Carpinteria Municipal Code Ch. 16.16 Standards and Principles

The standards and principles provided by this chapter shall govern the approvals of maps provided by this title. Except where otherwise provided, the provisions of this chapter shall be directory to the city council or advisory agency and shall not be mandatory on the city.

(Prior code § 10300)

The subdivider shall prepare plans and specifications for the improvements required by the provisions of this chapter for the proposed subdivision. The improvement plans for a proposed subdivision shall provide for all improvement requirements imposed by the laws of the state, the provisions of this code, and the conditions of the tentative map.

(Prior code § 10320)

Except as otherwise provided in this title, grading of the proposed subdivision and the construction of any improvements thereon shall not begin until the city engineer has approved the improvement plans for the proposed construction.

(Prior code § 10121)

Narrow parcels or reserve strips controlling access to streets or highways from adjoining property will not be approved, unless the control or disposal of such land is placed under the jurisdiction of the city council under conditions satisfactory to such council or the advisory agency, as the case may be.

(Prior code § 10302)

Alleys may be required to be provided at the rear of commercial or multiple family parcels.

(Prior code § 10303)

A. Rights-of way for public utility purposes shall be provided along any lot line of lots where found necessary by the advisory agency or city council.

B. Rights-of-way of greater width as required by the advisory agency or city council for access shall be provided along all natural water courses where access is necessary for flood control maintenance and improvement and for other public purposes. Depending on topography, such rights-of-way shall be required to include the natural channel plus a strip of land twenty feet wide on the flat land along the edge of channels which do not exceed twenty-five feet in width. Such rights-of-way shall include strips of land twenty feet wide on both sides of all natural channels wider than twenty-five feet. These requirements may be modified or deleted for good cause shown.

(Prior code § 10304)

The above regulations of Section 16.16.060 of this chapter may be modified by the advisory agency or the city council in the case of a subdivision being developed pursuant to a development plan in accordance with zoning regulations. The advisory agency or city council shall prescribe conditions reasonably deemed by it necessary to the public interest for any planned development.

(Prior code § 10305)

A. Block Lengths. Blocks shall not exceed one thousand five hundred feet between street lines except where topographic conditions require longer blocks.

B. Block Widths. Blocks should be of sufficient width to permit the platting of two tiers of lots of normal depth. No block shall be less than two hundred feet wide.

(Prior code § 10301)

A. Lot Area. No residential lot shall be created which contains less than seven thousand square feet of area exclusive of street right-of-way, except as provided in this chapter.

B. Lot Width. No residential lot shall be created which has an average width of less than sixty-five feet, except as otherwise provided in the open space requirements of the zoning ordinance. All corner lots shall have an average width of at least seventy-five feet.

C. Lot Depth. No lot shall be created the rear line of which is less than one hundred feet from the front line of the lot, except that one side line may be less than one hundred feet in length if it terminates at a corner curve or cul-de-sac turn-around curve. In the case of through lots or corner lots, at least one lot line must be parallel to and not less than one hundred feet distant from the street on which the lot fronts. The rear line of a lot shall be considered as any lot line other than a front line which does not intersect the right-of-way line of the street which the lot fronts.

D. Lot Ratios. All lots in a proposed subdivision shall conform to the minimum lot area and width requirements of the zone in which the proposed subdivision is located. No lot shall be less than forty feet in its shortest dimension, except that the staff of a flag lot shall be at least twenty feet wide at all points. All residential, commercial and industrial lots shall have direct access to streets. Where lots are irregular in dimension due to a location on a cul-de-sac or curve or due to other unusual circumstances, the minimum lot dimension for such lots in a particular proposed subdivision may be reduced. In determining the permissible minimum lot area of lots less than ten thousand square feet in size, all public utility transmission line easements may be required to be excluded even though such easements are included in the lot design. No overhead electrical line shall be deemed a transmission line unless it is used to carry thirty-three kilovolts or more.

E. Lot Lines. The side lines of all lots shall be approximately at right angles to the street on which the lot faces, or approximately radial if the street is curved. Lot lines which cross any city boundary shall not be approved.

F. Corner Radius. Property lines of corner lots shall be rounded at the street corner by a radius of not less than fifteen feet. Corner business lots shall have an angular cut-off measuring not less than fifteen feet along each street from the corner.

(Prior code § 10306)

The subdivider shall furnish satisfactory evidence of provisions for utility service to or within any residential subdivision which shall be undergrounded.

(Prior code § 10310)

Utility easements of sufficient width shall be located along the rear or side lot lines. Whenever possible, such easements shall extend an equal distance into each of two abutting lots. Such requirement may be modified by the planning director if warranted by unusual circumstances in a particular proposed subdivision. All utilities shall be undergrounded and the utility easements for the same, shall be abutting and parallel to lot lines.

(Prior code § 10316)

The design of a proposed subdivision shall be such as to provide for the proper drainage of the proposed subdivision and all lots and improvements therein, based on the run-off which can be anticipated from the ultimate development of the watershed area in which the subdivision is located. The design shall be such that there are no undrained depressions. Rights-of-way shall be provided within the proposed subdivision as may be necessary to provide for the proper drainage of the proposed subdivision laterals thereto which may be constructed within or abutting the proposed subdivision and to provide for flood-control channels and conduits or laterals thereto which may be constructed within or abutting the proposed subdivision and which are shown upon a comprehensive flood-control plan approved by the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District. Access to open channels shown on the comprehensive flood control plan shall be provided along the entire length of the channel. Access to underground drainage conduits shall be provided by an easement of not less than ten feet in width directly above the entire length of the conduit. The designing of the proposed subdivision shall be such as to protect the subdivision and the lots and improvements there in from off-tract drainage or flood damage. Further, the design shall provide that any concentrations or increases of surface water resulting from the development of the proposed subdivision are conveyed by means of adequate facilities to a suitable natural watercourse in the area. Off-tract rights-of-way as may be necessary for such facilities shall be provided by the subdivider. Where necessary for adequate drainage, setback distances may be increased.

(Prior code § 10312)

A. 1.

Neither the city council nor the advisory agency shall approve a parcel map, tentative map or final map of any subdivision fronting upon the coastline or shoreline which subdivision does not provide or have available reasonable public access by fee or easement from public highways to land below the ordinary high-water mark on the ocean coastline within or at a reasonable distance from the subdivision.

2. Any public access route or routes provided by the subdivider shall be expressly designated on the tentative or final subdivision map, and such map shall expressly designate the city to own and control such route or routes as are dedicated.

B. Reasonable public access, as used in subsection (A) of this section shall be determined by the city council or the advisory agency.

C. In making the determination of what shall be reasonable public access, the city council or advisory agency shall consider:

1. That access may be by highway, foot trail, bike trail, horse trail, or any other means of travel;

2. The size of the subdivision;

3. The type of coastline or shoreline and the various appropriate recreational, educational, and scientific uses, including, but not limited to: diving, sunbathing, surfing, walking, swimming, fishing, beachcombing, taking of shellfish, and scientific exploration;

4. The likelihood of trespass on private property and reasonable means of avoiding such trespasses.

D. Nothing in this section shall require the city council or advisory agency to disapprove a parcel map, tentative map, or final subdivision map solely on the basis that the reasonable public access otherwise required by this section is not provided through or across the subdivision itself, if the city council or advisory agency makes a finding that such reasonable public access is otherwise available within a reasonable distance from the subdivision. Any such findings shall be set forth on the face of the tentative or final subdivision map.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the subdivider to improve any access route or routes which are primarily for the benefit of nonresidents of the subdivision area.

F. Any access route or routes provided by the subdivider pursuant to this section may be conveyed or transferred to any state or local agency by the city, at any future time, by mutual consent of the city and the particular state or local agency. Such conveyance or transfer shall be recorded by the recipient state or local agency in the office of the county recorder of Santa Barbara County.

G. The provisions of this section shall be mandatory.

(Prior code § 10313)

Fire hydrants shall be required where recommended by the fire chief of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District and failure to provide for them may be cause for denial of the subdivision.

(Prior code § 10309)

Prior to the final acceptance of the improvements of the subdivision, the subdivider shall install ornamental street lights with high pressure sodium vapor lamps wired underground and shall cause the area within the subdivision to be included within a district providing for the financing of the energy and maintenance costs of the street lighting and shall post a cash deposit in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of electrical energy for the remainder of the current fiscal year as determined by the city manager.

(Ord. 297 § 11, 1981: Ord. 268 § 1, 1979: prior code § 10314)

There shall be imposed upon each tentative tract map, variance, or permit which, as a condition of approval thereof, requires the installation of street trees, the further condition that such street trees shall be installed at the subdivider's expense and shall be properly maintained or, in the alternative, that the developer shall pay to the city an amount equal to the estimated prevailing cost of said trees as determined by the city manager.

(Ord. 297 § 12, 1981: prior code § 10315)

The subdivider shall plant at least one tree within each lot in the proposed subdivision, except in the case of condominiums where the number of trees shall be appropriately adjusted. This requirement is in addition to that required by Section 16.16.160. The trees planted shall be of a type approved by the city engineer. The improvement security posted with the improvement agreement shall be in an amount as determined by the city manager and in a form pursuant to Chapter 2.17 of this code.

(Ord. 297 § 13, 1981: prior code § 10317)

A. Except where satisfactory fencing already exists, the subdivider shall construct chainlink fences or masonry walls five feet high;

1. On all lot lines of the subdivision which adjoin drainage channels wherein the design water depth is at least one foot and wherein the product of the design water depth in feet times the design velocity in feet per second equals or exceeds eight, or wherever a channel has a depth of five feet or more,

2. Adjacent to all railroad rights-of-way which abut or pass through the subdivision, and

3. a.

Masonry walls, textured blocks, or slump-stone walls, ornamental wrought iron or similar types of fencing, or a combination thereof, as approved by the planning director, shall be placed adjacent to all controlled access highway rights-of-way which abut or pass through the subdivision. Such requirement may be waived or conditionally modified, including appropriate permanently irrigated landscaping, by the planning commission where substantial topographic variations exist, or where a frontage road will be provided parallel to the controlled-access highways, or in commercial and industrial subdivisions.

b. Chainlink-type fencing or combinations there of, as approved by the planning director may be substituted, in whole or in part.

4. Where a subdivision of land creates new lots or where a new subdivision of land creates new lots adjacent to existing developed lots and where a differential in lot elevation is established, a retaining device constructed of masonry cement or concrete block shall be erected along the sides and rear boundaries of all lots. The installation of the device and the height shall be to the satisfaction of the director of public works.

(Ord. 257 § 1, 1978; prior code § 10318)

In addition to the specific design requirements set forth in this chapter, the alignment and grades of streets and the location, size, and shape of blocks within a proposed subdivision shall be such as to provide efficient circulation within the subdivision and in the local neighborhood.

(Prior code § 10319)

At the time of making the survey for the final map, the engineer or surveyor shall set sufficient durable monuments to conform with the standards described in Section 8771 of the Business and Professions Code so that another engineer or surveyor may readily retrace survey. He shall also set the following additional monuments:

A. 1.

Along exterior boundaries at all angle points, the beginning and ending of curves, and at intervals not in excess of one thousand feet;

2. The intersections of the centerlines of all streets and centers of all culs-de-sac;

3. The intersections of the centerlines of streets with exterior boundaries;

4. Angle points, centerline intersections, centers of culs-de-sac, and the beginning and ending of all curves on the centerlines of all streets shall be marked by permanent monuments not less substantial than galvanized-iron pipe one-half inch in inside diameter by eighteen inches in length, or steel rods not less than one-half inch in diameter properly centered with lead plug and copper tags, and buried not less than twelve inches below the finished grade on the street or the surface of the ground;

5. a.

In case the streets are to be paved and sidewalks constructed, the angle points, beginning and ending of all curves, centers of culs-de-sac and the centerline intersection of streets shall be marked with heavy spikes and copper tags, on centerline in the pavement. All tags set on centerline of streets shall be large enough to allow RCE and LS numbers to be legible;

b. All street center line intersections and centers of culs-de-sac will be referenced to four lead plugs and tags in curbs. Where no curbs are installed, such points shall be referenced to four lot corner monuments. Bearings and distances to such reference monuments will be shown one eight and one-half inches or eleven inches transparent material and shall be filed in the city clerk's office;

B. All lot corners shall be marked by permanent monuments with tags not less substantial than galvanized-iron pipe one-half inch inside diameter by eighteen inches in length driven flush with the ground;

C. Front lot corners may be lead plugs and tags set on twelve-inch offset in sidewalk on prolongation of lot line or radially where point falls on a curve;

D. The types of markers, the sizes used at the above locations, and ties, where necessary, shall all be clearly indicated on the final map;

E. All monuments set shall be permanently and visibly tagged with the certificate number preceded by the letters "L. S." or "R.C.E." respectively, as the case may be;

F. If any shortage or excess is found by the surveyor on the ground between existing monuments compared with original records, any division of the total must bear its proportion of such excess or shortage;

G. A traverse of the boundaries of the tract and all lots and blocks must close within a limit of error of one foot to each ten thousand feet of circumference.

H. For the subdivision of public lands or section property, for the restoration of lost section corners and for the retracement of section lines, the method to be followed shall be in accord with the instruction set forth in the "Manual of Instructions" for the Survey of Public Lands of the United States, published by the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

I. All monuments necessary to establish the exterior boundaries of the subdivision shall be set or referenced prior to recordation of the final map.

(Prior code § 10321)

In subdividing property, due consideration shall be given to the dedication or reservation of parkways, landscaped rights-of-way and open spaces; of suitable sites for parks, playgrounds and schools; and the establishing of other open area for public use. The location of these features shall conform as nearly as possible to any adopted general or specific plan of the city.

(Prior code § 10307)

In all subdivisions, due regard shall be given to the preservation of all natural features such as large trees, natural groves, watercourses, scenic points, historic spots, and similar community assets which will add attractiveness and value to the property if preserved.

(Prior code § 10308)

Except where required by state law, the advisory agency or the city council may authorize modifications from the regulations in this chapter when in its opinion better design will result. The advisory agency or city council shall prescribe conditions deemed necessary to the public interest and which have a direct relation to the granting of the modifications.

(Prior code § 10311)