Chapter 26.16 — PHYSICAL DESIGN OF IMPROVEMENTS

There are established minimum design requirements for streets, ways, alleys, water mains, storm drainage systems and other public improvements. The minimum standards so established shall apply to all lands within the city or to be annexed to the city and to all subdivisions or resubdivisions of such lands. The minimums so established may be lowered or revised for topographical reason or when hardship to the developer may exist only upon the recommendation of the planning commission and action by the council in the same manner as provided for variances in Chapter 26.12 of this code. (1941 Code § 1997, Ord. 541, (1953))

Water mains shall be not less than six inches in diameter, except that in exceptional circumstances, smaller sizes may be approved by the city engineer; provided, however, that the installation of larger pipes may be required upon recommendation of the city engineer and the chief of the fire department to meet circumstances of extra hazard. The fire chief and city engineer must approve the location of fire hydrants and a map of water lines, fire hydrants and feeders shall be prepared and filed in the offices of the fire chief and city engineer. (1941 Code § 1997 (1), Ord. 541, (1953))

Necessary fire alarm systems or extensions of the existing fire alarm system, including their connection to the central control panel and the enlargement of the central control panel caused by any such connections, shall be installed as ordered by the chief of the fire department.

The developer or subdivider may file an application for a variance from the order of the chief of the fire department and notices thereof shall be given, hearing held and testimony and evidence taken by the city council in the same manner as is provided for in Chapter 26.12 of this code in cases of an application for a variance from an order of rejection or modification by the city engineer, and a variance may be granted by the city council upon findings of all of the things to be true which are required for the granting of a variance from an order of the city engineer. (1941 Code § 1997 (1-a), Ord. 588, (1955))

The minimum width of the pavement of major streets shall be 64 feet; of secondary streets, 40 feet; and of minor streets, 34 feet; all measured between the faces of curbs. The minimum width of alleys, private ways and divided streets, shall be 20 feet, measured between the curbs, separating strip, or other limitations to the traveled way. The minimum width of islands or dividing strips in divided street shall be three feet when no electroliers are located therein and six feet when such obstructions exist. (1941 Code § 1997 (2), Ord. 541, (1953))

Sidewalks shall be located adjacent to curbs and shall have a minimum width of five feet, measured from the inside of the monolithic curb and gutter. Sidewalks shall have a minimum thickness of four inches of "Class A" concrete. In all residential districts, a strip contiguous to the sidewalk for planting or other municipal purposes shall he or she provided with a minimum width of four and one-half (4-1/2) feet. (1941 Code § 1997 (3), Ord. 541, (1953))

Streets shall have a minimum crown of three inches in 15 feet of pavement width. Alleys shall have a straight slope to a low center of two inches in 10 feet of pavement width. Sidewalks shall have a straight slope of one-quarter inch per foot of width with the low side toward the gutter. Grade of streets shall be not less than three-tenths per cent nor greater than 15%. (1941 Code § 1997 (4), Ord. 541, (1953))

All curbs shall have a straight face at an approximate right angle to the top surface of the gutter and shall be ordinarily six inches in height from the flow line of the gutter. The city engineer may vary this height to meet unusual conditions. All curbs shall be cast monolithic with gutters. Wherever possible, expansion joints shall be placed to become an extension of the lot lines. At no time shall true expansion joints be spaced at more than 60 foot intervals and the distance between dummy and true expansion joints shall be no less than 15 feet. The minimum width of the gutter shall be 18 inches.

Curbs shall have a minimum radius of 20 feet at the face of the curb in all residential districts. All circles in courts or cul-de-sacs shall have a minimum radius of 32 feet at the face of the curb. (1941 Code § 1997 (5), Ord. 541, (1953))

The maximum length of cul-de-sacs shall be restricted to 250 feet as measured from the right- of-way line of the street from which the cul-de-sac enters to the center of the turning circle at the cul-de-sac end. (1941 Code 1997 (6), Ord. 541, (1953))

All storm drainage systems shall be so designed as adequately to remove storm water from the area served at the maximum rainfall rate of one inch per hour. Runoff factor, subject to variations because of the nature and use of the terrain, shall be clearly stated and shall meet with the approval of the city engineer. Where the drainage of the upstream waters is a contributing factor to the flooding of lower areas, the drainage system shall be of such size as to accommodate such conditions. Structures, water retention basins, drainage canals or other improvement of storm water drainage may be required, and the city council may deny approval of the final map in the event that such requirements are not met.

Storm water shall, under no circumstances, be introduced into the sanitary sewage systems but shall be confined to the surface and subsurface storm drainage systems and facilities provided.

Lots shall be so graded as to assure storm water runoff to the facilities provided for the area. Building permits will not be issued for any lot having a finish grade such as to cause runoff of storm water in any direction other than one that will so properly dispose of it. On hillside

development, where the contour of the terrain makes it impossible or impractical to drain water to the frontage street, special requirements for such drainage will be imposed by the city engineer. (1941 Code § 1997 (7), Ord. 541, (1953))

In all residential areas, telephone and power poles and lines shall be located in the rear of lots or along lot lines and shall not be permitted in the street right-of-way or in the front of lots abutting the street right-of-way.

Water mains and fire hydrants for domestic supply and fire fighting purposes shall be installed. The water mains shall be laid under the street, parallel to the curb, and in an area between four and six feet from the curb line, and with a minimum cover of 30 inches. A map showing the size and location of such pipes and hydrants, and stating the material of which such pipes are made and the date of their installation and approval, shall be filed in the office of the city engineer.

Sewer mains shall be laid in the center line of all streets. The size of sewers, the grade and depth at which they shall be laid, and the installation of sewerage pumps, where such are necessary, shall be subject to approval by the city engineer. All sewer laterals shall be indicated on plans giving location of lot corner and the depth of the lateral. Laterals and mains shall be accurately located in accordance with the plans and their location indicated on the permanent sewer records of the city. (1941 Code § 1997 (8), Ord. 541, (1953))

Adequate lighting of all streets, highways and alleys shall be provided in all new subdivisions. No subdivision map shall be finally approved until an agreement to provide such lighting has been signed by the subdivider or assessment proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted.

Street lighting shall be accomplished by the installation of metal standards carrying pendant luminaires and the electricity shall be supplied from underground conduit. Sizes and types of standards, luminaires, wires and conduits shall meet with the approval of the city engineer. Spacing of electroliers and the size and type of luminaires shall be sufficient to furnish not less than a minimum light intensity over the entire street right-of-way.

Wherever existing trees or other plants are to be preserved in the street right-of-way, electroliers shall be located in such manner as to receive minimum interference from such trees or plants. (1941 Code § 1997 (9), Ord. 541, (1953))

Provision shall be made for the planting of trees in residential areas, and such portions of the subdivision as may be required by the planning commission for "green belts" or highway buffers and the location and variety of such trees shall be indicated. The superintendent of parks shall inform the city engineer regarding the suitability of species and spacing. Trees shall be selected for size, growth and ultimate age characteristics, root type, adaptability to climatic and soil conditions, and conformity to existing trees within the area.

(1941 Code § 1997 (10), Ord. 541, (1953))

All intersections shall be equipped with street signs which shall be mounted in such manner, height and location as to conform with the standards for street signs for the city of Burlingame. (1941 Code § 1997 (11), Ord. 541, (1953))

Wherever quantities of earth, either within street right-of-way or on abutting property, are to be graded, relocated, added to the natural ground line or removed, the source and disposition of such material shall be clearly indicated in the plans and the effect upon drainage flow shall be shown.

Whenever cuts or fills are made, the final slope shall be such as to permanently resist the action of erosion, slip or other natural forces tending to alter the established grade or location. Greater slopes may be permitted when structural means such as rip rap fences, retaining walls or other approved methods are employed. Complete plans and specifications of the proposed grades and the retaining method must be submitted to the city engineer for his or her approval. (1941 Code § 1997 (12), Ord. 541, (1953))

After receiving copies of the final map, the city engineer shall examine the map as to correctness of surveying data, mathematical data and computations, and all other matters as require checking to insure compliance with the provisions of the "Map Act" and this code. If the final map is found to be in compliance, the city engineer shall endorse his or her approval thereon. (1941 Code § 1997 (13), Ord. 541, (1953); Ord. 1032 § 8, (1975))

For each subdivision including those described in Section 26.24.010 of this code, an amount established by resolution of the council shall be deposited with the city engineer when the tentative map is filed. A charge for checking shall also be made by the city engineer. The charge shall be sufficient to reimburse the city for all costs connected with such project. Such charges shall be included with the cost of engineering incidental to the subdivision improvements, if any. Any surety bonds required for faithful performance shall not be released until all city engineering charges are paid. (Ord. 1032 § 9, (1975))