Chapter 16.16 — IMPROVEMENTS

The subdivider shall improve, or agree to improve all streets, highways or ways in the subdivision. Improvements shall be installed to permanent line and grade and to the satisfaction of the city engineer in accordance with standard specifications of the city on file in the office of the city clerk and the city engineer. The minimum improvements which the subdivider shall make, or agree to make, prior to acceptance and approval of the final subdivision map by the board of directors shall be:

A.

Grading, curbs and gutters, drainage and drainage structures necessary to the proper use and drainage of streets, highways and ways and to the public safety;

B.

Pavement of a width and quality suitable for the local neighborhood traffic;

C.

Sidewalks shall be required except where the advisory agency determines sidewalks unnecessary. In all cases, sidewalks shall be required on a major or secondary highway;

D.

Water system to meet the requirements of the Pasadena water department shall be installed with mains of sufficient size and having a sufficient number of outlets to furnish adequate domestic water supply as required by the Pasadena plumbing code for each lot of the subdivision and to provide adequate fire protection as required by the Pasadena fire department to meet local neighborhood needs, including fire hydrants and laterals therefor;

E.

All developments consisting of more than two lots shall construct an approved on-site sanitary sewer system within the boundaries of the subdivision and the adjacent street. Each lot shall be separately connected to the sewer;

F.

All developments within a reasonable distance, as determined by the advisory agency, of an existing sewer system shall connect the on-site sewer system required in subsection E of this section to the existing sewer. If there is no existing sewer available, the on-site sewer system shall be sealed for future use and separate on-site treatment facilities shall be constructed for each lot;

G.

Services from public utilities where provided and from sanitary sewers shall be made available for each lot in a manner which eliminates the necessity of disturbing the street pavement, gutter, culvert and curb when service connections are made. Final street and sidewalk surfacing shall not be completed until all utility facilities have been in stalled;

H.

All developments shall provide an approved type street lighting system on all new or existing streets adjacent to the subdivision.

(Ord. 6039 § 15, 1983; Ord. 4815 § 9.10(A), 1967)

A.

Utility lines, including but not limited to electric, communications, street lighting and cable television shall be required to be placed underground. The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section, and he shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies for the installation of such facilities. For the purposes of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment in an underground system may be placed above ground but not in the public right-of-way. The advisory agency may recommend and the board of directors may waive the requirements of this section if topographical, soil or any other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical.

B.

All subdivisions other than condominium conversion projects pursuant to Chapter 16.46 shall comply with Section 18.10.040.

C.

This section shall not apply to utility lines which do not provide service to the area being subdivided.

(Ord. 6039 § 16, 1983: Ord. 4815 § 9.10(B), 1967)

The plans and profiles of all improvements required by the provisions of this chapter, as well as of other improvements proposed to be installed by the subdivider in, over or under any street right-of-way, easement or parcel of land where improvements are required or proposed, shall be filed with the city engineer. If all detailed plans and profiles of improvements are not filed with the city engineer at the time of filing of the final map or parcel map, the cash deposit or equivalent security (Section 16.36.040) shall include an amount sufficient to guarantee that the remaining plans and profiles will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the city engineer. In all cases where topography controls the design, all detailed plans and profiles of improvements required by the city engineer must be submitted at the time of filing of final map or parcel map.

(Ord. 5173 § 4, 1974: Ord. 4815 § 9.20, 1967)

Where grading or filling or stripping of vegetation is not done concurrently with the subdivision or parcel map improvements and the bonds required therefor, no grading or filling or stripping of vegetation within the boundaries of the subdivision or minor land division shall be permitted until the advisory agency has given approval and has provided for any necessary interim erosion control and planting to protect adjoining private and public property and the general welfare, a grading permit has been issued in accordance with such conditions and the required grading bond has been filed.

(Ord. 4815 § 9.25, 1967)

If such improvement work is not completed to the satisfaction of the city engineer before the streets are offered for dedication, the owner of the subdivision concurrently with the acceptance of the final map shall enter into an agreement with the city, agreeing to have the work completed within the time specified in the agreement. The agreement may provide for the improvements to be installed in units, for extension of time under specified conditions, for the termination of the agreement upon a reversion of the subdivision or a part thereof to acreage and, at the option of the subdivider and city, for the termination of the agreement upon completion of proceedings under an assessment district act for the installation of improvements at least equivalent to the improvements specified in such agreement.

(Ord. No. 7454, § 2, 8-25-2025; Ord. 4815, § 9.30, 1967)

In any subdivision where the subdivider proposed to plant trees or shrubs in the streets, the subdivider shall first secure from the director of public works, approval of the type or species and location of such trees or shrubs.

(Ord. 6039 § 17 (part), 1983; Ord. 4815 § 9.40, 1967)

The director of public works shall advise subdividers and their successors in interest in the selection and care of trees or shrubs to be planted in any required planting strip reservation on private property.

(Ord. 6039 § 17 (part), 1983; Ord. 4815 § 9.50, 1967)

In the event that fences, walls, underground power, cable communications or telephone facilities, sanitary sewers, or other means of sewage disposal or storm drains (other than structures incidental to road improvement) are installed or are to be installed as a part of the improvements of a division of land, plans, profiles, specifications and all necessary details of the proposed construction shall be submitted to the city engineer not later than the time of submitting the final map or parcel map for checking and shall be subject to final approval by the city engineer before such map shall be transmitted to the board of directors for approval or before the parcel map shall be transmitted for filing with the county recorder; provided, however, that a subdivider may deposit the final map or parcel map with either or both the city engineer and the county surveyor for preliminary review prior to formally submitting it for checking under the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act. Such plans, profiles, and specifications shall show full details of the proposed improvement which shall conform to the standards of the city. Plans for sanitary sewers shall comply with the sanitary sewer code of the city.

(Ord. 6039 § 18, 1983: Ord. 4815 § 9.60, 1967)

The following standards shall apply to subdivisions and parcels in zone HD, and shall supersede any inconsistent provisions of this title.

A.

All proposed parcels or lots shall be provided with sewer lines to a designated proposed right-of-way in a manner approved by the director of public works to provide eventual connection to a permanent sewage system.

B.

Fire hydrants shall be provided at intervals of not less than three hundred feet.

(Ord. 5471 § 2, 1980)

A.

If any improvements are not completed to the satisfaction of the city before the final map is filed, the subdivider shall, prior to the approval by the city council of the final map, enter into an agreement with the city whereby, in consideration of the acceptance by the city council of the dedications offered on the final map and the approval of the final map, the subdivider agrees to furnish all necessary equipment and material and to complete such work within the time specified in such agreement.

B.

If any improvements are not completed to the satisfaction of the city before the parcel map is filed with the county recorder, the subdivider shall, prior to the filing of the parcel map, enter into an agreement with the city, whereby, in consideration of the acceptance by the city council of the dedications offered by separate instrument, the subdivider agrees to furnish all necessary equipment and material and to complete such work within the time specified in such agreement.

C.

The city manager is authorized to specify and approve an agreement with a subdivider in accordance with California Government Code Section 66462 whereby the subdivider agrees to complete the improvements to the city's standards. The city manager shall require that the agreement be guaranteed by a security in accordance with Section 16.36.040. The agreement shall be in a form approved by the city attorney. The decision of the city manager may be appealed by the subdivider to the city council within 10 days.

D.

The city council shall review the delegation of authority to the city manager under this subsection at least once every ten years. The city manager shall ensure the city council reviews the delegation no less frequently than once every ten years. Failure to review the delegation of authority shall not been deemed to invalidate the city manager's authority hereunder.

(Ord. No. 7454, § 3, 8-25-2025; Ord. 4815, § 9.70, 1967)