Chapter 6

Improvements required to be installed or agreed to be installed by a subdivider as a condition precedent to the filing of a tract map or parcel map shall comply with the requirements of this Chapter. Such improvements shall be provided and developed in accordance with the conditions imposed as a condition of approval of the tentative map, in accordance with any agreement or bond made or entered into by the subdivider for that purpose, and in accordance with the standards and specifications set by administrative regulations and ordinances of the City of Carson applicable at the time of approval of the tentative map and to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.

9206.2 Improvement and Site Development Plans.

Plans, profiles, and specifications for improvements other than street and highway improvements shall be submitted to the City Engineer not later than the time a tract map or parcel map is submitted for checking and certification. Such plans shall show all details of the proposed improvements needed for approval of the plans by the City Engineer. Such details may include requirements of other governmental bodies whose jurisdiction some portion of the plan may encompass.

Final plans must be approved by the City Engineer before a tract map or parcel map is transmitted to the City Council for approval if the subdivider applies for a reimbursement agreement, or if another governmental agency, whose approval of plans is necessary, will not approve preliminary plans.

Preliminary plans may be approved by the City Engineer when sufficient engineering data are furnished by the subdivider to demonstrate that the preliminary design meets the City’s standards and specifications, is practicable from a maintenance standpoint, and is consistent with sound engineering practices, and that the final plans will conform to the preliminary plans with only minor changes.

9206.3 Improvement Plans – Street and Highway.

Plans, profiles, and specifications for all street and highway improvements shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works and/or the Superintendent of Streets. Such plans shall be furnished to the Director of Public Works not later than the time of submitting the tract map or parcel map to the City Engineer for checking and shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works before any such map shall be certified by the City Engineer. Such plans, profiles, and specifications shall show full details of the proposed improvements and shall be in accordance with the standards and specifications of the City of Carson as adopted by the City Council. Such plans shall also include the design grade for an existing highway or for a future street, provided the Director of Public Works determines that such grade is necessary to properly locate slope and drainage easements, if any.

9206.4 Map Showing Structures.

If streets, highways, or other public ways are to be dedicated on a tract map or parcel map or by separate instrument prior to filing a parcel map and the subdivider is required to grade, pave, or install curbs, gutters, or sidewalks within such easements, the subdivider shall provide a copy of the tract map or parcel map, as the case may be, which delineates all structures within such easements, except publicly owned storm drains, water lines, sewers, and other drainage or sanitary facilities. Such maps shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works when highway improvement plans are submitted for approval.

9206.5 Major and Secondary Highway Improvements.

Each highway shall be improved by the subdivider with full width, grading, Portland cement concrete curb and gutter, Portland cement concrete sidewalk and/or parkway landscaping, full width roadway paving, street lights, installation of drainage facilities incidental thereto, street name signs and such other improvements for traffic control and drainage needs as are required for the appropriate development of the division of land. Traffic control improvements shall include, but not be limited to, traffic signals, street warning and safety signs and street striping. Drainage improvements shall include, but not be limited to, parkway drains, catch basins and other drainage appurtenances.

9206.6 Street Improvements.

Each street, whether public or private, shall be improved by the subdivider with full width grading, Portland cement concrete curb and gutter, Portland cement concrete sidewalk and/or parkway landscaping, full width roadway paving, street lights, installation of drainage facilities incidental thereto, street name signs and such other improvements for traffic control and drainage needs as are required for the appropriate development of the division of land. Traffic control improvements shall include, but not be limited to, traffic signals, street warning and safety signs and street striping. Drainage improvements shall include, but not be limited to, parkway drains, catch basins and other drainage appurtenances.

9206.7 Improvements to Existing Street or Highways Adjacent to the Division of Land.

If a portion of an existing street or highway constitutes any portion of the boundary of the division of land and such street or highway is unimproved, and the Advisory Agency determines that the improvements are for the general use of the lot owners in the division of land and for local neighborhood traffic and drainage needs, the Advisory Agency may require the subdivider to improve or agree to improve such street or highway as specified in CMC 9206.5 and 9206.6.

9206.8 Improvements to Existing Street or Highways within the Division of Land.

The Advisory Agency may require the reconstruction of an existing street or highway. Such reconstruction shall be in accordance with the improvement requirements specified in CMC 9206.5 and 9206.6.

9206.9 Improvements of Future Streets.

Except for full width grading, the subdivider shall not be required to improve streets or highways shown on a tract map or a parcel map as future streets.

9206.10 Temporary Improvements.

Temporary improvements may be required prior to, or concurrent with, permanent improvements. In such instances, the temporary improvements shall be installed in a manner approved by the City Engineer or Director of Public Works, whichever is appropriate.

9206.11 Protective Improvements.

The Advisory Agency may require such structures to be installed as are necessary for the proper functioning and maintenance of the improvements required to remove a flood or geological hazard and as are necessary for the protection of property adjacent to the division of land.

9206.12 Drainage Improvements.

The subdivider shall provide such drainage facilities as are considered necessary by the Advisory Agency for the drainage requirements of the division of land and for local neighborhood needs. Such facilities shall be constructed in accordance with standards and specifications approved by the City Engineer or Director of Public Works, whichever is appropriate.

9206.13 Fences or Walls Adjacent to Highways.

If lots in a division of land abut a highway or street and the Director of Public Works requires the subdivider to relinquish complete access rights to such highway or street a masonry wall as specified by the City may be required along the property line of the lots contiguous to the highway.

9206.14 Fencing of Watercourses or Drainage Facilities.

The subdivider shall provide a chain link fence or equivalent, not less than six (6) feet high, along each side of any portion of a dedicated right-of-way for any watercourse or drainage facility within a proposed division of land if the Advisory Agency finds that the location, shape, slope, width, velocity of water therein, or other characteristics of the watercourse or drainage facility makes the fencing of the right-of-way necessary for the protection of the general public. Such fencing shall have an adequate number of gates to facilitate cleaning and maintenance and shall not contain apertures below the fence in excess of four (4) inches vertical.

9206.15 Underground Utilities.

All new utility lines including, but not limited to, electrical power (other than major transmission lines), communications, street lighting, and cable television shall be placed underground in those zoning districts specified by the Zoning Ordinance. The subdivider shall be responsible for complying with the requirements of this Section and shall make the necessary arrangements with utility companies for the installation of such facilities. For the purpose of this Section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in an underground system may be placed aboveground if properly screened pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance. The Advisory Agency may waive the requirements of this Section if topographical, soil, or other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical.

9206.16 Sanitary Sewers.

The Advisory Agency may require the subdivider to install sanitary sewers to serve each lot in a division of land. Such sewers shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of the City Engineer and the outlet to be used for the sewers shall be designated by the City Engineer.

9206.17 Sidewalks.

Concrete sidewalks shall not be less than five (5) feet wide for residential developments along all frontage where residential lots are adjacent to street right-of-way. Concrete sidewalks shall be full width walks for major and secondary highways and all industrial and commercial property adjacent to public right-of-way unless otherwise specified by the Advisory Agency. Tree well locations shall be as specified by the Director of Public Works and the Director of Parks and Recreation and shall be required when street trees are to be installed and sidewalks are adjacent to the curb.

Wheelchair ramps shall be provided at every new corner where curbs and gutter are to be constructed where the construction of sidewalk is proposed around said corner.

9206.18 Waiving of Sidewalks.

The construction of sidewalks may be waived where any one (1) or more of the following conditions exist and the Advisory Agency so finds:

a. The construction of sidewalks would be impractical because of topographic conditions or because of other physical obstacles.

b. Sidewalks will not be in keeping with neighborhood pattern.

c. The sidewalks will not be used by children in the general neighborhood as a route to or from schools or school bus stops.

d. Sidewalks are not needed in and will not benefit the area.

e. In the event that sidewalks are waived by the Advisory Agency, the property owner shall be required to turf or landscape and maintain said parkway to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works.

9206.19 Driveways.

The Director of Public Works shall approve all driveway locations. Driveways shall be of a type and construction required by the Director of Public Works. Driveway widths shall meet the minimum requirements specified by the Zoning Ordinance.

9206.20 Street Lighting System and Street Name Signs.

The subdivider shall provide a street lighting system and street name signs in each division of land to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works. Marbelite street light standards shall be specified for the street lighting system unless waived by the Advisory Agency if it would not be in keeping with the neighborhood pattern or if it would be impractical to underground existing overhead utilities and existing wood poles.

9206.21 Street Trees and Landscaping.

The subdivider of improved or unimproved land shall plant and install trees and/or landscaping and irrigation systems along all streets and highways in each division of land as per the General Plan. The type of species of such trees or landscaping shall be approved by the Parks and Recreation Director. A soils test may be required and recommendations from the Soils Testing Laboratory may be incorporated into the requirements for the subdivision. The locations of such trees and/or a landscaping shall be approved by the Parks and Recreation Director and the Director of Public Works. The requirements of this Section may be waived if the Advisory Agency finds that topographical, soil or other conditions make the planting of trees or landscaping unreasonable or impractical.

9206.22 Water Mains and Fire Hydrants.

The subdivider shall install or agree to install mains and fire hydrants in the division of land for the general use of the lot owners and for fire protection. The installation of such water mains and fire hydrants shall comply in all respects with all statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations applicable to water mains and fire hydrants.

In the absence of such statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations, required domestic water flows shall be determined by the City Engineer and required fire flows, duration of required fire flows, and fire hydrant type and location shall be determined by the Fire Chief.

Water mains and fire hydrants may be required on existing streets or highways adjacent to or within the division of land, provided the existing improvements are insufficient for the general use and/or fire protection of the lot owners.

9206.23 Improvement Agreement.

If a required improvement is not completed before a tract map or parcel map is filed, the subdivider shall enter, as contractor, into an agreement with the City to complete the improvement within the time specified in the agreement.

9206.24 Cost of Improvement.

Improvements required by this Chapter shall be installed and constructed by the subdivider at his expense, and shall not be paid for by any special assessment lien, tax, bonded indebtedness, or other charge against the land or real property within the division, except:

A. The cost of installing pipes and other facilities for the transmission of water may be paid for in whole or in part from revenues collected from the customers served at regular established water rates for the water company, pursuant to regulations of the Public Utilities Commission, where applicable, (or by a Public Agency defined in Section 4401 of the California Government Code) from the net operating income only, as payment of the sale of water thereto.

B. As provided in Sections 66483, 66485, and 66488 (Sewer and Drainage Reimbursement Contracts) of the California Government Code or other reimbursement enabling acts.

All outstanding or remaining assessments on the land of the division established for improvements constructed under special assessment district proceedings shall be paid by the subdivider.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section shall not apply to property which is zoned MH-Manufacturing, Heavy in connection with division by parcel map. (Ord. 90-918, § 1)

9206.25 Supplemental Sewer or Drainage Improvements.

Sanitary sewer or drainage improvements installed by the subdivider for the benefit of the division of land may be required to contain supplemental size, capacity, length, depth, or number, or to be altered in location, for the benefit of property not within the division of land in order to facilitate the orderly development of the surrounding area in a manner consistent with the policies of the General Plan. Such improvements shall be dedicated to the public. The City Council shall enter into an agreement to provide for the payment of reimbursement to the subdivider and the collection of charges from the property benefited by the supplemental improvements, in conformance with applicable State laws.