Chapter 15.12
STANDARDS*
* Editor’s Note: This chapter was revised in its entirety by Ord. 2004-07. The following prior code sections were formerly codified in this chapter: Prior code §§ 8810, 8811, 8812, 8813, 8814, 8815, 8816 and 8817; Ord. 80-19 was also formerly codified in this chapter.
Sections:
15.12.010 Declaration of policy.
15.12.050 Establishment of street standards.
15.12.060 Enumeration of standard improvements – Approval required.
15.12.070 Dedications to provide sufficient right-of-way width.
15.12.010 DECLARATION OF POLICY.
It is declared to be the policy of the city of Santa Cruz that the improvement and development of property adjacent to a city street which is substandard, and which does not meet the standards of street improvements adopted by the city, is contrary to the best interest of the city of Santa Cruz and its inhabitants for the preservation of public health, welfare and safety, and that the city council has found that the improvement of such substandard city streets, to the standard of street improvement adopted by the city, as a condition precedent to the improvement or development of property abutting thereon, is an effective measure to provide for the safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.020 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.
In enacting the provisions of Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24, the city council hereby finds that this city has experienced, and will continue to experience, great increases in population, area growth, and land development for high activity purposes, the direct result of which is and will be to rapidly render the previously existing streets and highways inadequate in width and development to provide minimum acceptable safety to the users, and service capacity to the lands being developed, and therefore the public’s being denied streets and highways of minimum standards for safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian access and travel.
Therefore, the provisions hereof are intended officially to define the requirements, policies and procedures for the acquisition of public rights-of-way and for the construction of public improvements in connection with the improvement and development of property, in order to:
(1) Supplement and insure conformity to the zoning ordinance, the Subdivision Map Act, and other improvement ordinances of the city, and to extend the basic requirements thereunder, to apply to land development in which no subdivision is involved;
(2) Protect the vested interest of the public in the pre-existing capacity of city streets and highways, and to provide for private participation by those specially benefiting therefrom in the widening and improvement of streets and highways, and to provide for private participation by those specially benefiting therefrom in the construction of the necessary utilities and the widening and improving of streets and highways when the same become necessary by reason of development of abutting property;
(3) Protect the public health, public safety and general welfare of the general public.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.030 EFFECT OF CHAPTER.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no permit shall be issued for the construction or use of a new building, or for addition to or remodeling or alteration of a one-family or two-family dwelling, which addition, remodeling or alteration will alone, or in combination with any prior addition, remodeling or alteration within the immediately preceding year, either increase the area of conditioned floor space of the one-family or two-family dwelling by fifty percent or more, or increase the area of conditioned floor space by 500 square feet or more, or for addition to or remodeling or alteration of a building other than a one-family or two-family dwelling, which addition, remodeling or alteration will alone, or in combination with any prior addition, remodeling or alteration within the immediately preceding year, increase the area of conditioned floor space of that building by twenty-five percent or more, and no person shall be entitled to receive a building permit, or to use or occupy any such building or improvement, unless the provisions of Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24 have been complied with. In the event that a building permit has been issued, which permit is conditioned upon compliance with any of the provisions of Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24, and such conditions have not been complied with upon completion of the building or improvement constructed or installed pursuant to such building permit, final approval and authority for occupancy or use of such building or improvement shall be denied, and final public utility connections shall not be approved by the building official, and no person shall occupy or use said building or improvement, until compliance with such conditions.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.040 OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
Compliance with the requirements of Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and 15.12.050 through 15.12.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24 is not intended to relieve any further and additional obligations with respect to streets or improvements imposed by reason of other regulations of the city or as may be provided for by agreement with the city.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.050 ESTABLISHMENT OF STREET STANDARDS.
The standard and requirements hereinafter set forth are hereby established as the street improvement standards of the city of Santa Cruz, and shall apply to each existing street in the city and to each new street hereafter constructed within the city.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.060 ENUMERATION OF STANDARD IMPROVEMENTS – APPROVAL REQUIRED.
The standard improvements required for each of the streets in the city shall consist of street paving, concrete curbs, gutters and sidewalks, access ramps, sanitary sewers and connections thereto necessary to serve adjacent property, storm drains and catch basins, water mains and service connections necessary to serve adjacent property, fire hydrants, street lighting standards, and such other specific improvements as may be required to meet the conditions created by any particular development. All of such improvements shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the city of Santa Cruz standard specifications and design, subject to the inspection of and to the satisfaction of the director of public works of the city.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.070 DEDICATIONS TO PROVIDE REQUIRED RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTHS.
Whenever a building, structure, or improvement for which a permit is sought falls within the provisions of Section 15.12.030, and must meet the requirements of Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24, and the parcel of property upon which such building, structure, or improvement is located, or is to be located does not front upon a public street with sufficient right-of-way to construct improvements required by Sections 15.08.050 through 15.08.070 and Chapters 15.12, and 15.24, prior to the issuance of such building permit the owner of said property shall dedicate a portion of the property front necessary to provide the required right-of-way width to construct said improvements.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).
15.12.100 APPEAL.
A decision of the director of public works may be appealed to the city council in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1.16.
(Ord. 2004-07 § 2 (part), 2004).