Santa Clara County Municipal Code Part 3 Improvement Plans—Street and Drainage

Prior to commencing improvements, the subdivider shall submit to the County Surveyor an improvement plan prepared by a civil engineer, who is registered in the State of California, for street and drainage work together with inspection fees and insurance as may be specified in the land development agreement, protecting the County of Santa Clara and its officers and employees from liability. The street improvement plan shall show the approximate size, location and depth of all existing and proposed storm sewers, and all required outfalls to Santa Clara Valley Water District channels, and sanitary sewers; existing water lines, fire hydrants, gas lines, electroliers, poles, electrical, television and telephone distribution facilities, trees and other fixed objects within the right-of-way affecting construction of street improvements. Landscaping, erosion control plantings or devices and watering facilities within the right-of-way shall also be shown on the improvement plans. The quality of the drawings shall be suitable for microfilming, readable, high contrast full-scale microfilm prints. The County Surveyor shall review the improvement plans to determine if they meet the requirements of the approved tentative map, County standards and this chapter. Upon approval of the improvement plans by the County Surveyor, work may commence on the improvements.

(Ord. No. NS-1203.35, § 4, 3-13-78)

Street and drainage improvements shall be designed in accordance with the referenced standards and the conditions of approval of the tentative map. In addition, unless otherwise modified by the County Surveyor, the following shall apply:

(a) Street extensions. Streets needed to provide traffic circulation or to serve adjoining property shall be extended to the subdivision boundary. If the street does not connect to an existing street, the final one foot shall be granted in fee to the County. It is the purpose of the one-foot fee strip to prohibit ingress or egress across it to the adjoining property until such time as an extension of the road on which the reservation is placed is dedicated to public use and said dedication is recorded. After extension of the street pursuant to County approval, the one-foot fee dedication shall be null and void.

(b) Center lines. All streets shall, as far as practicable, be in alignment with existing adjacent streets. If the center line of two streets, intercepting the same street from opposite directions, are off-set from each other, said off-set shall be a minimum distance of 200 feet measured along the center line of the street intercepted.

(c) Intersecting angles and return radii. Streets shall intersect at an angle as near to a right angle as is practicable in each specific case, unless otherwise necessitated by topographic conditions. The right-of-way line radii of returns at corners may vary with the widths of roadways, intersection design and the type of land use. The minimum return radius shall be 20 feet. Streets intersecting at angle other than 90 degrees may require special design features to assure desirable visibility and safety.

(d) Dead-end street turning area. Wherever a permanent dead-end street or a temporary dead-end street is permitted, an adequate turning area will be required.

(e) Loops, courts and secondary means of access. Whenever the size or location of a parcel of land does not permit a lot layout directly related to a normal street arrangement, a court or nonconnecting street may be used; provided, however, all lots or parcels which are more than 800 roadway feet from an existing or County approved future through road intersection shall be served by a loop street, if possible. The advisory agency may require a safe and adequate secondary means of access. Any requirements imposed under this section shall not be an unreasonable burden or hardship to the subdivider.

(f) Grades and curves. All streets shall have at least a 0.5 percent grade. Grades shall not exceed six percent on highways, 12 percent on local traffic streets, 15 percent on any street, or 20 percent if no other method is practicable and if consistent with good engineering practices. Streets or portions thereof with 20 percent grade shall be not more than 300 feet in length.

Center line radii shall be not less than 500 feet on highways, except in mountainous areas, where the radius may be reduced to not less than 200 feet, and on all other streets, the center line radii shall be not less than 75 feet. Lesser or greater grades and radii may be used in cases in which sufficient evidence is presented to show that the above requirements are not practicable.

(g) Street vertical clearance. Streets and easements serving new subdivisions shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 15 feet over the surface of the roadway.

(h) Street lighting. The subdivider may be required to provide street lighting in accordance with adopted County standards, including the current Standard Details Manual. Before approval of a final map or parcel map, the owners of a subdivision for which street lights are to be installed shall petition the Board of Supervisors to commence proceedings to annex the subdivision to the County lighting service area.

(i) Street signs. The subdivider shall equip all street intersections with signposts, street name signs, dead-end signs and similar safety devices which shall conform to the standards and specifications established by the County of Santa Clara.

(j) Street landscaping and erosion control. Street trees, erosion control plantings and watering facilities in the subdivision or within rights-of-way shown on the subdivision map may be required by the advisory agency as a condition of approval of the tentative map. Such plantings and facilities shall be shown on the street improvement plans. The work shall be included in the performance and labor and materialmen's bonds for street improvements. The subdivider may delay tree and erosion control planting and watering facilities, in which case he may be required to file a separate bond.

(k) Drainage design and improvement. The subdivision, including its lot design, proposed structures and improvements, shall conform to good drainage practice to reduce flooding and economic loss due to storm water within and outside the boundaries of the subdivision.

The subdivider shall install drainage improvements in accordance with adopted standards and storm drainage master plans, copies of which are on file for use and examination by the public in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Complete drainage facilities shall be shown on either the street improvement plan or the lot grading plans. When it is necessary that storm sewers, drains or other facilities be constructed which can be or will be used for the benefit of property not in the subdivision, and such sewers, drains or other facilities are dedicated to the public, the subdivider and the County may enter into a contract which provides the subdivider reimbursement for such additional construction.

If deferment of construction of drainage improvements is recommended by the County Surveyor, the subdivider may be required to enter into a contract with the County covering the future obligations of subdivider with respect to drainage improvements. If the subdivision will be served by an existing storm sewer, the subdivider may be required to pay the subdivision's pro rata share of the cost of said drainage facility.

(l) Bridges and culverts. Bridges and culverts shall be designed for American Association of State Highway Officials loading designation H20-44, except that a lesser standard may be approved upon sufficient evidence being shown that no undue traffic hazard is created. Permits for construction of bridges and culverts are required from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.

(m) Flood-control facilities. When the subdivision is traversed by or abuts flood-control facilities as defined in Resolution No. 74-71 and Ordinance 74-1 of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the subdivider may be required to install improvements for the preservation of property in the subdivision and for the safety and welfare of the residents of the subdivision and the general public.

(n) Underground utilities. Telephone, television (if any) and electrical distribution facilities to serve the subdivision shall be installed underground unless the advisory agency finds such installation to be inappropriate and impractical on the basis of information furnished by the subdivider at the time of approval of the tentative map. The subdivider shall make all necessary arrangements with the servicing utility companies and coordinate with said companies in the preparation of street improvement plans. The installation work shall comply with applicable rules, regulations, standards and specifications of the County, Public Utilities Commission and the servicing utility companies. Said companies shall be responsible for design, construction, inspection, conformance with applicable County standards and requirements, and for the future maintenance of the installed facilities within the public right-of-way or easement. The general location of existing utilities shall be shown on the street improvement plans.

(Ord. No. NS-1203.35, § 4, 3-13-78)