Chapter 9.10
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS
Sections:
9.10.010 General requirements.
9.10.100 Railroad and grade crossings.
9.10.010 General requirements.
The following regulations shall apply to all subdivisions or parts of subdivisions lying wholly or in part within the incorporated territory of the City. [Ord. 430 § 2(a), 1950.]
9.10.020 Highways.
A. The street and highway layout of each subdivision shall be based on sections of the master plan which shall have been adopted for the portion of the City within which the subdivision lies.
B. Major and secondary highways shall conform in width and alignment to adopted sections of the master plan.
C. Bypass streets shall be provided around intersections of major and secondary highways with each other.
D. The center lines of all highways shall be the continuations of the center lines of existing highways in adjacent and contiguous territory. In cases in which straight continuations are not reasonably possible, such center lines may be continued by tangent curves. [Ord. 430 § 2(b), 1950.]
9.10.030 Streets.
A. Widths of pavements on local streets and rights-of-way shall be not less than those set forth in Chapter 9.15 SMC, except where the topography unquestionably justifies a narrower pavement width; but no pavement shall be less than 22 feet in width.
B. Reserved strips controlling the access to public ways or which will not prove taxable for special improvements will not be approved unless such strips are necessary for the protection of the public welfare or of substantial property rights or both and in no case except in which the control and disposal of the land comprising such strips is placed definitely within the jurisdiction of the City under conditions approved by the Planning Commission.
C. All streets shall, as far as practicable, be in alignment with existing streets by continuations of the center lines thereof.
D. Streets shall be required to intersect one another at an angle as near to a right angle as is practicable in each specified case, and no intersections of streets at angles less than 30 degrees shall be approved, unless necessitated by topographic conditions.
E. Where a subdivision adjoins acreage, streets which may be extended in the event of the subdivision of the acreage shall be required to be provided through to the boundary lines of the tract.
F. Whenever the size or location of a parcel of land does not permit a lot layout directly related to a normal street arrangement, there may be used a court, nonconnecting street or other public way, as best fits the case; provided, that such conditions are as authorized in Chapter 9.60 SMC may be required in such cases.
G. Whenever a dead-end street is permitted, it shall not exceed 600 feet in length and shall have a circular end with a minimum radius equal to the width of the street right-of-way but not necessarily more than 40 feet and with a curb radius of six feet less. [Ord. 430 § 2(c), 1950.]
9.10.040 Street names.
Streets that are obviously in alignment with others already existing and named shall bear the names of such existing streets. In order to avoid duplication, names to be used for new streets shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Commission. [Ord. 430 § 2(d), 1950.]
9.10.050 Grades and curves.
Grades shall not exceed 10 percent on major residential streets, or 15 percent on any street, unless the topography shall necessitate steeper grades. Center line radii shall be not less than 100 feet. Lesser radii may be used in cases in which sufficient evidence is presented to show that the above requirements are not practicable and after specific approval of the Planning Commission. [Ord. 430 § 2(e), 1950.]
9.10.060 Alleys.
A. Alleys 20 feet wide or more may be required in the rear of all prospective business property.
B. Where two alleys intersect, 10-foot or more corner radii shall be required. [Ord. 430 § 2(f), 1950.]
9.10.070 Blocks.
A. Blocks shall not exceed 1,200 feet in length, unless the previous adjacent layout or topographical conditions justify a variation from this requirement. Long blocks should be provided adjacent to main thoroughfares in order to reduce the number of intersections.
B. Pedestrian ways, 10 feet in width, shall be required through the middle of blocks over 1,000 feet in length, to connect dead-end streets, or to provide access to parks, schools, shopping centers or similar facilities.
C. Easements for storm drainage, sewers or other public utilities may be required along the rear lot lines or elsewhere if necessary. [Ord. 430 § 2(g), 1950.]
9.10.080 Lots.
A. The size and shape of lots shall be such as is proper for the locality in which the subdivision is situated. All lots must be adequately drained.
B. In a subdivision in which the lots may be resubdivided at some future time, the location of lot lines and other details of layout shall be such that resubdivision may readily take place without violating the requirements of this title or SMC Title 10, Zoning, and without interfering with the orderly extension of adjacent streets and highways.
C. Lots with less than 30 feet of frontage on a street will not be permitted.
D. The side lines of lots will be required to run at right angles to the street upon which the lot faces, as far as practicable.
E. Lots other than corner lots having double frontage will not be approved except where necessitated by topographic or other physical conditions.
F. Corner lots shall have extra width, sufficient to permit the maintenance of adequate building lines on both front and side.
G. Front streets, for the purpose of establishing setbacks as to any lot abutting on two or more streets, shall be at the option of the owner.
H. All lots shall be suitable for the purposes for which they are intended to be sold, and no dangerous areas, or areas subject to inundation, may be subdivided for residential purposes.
I. All land within the proposed subdivision which is marsh land or low land shall be filled to at least a minimum finished elevation of four feet above mean high water. Such fill shall be of suitable filling material and placed in such a manner as to ensure that the finished elevation of all lots and roadway area will be at least four feet above the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey datum of mean high water after settlement and compaction. No building or construction on filled land shall be commenced until satisfactory evidence has been submitted that the required elevation has been obtained and that the fill will provide a stable base for the construction proposed. Such evidence of satisfactory fill shall be submitted to the City Engineer and the approval for construction of improvements upon the fill shall be granted by the City Building Inspector. [Ord. 430 § 2(h), 1950.]
9.10.090 Watercourses.
In the event that the subdivision is traversed by all watercourses, channels, streams, or creeks, the subdivider shall dedicate rights-of-way or easements for storm drainage purposes conforming substantially with the lines of such watercourses, channels, streams or creeks, or shall provide by dedication further and sufficient rights-of-way or easements as shall be required for structures or channel changes or both, to dispose of such surface and storm waters. [Ord. 430 § 2(i), 1950.]
9.10.100 Railroad and grade crossings.
A. If the question of railroad crossings is involved, the plan of the subdivision will be considered in relation to the probability of grade separation or other treatment, and may be required to conform to certain conditions in anticipation of such treatment.
B. Where the subdivision adjoins a railroad right-of-way and zoning plans or other conditions indicate that such property will be used for industrial purposes, highways in the same general direction as the railroad shall be as nearly parallel to such railroad right-of-way as is practicable, and at sufficient distance therefrom to provide for future separation of grades. [Ord. 430 § 2(j), 1950.]
9.10.110 Trees.
Street trees of an approved type shall be located wherever required by the Commission. [Ord. 430 § 2(k), 1950.]
9.10.120 Deed restriction.
All deed restrictions, if any, shall run with the land and be enforceable by the owner of any of the property lying within the subdivision. [Ord. 430 § 2(l), 1950.]
9.10.130 Master plan.
In all respects, the subdivision will be considered in relation to the Zoning Ordinance, street and highway plan, community design plan and other parts of the master plan of the City or preliminary plans made in anticipation thereof. [Ord. 430 § 2(m), 1950.]