CHAPTER 3. SITE

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

3-1. GENERAL. Project sites shall be consistent with the MPS and

provide a safe, functional and attractive living environment

for tenants as follows:

a\. Emergency and standard access to all buildings and site

activities;

b\. Safe access to and use for the project site that

discourages abuse directed towards people and property;

c\. An environment free from potential hazards to health and

safety;

d\. Site definition to establish a residential quality

throughout the project; and

e\. Incorporation of energy conservation measures where

appropriate and cost-efficient.

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CHAPTER 3. SITE

SECTION 1: MANDATORY STANDARDS

3-2. VEHICULAR ACCESS. Permanent public (dedicated) or PHA-owned or

private vehicular access shall be provided to the project site

and to buildings as required. Where PHA-owned, this access

shall have a paved (in urban areas) or all-weather surface (in

rural areas). For technical requirements for paving, see

paragraph 10-4. The use of private streets for this purpose

shall be protected by a permanent easement.

a\. Emergency Access. Fire protection and health emergency

vehicles and equipment shall have access over roads or

across site to buildings.

b\. Road Separation. Wheel stops or other appropriate barriers

shall be provided to prevent vehicular encroachment beyond

driveways and service areas; however, these methods of road

confinement shall not prevent access by emergency vehicles.

3-3. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS. Permanent walks and paths shall be provided

for safe and convenient all-weather circulation throughout the

project site. Where need for pedestrian access exists, paved

access shall be provided to all residential buildings,

community facilities, site developments, and service entrances.

When new or replacement walks are installed, project walks

shall be provided with adequate radius at intersection of walks

to avoid pedestrian wear when corners are cut. Widths of new

walks shall accommodate pedestrian traffic so that adjacent

lawns, vegetation or fencing are not abused. New principal

entrance walks shall be a maximum of 6 ft. wide for high-rise

buildings and 4 ft. wide for low-rise buildings. New minor and

service walks shall be a minimum of 3 ft. wide. Existing walks

shall not be removed to comply with this standard when they are

in good condition, can be economically repaired or are

adequately serving their intended function.

3-4. PARKING FACILITIES.

a\. Safety. For safety or visual or acoustic separation as

required, wheel stops or other appropriate barriers shall

be provided and suitably placed to prevent unwanted

vehicular encroachment beyond parking area limits.

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b\. Location. On-site and adjacent off-site public parking

shall be conveniently located, and shall not be located in

secluded or unsafe areas. Public street parking where

permitted shall be counted, as appropriate, to minimize the

extent of expanded parking area on site. Where new parking

spaces are provided, whenever possible, the maximum walking

distance from the new parking spaces to a public entrance

of buildings should take into account the intended use of

follows:

\(1\) 250 ft. for non-elderly tenant parking; and

\(2\) 150 ft. for elderly tenant parking.

c\. Garages and Carports. New garages and carports may be

provided only when required by local building codes or

ordinances for existing buildings. Repair and replacement

may be provided, as needed, for existing carports and

garages.

d\. Lighting. Permanent night lighting shall be provided at

all collective parking areas and access paths to and from

these areas to dwelling units and community facilities.

New site lighting shall be mounted on existing buildings or

existing utility poles to the extent feasible. Underground

wiring shall not be installed unless required by local

code.

3-5. HEALTH AND SAFETY. Existing site and adjacent features shall

not contain potentially hazardous conditions. Project sites

and buildings shall be free of excessive air pollution and

noise caused by on site conditions.

a\. Dumping. No portion of the project site shall be used for

dumping.

b\. Infestation Control. The project site and structures shall

be effectively protected against infestation from rodents,

termites or other vermin. For technical requirements, see

paragraph 2-5.

c\. Vacant Structures. Abandoned nondwelling structures

serving no useful purpose or in a deteriorating condition

shall be secured or demolished in accordance with HUD

regulations.

d\. Lead-Based Paint. See paragraph 10-6a.

3-6. SITE SANITATION. Waste receptacles shall be provided

throughout the project site.

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3-7. SITE DEFINITION. Project site boundaries shall be defined to

deter trespassing. Sites that border on industrial,

commercial or sanitation activities shall be permanently

screened. For technical requirements, see paragraphs 10-3

and 10-5.

3-8. SITE DEVELOPMENT. Large open spaces that cannot be

maintained or supervised shall be developed, reallocated,

redeveloped or disposed of through appropriate sales

procedures required under HUD regulations and the Annual

Contributions Contract.

3-9. GRADING AND DRAINAGE. Grading and drainage shall provide for

immediate diversion of water away from buildings, paved

surfaces and recreation areas, and disposal from the site, by

methods of disposal that shall not create unsafe conditions

or severely limit use of outdoor areas.

3-10. RECREATION. Outdoor recreation space for children and adults

shall be provided subject to availability of land, at family

project sites including adult recreation and tot lots.

Suitable outside areas for active and passive recreational

activities for elderly tenants shall be provided at elderly

projects and, as needed, at family projects.

NOTE: Nearby publicly owned and maintained parks,

playgrounds, and school play areas that are readily available

for use by project tenants may be considered to fulfill the

required recreation areas for adults and children over the

age of 5 years. Tot lots for children younger than 5 must

still be provided on-site, unless the public park is close

to the project without barriers to safe access. Surfaced

area to accommodate organized and unorganized games shall be

provided for each project.

a\. Location of Play Areas. Play and sports areas shall not

be located in secluded or unsafe areas or too close to

dwelling areas to prevent disturbing tenants in

neighboring units by the noise.

b\. Play Area Definition. Play areas shall have sufficient

barriers from streets, trafficked areas, or other

hazardous areas that are unsafe or prevent enjoyable use

of the areas.

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c\. Play Equipment. Moving equipment such as swings and

slides shall be located and arranged where they do not

cause injury to playground participants or interfere with

circulation past the area. Equipment shall be in good

condition, safe to operate, and free of conditions

hazardous to the health and safety of the users.

d\. Outdoor Seating. Existing outdoor seating shall be

stable, have properly anchored members and be free of

splintering, rust or deterioration.

3-11. RESERVED.

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SECTION 2: PROJECT SPECIFIC STANDARDS

3-2B. VEHICULAR ACCESS.

a\. Reserved.

b\. Road Separation. When needed for tenant safety and

security, roads adjacent to or through the project site

may be separated from pedestrian areas by sturdy

barriers, such as fencing, railings, etc., or land areas.

For technical requirements for fencing, etc., see

paragraph 10-5. Since noise may be associated with the

use of roads, especially high speed roads, the

requirements of HUD\'s noise abatement regulations (24 CFR

Part 50) shall be considered concurrently.

3-3B. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS.

a\. Security. Where security is a problem, walks from public

streets may be provided with greater illumination.

Whenever possible, locate new walks in locations that are

easily surveyed from a trafficked street or project

building. For technical requirements for paving, see

paragraph 10-4.

b\. Circulation. Pedestrian circulation that is unsafe or

difficult to traverse due to extreme wind patterns may be

protected by appropriate dividers, fencing or screening.

For technical requirements, see paragraph 10-5.

c\. Safety. Exterior site handrails may be provided as

required for greater ease of movement by the handicapped

or the elderly.

3-4B. PARKING FACILITIES. Where replacement or additional space

is needed, the amount of parking shall not exceed that

required by local code. In the absence of applicable code,

the amount of parking should be adequate for residents,

guests, staff and service vehicles, but shall not exceed one

vehicular space per unit.

a\. Vandalism. When vandalism within parking areas has been

a recurrent problem, unauthorized access to parking areas

may be limited by enclosing the area and assigning

parking spaces to individual tenants. Appropriate

signage may be installed for reinforcement of assignment.

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NOTE: Parking areas that are visable from dwelling units

or highly trafficked areas have natural surveillance.

b\. Surveillance. Site spaces between parking areas and

dwelling units may be developed for needed recreation to

increase natural surveillance while providing amenities

for tenants.

3-5B. RESERVED.

3-6B. RESERVED.

3-7B. SITE DEFINITION. Fencing, vegetation, berming, level change

or other forms of definition may be used as physical or

symbolic site definitions or barriers. Use of symbolic

barriers may indicate to entrants that they are crossing into

a supervised area.

3-8B. SITE DEVELOPMENT.

a\. Open space. When requiring definition or reallocation,

open space may be developed for security as follows:

\(1\) Fencing, vegetation or raising or lowering of the

elevation of land may be used to cluster buildings

such as for the establishment of a single common

entry point to increase security.

\(2\) Unused outdoor space may be enclosed to create

communal yards for low-rise buildings and semi-

public recreation spaces for larger and high-rise

buildings. Where possible, access to shared outdoor

tenant spaces should be through dwelling units or

semi-private spaces only.

NOTE: These enclosures will create zones of

influence that will encourage residents to use and

supervise the area, and feel greater responsibility

and identity for the area. Tenant surveillance may

deter crime.

\(3\) Private and semi-private front or back yards may be

created for low-rise or first floor dwelling units

that will provide outdoor recreation space, limit

accessibility to dwelling unit windows and doors,

and provide a transition or buffer area between

private and public spaces.

\(4\) Large projects without interior streets may be

subdivided by streets, where necessary, for greater

security. The provision of through-streets may

provide the following:

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\(a\) A measure of safety resulting from the

increased activity, by bringing vehicular and

pedestrian traffic into the project;

\(b\) Easier patrolling and access by police or

security personnel; and

\(c\) Easier and more direct access to buildings and

site activities.

b\. Energy Conservation. All new site development, including

structures, fencing, walls, vegetation and berming, may

be considered from an energy conservation point of view.

Deflection of prevailing winds, summer shading of windows

and other glazed areas, protection of entrances from

winter wind penetration and utilization of solar

radiation in winter may be considered.

3-9B. RESERVED.

3-10B. RECREATION. Sitting areas may be provided for in family and

elderly projects, such as adjacent to building entrances,

community facilities, major circulation paths and children\'s

play areas.

a\. Use of Local Streets. When additional play space for

children cannot be provided at the project site to comply

with the mandatory standards, local streets may be closed

for this purpose when relevant zoning and codes permit

with the approval of the local government.

b\. Multiple Playgrounds. More than one playground may be

provided at a project site, for a variety of play

experiences. Select equipment that is appropriate for

the age groups to be served.

3-11B. LIGHTING. There are no mandatory requirements to light

recreational facilities; however, night lighting may be

provided for sports and play areas. Night lighting for

playgrounds provides recreational amenities while

potentially increasing site security by increased

activity and visual exposure. Where night lighting is

provided, it shall meet standards established in

paragraph 7-5. Where it is impossible to provide

adequate lighting from existing poles and buildings, new

poles may be considered if safety or security is at

issue.

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