Yuba City Municipal Code Art. 14 Standards and Requirements for Subdivisions

Except where modified in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, each subdivision and the map thereof shall be in conformity with the standards set forth or referred to in this article.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

All subdivisions shall result in the creation of lots which are developable and capable of being built upon. No subdivision shall create lots which are impractical of improvement due to size or shape, location of water courses, or problems of sewage or driveway grades or other natural physical conditions.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The size, shape, and orientation of lots shall be appropriate to the location of the proposed subdivision and to the types of developments contemplated. The following principles and standards shall be observed:

(a) The minimum area and dimension of all lots shall conform to the requirements of the zoning laws of the City for the district in which the subdivision is located;

(b) No residential lot shall have a width less than 50 ft. at the street frontage, except for residential lots on curved or cul-de-sac streets, which shall have a minimum street frontage of 40 ft. and a minimum width at the established front yard building setback line of 50 ft.;

(c) The side lines of all lots, so far as possible, shall be at right angles to the street which the lot faces, or approximately radial to the center of curvature, if such street is curved. The side lines of lots shall be approximately radial to the center of the curvature of a cul-de-sac on which the lot faces;

(d) No lot shall be divided by a City boundary line nor any boundary between parcels registered under separate ownership. Each such boundary line shall be made a lot line;

(e) Lots having double frontage shall not be approved, except where necessitated by unusual conditions. The width of each block shall be sufficient for an ultimate layout of two tiers of lots therein of a size required by the provisions of this chapter, unless the general layout in the vicinity, lines of ownership, topographical conditions, or locations of major streets or freeways justify or make necessary a variation from this requirement;

(f) No remnants of property shall be left in the subdivision which do not conform to the lot requirements or are not required for a private utility or public purpose.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

All lots or parcels created by the subdivision of lands shall have access to a public street improved to the standards hereinafter required. Private streets shall not normally be permitted. However, if the Planning Commission finds that the most logical development of the land requires that lots be created which are served by a private street or other means or access, and makes such findings in writing with the reasons therefor, then such access may be approved by the Planning Commission. The subdivider shall submit a development plan showing the alignment, width, grade and material specifications of any proposed private street, the drainage and sewerage of the lots served by such private streets, and a plan satisfactory to the Council for the ownership and maintenance of such street and the liability for taxes thereon. The construction of the private streets or access shall be completed prior to the occupancy of any buildings on lots served by a private street.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

(a) Conformance. Streets shall conform in principle to the streets shown on the Circulation Element of the General Plan and in width and alignment to the streets shown on any precise plan adopted by the Council relating to streets and shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. Streets not shown on a General or precise plan shall conform to the requirements of the City and of this chapter.

(b) Minimum standards. Where higher standards have not been established as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, all major and minor streets shall be platted according to the following minimums, except that higher standards may be required where streets are to serve commercial or industrial property or where probable traffic conditions warrant:

* Plus additional easements for utilities.

** Minimum cul-de-sac right-of-way radius is 44.5 ft.

"Interior residential and cul-de-sac streets" as used in this subsection means streets which serve only lots which are wholly within the subdivision. That is, the term is intended to apply to streets other than through streets. It is not intended to apply to that portion of streets adjacent to the exterior boundaries of the subdivision nor to streets within the subdivision that are aligned, generally, with streets lying outside the subdivision.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The street patterns in the subdivision shall be in general conformity with a plan for the most advantageous development of adjoining areas and the entire neighborhood or district.

The following principles shall be observed:

(a) Where appropriate to the design, the proposed streets shall be contiguous to and in alignment with existing, planned, or platted streets which they connect.

(b) The proposed streets shall be extended to the boundary lines of the land to be subdivided, unless prevented by topography or other physical conditions, or unless, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, such extension is not necessary for the coordination of the subdivision with the existing layout or the most advantageous future development of adjacent tracts. A no-access rights certificate shall be shown on the final map where required by the City Engineer.

(c) Where necessary to give access to or permit a satisfactory subdivision of adjoining land, streets shall extend to the boundaries of the property and the resulting dead-end streets may be approved for a period established by the City Engineer. In all other cases, a turnaround shall have a minimum right-of-way radius of 44.5 ft. and a curb radius of 40 ft.

(d) No cul-de-sac shall exceed 600 ft. in length from the center of the turnaround to the center line of the intersecting street.

(e) The proposed streets shall intersect one another as nearly at right angles as the conditions and other limiting factors of good design shall permit.

(f) Excessively long, straight, standard subdivision streets, conducive to high speed traffic, shall be discouraged.

(g) The center lines of all streets, wherever practicable, shall be the continuation of the center lines of existing streets or shall be offset at least 300 ft.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The subdivision design adjacent to major streets or highways shall be as determined by the Planning Commission.

(a) Design—General. Street design shall have the purpose of making adjacent lots, if for residential use, desirable for such use by cushioning the impact of heavy traffic and minimizing the interference with traffic on such arterials.

(b) Intersections. The number of intersection streets along arterials shall be held to a minimum.

(c) Lot ingress and egress. When the rear or side lines of any lots border a State highway or major street, the subdivider may be required to execute and deliver to the City an instrument prohibiting the right of ingress and egress to such lots across the side lines of such highways.

(d) Service roads. When lots proposed for commercial or industrial uses front on any major or secondary street or highway, the subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve a parallel service road to provide ingress and egress to and from such lots. When lots proposed for residential use front on a highway or a major street, the subdivider may be required to dedicate and improve a service road at the front of such lots or to back lots to the highway or major streets.

(e) Service roads—Off-street parking. In addition to the requirements for a service road, the Planning Commission may require adequate off-street parking areas for all lots proposed for commercial, multiple-family, or industrial uses.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

All street names shall be as approved by the Planning Commission, and no duplication of street names shall be permitted within the urban area of the City and the County area contiguous to the City.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

When lots are proposed for commercial or industrial uses, alleys at least 26 ft. in width may be required at the rear thereof.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

Grades, curves, and sight distances shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer to ensure proper drainage and safety for vehicles and pedestrians. The following principles and minimum standards shall be observed:

(a) Grades of streets shall not be less than 0.24% and not greater than 7%.

(b) Street intersections shall be rounded with curves having a minimum radius of 15 ft. at property lines. A greater curve radius may be required if streets intersect at other than right angles or if the streets is either a collector or an arterial street.

(c) The center line curve radius on all streets and highways shall conform to accepted engineering standards of design and shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

(a) Curbs and gutters as shown on the City's standard detail drawings shall be required.

(b) When required for access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, transportation facilities, other community facilities, or for unusually long blocks, the subdivider shall construct pedestrian ways not less than ten ft. in width.

(c) Sidewalks shall be located within the street right-of-way as shown on the City's standard detail drawings.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

(a) Utility easements, not less than eight ft. in width, may be required for utility purposes.

(b) All utility distribution facilities shall be placed underground, except as otherwise provided in Section 8-2.1511 of this chapter.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The subdivider shall dedicate rights-of-way for storm drainage conforming substantially with the lines of any natural watercourse that traverses the subdivision, or, at the option of the Planning Commission, the subdivider shall provide by dedication further and sufficient easements or construction, or both, to dispose of such surface and stormwater.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The major dimensions of a block shall not exceed 1,320 ft. in length nor be less than 440 ft. in length between street center lines, unless modified in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-2.1501 of this chapter.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

The subdivider may be required to reserve sites appropriate in area and location for necessary and desirable neighborhood facilities, such as schools, parks, and playgrounds. Such sites shall be dedicated in accordance with the provisions of the State Subdivision Map Act.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)

(a) The term "nonresidential subdivisions" applies to all subdivisions that do not include residential lots.

(b) The street and lot layout of a nonresidential subdivision shall be appropriate to the land use for which the subdivision is proposed and shall conform to the proposed land use and standards established in the City's General Plan and the zoning laws of the City.

(c) In addition to the principles and standards in this chapter which are appropriate to the planning of all subdivisions, the subdivider shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission that the street, parcel, and block pattern proposed is specifically adapted to the uses anticipated and takes into account other uses in the vicinity. The following principles and standards shall be observed:

(1) Proposed industrial parcels shall be suitable in area and dimensions to the type of industrial development anticipated.

(2) Street rights-of-way and pavement shall be adequate to accommodate the type and volume of traffic anticipated to be generated thereon.

(3) Special requirements may be imposed by the City with respect to street, curb, gutter, and sidewalk design and construction.

(4) Special requirements may be imposed by the City with respect to the installation of public utilities, including water, sewer, and storm drainage.

(5) Every effort shall be made to protect adjacent residential areas from potential nuisances caused by nonresidential subdivision, including the provision of extra depth in parcels backing up to existing or potential residential development and provisions for a permanently landscaped buffer strip when necessary.

(6) Streets carrying nonresidential traffic, especially truck traffic, shall not normally be extended to the boundaries of adjacent existing or potential residential areas or be connected to streets extended for predominantly residential traffic.

(§ 2, Ord. 1095, eff. March 22, 1990)