§ 16.30

This chapter establishes standards for the design and layout of subdivisions, and the design of 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 purpose, goals and policies of the city's general plan, Zoning Code and any applicable specific plan.

(Ord. No. 3023, § 4.A(Exh. A), 5-2-2023)

The design and improvement standards in this chapter apply to all subdivisions and shall be imposed on an applicant as a condition of approval of a tentative map.

(Ord. No. 3023, § 4.A(Exh. A), 5-2-2023)

A.

Streets and Highways. Street right-of-way, alignment and design specifications shall conform to the standards set by the City Engineer and Public Works Director.

B.

Alleys. Alley alignment and design specifications shall conform to the standards set by the City Engineer, in accordance with the adopted studies, or other standards adopted by the City Council. In the event that standards have not been adopted, the Public Works Director shall establish the standards which decision may be appealed to the City Council.

C.

Traffic Control and Safety Devices. The subdivider shall install all required traffic control and safety devices, in accordance with the standards and recommendations of the City Engineer.

D.

Walkways. The subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve walkways to standards prescribed by the Planning Commission across blocks greater than nine hundred (900) feet in length, in order to provide more convenient access to schools, parks, public transit and other public spaces.

(Ord. No. 3023, § 4.A(Exh. A), 5-2-2023)

A.

Residential Zoning Districts. Table 16-30-1 prescribes the development standards for lots in residential zoning districts.

Table 16.30-1—New Lot Specifications—Residential Zoning Districts

B.

Multiuse, Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts. Table 16-30-2 prescribes the development standards for lots in multiuse, commercial and manufacturing zoning districts.

Table 16.30-2—New Lot Specifications—Multiuse, Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts

C.

Other Zoning Districts. Lot specifications shall be established through the tentative map process, provided each lot has a minimum area of six thousand (6,000) square feet.

D.

Specific Plans. Lot specifications shall be established as part of the specific plan, provided each lot has a minimum area of six thousand (6,000) square feet.

E.

Lot Lines. Lot lines shall be nearly perpendicular and parallel to the centerline of streets and curved streets shall be as radial as is practical.

F.

Blocks.

1.

City Blocks. Blocks shall be two (2) lots deep and not less than two hundred (200) feet in depth, measured from the frontage on one street to the frontage on the closest parallel street. Where lots back up to a street or highway and where it is intended that there shall be no access from said lot to the street or highway against which they back, a minimum six-feet-high masonry wall shall be erected in accordance with the standards of the Building Official on the rear property line as a physical separation between the lot and the street or highway.

2.

Super Blocks. Super blocks may be submitted to the Commission for approval when such blocks propose special design features which will provide for greater amenities than those set forth in the minimum standard provisions of this title and where no hardship is wrought on the community as a whole by the approval of such super block plans.

3.

Determining Block Face to be Considered Frontage. For square blocks, the Planning Commission shall determine which block face shall be considered as frontage for square blocks. For all other blocks, all lots shall front upon the street that parallels the long dimension of the block.

G.

Lot Consolidations. Lot consolidation is encouraged when such consolidation results in a superior subdivision that includes some of the elements of a complete neighborhood such as a range of housing opportunities, connectivity, open space, and a well landscaped streetscape. Lot consolidation that does not include such elements is discouraged.

H.

Flag Lots. The creation of new flag lots shall be prohibited.

I.

Double Frontage Lots.

1.

Residential Zoning Districts. The creation of new double frontage lots shall be prohibited.

2.

Nonresidential Zoning Districts.

a.

When one of the parallel streets is a major or secondary arterial. The other street shall incorporate a minimum ten-feet-wide landscape buffer. The review authority may require a greater landscape buffer and the incorporation of walls and other buffers as conditions of approval.

b.

When both of the parallel streets are collector or local streets. The creation of new double frontage lots shall be prohibited.

J.

Additional Development Standards. Refer to other sections of this chapter and Title 17 (Zoning Code) for exceptions and additional design and development standards.

K.

Adjustments and Exceptions.

Lot Specification Adjustments.

a.

The Planning Commission may approve an adjustment to reduce the minimum lot depth by up to twentyfive (25) percent and the minimum lot width by up to ten (10) percent provided the minimum lot area is met and the following additional finding can be made:

i.

An adjustment is necessary due to exceptional circumstances applicable to the property (e.g. location, shape, size surroundings and topography), is consistent with the lotting pattern of other properties in the vicinity and will not necessitate the need for any variances or minor variances to develop the property in a way similar to other properties in the vicinity.

b.

The Planning Commission may approve an adjustment in residential zoning districts to reduce the minimum lot width to equal the predominant width of a block when more than fifty (50) percent of the lots on the same side of the block are already subdivided and developed. However, in no case shall the lot have a width with a street frontage of less than forty (40) feet.

2.

Condominiums in Residential Zoning Districts. The individual units shall not be subject to this section provided the overall existing project area complies with Table 16.30-1 above.

3.

Condominiums with Residential Uses in Nonresidential Zoning Districts.

a.

Projects Along Major Arterials (see General Plan Figure C-4). For existing lots, the individual units shall not be subject to this section, provided the overall project has a minimum area of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet and street frontage of one hundred (100) feet. For all other lots, the individual units shall not be subject to this section, provided the overall project complies with Table 16.30-2 above.

b.

All Other Projects. For existing lots, the individual units shall not be subject to this section, provided the overall project has a minimum area of six thousand (6,000) square feet. For new lots, the individual units shall not be subject to this Section provided the overall project complies with Table 16.30-2 above.

4.

All Other Condominiums in Nonresidential Zoning Districts. The individual units shall not be subject to this section provided the overall existing project area complies with Table 16.30-2 above.

Shopping Centers, Office Complexes, Industrial Parks and Other Similar Campus Settings. Projects with multiple lots shall not be subject to this Section provided the overall project has a minimum area of two (2) acres and each individual lot has a minimum area of six thousand (6,000) square feet.

6.

Access and Maintenance. Projects with three (3) or more residential units and all nonresidential projects under subsections (K)(4) and (K)(5) above shall be subject to covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), to tie individual lots to the design and development standards of the larger subdivision and/or project, and expressly address common or reciprocal access (for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians), parking, landscaping, open space, maintenance, design, signage and/or other operational standards.

(Ord. No. 3023, § 4.A(Exh. A), 5-2-2023)

A.

Vehicular, Bicyclist and Pedestrian Access. Residential subdivisions of five (5) or more dwelling units and nonresidential subdivisions greater than forty thousand (40,000) square feet shall provide vehicular, transit, bicycle and pedestrian connectivity to all uses within the subdivision, to adjacent developments and to the surrounding street system.

B.

Emergency Vehicles and Schools. Emergency vehicle access and safe route to schools shall also be determined on a case-by-case basis.

C.

Barriers. Walls and fencing between residential and nonresidential uses shall provide openings or other mechanisms to allow bicycle, transit and pedestrian access between uses. This may include city parks, the Rio Hondo River Trail and San Gabriel River Trail. For residential uses, such openings may be locked if all residents have a code, key or other means of access.

D.

Easements and Open Space. Easements for major utilities such as high-tension lines and utility trunk lines and river/flood control easements should be integrated into the proposed subdivisions as open space or recreation use. Such easements should not be blocked by fences, yards, gates or other similar barriers, unless required for safety reasons. The use and treatment of such easements are subject to the policies and restrictions of the utility provider and County of Los Angeles.

(Ord. No. 3023, § 4.A(Exh. A), 5-2-2023)

Chapter 16.32 - DEDICATIONS AND RESERVATIONS