Chapter 8.364 — ROAD IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS IN THE SKYLINE AREA

1. PURPOSE . The purpose of this ordinance is to consolidate the County’s road improvement requirements for public and private roads in the Skyline Area in order to provide clear guidance about the road improvements that will be required from applicants for subdivisions and building permits for new dwellings.

2. APPLICABILITY . The road improvement requirements contained herein shall be applicable to proposals for subdivisions and building permits for new dwellings within the area known as the Skyline Area, as defined in Section 8.04.030(105) of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code. Applications for second dwelling units, as defined in Chapter 8.392, Section 8.392.020) of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, shall be exempt from these requirements.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

1. Building Permit For A New Dwelling .

A building permit for a new dwelling shall be defined as a building permit issued for construction of a new primary dwelling constructed or moved onto a legal parcel within the Skyline Area, and does not include building permits issued in conjunction with a second dwelling unit.

2. Creative Road Design Guide .

The Creative Road Design Guide is the County’s road design manual, as adopted in 1978, and as it may subsequently be amended.

3. Driveways .

Driveways are vehicular access roads serving one parcel which are subject to County standard specifications.

4. Major Roads .

Routes 35, 84, and 92, and Pescadero Road, Kings Mountain Road, Tunitas Creek Road, Alpine Road, and Page Mill Road within the Skyline Area.

5. Minimum Safety Requirements .

Those road improvements necessary to ensure adequate access, including turnouts, one-way loops, improvements to establish adequate stopping sight distance, guard rails, reflectors, signs, lane-widening, shoulder construction, or other improvements deemed necessary by the Director of Public Works consistent with the Creative Road Design Guide.

6. Minor Roads .

Those roads which do not provide a through route into or out of the Skyline Area, and which serve interior areas and subdivisions. Minor roads are any roads in the Skyline Area that are not defined above as major roads.

7. Off-Site Improvements - Private Roads .

Any road improvements required between the nearest parcel line of a parcel where a subdivision or building permit for a new dwelling is proposed and the nearest publicly-maintained road.

8. Off-Site Improvements - Public Roads .

Any road improvements required on a publicly-maintained road that are not located on the parcel where a subdivision or building permit for a new dwelling is proposed.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

9. On-Site Improvements .

Any road improvements required that are completely within a parcel proposed for subdivision or for a building permit for a new dwelling. This includes any improvements to provide interior circulation for the site and any full or half-street improvements to a road which is not located entirely within the site, but which partially passes through the site.

10. Private Road .

Any road serving two or more parcels that is not a publicly-maintained County road or State Highway.

11. Public Road .

Any road accepted into the County or State public road system and provided with periodic maintenance by the County Department of Public Works or State Department of Transportation.

12. Roads Entirely Within The Parcel(S) Proposed For Subdivision .

Roads that are entirely contained within the boundaries of the parcel(s) under application for subdivision.

13 . Roads Not Entirely Within The Parcel(s) Proposed For Development .

Roads which pass through a parcel(s) under application for a subdivision or building permit for a new dwelling, but which, at the time of application, also pass through other parcels.

1. General . This section specifies on-site and off-site road improvement requirements for applicants for subdivisions or building permits for new dwellings that are located adjacent to County public roads. These requirements shall apply to development proposed on all public roads in the Skyline Area until the Board of Supervisors adopts specific standards for certain County public roads that are under study by the Department of Public Works, or otherwise amends County road improvement requirements.

2. STANDARDS FOR ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR COUNTY PUBLIC ROADS .

• (a) On-site improvements for subdivisions proposed adjacent to County Public Roads shall be constructed according to the requirements of Table 1, which may be modified by the Director of Public Works by: (1) applying the criteria of the Creative Road Design Guide and (2) applying the specific recommendations for appropriate improvements to County public roads once these are completed by the Department of Public Works, if the parcel under application for a sub-division on an existing parcel is located on one of these roads.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

• (b) Grade and alignment of all roads shall meet the following requirements:

  • (1) Grades shall not exceed 15% nor shall they be less than 1% unless otherwise approved by the County Department of Public Works.

  • (2) The centerline radius of curves shall not be less than 50 feet.

  • (3) Structural sections to be approved by the County Department of Public Works.

• (c) On-site improvements shall not be required for building permits for a new dwelling proposed on parcels that are already served by a County-maintained road unless the Director of Public Works determines that they are needed to maintain minimum safety requirements.

3. Application Of County Public Road Standards To Major Subdivisions . The standards in Section 8.364.030 (2) shall be used for existing County public roads in conjunction with any application for a major subdivision within the Skyline Area.

4. Responsibility For Financing Of On-Site Improvements To County Public Roads . All on-site improvements to County public roads shall be the responsibility of the subdivider or the applicant for a building permit for a new dwelling on an existing parcel.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

5. Timing And Financing Of Improvements To County Public Roads On Parcels Proposed For Subdivision .

• (a) All improvements to public roads located within parcels under application for subdivision shall be the responsibility of the subdivider. Improvements to public roads located entirely within parcels under application for subdivision shall be constructed by the subdivider either:

  • (1) prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map; or

  • (2) within one year of such map recordation if the required improvements are guaranteed by a secured agreement acceptable to the County.

• (b) Deferral of road improvements on public roads which are partially but not entirely within parcels proposed for subdivision shall be permitted, if the following conditions are met:

  • (1) The Director of Public Works finds that conditions exist that would cause the immediate installation of improvements to be incompatible with existing conditions, and such improvements are not immediately necessary to provide adequate access, and

  • (2) The subdivider posts a letter of credit, surety bond, or other assurance acceptable to the County covering the costs of the on-site improvements prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map.

6. Standards For Off-Site Improvements For County Public Roads . Until the studies recommending standards and/or improvements for specific County public roads required by the Skyline Area General Plan Amendment are completed by the Department of Public Works, off-site road improvements shall be made as required by the Director of Public Works in order to make a finding of adequate access to minimum safety requirements between the site proposed for subdivision or a building permit for a new dwelling and the nearest major road.

7. Timing Of Off-Site Improvements For County Public Roads . Any off-site road improvements to County public roads required by the Director of Public Works shall be made prior to the recordation of the final or parcel map for a subdivision.

8. Financing Of Off-Site Improvements For County Public Roads . Any applicant for a subdivision on a County public road shall be responsible for making any off-site road improvements required pursuant to Section 8.364.030(6) between the site of the proposed subdivision and the nearest major road. However, if the applicant for a subdivision secures the cooperation of 60% of the property owners served by the road (as calculated by land area) where the off-site improvements must be made, an assessment district of property owners who would benefit from such improvements may be initiated. If an assessment district is approved and confirmed, this method may be used as an alternative to finance the required off-site improvements.

ivision secures the cooperation of 60% of the property owners served by the road (as calculated by land area) where the off-site improvements must be made, an assessment district of property owners who would benefit from such improvements may be initiated. If an assessment district is approved and confirmed, this method may be used as an alternative to finance the required off-site improvements.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

1. General . This Chapter specifies on-site and off-site road improvement requirements for applicants for subdivisions or building permits for new dwellings on private roads in the Skyline Area.

2. Standards For On-Site Improvements For Private Roads .

• (a) On-site improvements to Private Roads shall be constructed according to the requirements of Table 2, but may be modified by the Director of Public Works by applying the criteria of the Creative Road Design Guide.

• (b) Grade and alignment of all roads shall meet the following requirements:

  • (1) Grades shall not exceed 15% nor shall they be less than 1% unless otherwise approved by the County Engineer.

  • (2) The center line radius of curves shall not be less than 50 feet.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

3. Acceptance Of Private Roads Into The County Road System . In order to minimize the County’s financial commitment to construct and maintain public roads in the Skyline Area, and minimize the County’s long-term financial risks, no existing private roads in the Skyline Area shall be accepted into the County public road system.

4. Responsibility For Financing Of On-Site Improvements To Private Roads . All on-site improvements to Private Roads shall be the responsibility of the subdivider or the applicant for a building permit for a new dwelling on an existing parcel.

5. TIMING OF ON-SITE IMPROVEMENTS TO PRIVATE ROADS . On-site road improvements on parcels served by Private Roads shall be constructed:

• (a) for subdivisions, by the subdivider, either (1) prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map, or (2) within one year of such map recordation if the required improvements are guaranteed by a secured agreement acceptable to the County.

• (b) for building permits, by the applicant for a building permit for a new dwelling prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the new dwelling.

6. Special Requirements For Long-Term Maintenance On Subdivisions On Private Roads Approved Within The

Skyline Area . As a condition of approval of any subdivision on a private road approved within the Skyline Area, a deed restriction shall be placed on each parcel of that subdivision, and shall be noted on the final map or parcel map. This restriction shall require participation in and financial contribution to the maintenance of the private roads serving the parcel.

7. Standards For Off-Site Road Improvements For Private Roads . Off-site road improvements shall be made as required by the Director of Public Works in order to make a finding of adequate access to minimum safety requirements between the site proposed for subdivision or for a building permit for a new dwelling and the nearest publicly-maintained road.

8. Timing Of Off-Site Improvements For Private Roads . Any off-site road improvements required by the Director of Public Works shall be made:

• (a) by the subdivider either: (1) prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map or (2) within one year of such map recordation if the required improvements are guaranteed by a secured agreement acceptable to the County.

• (b) by the applicant for a building permit for a new dwelling on an existing parcel prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy.

San Mateo County, California, Code of Ordinances Title 8 – Zoning & Development Code

9. Financing Of Off-Site Improvements For Rural Private Roads . Any applicant for a subdivision or a building permit for a new dwelling shall be responsible for making off-site road improvements as required by Section 7872 between the site of the proposed development and the nearest publicly-maintained road, unless said applicant can arrange to have the improvements financed by a cooperative agreement of property owners served by the road.

1. Exceptions To Road Requirements .

In cases where there are extraordinary conditions affecting a property under application for a subdivision or building permit for a new dwelling, the Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors may modify the strict application of the requirements of this Part for improvements on roads.

(Part Five, Division VI - Sections 7800 through 7880 - Added by Ordinance No. 2838 - June 14, 1983)

(Sections 7800, 7802, 7810, 7826, 7828, 7832, 7840, 7842(a), 7848, 7852, 7854, 7856, 7860, 7868, 7870, 7872, 7874, 7876, 7880 - Amended by Ordinance No. 3065 - May 6, 1986)

(Sections 7842(c), 7874(a), 7874(b) - Added by Ordinance No. 3065 - May 6, 1986)

(Section 7850 - Deleted by Ordinance No. 3065 - May 6, 1986)