Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 2 Final Maps

(a) An accurate and complete survey of the land to be subdivided shall be made by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor. All monuments, property lines, centerlines of streets, alleys and easements adjoining or within the subdivision shall be tied into the survey. The allowable error of closure on any portion of the final map shall not exceed one in ten thousand (1/10,000) for field closures and one in twenty thousand (1/20,000) for calculated closures.

(b) At the time of making the survey for the final map, the engineer or surveyor shall set sufficient durable monuments to conform with the standards described in Section 8771 of the Business and Professions Code so that another engineer or surveyor may readily retrace the survey. At least one exterior boundary line shall be monumented prior to recording the final map. Other monuments shall be set as required by the City Engineer.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

Multiple final maps relating to an approved or conditionally approved tentative map may be filed prior to the expiration of the tentative map if: (a) the subdivider, when the tentative map was submitted to the City, informs the Planning Commission of the subdivider’s intention to file multiple final maps on such tentative map, or (b) when the tentative map was submitted to the City, the City and the subdivider concur in the filing of multiple final maps. In giving such notice the subdivider shall be required to define the schedule and order of implementing the required subdivision improvements for review and consideration by the City. The right of the subdivider to file multiple final maps shall not limit the authority of the City to impose reasonable conditions relating to the filing of multiple final maps.

The City may reasonably consider the sequence of final map approvals in order that any improvement agreement executed by the subdivider shall provide for the construction of improvements as required for the logical and orderly development of the entire subdivision.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

The final map shall be prepared by or under the direction of a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor, shall be based upon a survey, and shall conform to all of the following provisions:

(a) It shall be legibly drawn, printed, or reproduced by a process guaranteeing a permanent record in black on tracing cloth or polyester base film. Certificates, affidavits, and acknowledgements may be legibly stamped or printed upon the map with opaque ink. If ink is used on polyester base film, the ink surface shall be coated with a suitable substance to assure permanent legibility.

(b) The size of each sheet shall be eighteen by twenty-six inches (18" x 26"). A marginal line shall be drawn completely around each sheet leaving an entirely blank margin of one (1") inch. The scale of the map shall be not less than one inch equals one hundred feet (1" = 100') or as may be necessary to show all details clearly and enough sheets shall be used to accomplish this end. The particular number of the sheet and the total number of sheets comprising the map shall be stated on each of the sheets, and its relation to each adjoining sheet shall be clearly shown.

(c) All survey and mathematical information and data necessary to locate all monuments and to locate and retrace any and all interior and exterior boundary lines appearing thereon shall be shown, including bearings and distances of straight lines, radii and arc length or chord bearings and length for all curves and any information which may be necessary to determine the location of the centers of curves, and ties to existing monuments used to establish the subdivision boundaries.

(d) Each parcel shall be numbered and each block may be numbered. Each street shall be named or otherwise designated.

(e) The exterior boundary of the land included within the subdivision shall be indicated by distinctive symbols and clearly so designated. The map shall show the definite location of the subdivision, and particularly its relation to surrounding surveys. If the map includes a designated remainder parcel, and the gross area of the designated remainder parcel or similar parcel is five (5) acres or more, that remainder parcel need not be shown on the map and its location need not be indicated as a matter of survey, but only by deed reference to the existing boundaries of the remainder parcel. A parcel designated as “not a part” shall be deemed to be a designated remainder for purposes of this section.

(f) All printing or lettering on the map shall be of one-tenth (0.1") inch minimum height and of such shape and weight as to be readily legible on prints and other reproductions made from the original drawings.

(g) Each sheet shall have a title showing the subdivision tract number and name and the location of the property being subdivided with reference to maps which have been previously recorded, or by reference to the plat of a United States Survey. The following words shall appear in the title, “City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County.”

(h) The following certificates shall appear only once on the cover sheet:

(1) Owner’s Certificate. A certificate, signed and acknowledged by all parties having record title interest in the land subdivided, consenting to the preparation and recordation of the map and offering for dedication to the public certain specific parcels of land or easements. Exceptions are those parties having rights-of-way, easements, or interests which cannot ripen into a fee, or as provided in the Subdivision Map Act;

(2) Trustee’s Certificate. A certificate, signed and acknowledged by either the holder of beneficial interests under trust deeds or the trustee and/or trustees under trust deeds at the time of the City Council approval of the final map, consenting to the recording of the map and any offers of dedications;

(3) Engineer’s Statement. A statement by the engineer or surveyor responsible for the survey and final map shall give the date of the survey, state that the survey and final map were made by or under the direction of the engineer or surveyor, and that the survey is true and complete as shown. The statement shall also state that all the monuments are of the character and occupy the positions indicated, or that they will be set in those positions on or before a specified later date. The statement shall also state that the monuments are, or will be, sufficient to enable the survey to be retraced. The statement shall state that the map complies with the Subdivision Map Act and the provisions of this title;

(4) City Engineer’s Statement or Certificate. A statement or certificate signed and dated by the City Engineer with his/her registration or license number and its expiration date is required stating that the map has been examined; that it is substantially the same as the tentative map and any approved alterations; that it complies with the Subdivision Map Act, the provisions of this title, any local ordinances applicable at the time of the approval of the tentative map, and is technically correct;

(5) City Clerk’s Certificate. A certificate for execution by the City Clerk stating the date of the resolution adopted by the City Council approving the final map and stating that the City Council accepted, subject to improvement, or rejected on behalf of the public, any real property offered for the dedication for public use in conformity with the terms of the offer of dedication;

(6) Community Development Directors Statement. A statement by the Community Development Director stating that the tentative map was approved by resolution by the City Council and that the final map conforms to the approved tentative map. The date and number of the resolution shall appear in the certificate;

(7) Auditor-Controller Statement and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Statement. Statements for execution by the County Auditor-Controller and the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors stating that all taxes due have been paid or that a tax bond assuring the payment of all taxes which are a lien but not yet payable has been filed with the County and that all statements required under the provisions of Sections 66492 and 66493 of the Map Act have been duly deposited and duly made;

(8) County Recorder’s Certificate. A certificate to be executed by the County Recorder stating that the map has been accepted for filing, that the map has been examined, and that it complies with the provisions of State laws and local ordinances governing the filing of final maps. The certificate shall show who requested the filing of the map, the time and date the map was filed, and the book and page where the map was filed.

(i) There must appear on each map sheet the scale, the north arrow, and the basis of bearing defined in terms of one of the following:

(1) A line on an existing map of record. The reference line shall be a line between any two (2) existing monuments which have been made a part of the current survey and have been shown on the map. The bearing and distance of the reference line shall be shown on the map, and if the distance is also of record, it shall be so stated. Maps acceptable for reference purposes are final maps, parcel maps, records of survey maps, City or County Surveyor or Engineer maps, and State Highway Department Coordinate Control maps.

(2) The California Coordinate System. When this system is used, the map shall show the line or lines connecting the survey to the control stations used, showing the grid bearings between them, and the relationship between grid north and astronomic north (theta angle). Should coordinates be shown for points established on the map, the control scheme by means of which the coordinates were determined must also be shown on the map. The map perimeter shall show at least four widely spaced corner points.

The basis of bearings shall be approved by the City Engineer.

(j) Sufficient linear, angular, and radial data shall be shown to determine the bearings and lengths of monument lines, street centerlines, the boundary lines of the subdivision, the boundary lines on every lot and parcel which is a part of the subdivision, and ties to existing monuments used to establish the boundary. Arc length, radius, total central angle, and radial bearings of all curves shall be shown. Ditto marks shall not be used in the dimensions and data shown on the map.

(k) The location and description of all existing and proposed monuments shall be shown. Standard City monuments shall be set in top of the curb offset from the following locations:

(1) The intersection of street centerlines;

(2) Beginning and end of curves;

(3) At other locations as may be required by the City Engineer.

(l) All lots and, wherever practicable, blocks in their entirety shall be shown on one (1) sheet. Lot numbers shall begin with the number one (1) in each block of the subdivision and shall continue consecutively within each block and with no omissions or duplications except where contiguous lands, under the same ownership, are being subdivided in successive units, in which even lot numbers may begin with the next consecutive number following the last number in the preceding unit. Block numbers shall begin with the number one (1) in each subdivision and continue consecutively throughout all tracts, with no omissions or duplications. Each lot shall be shown entirely on one sheet of the final map, unless approved by the City Engineer.

(m) The adjoining corners of all adjoining subdivisions shall be identified by subdivision number, or name when not identified by official number, and reference to the book and page of the filed map showing such subdivision; and if no subdivision is adjacent, then by the name of the owner and reference to the recorded deed by book and page number for the last record owner.

(n) City boundaries which cross or join the subdivision shall be clearly designated.

(o) The names of all streets, alleys, or highways within or adjoining the subdivision shall be shown.

(p) All roads or streets, paths, storm drainage, sanitary sewers, easements or land shown for other public use or as required by tentative map condition of approval shall be offered for dedication to the City or other public agency; and the use shall be specified on the map.

(q) All existing recorded easements shall be shown on the map, together with the name of the grantee and sufficient recording data to identify the conveyance, e.g., recorder’s serial number and date, or book and page of official records.

(r) Easements not disclosed by the records in the office of the County Recorder and found by the Surveyor or Engineer to be existing shall be specifically designated on the map, identifying the apparent dominant tenements for which the easement was created. The sidelines of all easements of record shall be shown by dashed lines on the final map with the widths, lengths, and bearings of record.

The final form of the final map shall be as approved by the City Engineer.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

The subdivider shall submit prints of the final map to the City Engineer for checking prior to expiration of the tentative map. The final map shall be in accordance with the approved or conditionally approved tentative map, Sections 13-4.12 and 13-4.13, and the Map Act. The preliminary prints shall be accompanied by the following data, plans, reports, and documents in a form as approved by the City Engineer:

(a) Improvement Plans. Improvement plans and technical reports and calculations as required by Section 13-7.05, Form and content of improvement plans, and 13-7.06, Supplementary plans and calculations.

(b) Final Soils Report. Prior to the submission of any final subdivision map, the subdivider shall file with the City Engineer a final soils report, prepared by a civil or geotechnical engineer who is registered by the State, based upon adequate test borings or excavations of every subdivision, as defined in Sections 11535 and 11535.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(c) Title Report. A title report shall be submitted showing all record interests.

(d) Improvement Security Estimate. The improvement security estimate shall include the opinion of probable cost for all improvements within public rights-of-way, easements, or private common areas, and utility installations provided by the developer, except for those utility facilities installed by a utility company under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission. Letters from utility companies stating that all costs for facility installations have been paid shall be submitted to the City for its records.

(e) Deeds for Easements or Rights-of-Way. Deeds for off-site easements or rights-of-way required for road, drainage, or other public purposes which have not been dedicated on final map. Written evidence acceptable to the City in the form of rights of entry or permanent easements across private property outside of the subdivision permitting or granting access to perform necessary construction work and permitting the maintenance of the facility. However, if the subdivider is unable to obtain off-site interests required as a condition of approval, then the final map may be approved if the subdivider enters into an agreement with the City agreeing to pay all costs of acquiring such off-site interests, and the subdivider and City otherwise comply with the provisions of Section 66462.5 of the Map Act.

(f) Traverse Closures. Traverse closures for the boundary blocks, lots, easements, street centerlines and monument lines.

(g) Hydrology and Hydraulic Calculations. Complete hydrology and hydraulic calculations of all storm drainage facilities.

(h) Organizational Documents. The submittal of the final map or parcel map shall include the proposed declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions, and all other organizational documents for the subdivision in a form as prescribed by Section 1355 of the Civil Code of the State of California. All documents shall be subject to review by the Community Development Director and City Attorney.

(i) An electronic, .dwg file of the final map and the improvement plans on a compact disk.

(j) Any additional data, reports, or information as required by the City Engineer.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

The City Engineer shall review the final map and the subdivider’s engineer or surveyor shall make corrections and/or additions until the map is acceptable to the City Engineer. Concurrent with review of the final map, the City Engineer shall prepare the improvement agreement in conformance with the requirements of Section 13-7.11, Improvement agreement. The City Engineer shall determine whether the application is complete within thirty (30) days of submittal and notify the applicant as required by Section 13-3.02, except that, pursuant to Section 66456.2, the City Engineer shall have sixty (60) working days to review all improvement plans and supporting documentation and fifteen (15) working days to review any resubmitted improvement plan.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

The City Engineer shall approve the final map only after it has been determined that the map and supporting documents substantially conform with the approved tentative map and conditions and comply with the provisions of this title and the Map Act. Once deemed approved by the City Engineer, the subdivider’s engineer or surveyor shall submit the original tracing of the map, corrected to this final form and signed by all parties required to execute the certificates on the map, to the City Engineer. In addition, the subdivider shall execute the improvement agreement and submit it along with all required securities and evidence of insurance to the City Engineer. When complete, the City Engineer shall notify the City Clerk that the final map is acceptable and ready for City Council consideration.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

(a) The City Council shall consider the final map, improvement agreement, and all offers of dedication for consideration within ten (10) days after their filing with the City Clerk, or at its next regular meeting, whichever is later. The City Council shall, at the meeting at which it receives the map, or at its next regular meeting after the meeting at which it receives the map, approve the map if it conforms to all of the requirements of this title and of the Subdivision Map Act applicable at the time of approval or conditional approval of the tentative map. If the map does not conform, the City Council shall disapprove the map. Any final map disapproval shall identify the requirements that have not been met.

(b) At the time of approval of a final map, the City Council shall accept, accept subject to improvement, or reject any offers of dedication. If any offer of dedication is rejected, the City Council may, by resolution at any later date, rescind its action and accept the offer of dedication. This acceptance shall be recorded in the office of the County Recorder. Certain offers of dedication providing public access to public resources must be accepted within the time limits required by Section 66477.2 of the Map Act. If the City Council accepts property dedicated to the City in fee, any certificates required by Section 66477.5 of the Map Act shall be recorded.

(c) If the improvement agreement and final map are approved by the City Council, it shall instruct the City Manager to execute the improvement agreement on behalf of the City.

(d) If the City Council does not approve or disapprove the map within the time prescribed by this title, or any authorized extension thereof, and the map conforms to all requirements and rulings, it shall be deemed approved and the City Clerk shall certify or state the City Council’s approval on the map. The meeting at which the City Council receives the map shall be the date on which the City Clerk receives the map.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)

Upon approval of the final map by the City Council the City Engineer, Community Development Director and the City Clerk shall execute the appropriate certificates on the certificate sheet and forward the map to the title company providing the subdivision guarantee which will shall submit the map to the Clerk of the County Board of Supervisors for transmittal to the County Recorder. A subdivision which includes conditions, covenants and restrictions shall record those documents at the same time the final map is recorded.

(§ 1, Ord. 1274-11 (CM), eff. February 24, 2011)