This chapter establishes standards for the design and layout of subdivisions, and the design, construction or installation of public improvements within subdivisions. The purpose of these standards is to ensure, through careful site evaluation and design, the creation of new usable parcels that are consistent with the general plan and any applicable specific plan.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
The requirements of this chapter apply to subdivisions, and applicable requirements of this title, as follows:
(1) 
Extent of Required Improvements. All subdivisions shall provide the improvements required by this chapter, and any additional improvements required by conditions of approval.
(2) 
Applicable Design Standards—Timing of Installation. The subdivider shall construct all on- and off-site improvements according to standards approved by the city engineer. No final or parcel map shall be presented for approval until the subdivider either completes the required improvements, or enters into an agreement with the city for the work.
(3) 
Subdivision Improvement Standards—Conditions of Approval. The applicable subdivision improvement and dedication requirements of this chapter and any other improvements and dedications required by the review authority in compliance with Section 21.70.070 (Tentative map approval or disapproval) of this title, shall be described in conditions of approval adopted for each approved Tentative Map (Section 21.70.080). The design, construction or installation of all subdivision improvements shall comply with the requirements of the city engineer.
(4) 
Conflicting Provisions. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and other provisions of this title, or other provisions of this code, the most restrictive provisions shall control. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the Map Act, the Map Act shall control.
(5) 
Extent of Improvements Required—Four or Fewer Parcels. As required by Map Act Section 66411.1, improvements required for subdivisions of four or fewer parcels shall be limited to the dedication of rights-of-way, easements and the construction of reasonable offsite and onsite improvements for the parcels being created.
(6) 
Oversizing of Improvements. At the discretion of the review authority, improvements required to be installed by the subdivider for the benefit of the subdivision may also be required to provide supplemental size, capacity, number or length for the benefit of property not within the subdivision, and may be required to be dedicated to the city, in compliance with Article 6, Chapter 4 of the Map Act. In the event that oversizing is required, the city shall comply with all applicable provisions of Map Act Sections 66485 et seq., including the reimbursement provisions of Map Act Section 66486.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
Proposed subdivisions shall be designed to provide adequate access from each new parcel to a city street, in compliance with this section.
(1) 
General Access and Circulation Requirements. The subdivider shall provide a comprehensive street system, designed and constructed in compliance with this section the city's improvement standards, and with the circulation element of the general plan.
(A) 
Street design shall provide for safe vehicular operation at a specified design speed to the satisfaction of the city engineer.
(B) 
Public streets shall be required when:
(i) 
The street is shown as an arterial or collector in the circulation element of the general plan, or any other specific or precise plan;
(ii) 
The street will be used by the general public as a through access route; or
(iii) 
A public street is necessary for special needs including bus routes, public service access, bicycle routes and pedestrian access.
Private streets are allowed only in compliance with subsection (6) of this section.
(2) 
Alternative Standards. The review authority may consider and approve proposed access and street design solutions that differ from the provisions of this section, and the city's improvement standards where deemed necessary to properly address the characteristics of adjacent land uses and/or anticipated traffic volumes or to maintain neighborhood character.
(3) 
Access to Subdivision. Every subdivision shall be designed to have access to a city street. Access shall be provided by:
(A) 
The subdivision abutting a city street, where the length of the subdivision along the street, the street right-of-way and the width of the right-of-way will accommodate the construction of all road improvements required by this section; or
(B) 
The subdivision being connected to a city street by a non-exclusive right-of-way easement for street, utility and appurtenant drainage facilities purposes, where the easement shall be:
(i) 
Offered for dedication;
(ii) 
Unencumbered by any senior rights that might serve to restrict its proposed use; and
(iii) 
Of a width and location to accommodate the construction of all improvements required by this section and the city's improvement standards.
(4) 
Access to New Parcels. Parcels within a proposed subdivision shall be provided access as follows.
(A) 
City Street Access Required. Each parcel within a proposed subdivision shall be provided access by being located on an existing city street or a new city street designed and improved in compliance with subsection (3) of this section, or to a private street if allowed by subsection (6) of this section. If a subdivision block has more than twenty homes or a length of more than five hundred feet, it shall be accessed by two or more streets. Exception: The city council may approve a large subdivision with only one access street if there is on record at the time of approval of a final map, a precise plan indicating a future street extension that will permit a second street to the subdivision.
(B) 
Frontage Roads. When lots are proposed to front on a major arterial or state highway, the review authority may require the subdivider to dedicate and improve a service or frontage road separate from the arterial or highway.
(5) 
Design and Improvement of Proposed Streets. New streets proposed or required within a new subdivision or adjacent to a new subdivision shall be located and designed as follows, and in compliance with the city's improvement standards.
(A) 
Alignment—Intersections—Curves. The alignment of streets shown on a tentative map shall be:
(i) 
Consistent with the circulation element of the general plan, where applicable;
(ii) 
Located to be in alignment with existing adjacent streets by continuation of their centerlines, or by adjustments by curves; and
(iii) 
Located so that all streets intersect at an angle as near to ninety degrees as feasible.
The centerline curve radii of all proposed streets shall be subject to approval by the city engineer.
(B) 
Right-of-Way and Surfaced Width. The width of the right-of-way and improved surface of streets shown on a tentative map shall be as provided by Table 6-1, except where other standards are approved by the city engineer.
TABLE 6-1
REQUIRED STREET WIDTHS
Street Type
Minimum Right-of-Way Width
Minimum Paved Travel Way
Arterial
Major Highway
Secondary Highway
Primary
 
120 feet
80 feet
100 feet
 
6 lanes/divided highway
4 lanes/divided highway
4 lanes/divided highway
Minimum centerline radius 1,200 ft.
Local
60 feet
34 to 36 ft. roadway
Industrial
80 feet
60 ft. roadway
(C) 
Corners. All block corners and "T" alley intersections shall be rounded or cut off as approved by the city engineer. At the intersections of local streets, the corner property line radius shall be designed so that it does not reduce the parkway width of the street or highway below city standard when using a minimum curb radius of twenty-five feet.
(D) 
Access to Unsubdivided Property. When a proposed subdivision abuts vacant land that is designated by the general plan for future subdivision and development, the review authority may require that streets to be constructed with the proposed subdivision be extended to the boundary of the property to provide access to the future development.
(E) 
Improvements to Existing Streets. When an existing city street provides access to, passes through, or is contiguous with a proposed subdivision, the review authority may require dedication of additional right-of-way and/or improvements in compliance with the general plan, if it determines that the proposed subdivision will create the need for the improvements.
(F) 
Cul-De-Sac Streets. Cul-de-sac streets shall have a sixty foot right-of-way, improved with a thirty-four-foot or thirty-six-foot roadway, as determined by the city engineer. The centerline radius shall be a minimum of two hundred fifty feet. The length of street from a centerline intersection to a radius point of a culde-sac shall not be more than five hundred feet. The minimum terminal curb radius shall be designed so that the parkway strip will not be reduced. Exception: Cul-de-sac streets complying with the length restriction herein may have fifty-six feet of right-of-way and thirty-six feet of improved roadway.
(G) 
Service Road. A service road shall be separated from an arterial highway by a raised median strip. The service road shall provide the primary means of vehicular access to abutting properties.
(H) 
Partial Width Streets. Any land intended to be a part of the ultimate width of a street, which is adjacent to the boundary of any lot or subdivision shall have a width of one-half of the ultimate street width as determined by the city engineer, plus one eight-foot lane. The approval of any final map indicating a partial street along a parcel boundary shall not be granted unless the council approves a precise plan for the project.
(I) 
Paving. All streets shall be graded and paved to the lines and grades approved by the city engineer, in accordance with any applicable geotechnical report, and in compliance with the city's improvement standards and specifications.
(J) 
Curbs and Sidewalks. Concrete curbs and sidewalks shall be constructed upon all streets in compliance with the city's improvement standards and specifications. The location of sidewalks shall conform to that of adjacent areas and shall be at the discretion of the review authority.
(6) 
Private Roads. Private roads are allowed as provided in this section. Private roads shall not be permitted except where the commission determines that a private street system will adequately serve the proposed subdivision, will not be a substantial detriment to adjoining properties and will not disrupt or prevent the establishment of an orderly circulation system in the vicinity of the subdivision.
(A) 
Maintenance Requirements. Provisions satisfactory to the city engineer and city attorney shall be made for lot owners association or other organization to assume responsibility for the maintenance of private roads and ownership of the street right-of-ways of any subdivision.
(B) 
Design and Improvement Standards. Private roads shall be designed and improved as set forth in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
(C) 
Security and Conditions. The commission and/or council may require any guarantees and conditions it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this title pertaining to private roads. Private roads and easements providing access to parcels within a subdivision shall be located and shown on the parcel or final map.
(D) 
Offer of Dedication. All proposed private roads shall be subject to irrevocable offers of dedication to the city on the applicable parcel or final map, or separate instrument submitted to the city along with the parcel or final map.
(7) 
Alternative Circulation Systems. Proposed subdivisions shall be designed to provide rights-of-way for pedestrian paths, bikeways and multiple use trails consistent with the circulation element of the general plan and/or other applicable general plan provisions.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
The subdivider shall install resilient wedge seat valves, extensions and risers extending thirty inches above the finished grade of the gutter for fire hydrants, of sizes and at locations approved by the fire chief and city engineer.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
Prior to the issuance of building permits, a grading plan prepared and signed by a registered civil engineer shall be submitted to the city engineer. Grading plans shall show the elevations of the natural ground at all lot corners, the finished grade at corners, the finished pad elevation, finished floor elevations, rates and directions of all drainage swales and finished sidewalk elevations at all front lot lines and existing topographic elevations and drainage direction one hundred feet outside the boundary of proposed project area and/or map.
(1) 
Minimum Slopes. The minimum rate of grade of all drainage swales on lots shall be one-half of one percent.
(2) 
Pad Elevation—Residential. All building sites shall comply with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood zone requirements, and the following standards. In the event of any conflict between the following requirements and FEMA requirements, the FEMA requirements shall control.
(A) 
The building pad elevation of residential lots shall be established at a minimum of ten inches above the design sidewalk elevation at the low side of the lot.
(B) 
The finished floor elevation of slab floor houses shall be a minimum of sixteen inches above the sidewalk elevation.
(C) 
The pad elevation of all residential lots shall be established at least one foot above the design water surface in an adjacent storm drain channel or the ponded surface in an adjacent sump for collection of storm drain waters. An exception may be permitted in the case of a tract served by a storm drain pump station.
(3) 
Drainage Scheme. No inter-lot or cross drainage shall be permitted. All lots shall drain their own water to the public street, public drainage facility or natural drainage course without passing through or across an adjacent lot. No lot shall drain water over the bank of a flood control channel.
(4) 
Grading Exceptions. Specific exceptions to the above requirements may be authorized at the discretion of the city engineer. Exceptions are considered to be the case of an individual lot or at most a tier of lots and are not to be construed as extending to an entire subdivision.
(5) 
As-Built Grading Plan. Upon completion of grading operations the owner shall furnish to the city engineer two prints and a digital submittal of an as-built grading plan prepared by the owner's engineer. In case no grading plan had been prepared and no grading permit had been granted, the subdivider shall furnish to the city engineer two prints of a map signed by the owner's engineer and certifying that no fills had been made on the lots or else two prints of a map prepared by the owner's engineer showing the location and depth of all compacted or uncompacted fills that had been made.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
New subdivisions shall be designed so that all proposed grading incorporates appropriate erosion and sediment control measures in compliance with applicable city and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
The subdivider shall install monuments in compliance with Chapter 21.82 (Surveys and Monuments) of this title, and the Map Act.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
The size, shape and arrangement of proposed parcels shall comply with this section, or with any general plan policy, applicable specific plan requirement, other title provisions, or other municipal code provisions applicable to a proposed subdivision.
(1) 
Parcel Area. The minimum area for new parcels shall be as required by Chapters 21.04 through 21.14 of this title, except that the minimum lot area requirements of these chapters shall not apply to condominiums and condominium conversions, planned developments, townhouses, zero lot line and similar projects, but shall apply to the creation of the original parcel or parcels that are the location of the common interest development.
(2) 
Dimensions. The dimensions of new parcels shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapters 21.04 through 21.14 of this title or as otherwise required by the review authority.
(3) 
Driveway Standards. Proposed parcels shall be designed to accommodate driveways designed in compliance with Section 21.22.080 (Driveways) of this title.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
Each approved parcel shall be provided connections to public utilities, including electricity, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications services, which shall be installed as part of the subdivision improvements as provided by this section, and by Sections 21.68.120 (Sewage disposal) and 21.68.150 (Water supply) of this chapter.
(1) 
Underground Utilities Required. Utilities in new subdivisions shall be installed underground, as follows. These requirements do not apply to utility lines which do not serve the area being subdivided.
(A) 
When Undergrounding Is Required. All existing and proposed utility distribution facilities (including electric, telecommunications and cable television lines) installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to any subdivision shall be installed underground. Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, including surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets and concealed ducts, shall also be underground, unless otherwise approved by the review authority based on the recommendations of the city engineer.
The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section and shall make the necessary arrangements with the affected utility companies for facility installation. The review authority may waive the requirements of this section if topographical/ soil or any other conditions make underground installation unreasonable or impractical.
(B) 
Location of Installation. Underground utility lines may be installed within street rights-of-way or along a lot line, subject to appropriate easements being provided if necessary. When installed within street rights-of-way, their location and method of installation, insofar as it affects other improvements within the street right-of-way, shall be subject to the approval of the city engineer.
(2) 
Utility Easements—Minimum Width. The minimum width of easements for public or private utilities, sanitary sewers or water distribution systems shall be determined by the review authority based on the recommendations of the city engineer for city facilities, and the recommendations of the applicable utility company, for public or private utilities.
(3) 
Overhead Lines. When overhead utility lines are approved by the review authority, easements shall be located at the rear of lots where practical, and along the side of lots where necessary. Where practical, the poles supporting overhead lines shall not be installed within any street, alley or easement designated exclusively for drainage purposes.
(4) 
Timing of Installation. All underground utilities, water lines, sanitary sewers and storm drains installed in streets, shall be constructed before the streets are surfaced. Connections to all underground utilities, water lines and sanitary sewers shall be laid to sufficient lengths to avoid the need for disturbing the street improvements when service connections are made.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
Each parcel within an approved subdivision shall be provided a connection to the city's sewage collection, treatment and disposal system, in compliance with the city's improvement standards and specifications.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
All proposed subdivisions shall provide street lighting facilities designed and constructed in compliance with the city's improvement standards and specifications. The subdivider shall also pay the street light maintenance and energy fee required by Section 21.78.040 of this title.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)
Storm water runoff from the subdivision shall be collected and conveyed by an approved storm drain system. The storm drain system shall be designed for ultimate development of the drainage area. The storm drain system shall provide for the protection of abutting and off-site properties that would be adversely affected by any increase in runoff attributed to the development; off-site storm drain improvements may be required to satisfy this requirement. Any easement for drainage or flood control shall be improved as specified by the city engineer.
(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)