Infrastructure Design Standards for Sustainable Residential Development

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Scott A. Brown, P.E.The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center

PennSCAPES, 2003

Project Goal

Create a set of model codes that can be used to efficiently update local ordinances to affect sustainable development and decentralized

stormwater management;

And

Have model codes adopted voluntarily.

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles and diverse community visions.

Traditional Suburban Subdivisions

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles across the state

Suburban Cluster Subdivisions

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles across the state

Traditional Mixed Use Subdivisions (PUD)

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles across the state

Suburban Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND)

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles across the state

Conventional Rural Subdivisions

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust fit a variety of residential development styles across the state

Rural Cluster Subdivisions

PennSCAPES, 2003

Voluntary AdoptionMust have concurrence from appropriate state regulatory agencies and other stakeholders

Oversight Committee:

• DEP• PennDOT• DCED• Municipal Officials • Engineering Community• Planning and Landscape

Architecture Community• Surveying Community

PennSCAPES, 2003

• Builders / Developers• Site Contractors• Environmental Groups

Approach

1. Research existing standards (streets, stormwater management, water, sewer);

2. Develop standards and commentary;3. Create an oversight committee of industry

stakeholders and facilitate oversight committee meetings;

4. Provide public awareness and training.

Project Cost and Funding

• Estimated project cost $608,000• Initial Seed Funding From PBA ($5,000)• PHFA Grant ($150,000)• Water Environment Research Foundation / EPA

($150,000) • PHRC Operating Funds ($132,000)• Other yet to be determined ($171,000)

Recommended Infrastructure Standards

• Site Design Considerations

• Residential Streets and Parking

• Non-vehicular Circulation

• Stormwater Management

• Sanitary Sewer Systems

• Potable Water Systems

• Other Utilities (Power, Gas, Telephone, Cable)

• Site and Lot Grading

Project Status / Schedule

• Site Design Considerations (0 %)• Residential Streets and Parking (85%)• Non-vehicular Circulation (40%)• Stormwater Management (10 %)• Sanitary Sewer Systems (0 %)• Potable Water Systems (0 %)• Other Utilities (Power, Gas, Phone, Cable) (0 %)• Site and Lot Grading (0 %)

Anticipated Completion - January 2007

Ordinance Commentary Format

Approach:

1. Review of existing PA ordinances and standards2. Review other existing and suggested standards

• PennDOT• AASHTO• Residential Streets (NAHB, ITE, ASCE, ULI)• Performance Streets (Bucks County)• PennSCAPES• Other

3. Compile Guideline Standards4. Pier review

Residential Streets and Parking

First Step….review of existing ordinances and standards

• Classification schemes• Width• Longitudinal Grade• Parking Configuration• Curbs vs. No Curbs• Pavement Structure• Sidewalk Standards• Cul-de-sac Characteristics

Residential Streets and Parking

Location of Sampled Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances

Municipal Road Classification Schemes

Rural

Residential

Inter-community

Alley

Private

Local Primary

Local Secondary

Minor Collector

Local

Collector

Marginal Access

Single Access

Local Access

Feeder

Collector

Service / Marginal Access

Residential Access

Rural Residential Access

Industrial Access

Minor Collectors

Major Collectors

Minor Arterials

Access

Sub-collector

Collector

Alley

Local

Collector

Loop

Cul-de-sac

Residential – Primary

Residential – Secondary

Marginal Access

Collector

Local Access Streets

Residential

Rural Residential

Industrial Streets

Collectors

Minor

Major

Residential Service

Rural Service

Neighborhood Feeder

Inter-community

Alley

Minor

Collector

Cul-de-sac

Local

Collector

Limited Access

Local Access

Minor

Collector

Connector

Marginal Access

Alley

Collector

Minor

Connector

Collector

Sub-collector

Minor/Loop

Cul-de-sac

Marginal Access

Private Lane

Residential Street Classification:

Objectives1. Must be based on function within a community

environment; not just vehicular mobility;2. Must integrate with the PennDOT road

classification system;3. Should be consistent across township lines.4. Must be applicable to both rural and urban

settings;5. To be well received, it must consider all local

road functions (commercial, mixed use, and residential).

Residential Street Classification:

Residential Access Streets (A & B)Residential CollectorsResidential Mixed Use CollectorsSpecial Streets

AlleysDivided StreetsStub Streets

Non-Residential StreetsMunicipal CollectorsCommercial / Industrial Streets

Existing Streets

Residential Streets – Table of Contents:

Residential Streets – Table of Contents (Cont.):

For more information:

www.engr.psu.edu/phrc

Click on the “Land Development” Button

“Then the Consortium Button”

The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center219 Sackett Building Scott A. BrownUniversity Park, PA 16802 sbrown@engr.psu.eduwww.engr.psu.edu/PHRC (814) 349-8669