West Covina Municipal Code § 19-30 Modification of specifications

(a) Any person, owner, lessee or agent constructing or arranging for the construction of any parking lot or commercial, residential or industrial building, or buildings, or building addition or alteration, shall also provide for the construction or installation to city standards, of sidewalks, curbs, gutters, street trees, adequate street lighting, street paving to the center line of the street, and necessary drainage structures unless such improvements already exist along all street frontages adjoining the lot on which the building or parking lot is to be constructed, enlarged or altered.

(b) Exceptions:

(1) This section shall not apply to additions made to a single-family residence where the square foot area of such additions does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the area of the residential portion of the building existing prior to addition.

(2) This section shall not apply to alterations made to a single-family residence when the value of the proposed alterations does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the value of the building being altered prior to its alteration.

(3) Public improvements required by this section need not be provided for construction of, or alteration or addition to garages, carports, storage buildings and similar nonresidential buildings, accessory to single-family residences where such construction, alteration or addition does not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in area.

(Code 1960, § 8114; Ord. No. 1330, § 5, 2-28-77)

The building official shall deny final approval and acceptance for final public utility connections to any building or parking lot until required street improvements exist or are constructed or their construction is guaranteed with an executed agreement and cash money deposited with the city in a sum approved by the city engineer based upon one and one-half (1½) times the estimated cost of construction.

(Code 1960, § 8114.1; Ord. No. 1330, § 6, 2-28-77)

(a) The construction guarantee agreement shall be effective on the date of the deposit of cash and shall end upon the date of completion to the satisfaction of the city engineer of all improvements required to be made. Upon the completion of the improvements and their acceptance by the city, the cash deposit shall be returned to the owner.

(b) The city is authorized, in the event of any default on the owner's part, to use any or all of the deposit money to cause all of the required work to be done or completed, and for payment of all costs and expenses therefor. Any money remaining shall be refunded to the owner.

(c) Whenever uncertainty exists as to the proper alignment of any street, the city engineer's determination shall be final and binding.

(Code 1960, § 8114.2; Ord. No. 1330, § 7, 2-28-77)

(a) Curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be placed along all streets in the city with the following additional exceptions:

(1) Land zoned for single-family residential use in area District V, unless fronting or siding a street shown on the "Select System of City Streets."

(2) Where topographic conditions would make the construction of curbs, gutters or sidewalks impractical.

(b) Placement of sidewalks shall be located as specified by the city engineer, planning commission, or city council.

(Code 1960, § 8115)

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

Back-up lots shall mean lots which are bounded by two (2) or more public streets and are walled or fenced off from the parkway area of such streets.

Full width sidewalk as used in this section shall mean a sidewalk whose width measures from property line to curbline.

(b) Landscaping where full-width sidewalks are not required. Where full-width sidewalks are not required, those parts of the parkway areas not covered with Portland cement concrete sidewalk shall be landscaped with trees and other plant materials to meet city standards.

(c) Sidewalk widths. Sidewalk widths shall be as follows:

(1) Single-family residential:

a. A minimum sidewalk width of four (4) feet; a minimum of five (5) feet required on select system streets.

b. Full width sidewalks on all streets adjacent to the rear or side lot line of back-up lots.

(2) Multiple-family residential:

a. A minimum sidewalk width of five (5) feet.

b. Full width sidewalks on all streets adjacent to the rear or side lot line of back-up lots.

(3) Offices, commercial and manufacturing: Full width sidewalks required unless expressly waived by planning commission or city council.

(4) Industrial park, public buildings and developments requiring an unclassified use permit: Sidewalk width shall be determined by the city engineer, planning commission, or city council.

(d) Landscaping provisions for full width sidewalks: Landscaping provisions for full-width sidewalks shall be as follows:

(1) Not less than one (1) tree well, minimum dimensions three (3) feet, six (6) inches by three (3) feet, six (6) inches, shall be provided on all full width sidewalks for each forty (40) linear feet thereof. The director of recreation and parks may permit a greater distance between tree wells when in his opinion, the existence of poles, signs, hydrants, meters, curb breaks, or species of tree in any given area require greater spacing.

(2) Other improvements to be included as part of the parkway landscaping shall be:

a. A permanent water irrigation system to tree wells. In single-family residential areas such water irrigation system shall be metered to the city for maintenance.

b. Standard tree well improvements as required by the city.

(Code 1960, § 8116)

The provisions of section 19-25 may be modified or waived by the city engineer under the following circumstances and to the following extent, and under such reasonable conditions as he may impose:

(a) Topography. Portland cement concrete curbs and gutters only shall be required where the topography is such that the installation of Portland cement concrete sidewalks would be impractical in the opinion of the city engineer.

(b) Street grade. Portland cement concrete curbs, gutters or sidewalks need not be installed where the final street grade cannot readily be established by the city engineer.

(c) Impractical grading. Where the street for practical reasons has not been or cannot be readily graded to the established grade which would enable proper location of curb and sidewalks.

(d) Hazards. Where installation of Portland cement concrete sidewalks would be hazardous to pedestrians because of the grade.

(Code 1960, § 8117)