§ 4.6.14. Sight visibility. [Entire Section Replaced by Ord. 08-10 4/20/10]

(A)

Purpose and intent. The objective of these requirements is to provide sufficient view corridors for safe interaction of vehicles and pedestrians at intersections. Except for sight visibility areas as prescribed by the Florida Department of Transportation, sight visibility triangles are to be measured from the edge of pavement for driveways and from the ultimate right-of-way line of alleys and streets. The sight visibility areas apply to all potential visual obstructions, such as but not limited to, landscaping, signs, utilities, traffic signal controller cabinets, structures, walls and fences, etc.

(B)

Sight visibility triangle measurements.

(1)

Driveway intersecting street or alley. The area on both sides of a driveway formed by the intersection of a driveway and a street or alley with a length of ten feet along the driveway, a length of ten feet along the street or alley right-of-way and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two lines.

(2)

Alley intersecting street. The area formed by the intersection of an alley and a street with a length of ten feet along the alley right-of-way, a length of 20 feet along the street right-of-way, and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two lines.

(3)

Rights-of-way intersecting in Central Business District. Within the Central Business District (CBD), the area formed by the intersection of two or more street rights-of-way with two sides of the triangular area being twenty (20) feet in length along each street, measured from their point of intersection, and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two lines.

(4)

Rights-of-way intersecting in single family residential areas. For single family residential zoned property the area of the property located at the corner formed by the intersection of two public rights-of-way with two sides of the triangular area being 25 feet in length along the abutting public right-of-way lines, measured from their point of intersection, and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two lines.

(5)

Rights-of-way in county, state or federal jurisdiction. Sight visibility measurements at the intersection of a right-of-way, accessway, or driveway and a right-of-way under County, State or Federal jurisdiction are subject to sight visibility requirements from those authorities.

(6)

Other intersections. In all other situations, the area of property located at a corner formed by the intersection of two or more public rights-of-way with two sides of the triangular area being 40 feet in length along the abutting public right-of-way lines, measured from their point of intersection, and the third side being a line connecting the ends of the other two lines.

(C)

Intersections. When an access way intersects a public right-of-way, all visual obstructions within the sight visibility triangle shall provide unobstructed cross-visibility at a level between three feet and six feet. Trees or palms having canopy limbs, foliage and fronds shall be maintained in such a manner that cross visibility is provided. One tree or palm shall be permitted, providing the mature trunk diameter does not exceed 15 inches. Trees shall not be located within six feet from the edge of any uncurbed access way pavement. Trees may have a four-foot offset from the face of a non-mountable type curb.

(D)

Landscape nodes. All trees or palms installed in nodes within a right-of-way shall maintain a four foot offset from the face of the curb. All shrubs and ground covers shall be maintained below 36 inches in height. All tree canopies must be maintained above eight feet in height. The mature trunk diameter of any tree or palms shall not exceed 15 inches. There shall be no encroachment of trees, tree limbs or palm fronds in or over a travel lane lower than 14.5 feet or lower than eight feet over a sidewalk. Private property owners shall be responsible for maintaining landscaping on their property that encroach into these areas.

(E)

Relief. The request for a relief from the sight visibility triangle dimensions may be granted by the City Engineer on a case-by-case basis and the review shall take into consideration neighborhood characteristics such as the locations of schools, parks, and other community facilities, and street characteristics such as the pavement width, width of the right-of-way to curb or sidewalk, curvature of the street, one-way directional traffic, presence of on-street parking spaces, speed limit and other similar elements. Denial of relief by the City Engineer may be appealed to the City Commission.