Sec. 13.6. Street Connectivity Requirements

An interconnected street system is necessary in order to promote orderly and safe development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. by ensuring that streets function in an interdependent manner, provide adequate access for emergency and service vehicles All motorized vehicles as defined by the State of North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and motorcycles. This definition shall not include “Heavy Equipment” as defined elsewhere., enhance access by ensuring connected transportation routes, provide access for people walking and bicycling, and provide continuous and comprehensible traffic routes.

13.6.1. Applicability

A. Except in Design Districts, Block A usually rectangular space enclosed by right-of-way and occupied by or intended for buildings. standards shall comply with Sec. 13.4 or shall comply with Sec. 13.6, Street Connectivity Standards.

B. For Design District requirements see Sec. 16.4, Streetscape The appearance or view of an entire street or street network in general, including sidewalks, utilities, landscaping, street furniture, and the structures that make up the street wall., Right-of-Way A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility., and Block A usually rectangular space enclosed by right-of-way and occupied by or intended for buildings./Lot Standards.

13.6.2. Connectivity Defined

A. Except in Design Districts, connectivity shall be defined by the ratio of links to nodes in any subdivision All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets..

1. The connectivity ratio shall be the number of street links divided by the number of nodes (Links/Nodes).

2. A link shall be any portion of a street, other than an alley A strip of land, either publicly or privately owned, that is set aside primarily for vehicular service access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street., defined by a node at either end. Stub-outs to adjacent Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. property shall be considered links. For the purpose of determining the number of links in a development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land., boulevards, median-divided roadways, and divided entrances shall be treated the same as conventional two-way roadways.

a. Any portion of a street, connected by a node at either end, including sidewalks and pedestrian connections in accordance with Sec. 12.4, Stub Outs The extension of a street to an external property line to facilitate future roadway connection and reduce traffic impacts on the road network., to adjacent Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. property, transit stops, and streets including sidewalks per paragraph 12.4.2.

b. For the purpose of determining the number of links in a development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land., boulevards, median-divided roadways, and divided entrances shall be treated the same as conventional two-way roadways.

Table 1. Connectivity Ratio Link Scoring Matrix
Type of Link	Connectivity Ratio Score (0.5-2)
Street (including required sidewalks per paragraph 12.4.2)	1: Street with required sidewalks per paragraph 12.4.2
	2: Streets with sidewalk and exclusive on-road bicycle facilities
Stub Out The extension of a street to an external property line to facilitate future roadway connection and reduce traffic impacts on the road network.	0.5
Transit Stop (score received with the development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. of a new stop or development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. of ADA accessible connections to an existing stop within 500 feet of the development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land.)	2: Construction of a new transit stop with ADA accessible design and pedestrian connection within 15 feet; or ADA accessible improvements and pedestrian connection within 15 feet to an existing transit stop 500 feet or less from the subject site.
Additional Pedestrian Connections (in accordance with UDO paragraph 12.4.3C) within the development Pursuant to NCGS 160D-102, any of the following: a. The construction, erection, alteration, enlargement, renovation, substantial repair, movement to another site, or demolition of any structure. b. The excavation, grading, filling, clearing, or alteration of land. c. The subdivision of land as defined in G.S. 160D-802. d. The initiation or substantial change in the use of land or the intensity of use of land. (constructed greenway trails, mid-block A usually rectangular space enclosed by right-of-way and occupied by or intended for buildings. pedestrian passages A site feature of Design Districts where a passageway for pedestrian movement is provided through the development site. linking parallel right of ways, cul-de-sac A short street having only one end open to traffic and the other being permanently terminated with a vehicular turn-around provided. connection walkways)	2: All-weather pedestrian pathway of solid surface material such as concrete, asphalt, or another similar material that would satisfy the State accessibility code with a minimum of 8-foot width. Additional lighting features as described in Sec. 7.4, Outdoor Lighting.   1.5: Less than 8-foot width pedestrian pathway constructed from a naturally occurring or loose material such as mulch or gravel.
Bicycle Connections	1.5: Off-road bicycle facility as described in Sec. 12.4, Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility.

Commentary: The different types of links and nodes have been weighted and scored differently based on how the specific infrastructure adds to connectivity and how it contributes to the ratio scoring matrix. A higher scoring link equates to a more desirable link, while a higher scoring node equates to a less desirable node.

 

3. A node shall be:

a. The terminus of a street or the intersection of two or more streets. A divided entrance shall only count once.

Table 2. Connectivity Ratio Node Scoring Matrix
Type of Node	Score
Four-Way Intersection	1
Three-Way Intersection	1.25
Cul-de-sac A short street having only one end open to traffic and the other being permanently terminated with a vehicular turn-around provided.	1.5

 

Figure 1. Types of Nodes

4. Additional Requirements

a. Pedestrian Links Required:

A (publicly accessible) pedestrian link shall be required between a neighborhood link or node including cul-de-sac A short street having only one end open to traffic and the other being permanently terminated with a vehicular turn-around provided. bulb or street turnaround, within 500 ft or less of the next closest connection to an adjacent Property abutting directly on the boundary of, touching, or sharing a common point. pedestrian connection and/or to significant pedestrian generators or destinations such as schools, parks, trails, employment centers, commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, or similar features.

Required pedestrian links shall be constructed from all-weather solid surface material such as concrete, asphalt, or another similar material that would satisfy the State accessibility code and comply with the most recent accessibility standards as published under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The requirements contained in Table 1 shall not apply if at least one of the following conditions prevents a through connection:

Obstacles associated with prior platting A map, chart or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been, subdivided. of property from another landowner;

Construction of existing buildings or other barriers;

Railroad or utility right-of-way A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility.; or 

Existing limited-access motor vehicle All motorized vehicles as defined by the State of North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles, trucks, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and motorcycles. This definition shall not include “Heavy Equipment” as defined elsewhere. right-of-way A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility..

b. Cross Access Required:

In addition to meeting all the requirements of paragraph 13.6.1C, Pedestrian Links Required, pedestrian links shall be provided between compatible uses such as civic, institutional, commercial, and residential uses.

 

B. Connectivity in Design Districts

For Design Districts, see Sec. 16.4, Streetscape The appearance or view of an entire street or street network in general, including sidewalks, utilities, landscaping, street furniture, and the structures that make up the street wall., Right-of-Way A strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a street, trail, rail corridor, or public utility., and Block A usually rectangular space enclosed by right-of-way and occupied by or intended for buildings./Lot Standards.

13.6.3. Required Ratio

A. Street Network

The street network A system of interconnected streets which includes vehicular, pedestrian, transit, and bicyclist infrastructure., including common access driveways A private roadway located on a parcel or lot used for vehicle access. permitted in paragraph 12.2.2B.2.b, Driveways A private roadway located on a parcel or lot used for vehicle access., for any subdivision All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. with internal roads See “Street, Public” and “Street, Private.” or access to any public road See “Street, Public” and “Street, Private.” shall achieve a minimum connectivity ratio of 1.15 in the Rural Tier, 1.40 in the Suburban Tier, 1.60 in the Urban and Compact Tier.

B. Street links and nodes along a collector or arterial street providing access to a proposed subdivision All divisions of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions for the purpose of sale or building development (whether immediate or future) or any division of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets. shall not be considered in computing the connectivity ratio.

C. Required stub-outs that cannot be constructed pursuant to paragraph 12.3.1F, Stub Outs The extension of a street to an external property line to facilitate future roadway connection and reduce traffic impacts on the road network., shall be considered as being present as a link at the ratio of one link per side as provided in paragraph 12.3.1F, Stub Outs The extension of a street to an external property line to facilitate future roadway connection and reduce traffic impacts on the road network., for purposes of determining if the required ratio has been met.

Figure 2. Connectivity Ratio Example