Wasco Municipal Code Ch. 16.28 Design Standards

Sections: 16.28.010 General requirements. 16.28.020 Conformance to plans. 16.28.030 Streets. 16.28.040 Alleys. 16.28.050 Blocks. 16.28.060 Lots. 16.28.070 Pedestrian way or walkways. 16.28.080 Commercial and industrial areas. 16.28.090 Reserve strips for controlling access. 16.28.100 Easements.

Each subdivision and the map thereof shall be in conformity to the standards contained in this chapter. Where a specific design issue is not addressed in this chapter, the most recent edition of the Kern County development standards and/or California Building Code shall apply. Unless specifically addressed in Appendix A, all proposed designs are subject to the approval of the city engineer and the director of public works. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

All subdivision maps shall conform to any specific plans of streets, public areas or other projects or plans adopted or approved by the council. There shall be conformance to the principles and standards of the general plan and to the city zoning regulations. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

A. General. All streets shall conform to the city of Wasco improvement standards in Appendix A.

B. Minor Collector/Local Streets. Minor collector and local streets shall conform to the city of Wasco improvement standards in Appendix A.

C. Collector Streets. Collector streets shall conform to the city of Wasco improvement standards in Appendix A.

D. Arterial Streets. Arterial streets shall conform to the city of Wasco improvement standards in Appendix A. Medians or fees in lieu in the amount of an engineer’s estimate will be required at the time of development for all arterial streets.

E. Cul-de-Sacs. Cul-de-sacs shall conform to the city of Wasco standards. Cul-de-sac streets shall not exceed block lengths as described in Section 16.28.050.

F. Dead-End or Stubbed Streets. Where a street is extended to the edge of the subdivision and is intended to be continued to serve future subdivisions, a one-foot reserve strip shall be offered for dedication for future street purposes. No stubbed streets shall be permitted unless a part of a phased and vested project for a subsequent phase. A fifty-foot radius turnaround shall be provided when determined by the planning commission to be necessary for the movement of emergency vehicles.

G. Private Streets. Private streets shall not be permitted.

H. Frontage Streets.

1. Frontage streets shall conform to the city of Wasco standards for minor collector/local streets.

2. Frontage streets shall be required for residential lots of a subdivision fronting on a freeway, major
highway, secondary highway, or arterial.

I. Planned unit development streets shall conform to the standards and guidelines set forth in the city of Wasco zoning ordinance and any applicable combining districts.

J. Part Width Streets. Where a part width street is required at the edge of a subdivision the width of such street shall not be less than one-half the full width required in accordance with city of Wasco standards.

K. Street Curves and Tangents. A minimum centerline radius of at least five hundred feet shall be used on all streets, except local streets shall have minimum radii of two hundred fifty feet.

L. Street Corner Property Line Radii. Street corner radii shall be twenty feet.

M. Street Intersections. Street intersections shall be as near right angles as is feasible.

N. Alignment of Continuation of Streets. Streets which are a continuation of streets in contiguous territory shall be so aligned as to assure that their centerlines will coincide. In cases where straight line continuations are not physically possible, such centerlines shall be continued by curves. In cases where such streets cannot be continued or aligned, a minimum distance of one hundred fifty feet between the centerlines shall be maintained.

O. Street Grades. No street shall be a grade of more than seven percent or less than two-tenths percent. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

A. General. All alleys where approved or required shall conform to the city of Wasco standards.

B. Maintenance District Required. All new alleys and/or extensions of existing alleys shall be subject to annexation into a maintenance district.

C. Alley Required. Alleys may be required by the commission for lots used or intended to be used for commercial, industrial, or multifamily residential purposes.

D. Alley Optional. Alleys in single-family residential subdivisions shall be optional and subject to the commission’s approval.

E. Alley Width. The width of alleys shall be thirty feet minimum except alleys in single-family residential subdivisions shall be twenty feet minimum.

F. Alley Intersections. Where two alleys intersect, the corner shall be cut on a straight line connecting points on both lot lines ten feet from the projected intersection of the alleys. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

A. Residential Block Lengths. The design of residential blocks, including, but not limited to, block length, street design, and pedestrian access, shall comply with the policies and standards of the general plan.

Max. Blk.
Length (in feet)

R-1 Zone 6,000 sq. ft. min. lot 800

R-1-8 Zone 8,000 sq. ft. min. lot 1,100

R-1-10 Zone 10,000 sq. ft. min. lot 1,320

The planning commission may approve exceptions to the above block lengths if existing conditions merit such an exception.

B. Residential Block Widths. The width of each residential block shall be sufficient to allow two tiers of lots therein of a depth referred by the provisions of the zoning ordinance except where access to lots is limited to one street frontage only. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 521 §1 (Exh. A), 2006; Ord. 474, 2002).

A. Access. Each lot of a subdivision shall have direct access to a street maintained by a public agency.

B. Divided Lots. No lot shall be divided by the boundary line of the city, a school district or any other taxing district.

C. Residential Lot Size. The minimum lot sizes within the subdivision shall conform to the standards as set forth in the zoning ordinance as shown in Table 17-4.

D. Double Frontage Lots Shall Be Avoided Where Possible. Where such lots are unavoidable due to geographic locations, existing layout or other adverse conditions, such lots will be permitted under the following conditions:

1. The dedication or irrevocable offer of dedication of the street on which double frontage occurs shall include a waiver of direct access rights to such street from any property abutting thereon.

E. Cul-de-Sac Lots. Minimum frontage on a cul-de-sac lot shall be as shown in Table 17-4 of the zoning ordinance. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 521 §1 (Exh. A), 2006; Ord. 474, 2002).

The subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve walkways through long blocks or to provide access to schools, parks, or other public areas. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

When property is designated for commercial or industrial use either in the general plan or the zoning regulations, the plan of the subdivision shall be appropriate for such uses. Streets shall be designed to have adequate capacity to handle the anticipated traffic which will utilize them. As far as practicable, streets shall be laid out so that there will be direct access to the commercial or industrial area from arterial or collector streets without utilizing local streets traversing residential areas. Lot areas and dimensions shall be adequate to accommodate the yard spaces, off-street parking facilities, and off-street loading facilities required by the zoning regulations. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

A one-foot reserve strip controlling the access to streets or other public rights-of-way from adjoining property shall be approved where such strips are necessary for the protection of the public welfare or for a substantial property right. The reserve strips shall be specifically referred to in the dedication certificate. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).

Distribution lines shall be placed underground within the public right-of-way. On all street rights-of-way less than sixty feet in width an additional five feet on each side and parallel to the street right-of-way will be required. Easements for equipment enclosures shall be required as needed. (Ord. 617 §2 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 474, 2002).