10.503 Shared-Use Paths.
Shared-Use Paths shall be required of new developments located on sites that are identified for a planned path within the City’s Comprehensive Plan including, but not limited to, the Parks and Recreation Leisure Services Plan, Transportation System Plan, Neighborhood Plan or other adopted special area plan. Where there is a difference between standards, the requirements in an adopted special area plan shall apply.
Land intended for shared-use paths shall be dedicated for public use and/or ownership following the installation of the required improvements. However, the City, at its sole discretion, may permit the dedication of easements in lieu of fee-simple land dedication.
(1) Shared-Use Path Design Standards. Shared-use paths shall:
(a) Integrate connections with existing and planned path and trail networks and accessways;
(b) Incorporate safety features at street intersections and at mid-block pathway crossings;
(c) Maintain grades at no more than five percent and cross slopes at no more than two percent unless otherwise approved by the Parks Recreation and Facilities Director or designee;
(d) Maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet;
(e) Allow for maintenance and emergency vehicles, including turning radiuses;
(f) Provide a design in accordance with the latest addition of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities with an appropriate design speed for the terrain; and
(g) Provide a paved width of at least 10 feet with 2 foot shoulders, unless otherwise recommended by the Parks Recreation and Facilities Director (wider paths may be needed where higher volume use is anticipated).
(2) Shared-Use Path Construction Specifications, Non-Street Right-of-Way. Shared-use paths shall be constructed in accordance with the following specifications.
(a) Materials: Shared-Use pathways shall be constructed with asphalt concrete according to the Parks Recreation and Facilities Department standard specification. Other surfaces, including concrete, bricks, flagstones, or compacted aggregate may be approved by the Parks Recreation and Facilities Director.
(b) Construction Details: The asphalt concrete surface shall be a minimum of 2 ½ inches thick, placed upon a 12 inch layer of compacted ¾ inch minus base with geotechnical fabric. If constructed in concrete or other materials, the structural section must provide compression strength equal to or better than standard sidewalks.
(c) Location: Shared-use paths shall be sited to provide non-motorized connectivity as shown in the Comprehensive Plan. The approving authority may approve paths to deviate from such locations if the new location will provide the equivalent connectivity and functionality. The following typologies apply to shared-use pathways.
(i) Pathways within a riparian corridor: Shared-Use pathways shall be constructed a minimum of 25 feet from top of bank as per Section 10.503(3)(a). The approving authority may approve an alternate location based upon site conditions.
(ii) Pathways, other: Shared-Use pathway corridors outside a riparian area, shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width as per Section 10.503(3)(b).
(iii) Special Circumstances: Where Shared-Use pathways provide access to storm drainage facilities or other public facilities, additional conditions may be required by the utility provider.
(3) Shared-Use Path Cross Sections, Non-Street Right-of-Way.
(a) Typical Section, Riparian Shared-Use Path.
(b) Typical Section, Other Shared-Use Path.
(4) Sidewalks, in lieu of pathways, within Street Right-of-Way. Where it is not feasible to designate a dedicated corridor due to topography or other constraints, sidewalks may be installed within the public right-of-way, in lieu of a standard pathway, if approved by the Parks Recreation and Facilities Department and the Public Works Department. Sidewalks in lieu of pathways shall also be considered where an adopted City plan shows a path parallel to a public street. They shall not be used where there are frequent driveway crossings.
Sidewalks, in lieu of pathways, shall be built as per the Public Works Department specifications and require signage and/or striping to be installed indicating the shared-use function by both bicycles and pedestrians.
Shared-use paths on arterial streets shall follow the cross-sections with separated bicycle facilities in Section 10.428(1), unless modified by the approving authority. On all other streets, the planter strip may be reduced on one or both sides of the street in order to accommodate a 10-foot wide sidewalk, if approved by the approving authority.
(5) Shared-Use Path Installation and Timing. Shared-use paths shall be installed in accordance with the approved plan prior to final plat for land division approvals, prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy for building permits for Site Plan & Architectural Commission approvals, and prior to certificate of occupancy for building permits or the commencement of use for Conditional Use Permits and Park Development Reviews unless otherwise approved by the approving authority.
The City will accept the dedication and maintenance of the shared-use path upon the satisfactory completion of the installation of the path and required landscaping per the approved construction drawings and landscape plan.
(6) Shared-Use Path Landscaping Design and Improvement.
(a) Landscaping requirements for shared-use paths shall be in accordance with the following requirements.
(i) Riparian Greenways: A plan shall be submitted demonstrating protection of native vegetation, along with restoration and enhancement plantings. Such plan shall be submitted to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife for review and approval. Landscaping and irrigation shall be required along both sides of a shared-use path unless the approving authority determines it is not necessary due to topography, existing vegetation, or other existing conditions.
(ii) Shared-use pathway, other: Trees offset at 50-foot intervals shall be required on both sides of the shared-use path to provide adequate shading. Enhanced landscaping is not required but may be approved if a maintenance agreement is accepted by the Parks Recreation and Facilities Director. Landscaping and irrigation shall be required along both sides of a shared-use path unless the approving authority determines it is not necessary due to topography, existing vegetation, or other existing conditions.
(iii) Sidewalk in lieu of pathway: Trees and irrigation shall be required within the adjacent planter strip next to the sidewalk. For residential zoning districts, trees shall be installed to provide not less than 100 percent canopy cover over the sidewalk at the time of tree maturity. Street trees within all the other zoning districts shall be installed to provide not less than 70 percent canopy cover over the sidewalk at tree maturity. Canopy cover shall be based upon tree maturity and growth habit data provided in the Official List of City of Medford Approved Street Trees, a copy of which is on file in the City of Medford Parks Department. Street trees shall not be located within 50 feet of the corner of an intersection of two streets measured at the curb line.
(b) Landscape Installation and Timing.
(i) Landscaping shall be installed in accordance with the approved landscape plan prior to final plat for land division approvals, prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy for building permits for Site Plan & Architectural Commission approvals, and prior to certificate of occupancy for building permits or the commencement of use for Conditional Use Permits and Park Development Reviews. The developer shall record a maintenance agreement, reviewed and approved by the City Parks Recreation and Facilities Department, ensuring an 85 percent survival of all new landscaping within a two year period after the installation of landscaping.
(7) Shared-Use Path, Short Segments. Where a section of a planned shared-use path is 300 feet or less through a development, the City may delay the installation of the path. Dedication of the land for the shared-use path shall be shown on the final plat or recorded separately as part of another land use review application. In those cases, the City shall require security for future construction of the shared-use path and associated landscaping. The security may be in the form of a bond or other method acceptable to the City. The amount of the security shall be 125 percent of the engineer’s cost estimate of the shared-use path construction and 125 percent of a landscape architect’s cost estimate for landscape installation, including irrigation. The 300-foot length for implementation of this section shall not apply to individual phases of a larger development.