25.116 Authority.
This ordinance is enacted pursuant to the provisions of title 7, division 2, section 66410, et seq., of the government code of the State of California, referred to herein as the subdivision map act, and in addition to any other regulations provided by law, the regulations hereinafter in this chapter contained shall hereafter be known and cited as “The Subdivision Ordinance.”
25.117 Purpose.
The purpose of this ordinance and any rules, regulations and specifications adopted pursuant thereto, is to control and regulate the division of any land for any purpose whatsoever within the city and such unincorporated land situated adjacent to the city as may be annexed to the city.
25.118 Considerations - General plan. specific plan. and zoning ordinance.
All subdivisions shall be consistent with the applicable general plan and specific plan of the city. No land shall be subdivided and developed for any purpose not contemplated or specifically authorized by the precise zoning ordinance or specific plan of the city.
25.119 Environmental impact report process.
The initial step in the subdivision process involves the submission of a request for determination by the subdivider in accord with the requests of the city’s EIR ordinance. Upon receipt of the request for determination, the director of planning and development shall prepare an initial study concerning the project. Such study shall contain relevant, scientific and factual data. The project sponsor shall furnish such further data and information as may be required by the director of planning and development. This additional information may include preparation of an environmental assessment, including an environmental inventory and determination of development suitability for the project area. The requirements for a negative declaration or an EIR shall be based upon the initial study. Preparation of a negative declaration or an EIR shall be processed in accord with the applicable sections of the city’s EIR ordinance.
25.120 Existing conditions.
Consideration shall be given, within the established framework of local streets, to provide for uniformity of street widths and for properly relating alignments and street names. Preservation of the privacy and safety of streets in residential areas shall be encouraged by the prevention of through traffic in such areas. The amount of street width required shall be directly related to the traffic generating uses including automobiles, pedestrians and cyclists of abutting land as well as traffic which must pass through the subdivision. The topography of the land shall be respected and streets shall be designed so as to prevent excessive grading and scarring of the landscape. Problems of drainage shall be resolved in such a manner to permit the occupants of the subdivision security against flooding.
25.121 Community facilities.
Community facilities, such as parks, schools, fire stations, libraries, or other public uses, shall be provided for in the subdivision process. This chapter establishes procedures for the referral of proposed subdivision maps to those boards, bureaus and other governmental agencies and utility companies, both public and private, so that the extension of community facilities and utilities may be accomplished in an orderly manner coincident with a subdivision of land and in accordance with such standards as may be adopted in the general plan and/or specific plan of the city. In order to facilitate the acquisition of land areas required to implement this policy, the planning commission may require that land be reserved for community facilities by the subdivider.
25.122 General responsibilities.
(a) The subdivider.
The subdivider shall prepare maps in accord with requirements of this ordinance, consistent to the design standards of the city, providing for public improvements consistent with the improvement standards as contained in this ordinance and shall process such maps through the planning commission and the city council in accordance with the regulations as set forth herein.
(b) Secretary of the planning commission.
All applications for subdivision approval shall be filed with the secretary of the planning commission who shall be responsible for the expeditious processing and prompt referral to other agencies of said application.
(c) City engineer.
The city engineer shall be responsible for certifying to the planning commission and the city council that the proposed subdivision improvements are consistent with the regulations contained herein and shall be responsible further for the supervision and ultimate approval of all such improvements.
(d) Planning commission.
The planning commission shall act as the “advisory agency” to the city council and is charged with the duty of making findings and recommendations on the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions requiring tentative maps and the conformance of such subdivisions with the general plan, specific plan or zoning ordinance and for recommending approval or disapproval of such subdivisions to the city council.
(e) City council.
The city council has final jurisdiction in the approval of subdivision maps, the establishment of standards and public improvements resulting from the subdivision process.
(f) Other public agencies.
Since the provision of certain public facilities and utilities are vested in special districts, agencies and/or public utility companies whose jurisdiction includes the City of Fairfield and contiguous surrounding area and whose services will be required in those areas which are subdivided under the regulations herein, all proposed subdivision maps shall be referred to such agencies for their information, action and written report if deemed necessary by the agency or agencies concerned. The secretary of the planning commission shall coordinate the dissemination of information regarding the proposed subdivision of land and the planning commission shall consider the written reports of the agencies and shall take into account their requirements in recommending approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of the proposed subdivision. Distribution may include the following agencies:
(1) The county planning commission.
(2) The county engineer.
(3) The district engineer of the division of highways of the State of California.
(4) The affected school district.
(5) The reclamation board
(6) The Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army
(7) The Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(8) The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company
(9) Travis Air Force Base
The above list is not intended to be exclusive or to prevent that circulation of the proposed tentative map or parcel map and accompanying data to any other agency.