Lancaster Municipal Code Art. IV Residential Subdivision Perimeter Treatment

Footnotes:

--- (1) ---

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), adopted Jan. 14, 2020, amended Art. IV in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Art. IV, §§ 16.20.220—16.20.250, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 661 § 1(540.000—540.030), 1994; Ord. 754 § 1(Att. A § 17), 1999; Ord. 839 § 1(Exh. A §§ 4—6), 2005.

The perimeter of a residential subdivision shall be treated in accordance with the requirements of this article.

(Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

A. Except as specified below, a masonry wall within a minimum height of five feet and a maximum height of six feet shall be constructed along the perimeter of an urban or rural single-family subdivision.

1. Perimeter walls shall be constructed of materials selected from the following list:

a. Adobe block;

b. Brick;

c. Decorative concrete block;

d. Pre-cast concrete;

e. Slump stone block;

f. Split face block;

g. Stucco on block;

h. Wrought iron in conjunction with other listed materials.

2. Design alternatives must be approved by the director.

B. Exceptions. This standard does not apply in the following locations:

1. Portions of the perimeter that coincide with a front lot line of a lot.

2. Portions of the perimeter that are adjacent to an arterial street that is subject to either Section 16.20.230 or Section 16.20.235.

(Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

Portions of an urban single-family subdivision that are adjacent to arterial streets shall be treated with a decorative wall and landscaping in accordance with the following:

A. Wall Design Standards.

1. Perimeter walls shall be constructed of materials selected from the following list:

a. Adobe block;

b. Brick;

c. Decorative concrete block;

d. Pre-cast concrete;

e. Slump stone block;

f. Split face block;

g. Stucco on block;

h. Wrought iron in conjunction with other listed materials.

2. Perimeter walls shall exhibit such design features (including, but not limited to, pilasters, alcove planters, varying textures, special subdivision entries, or other similar treatments) as necessary to provide them with appropriate design relief and visual appeal.

3. Perimeter walls shall be minimum height of five feet and a maximum height of six feet.

4. Subdivision perimeter wall location and design is subject to approval by the planning commission or the director.

B. Landscaped Maintenance District Easement Design Standards.

1. When a straight wall design is utilized, a landscaped buffer shall be provided between the sidewalk and a subdivision perimeter wall (inclusive of the wall) at the following widths:

a. Arterial streets: ten (10) feet where an eight-foot sidewalk exists; four feet where a fourteen-foot meandering sidewalk exists.

The landscaped buffer/landscape maintenance district easement shall be in addition to the required sidewalk (i.e., ten (10) feet of the landscaping and eight feet of sidewalk or four feet of landscaping with a fourteen-foot meandering sidewalk along an arterial street will normally require a total width of approximately eighteen (18) feet between the curb and a wall).

2. Along arterial streets the landscaped buffer may vary in depth from thirteen (13) feet to a minimum of seven feet where an undulating wall design is proposed as long as an average depth of ten (10) feet is maintained.

C. The decorative wall shall be extended adjacent to subdivision entrance streets as shown in Figure 16.20.230.

[Figure]

(Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

Portions of a rural subdivision that are adjacent to arterial streets shall be treated with a decorative wall and landscaping in accordance with the following:

A. Wall Design Standards.

1. Perimeter walls shall be constructed of materials selected from the following list:

a. Adobe block;

b. Brick;

c. Decorative concrete block;

d. Pre-cast concrete;

e. Slump stone block;

f. Split face block;

g. Stucco on block;

h. Rock on block;

i. Stone on block; and

j. Wrought iron in conjunction with other listed materials.

2. Perimeter walls shall exhibit such design features (including, but not limited to, pilasters, alcove planters, varying textures, special subdivision entries, or other similar treatments) as necessary to provide them with appropriate design relief and visual appeal.

3. Perimeter walls shall minimum height of five feet and a maximum height of six feet.

4. Subdivision perimeter wall location and design is subject to approval by the planning commission or the director.

5. All solid portions of the wall shall be treated with an anti-graffiti coating.

B. Landscape Maintenance District Pathway/Easement Design Standards.

1. An eighteen-foot wide landscape maintenance district easement for landscaping and multi-use pathway shall be provided between the arterial street, curb, and the subdivision perimeter wall (inclusive of the wall).

2. The eighteen-foot wide landscape maintenance district easement shall be counted toward lot area for the underlying parcels.

3. Design Requirements.

a. The pathway shall be located within the eighteen-foot landscape maintenance district easement area and shall generally be eight feet in width; the pathway may be reduced to a minimum width of six feet where design is constrained by utilities or other obstacles or meet the intent of a meandering sidewalk.

b. The pathway shall be surfaced with decomposed granite, minimum four inches in depth and properly compacted. Weed barrier shall be installed underneath the pathway.

c. The sidewalk shall meander away from the curb once every three hundred (300) to four hundred (400) feet at these locations: the planter adjacent to the curb shall be approximately twenty (20) feet in length and five to seven feet in width.

d. A concrete spilt-rail fence is required between the sidewalk and pathway.

e. Decorative, low-level ambient lighting fixture shall be provided along the pathway per the direction of the director.

4. The landscape maintenance district pathway/easement along the arterial shall extend adjacent to subdivision entrance streets a minimum of twenty (20) feet beyond the curb return for entry streets where lots side onto the street.

(Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

Portions of an urban single-family subdivision where lots directly abut vacant land, as shown in Figure 16.20.240, shall be treated with a masonry wall constructed to a minimum city department of development services standard or equivalent. If the subdivision is developed in phases, a wall shall also be required around the perimeter of each phase. The intent of this requirement is to ensure that residential development immediately adjacent to vacant land is provided an adequate buffer. The planning commission or the director shall have the discretion to waive the requirement for a block wall when there is already an adequate wall in existence at the location, to avoid the creation of double walls, or where it has been demonstrated that the abutting property will not be vacant for an extended period of time.

Where streets that will be continued in later phases are provided within a developed subdivision, such streets shall be barricaded in accordance with public works Standard Plan PW-5 or PW-6, to the satisfaction of the city engineer.

[Figure]

(Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020; Ord. No. 1106, § 4(Exh. A), 10-10-2023)

The perimeter of multiple-family subdivisions may be treated with a combination of landscaping, walls, decorative fences, or other techniques and may be required to annex into landscape maintenance districts as determined necessary by the planning commission.

(Ord. No. 1070, § 4(Exh. A), 1-14-2020)