Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 20.516 Transportation, Utilities and Public Services

This Chapter shall apply to all new development and in particular development which requires the expansion or extension of public works or private facilities.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

The purpose of this Chapter is to insure:

(A) That development occurs in areas where public services are available;

(B) That where existing or planned public works facilities can accommodate only a limited amount of new development, services to coastal dependent land use, essential public services and basic industries vital to the economic health of the region, state, or nation, public recreation, commercial recreation, and visitor-serving land uses shall not be precluded by other development; and

(C) That new and expanded public services are designed and limited to accommodate a level and type of development which is consistent with the Land Use Plan, provided that a reasonable capacity be reserved for potential industrial development as designated by the Coastal Element.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)

New development shall be approved subject to the availability of necessary public services and consistent with the following provisions.

(A) Septage and Leach Field.

(1) Subdivisions or boundary line adjustments creating new parcels or additional residential, commercial or industrial building sites shall only be approved where the application is consistent with all provisions of this division and where:

(a) A community sewage disposal system with available capacity exists and is obligated to provide service; or a satisfactory site for an individual sewage system exists.

(b) Leach field approval shall require the satisfactory completion of a site evaluation on the site of each proposed septic system to be performed by a qualified hydrologist/soils engineer pursuant to techniques described in the "Land Division Requirements" of the Environmental Health Division of the County Public Health Department.

(c) Permits for new installations of septic tanks shall not be issued in the absence of a long term arrangement for septage disposal for that specific area.

(d) Newly constructed sewage disposal systems and expansion of existing systems shall be designed to serve development consistent with that permitted by the Land Use Plan.

(B) Water Supply.

(1) Approval of the creation of any new parcels or additional building sites shall be contingent upon an adequate water supply during dry summer months which will accommodate the proposed parcels, and will not adversely affect the groundwater table of contiguous or surrounding areas. Demonstration of the proof of water supply shall be made in accordance with policies found in the Mendocino Coastal Groundwater Study dated June 1982, as revised from time to time and the Mendocino County Division of Environmental Health's Land Division requirements as revised.

(2) Commercial developments and other potential major water users that could adversely affect existing surface or groundwater supplies shall be required to show proof of an adequate water supply, and evidence that the proposed use shall not adversely affect contiguous or surrounding water sources/supplies. Such required proof shall be demonstrated prior to final approval of the proposed use.

(3) In order to be developed to the smaller parcel size, areas indicated on the adopted Land Use Map as having a variable density zoning classification shall be required to be served by a public water system which utilizes surface waters, and which does not impact upon the groundwater resource, or by completion of a hydrological study, to the satisfaction of the Mendocino County Health Officer, which supports those greater densities.

(C) Transportation Systems.

(1) Where subdivision projects are proposed to front on a publicly maintained street, road or highway where the existing right-of-way is not deeded to the State or County or is of insufficient width, right-of-way easement or fee title to lands sufficient for ultimate street, road, highway or other improvements shall be offered or granted to the State or County as a condition of approval pursuant to Mendocino County Code.

(2) A corridor preservation setback, in addition to a required front yard setback prescribed by zoning districts, shall apply to all parcels that abut a publicly maintained street, road or highway pursuant to Section 20.444.020 of this Division.

(Ord. No. 3785 (part), adopted 1991)