Chapter 19 — SUBDIVISION OF LAND
Needles Municipal Code Art. 19 II Tentative Map
Needles Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Needles
Cite as: Needles Municipal Code Article 19 · Text as of 2026-10-04
19-4 Preliminary Procedure; Preparation; Reports And Procedure Generally 19-5 Size; Scale; Information To Be Shown 19-6 Accompanying Information Required 19-7 Distribution Of Copies 19-8 Approval By Planning Commission
19-4 Preliminary Procedure; Preparation; Reports And Procedure Generally
- After noting the tentative map requirements of a subdivision, it is desirable that the subdivider should confer jointly with the city manager and the planning commission before preparing the tentative map.
- Each tentative map shall have a tract number to be assigned by the county surveyor.
- The tentative map shall be prepared in accordance with the Subdivision Map Act1 and the provisions of this chapter, and shall be filed with the secretary of the planning commission. Such filing shall be prior to the completion of the final surveys of streets and lots and before grading or construction work within the proposed subdivision, that might be affected by changes in the tentative map. For each tentative map filed, a fee of three hundred seventy-five dollars shall charged.
- The tentative map application shall be filed with the department. The application shall be determined by the department to be complete only when the form and contents of the tentative map conform to the requirements of this chapter and when all accompanying data and reports, as required by this chapter, and all fees and/or deposits as required, have been submitted and accepted by the department. The subdivider shall file with the department the number of tentative maps the community development director may deem necessary. The department shall forward copies of the tentative map to the affected public agencies and utilities which may, in turn, forward to the department their findings and recommendations.
- Prior to the consideration by the planning commission of a tentative map, and within ten days following its filing, the city manager shall make a report, in writing, to the planning commission as to any recommendations in connection with the tentative map and its bearing on particular functions.
A copy of the city manager’s report and a copy of the action of the planning commission regarding the tentative map shall be permanently affixed to the official copy of such map. Within ten days of the final action of the planning commission regarding the tentative map, the map shall be sent to the city clerk for presentation to the city council.
The city council shall report its action thereon to the subdivider and the city planning commission not later than ten days following the first meeting of the city council subsequent to the date on which the report of the planning commission was received. (Ord. 297 N.S., § 4; Ord. No. 223-AC (part); Ord. No. 361-AC.)
1 See B. & P.C., § 11000 et. seq.
HISTORY Amended by Ord. 663-AC on 10/24/2023
19-5 Size; Scale; Information To Be Shown
- The size of the tentative map of a subdivision is optional; the scale shall not be less than one hundred
feet to the inch.
- Such tentative map shall show and contain the following matters:
1. Name and address of record owner, subdivider and engineer.
2. The locations, names and existing widths of all adjacent and proposed subdivision.
3. The width and approximate grades of all streets within such proposed subdivison.
4. Approximate radius of all curves.
5. Deleted by Ordinance No. 75-AC.
6. Approximate locations of all areas subject to inundation or storm water overflow, and the
locations, widths and directions of flow of all watercourses.
7. Proposed public areas, if any.
8. Use of property proposed.
9. Proposed school area, if any.
- Approximate contours where topography controls the layout. 11. Date and north point.
- A blank space of not less than eight and one-half by eleven inches for certificates and approvals.
- In addition to the information required by subsection (b) of this section for the tentative map, the following information should be required: 1. Tract number obtained from the county surveyor. 2. Scale 3. Boundary lines 4. Location and width of areas and easements 5. Location of trees to be planted by the subdivider. (Ord. No. 251 N.S., § 97.12; Ord. No. 297 N.S., § 3; Ord. No. 75-AC.)
- Such tentative map shall show and contain the following matters:
1. Name and address of record owner, subdivider and engineer.
2. The locations, names and existing widths of all adjacent and proposed subdivision.
3. The width and approximate grades of all streets within such proposed subdivison.
4. Approximate radius of all curves.
5. Deleted by Ordinance No. 75-AC.
6. Approximate locations of all areas subject to inundation or storm water overflow, and the
locations, widths and directions of flow of all watercourses.
7. Proposed public areas, if any.
8. Use of property proposed.
9. Proposed school area, if any.
19-6 Accompanying Information Required
The tentative map of a subdivision shall show thereon or be accompanied by six copies of reports and written statements from the subdivider, giving essential information regarding the following matters:
- Source of water supply
- Type of street improvements, alleys and utilities which the subdivider proposes to install.
- Proposed method of sewage disposal and proposed size of lines.
- Proposed storm water, sewer or other means of drainage (grade and size).
- Protective covenants to be recorded.
- Deleted by Ordinance No. 75-AC. (Ord. No. 297 N.S., § 3; Ord. No. 75-AC.)
19-7 Distribution Of Copies
Not less than seven copies of each tentative map of a subdivision shall be filed with the secretary of the planning commission. Immediately upon receipt of the required copies of the tentative map, the secretary of the planning commission shall forward copies to each of the following with a request that each report recommendations to the planning commission.
- City Manager
- Planning commission
- City council
- Division of state highways, state department of public works.
- County planning commission
- County flood control district
- County surveyor. (Ord. No. 297 N.S., § 3.)
19-8 Approval By Planning Commission
The planning commission shall approve or disapprove a tentative map of a subdivision within thirty days after the filing thereof. Such action shall be endorsed upon the face of the tentative map, all as provided in the Subdivision Map Act.1 (Ord. No. 251 N.S., § 97.13.)
Notice of Public Hearings. Upon receipt of a complete tentative map application, the department shall prepare a report with recommendations. The department shall set the matter for public hearing before the planning commission. A copy of the department report shall be forwarded to the subdivider at least three (3) days prior to the public hearing. At least ten (10) calendar days before the public hearing, a notice shall be given of the time, date and place of the hearing, including a general explanation of the matter to be considered and a general description of the area affected, and the street address, if any, of the property involved. The notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the city. In addition to notice by publication, the department shall give notice of the hearing by mail or delivery to the subdivider, the owner of the subject real property, if different from the subdivider, and to all persons, including businesses, corporations, or other public or private entities, shown on the last equalized assessment roll as owning real property within three hundred feet (300') of the property which is the subject to the proposed application. The department shall also give notice of the hearing by mail or delivery to each agency expected to provide water, sewage, streets, roads, schools or other essential facilities or services to the subdivision, whose ability to provide those facilities and services may be significantly affected. A proposed conversion of residential real property to a condominium, community apartment or stock cooperative project shall be noticed in accordance with section 66451.3 of the subdivision map act. In the event that the proposed application has been submitted by a person other than the property owner shown on the last equalized assessment roll, the city shall also give notice by mail or delivery to the owner of the property as shown on the last equalized assessment roll. In addition, notice shall be given by mail or personal delivery to any person who has filed a written request with the city. The request may be submitted at any time during the calendar year and shall apply for the balance of the calendar year. The department may give such other notice that it deems necessary or advisable. Substantial compliance with these provisions for notice shall be sufficient, and a technical failure to comply shall not affect the validity of any action taken according to the procedures in this title.
- Action. The planning commission shall make its recommendation to the city council, or shall approve, conditionally approve or deny the tentative map if the planning commission is the approving body, and the department shall report the decision of the planning commission to the city council and the subdivider within fifty (50) days after the tentative map application has been determined to be complete. If the approving body is the city council, the city council shall approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the tentative map within thirty (30) days after it receives the recommendation of the planning commission. In reaching a decision upon the tentative map, the approving body shall consider the effect of that decision on the housing needs of the region and balance these needs against the public service needs of its residents and available fiscal and environmental resources.
Approval. The tentative map may be approved or conditionally approved by the approving body if it finds that the proposed subdivision, together with the provisions for its design and improvement, is consistent with the general plan, any applicable specific plan, and all applicable provisions of this code. The approving body may require as a condition of its approval that the payment by the subdivider of all development fees required to be paid at the time of the application for, or issuance of, a building permit or other similar permit shall be made at the rate for such fees in effect at the time of such application or issuance. The approving body may modify or delete any of the conditions of approval recommended in the department's report. The approving body may add additional requirements as a condition of its approval. If no action is taken by the approving body within the time limits specified in this section, the tentative map, as filed, shall be deemed to be approved if it complies with all other applicable provisions of the subdivision map act, this title, this code, and the general plan.
- Denial. The tentative map may be denied by the planning commission on any of the grounds provided by the subdivision map act or this code. The planning commission shall deny approval of the tentative map if it makes any of the following findings: 1. That the proposed map is inconsistent with the general plan or any applicable specific plan, or other applicable provisions of this code; 2. That the site is not physically suitable for the type of development; 3. That the site is not physically suitable for the proposed density of development; 4. That the design of the subdivision or the proposed improvements are likely to cause substantial environmental damage or substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the planning commission may approve such a tentative map if an environmental impact report was prepared with respect to the project and a finding was made pursuant to section 21081(c) of CEQA that specific economic, social or other considerations make infeasible the mitigation measures or project alternatives identified in the environmental impact report; 5. That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will conflict with easements, acquired by the public at large, for access through or use of, property within the proposed subdivision. In this connection, the planning commission may approve a map if it finds that alternate easements, for access or for use, will be provided, and that these will be substantially equivalent to ones previously acquired by the public. This subsection shall apply only to easements of record or to easements established by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, and no authority is hereby granted to the planning commission to determine that the public at large has acquired easements for access through or use of property within the proposed subdivision; or 6. Subject to section 66474.4 of the subdivision map act, that the land is subject to a contract entered into pursuant to the California land conservation act of 1965 (commencing with section 51200 of the Government Code) and that the resulting parcels following a subdivision of the land would be too small to sustain their agricultural use.
1 See B. & P.C., § 11000 et seq.
HISTORY Amended by Ord. 663-AC on 10/24/2023
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