Specific Design Guidelines 

Components of Scenic Corridors

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Right of Way

Right of Way Cross-Section Model

Elements of Right of Way Cross-Section Model

 

Right of Way Cross-Section Model

The elements of this component include:

  • Landscaped median
  • Vehicular travel lanes
  • Bicycle lane
  • Pedestrian walkways/ Multi-use paths*
  • Transit stops
  • Utility easement
  • Parkway edge landscaping
  • Trails*
  • Drainage structures

* Preferred location is in the Scenic Landscape Setback.

Cross-Section Model General Description:

Although some designated scenic corridors have differing cross section designations in the General Plan and the transportation Streets Master Plan, The Parkway cross section found in figure 3.1-2 of the City of Scottsdale's Design Standards & Policy Manual (DS & PM) most closely resembles that of the scenic corridor. For that reason a modified Parkway designation cross section should be used as a design baseline for all designated scenic corridors

Parkways are generally defined as high-volume, high-capacity facilities that provide for regional mobility rather than local traffic movements. Direct access is limited. Parkways have scenic easements that give the added attraction of desert landscaping along these regional routes. The scenic easements are located outside of the defined right of way. For all scenic corridors the minimum scenic easement should be 100' measured from the outside edge of the right of way on each side of the street.

In addition to the expanded scenic easement, the method of constructing scenic corridors should differ from standard streets. The outer most lanes of a scenic corridor should be constructed first leaving an oversized median until (or if) additional lanes are required.

Generally speaking the Scenic Corridor Design Guidelines are intended to enhance the aesthetical qualities of the right of way component of the corridor. All performance and safety requirements of the DS&PM are to be retained.

Related City of Scottsdale plans and standards that should be consulted along with this document for this portion of the roadway included but are not limited to:

  • The General Plan
  • The Streets Master Plan
  • The Trails Plan
  • The Bicycle Master Plan
  • The Design Standards and Policy Manual (DS & PM)

Elements of the Right of Way Cross-Section Model

  • Right of Way Width: The overall width of the planned ultimate right of way for scenic corridors should be a minimum of 150' or a minimum of 75' each side of centerline. Exceptions: Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway widths should be a minimum of 126' or a minimum of 63' each side of centerline.
  • Access onto Right of Way: Access should be limited to half mile and quarter mile access points. Property owners not having frontage to these alignments should acquire cross property access agreements or access onto interior streets to these alignments to gain access to scenic corridors. The General Manager of Transportation may grant exceptions.
  • Median: There should be a raised median of 24' (wherever feasible) in width (measured from inside face of curb to inside face of curb). The median should have an integrally colored concrete vertical curb and gutter and should be landscaped with a native desert pallet at densities similar to the surrounding desert. Where bull noses taper to 3' or less in width the median should contain integrally colored exposed aggregate concrete or other finish approved by the General Manager of Planning and Development.
  • Vehicular Travel Lanes: The ultimate planned section should contain two (2) or three (3) travel lanes in each direction. If fewer lanes are constructed prior to the planned ultimate cross section, the outer most lanes should be constructed first leaving an extra wide median that may be used for future expansion purposes.

  • Travel Lane(s)-Horizontal Alignment and Curvature: Gradual shifts in the horizontal alignment off the true orthogonal grid are encouraged within the limits of traffic safety and right of way widths. Additional separation of alignment to preserve boulder outcroppings and other natural desert features are also encouraged.

  • Travel Lane--Sense of Vertical Curve: Historically travel on some scenic corridors was influenced by the rolling sensations of the roadbed dipping into and rising out of the wash crossings. While wet wash crossings are no longer feasible in safety terms, final engineering efforts designs should be explored that attempt to replicate a similar sensation within the limits of roadway safety. Additionally rises in the road should be strategically placed to take advantage of and expand vistas of large washes, distant mountains, natural landmarks, and large expanses of dedicated native desert open space.
  • Bicycle Lanes: Bicycle lanes should be provided at the outer pavement edge for each direction of travel.
  • Pavement Edge:
    •
  • Option A-- (preferred) Rural / Preservation Character: Rolled Curb (integrally colored) with a graded recovery shoulder. The recovery shoulder area should meet AASHTO standards for clear zones. No fixed object of more than 4" in diameter including trees, power poles, and light poles may be located with in this recovery clear zone. A graded shoulder (4' - 6 ' minimum width) should be provided with shrub planting no closer than 8' from back of curb and tree and saguaro planting no closer than 15' from back of curb.
  • Option B-- High activity / Commercial: Integrally colored vertical curb and gutter. AASHTO Standards will permit street lights, signal poles, and power poles to be located 2' behind face of curb, All other fixed objects (4'' diameter or greater) should be located a minimum of 10' behind the face of curb.
  • Sidewalks and Multi-use paths & Equestrian Trails:
  • Rural / Preservation Character Types: A stabilized decomposed granite multi-use path of 8' to 10' in minimum width should be installed along each side of the entire length of scenic corridors. The walk/multi-use path should be separated from the vehicular travel lanes by a landscaped buffer of not less than 10' in width. The walk should meander gradually and return to the curb line at bus stops, intersections and driveways. Wherever possible the walk/multi-use path should be located within the scenic landscape setback and may require it's own easement or share the planned trail easement where such easement exists.

Equestrian trails and the multi-use path should be a combined path and clearances as described in the DS & PM should be kept.

  • High Activity / Commercial Character types: An integrally colored 8' to 10' wide minimum concrete walk/multi-use path should be installed along each side of the entire length of scenic corridors. The walk/multi-use path should be separated from the vehicular travel lanes by a landscaped buffer of not less than 10' in width. The walk should meander gradually and return to the curb line at bus stops, intersections and driveways. Wherever possible the walk/multi-use path should be located within the scenic landscape setback and may require it's own easement or share the planned trail easement where such easement is wide enough to be shared.

Equestrian trails may be placed adjacent to the hard surface walk and should be constructed to meet the standards of the DS & PM

  • Utilities:
  • All new utilities should be located underground.
  • All existing utilities currently located above ground should be planned for future undergrounding at the next period of upgrade.
  • Re-vegetation with a balanced mixture of mature and smaller sizes of native plant materials including native trees (min. 5-gal.), shrubs (min. 1-gal.), and ground cover should be required to repair all scarring as a result of under-grounding and other similar construction that disturbs the shoulder area and or scenic setback. Scarring of rock formations or other natural features should be camouflaged with the application of desert varnish.
  • All abandoned and/or non-operational equipment should be removed from the right of way.
  • Sending and/or receiving antennae and their related equipment (microwave, cellular, broadband, etc...) should not be allowed in the right of way of scenic corridors unless they are integrated into existing or required street hardware and the surrounding landscape/hardscape setting. The integration aesthetics should be in keeping with the guidelines of this policy.

Example: Streetlight poles and Street traffic signal poles specifically designed for the City of Scottsdale and approved by the City of Scottsdale's Development Review Board may include wireless communication antenna, however, all associated equipment must be located entirely underground, or outside of the scenic setback of the scenic corridor and/or screened from view from streets, trails, and multi-use paths

  • Leases for existing structures not integrated into the corridor as described above should not be renewed without meeting the intent of this guideline. The utility owners should remove abandoned structures.
  • All utility cabinets, bollards, poles, power pedestals, valves, vaults, or other exposed apparatus should be installed plumb and square with the road alignment and logically arranged with other similar cabinets and hardware to facilitate screening. All above grade appurtances should be screened by landscape, a rustic decorative screen, a low wall, and/or painted to match Frazee Western Reserve 8716N as shown in the Frazee Millennium color deck, or other finish approved by the General Manager of Planning and Development. (Exception: those items required by the Corporation Commission or life safety, or local Fire code to be colored a specific color.). Exception: where a different color or finish has been approved by an existing streetscape plan, such as Shea Blvd
  • The location of streetlights should focus on the intersections of scenic corridors with minor collector streets or greater capacity designations, or as required by the Transportation General Manager for specific safety reasons.
  • The number of streetlights should be kept to a minimum required for road safety purposes. Consult the latest IESNA standards.
  • All streetlights and other exterior lights should be full cutoff shielded. Care should be taken to reduce opportunities of unwanted direct glare.
  • The use of low direct pedestrian scale lighting is encouraged in lieu of using the spillage of streetlights.
  • High Activity / Commercial Character type areas may have higher street lighting requirements than the Rural character type areas in order to meet minimums of the IES. In all cases the lowest minimum IES standard for the related ambient light area should be used in designing street lighting.
  • All poles, fixtures and related hardware should be finished as described in the Street Hardware section below.
  • Street Hardware
  • All new or replaced power poles, light poles, signal poles, mast arms, railings, grilles, and other street hardware should be finished to match one of the below:

 

  • Core-tin steel, or
  • Painted to match rusted metal, or
  • Painted to match "Western Reserve" Frazee 8716N, or
  • Other finish approved by the City of Scottsdale's Planning and Development General Manager
  • Exceptions:
  • Where a different color or finish has been approved by an existing streetscape plan, such as Shea Blvd.
  • Accent colors used for details as approved by the General Manager of Planning and Development.
  • Existing poles not finished as described above should be considered for future re-finishing, removal, replacement or other remedy to provide a consistent streetscape.
  • All new streetlight installations should match the City of Scottsdale standard for ESLO districts, character areas, and/or Scenic Corridors (Yet to be determined)
  • All new street signal poles, mast arms, and streetlight extension installations should match the City of Scottsdale standard for ESLO districts, character areas, and/or Scenic Corridors (Yet to be determined)
  • All transit stop shelters should match the City of Scottsdale Standard approved by the Development Review Board in 2002 or other site-specific design consistent with the intent of these design guidelines and approved by the Development Review Board.
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) should only be allowed within two miles of the freeway interchange and within the High Activity / Commercial Character Type areas. All finishes shall be as described in the street hardware section above.
  • Signs: Only transportation signage, scenic corridor markers, adopt-a-road markers, city entry markers, and safety related signage should be allowed in the right of way. Other signs allowed by ordinance including election campaign signs, temporary development and directional signs, etc...are discouraged.
  • Special low level illuminated street name signs should be installed at major intersections (mile or half mile) to help reduce the need for street lighting spill over.
  • All pole-mounted signs should have poles with finishes as described in the Street Hardware section above.
  • All signs should meet the standards for safety vision clearances.
  • All sign backs should be finished with a non-reflective dark color such as "Western Reserve 8716N Frazee" or similar approved by the City of Scottsdale's General Manager of Planning or designee.

Other Elements, Monuments, Markers-Architectural, Utilitarian or Artistic:

All other elements found in the right of way should be constructed from materials found in or made from the desert setting or interpret such materials in form texture and color. For Rural/ Preservation Character areas the method of assembling these materials should produce a result that appears to be an extension of the desert or a weathered remnant from a prehistoric, historic, or pioneer era of man's work. A more contemporary interpretation may be used for the High Activity / Commercial areas.

  • Landscape:
  • Medians: Natural native desert pallet of trees, shrubs and ground covers at densities matching surrounding undisturbed (or previously undisturbed) desert. Trees ( including saguaro) centers should be located within the central ten feet of the median (for 24' wide medians)
  • Off Shoulder Planting: Natural native desert pallet of trees, shrubs and ground covers at densities matching surrounding undisturbed desert. Trees (including saguaro), and boulder features should be located no closer than 15' from back of curb. Shrubs and ground cover no closer than 8 ' from the face of the curb. Safety requirements for Sight / Safety triangles must be met.

See the Landscape subsection of the Scenic Desert Landscape Setback Section for additional description of plant type and revegetation processes.

  • Drainage:
  • Drainage improvements when required should be landscaped and constructed in a manner that replicates a natural wash. Where bridged crossings are required the design should consider clearances that allow wildlife to cross the vehicular road at a grade separation.
  • Detention Basins: Detention basins should not be placed within the right of way, unless it is part of a regional drainage solution. In such a cases detention basins should be built to recreate a natural arroyo or wash and should not occupy more that 25% of any portion of back of curb area between vehicular accesses. All edges and basin bottoms should be revegatated to a native-like state.
  • Channel work: Any civil engineering improvements required to control channels as they cross the right of way and scenic setback or move collected runoff to major wash corridors should be rounded to blend with the natural form of the terrain and should be built to recreate a natural arroyo or wash.
  • Civil Engineered Bridges and Drainage Structures should be constructed with materials possessing deep desert color tones and textures. Colors should be darker than the native soil. Smooth, reflective, metallic, streamlined structures, crisp tooled masonry, etc... should be avoided. Materials such as native stone, adobe, integrally colored shot-crete etc...are suggested materials. Retention walls for channel sides should not be greater than 4' in height. All surfaces disturbed by construction cuts should be treated with desert varnish. Re-vegetate all channel edges.
  • Railings and all metal work related to drainage structures should be finished as described in the Street Hardware section above
  • Maintenance of all public elements within the right of way between curbs shall be performed by the City of Scottsdale.
  • Maintenance of privately owned items such as utility cabinets and related screening shall be the responsibility of the corresponding utility or agency.
  • Maintenance of sidewalks, trails, multi-use walks, street signage, and transit facilities shall be performed by the City of Scottsdale.
  • Maintenance of the landscape plant materials directly adjacent to multi-use paths & trails shall be performed by the City of Scottsdale.
  • Maintenance of landscaping behind curbs, but adjacent to private property should become the responsibility of the adjacent private property owner except as otherwise formally approved by the City of Scottsdale City Council.