAD REQUIREMENTS.. 28
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1 Table of Minimum Standards 13
Figure 2 Minimum Radius 16
Figure 3 Stopping Sight Distance Minimums 17
Figure 4 Minimum Bridge Design Table 17
Figure 5 Typical Private Road Sign 21
Figure 6 Category 1 and 2 Driveway and Joint Driveway 22
Figure 7 Category 3 and 4 Low Volume Roads 22
Figure 8 Category 5 - High Volume Private Roads 23
Figure 9 Typical Turn-around Designs 23
Figure 10 Descending Approach 24
Figure 11 Steep Descending Approach 24
Figure 12 Ascending Approach 25
Figure 13 Steep Ascending Approach (should grade exceed 6%) 25
Figure 14 Level Approach 26
Figure 15 Turnpike Approach (culvert not required) 26
Figure 16 Minimum Angle for Approaches 27
WASHINGTON STATE LAW requires that the county department of public works coordinate all approaches to county roads. As a result, certain requirements exist in order to provide the driving public with a safe highway system. As most drivers recognize, intersections are one of the most dangerous areas on public roads. Each driveway and private road is an intersection, and requires close control to assure the best and safest design and construction possible.
The County Department of Public Works provides the design and construction safety review through an approach permit procedure. The permit is issued through the County Engineers Office in the Courthouse Annex in Stevenson.
When the approach being considered is associated with a private roadway, (a road serving 4 or more parcels), the permit approval will include roadway design review, construction and inspection. The specific requirements will vary with each individual roadway situation.
What Is A Private Road?
A private road is any roadway, which is not public and provides access for 4 or more property ownerships.
The construction and maintenance of the private road is the sole responsibility of the landowners using the road for access.
Access roads permitted for the temporary use of logging, agricultural or other such uses may be granted a waiver from the requirements of the road approach standards. Once the temporary use is complete, it cancels the permit along with all conditions set forth; any future development requires a new application with no guarantee of continued use.
The Office of the County Engineer must review and approve all driveway and private road construction plans before any construction is started.
When a new road or driveway is required, or when upgrading an existing road that serves or has the potential to provide access to 2 or more properties, it may require additional easement widths to facilitate future growth potential. On existing roads where current property owners are established prior to the start of a proposed development, it shall be the developers responsibility to obtain the required easements from existing property owner(s). All improvements to the road will be the responsibility of the developer(s) to upgrade the entire road to meet the standards according to the number of properties served as defined on page 10, back to the termini of the proposed development(s) property boundary. This may include improvements to public structure as provided in the Traffic Engineers Study due to the impacts to existing public roads.
PERMIT REQUIRED: No person, firm or corporation may modify, construct or change the use of, any approach to a County Road without first obtaining a properly executed permit from the Department of Public Works.
MAINTENANCE: Under present law, the permittee is responsible for maintaining all road approaches between the shoulder and the right-of-way line. The Public Works Department has the right to inspect all approaches at the time of construction and at any time afterward, and to require necessary changes and repairs. After acceptance of an approach, Skamania County will be responsible for ditch line drainage and all culvert maintenance. The property owner shall be responsible to maintain the following: Driveway width; Surface Condition; Drainage off of the property and to prevent rock and debris from entering onto the public road.
INDEMNIFICATION: The Department of Public Works and its official agents and employees shall not be held liable for personal injury or property damage sustained by exercising the conditions of the permit, or in the use of the approved permit.