Morro Bay Municipal Code Art. IV Design Criteria and Improvement Standards

The design criteria for subdivisions and the required physical improvements for them shall be in compliance with the city's zoning ordinance, standard drawings and specifications, subdivision standards, and other applicable regulations or standards.

(Ord. No. 522, § 3, 3-12-2007)

Improvement work shall not be commenced until the city engineer has approved plans for all such work. All improvements shall be constructed under the inspection of and to the satisfaction of the city. Improvements to be installed by the subdivider, shall be in accordance with the city standard drawings and specifications established by the public services department, include the following:

A. Streets, curb, gutters, and sidewalks as required by the city engineer.

B. The subdivider shall make provisions for any railroad crossing necessary for the subdivision, including application to the California Public Utilities Commission.

C. Separate bicycle paths or bicycle areas may be required.

D. Storm drainage, erosion and flood-control facilities shall be constructed for the collection and transmission of storm water from the subdivision to the nearest point of disposal which is satisfactory to the city engineer. The subdivider shall be responsible for proper drainage of all storm water which runs onto his property from adjacent properties.

E. Durable boundary monuments shall be installed and shown on the final map, in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act. Permanent monuments shall be set at curve and angle points on the centerline of the on-site streets and shall be set at the point of intersection of all on-site streets (monuments can be protected when street paving/repair occurs. By having them on public property, the city always has access to them and they do not get destroyed/removed by private property owners).

F. Street name signs and traffic control and warning signs shall be installed as specified by the city engineer. Traffic signals and traffic signal control conduits may be required by the city engineer.

G. Utilities to be installed by the subdivider shall include those listed in this subsection. The development of these facilities may require financial contribution for previous improvements to the systems, as provided in the most recent council resolution on utility connection charges, or in any agreement affecting a particular portion of a system, or applicable easement.

1. Sanitary sewer laterals shall be stubbed to the front property line of each lot if sanitary sewers are available. All facilities for the transmission of sewage from each of the lots to the nearest adequate point of connection to the city's sewer system shall be installed as acceptable to the city engineer.

a. Sewer lines need not be provided to lots that will be in perpetual open space use.

b. All sewer mains shall be located within a dedicated city street or alley or within a recorded easement. All manholes not within a street or paved drive shall be within an easement to the city and accessible by an all-weather dust-free road.

2. A water system for domestic service and fire protection shall be provided, including all facilities necessary for the transmission of water to each lot of the proposed subdivision from the nearest point of adequate supply, satisfactory to the city engineer and fire chief. Water service shall be stubbed to a meter vault at the front of each lot. Pumping and storage equipment to provide sufficient volume and duration of flow of water shall be provided as determined by the city engineer and fire chief. Fire hydrants shall be installed according to the city fire code and to the satisfaction of the fire chief and city engineer. Water lines need not be provided to lots which will be in perpetual open space use and which will not require irrigation or fire suppression. The fire chief may determine, however, that fire hydrants are required.

3. Electric power, gas, cable and telephone services shall be stubbed to each lot and all facilities to distribute such services shall be provided according to the requirements of the responsible utility companies. All new facilities shall be installed underground.

4. A fire alarm conduit may be required by the fire chief.

H. All new utility distribution facilities shall be placed underground, except accessory facilities such as terminal boxes, meter cabinets and transformers may be installed above ground. The subdivider shall make all necessary arrangements with the utility companies for these facilities.

I. The subdivider shall carry out protective measures as required by the city to assure the proper functioning and maintenance of other required improvements and properties adjacent to the subdivision. Temporary protective improvements may be required prior to or concurrent with the construction of permanent improvements.

J. Mail boxes shall be located per United States Postal Service (USPS) standards.

(Ord. No. 522, § 3, 3-12-2007)

Blocks shall not be longer than five hundred feet between intersecting street lines, except on expressways and major streets, where longer blocks may be required by the planning commission. Lots with frontage on more than one street, expressway or major street category will not be permitted, except corner lots, unless approved by the planning commission and when access rights are released on one street.

(Ord. No. 522, § 3, 3-12-2007)

Watercourses shall be shown as easements when required by the planning commission, and storm drains shall be placed in easements when public right-of-way is not available or adequate. The planning commission shall require watercourses to be placed entirely in underground conduits or adequately fenced or otherwise improved in accordance with the standards adopted pursuant to this title or the municipal code. The developer shall include sufficient guarantees for installation of the permanent drainage requirements as approved by the city engineer.

(Ord. No. 522, § 3, 3-12-2007)

All roads and streets shall be designed as per the city's standard drawings and specifications.

(Ord. No. 522, § 3, 3-12-2007)