Pismo Beach Municipal Code Ch. 16.40 Standards and Requirements

Except where modified in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, each subdivision and the map thereof shall be in conformity with the standards set forth or referred to in this title. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

All subdivisions shall result in the creation of lots which are developable and capable of being built upon, based on city ordinances and the general plan/local coastal program land use plan. No subdivision shall create lots which are impractical of improvement due to size or shape, location of watercourses or problems of sewage or driveway grades, or other natural physical conditions. No lot shall be created which would conflict in any manner with Ordinance 214, Article IX. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

All lots or parcels created by the subdivision of land shall have access to a public street improved to the standards hereinafter required. The planning commission may, however, impose a requirement that any dedication or offer of dedication of a street shall include a waiver of direct access rights, including ingress and egress, to such street from any property shown on a final map as abutting thereon, and that if the dedication is accepted, such waiver shall become effective in accordance with the provisions of the waiver of direct access. Whenever the planning commission finds a safety hazard would be created as a result of direct access, it may also require a waiver of direct access to any existing street already dedicated as a condition of approval. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The size, shape and orientation of lots shall be appropriate to the location of the proposed subdivision and to the types of developments contemplated. The following principles and standards shall be observed:

A. The minimum area and dimension of all lots shall conform to the requirements of the zoning laws of the city for the district in which the subdivision is located, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 16.36.

B. The side lines of all lots, so far as possible, shall be at right angles to the street which the lot faces, or approximately radial to the center of curvature, if such street is curved. The side lines of lots shall be approximately radial to the center of the curvature of a cul-de-sac on which the lot faces.

C. No lot shall be divided by a city boundary line nor any boundary between parcels registered under separate ownership. Each such boundary line shall be made a lot line.

D. Lots having double frontage shall not be approved, except where necessitated by unusual conditions. The width of each block shall be sufficient for an ultimate layout of two tiers of lots therein of a size required by the provisions of this chapter, unless the general layout in the vicinity, lines of ownership, topographical conditions or locations of major streets or freeways justify or make necessary a variation from this requirement.

E. Lot numbers shall begin with the numeral "1" and shall continue consecutively through the tract, with no omissions or duplications, and no block designations shall be used.

F. No remnants of property shall be left in the subdivision which do not conform to the lot requirements or are not required for a private utility or public purpose. No portion of a subdivision shall be designated as "not a part." All remnants of property shall be given a lot number.

(Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

A. Conformance. The streets shall conform in principle to the streets shown on the circulation element of the general plan/local coastal program land use plan and in width and alignment to the streets shown on any precise plan adopted by the council relating to streets and shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. Streets not shown on the general plan/local coastal program land use plan or a specific plan shall conform to the requirements of the city and of this chapter.

B. Minimum Standards. Where higher standards have not been established as set forth in subsection A above, all major and minor streets shall be platted according to the following minimums, except that higher standards may be required where streets are to serve commercial or industrial property or where probable traffic conditions warrant.

(Ord. 87-7 § 1, 1987; Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The street patterns in the subdivision shall be in general conformity with a plan for the most advantageous development of adjoining areas and the entire neighborhood or district. The following principles shall be observed:

A. Where appropriate to the design, the proposed streets shall be contiguous and in alignment with existing, planned or platted streets with which they are to connect.

B. The proposed streets shall be extended to the boundary lines of the land to be subdivided, unless prevented by topography or other physical conditions, or unless, in the opinion of the planning commission, such extension is not necessary for the coordination of the subdivision with the existing layout or the most advantageous future development of adjacent tracts. A no-access rights certificate shall be shown on the final map where required by the city engineer.

C. Where necessary to give access to or permit a satisfactory subdivision of adjoining land, streets shall extend to the boundaries of the property, and the resulting dead-end streets may be approved with a temporary turnaround. A temporary turnaround may be approved for a period not to exceed two years, which turnaround may have a radius of forty feet, unobstructed by parked vehicles. In all other cases, a permanent turnaround shall have a minimum right-of-way radius of fifty-eight feet and a curb radius of forty-eight feet.

D. No cul-de-sac shall exceed five hundred feet in length from the center of the turnaround to the centerline of the intersecting street.

E. The proposed streets shall intersect one another as nearly at right angles as the conditions and other limiting factors of good design shall permit.

F. Excessively long, straight, standard subdivision streets conducive to high-speed traffic shall be discouraged.

G. The centerlines of all streets, wherever practicable, shall be the continuation of the centerlines of existing streets, or shall be offset at least two hundred feet.

(Ord. 87-7 § 2, 1987; Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

All street names shall be as approved by the public works and fire departments and no duplication of street names shall be permitted within the urban area of the city and the county area contiguous to the city. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

When lots are proposed for commercial or industrial uses, alleys at least twenty-four feet in width may be required at the rear thereof. Otherwise, alleys are to be discouraged. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

Grades, curves and sight distances shall be subject to the approval of the city engineer to insure proper drainage and safety for vehicles and pedestrians. The following principles and minimum standards shall be observed:

A. Grades of streets shall not be less than 0.2 percent and the cross fall across intersections shall not be less than 0.4 percent. Grades shall not exceed fifteen

percent unless special circumstances warrant a steeper grade.

B. Street intersections shall be rounded, with curves having a minimum radius of fifteen feet at property lines. A greater curve radius may be required if streets intersect at other than right angles or if the street is either a collector or arterial street.

C. The centerline curve radius on all streets and highways shall conform to accepted engineering standards of design and shall be subject to approval by the city engineer. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

A. Curbs and gutters as shown on the city's standard detail drawings shall be required.

B. When required for access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, transportation facilities, other community facilities or for unusually long blocks, the subdivider shall construct pedestrian ways not less than twelve feet in width.

C. Sidewalks, when required, shall be located within the street right-of-way as shown on the city's standard detail drawings. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

A. Utility easements, not less than eight feet in width, may be required for utility purposes.

B. All utility distribution facilities shall be placed underground, except as otherwise provided in Chapter 16.48, and located physically per standard drawing P-4, San Luis Obispo County Standards. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The subdivider shall dedicate rights-of-way for storm drainage conformity substantially with the lines of any natural watercourse that traverses the subdivision, or at the option of the planning commission, the subdivider shall provide by dedication further and sufficient easements or construction, or both, to dispose of such surface and storm water. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The major dimensions of a block shall not exceed one thousand three hundred twenty feet in length nor less than four hundred forty feet in length between street centerlines, unless modified in accordance with the provisions of Section 16.48.010. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The subdivider may be required to reserve sites appropriate in area and location for necessary and desirable neighborhood facilities, such as schools, parks, playgrounds, fire stations and other public utilities. School sites shall be dedicated in accordance with the provisions of Section 66478 of the Subdivision Map Act. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

The street and lot layout of a nonresidential subdivision shall be appropriate to the land use for which the subdivision is proposed and shall conform to the proposed land use and standards established in the city's general plan/local coastal program land use plan and the zoning laws of the city. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

In addition to the principles and standards in this chapter which are appropriate to the planning of all subdivisions, the subdivider shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the planning commission that the street, parcel and block pattern proposed is specifically adopted to the uses anticipated and takes into account other uses in the vicinity. The following principles and standards shall be observed:

A. The proposed industrial and commercial parcels shall be suitable in area and dimensions to the types of development anticipated.

B. The street right-of-way and pavement shall be adequate to the type and volume of traffic anticipated to be generated thereon.

C. Special requirements may be imposed by the city with respect to the installation of public utilities, including water, sewer and storm drainage.

D. Every effort shall be made to protect adjacent residential areas from potential nuisances from proposed nonresidential subdivision, including the provision of extra depth in parcels backing up on existing or potential residential development and provisions for permanently landscaped buffer strip when necessary.

E. Streets carrying nonresidential traffic, especially truck traffic, shall not normally be extended to the boundaries of adjacent existing or potential residential areas or be connected to streets extended for predominantly residential traffic. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

Fifteen-gallon parkway trees of a variety and possessing a root structure adaptable for use as park trees, of an approved variety, shall be planted sixty feet on center, nor less than one on each lot, and be located in a manner which will not obstruct the view for safe pedestrian or vehicle activity, or major scenic views. Grouping of street trees shall be encouraged. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

Separate bicycle paths shall be constructed when part of a system designated in the general plan/local coastal program land use plan or a specific plan. (Ord. 299 § 1 (part), 1982)

No application required pursuant to this title shall be accepted for processing or approved where the property owner has on the subject property or any other property owned by the property owner within the city, an existing land use, not previously authorized by any statute or ordinance, which is being maintained or operated in violation of any applicable provision of this code, or any condition of approval of a land use permit under this title. This provision applies to the operation of land uses only, and does not affect buildings or structures which do not conform to development standards.

Where the community development director, at his/her sole discretion, and whose determination shall be final, determines that the use in question is consistent with the objectives, goals and policies of the General Plan, or that the continuation of said use is essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare, this section shall not apply to an application submitted pursuant to this title. (Ord. O-2016-005 § 1, 2016)