Chapter 16.125
DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
Sections:
16.125.010 Conformance to comprehensive plan, transportation standards and zoning regulations.
16.125.020 Protective improvements required for topographical hazards.
16.125.030 Continuation of existing streets.
16.125.050 General street design requirements.
16.125.070 Lot access requirements and restrictions.
16.125.090 Lot size and width requirements.
16.125.095 Narrow lot standards.
16.125.100 Double and reverse frontage lots.
16.125.010 Conformance to comprehensive plan, transportation standards and zoning regulations.
All subdivisions or short subdivisions shall conform to the comprehensive plan, including any adopted major thoroughfare or street plan, and to all zoning regulations and applicable development standards in effect at the time any plat of a subdivision is submitted for approval. Compliance with Chapter 12.116 BGMC, Transportation Standards, is also required. Lots shall be of sufficient area, width and length to satisfy zoning requirements. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 13-07 § 10, 2013: Ord. 04-023 § 8, 2004: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.020 Protective improvements required for topographical hazards.
Land on which exist any topographical conditions hazardous to the safety or general welfare of persons or property in or on a proposed subdivision or short subdivision shall not be subdivided unless the construction of protective improvements will eliminate the hazards, or unless land subject to hazard is reserved for such uses as will not expose persons or property to the hazard. Protective improvements shall be clearly noted on the final plat or short plat as applicable. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 13-07 § 11, 2013: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.030 Continuation of existing streets.
Existing streets adjacent to the land proposed for subdivision or short subdivision shall be continued in conformance with the standards of Chapter 12.116 BGMC (Transportation Standards). (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 13-07 § 12, 2013: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.040 Street jogs.
Street jogs with centerline offsets of less than one hundred twenty-five feet shall not be permitted, except when approved in conformance with BGMC 12.116.080 (Traffic calming measures). (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.050 General street design requirements.
Streets shall meet all applicable public and private street standards specified in Chapter 12.116 BGMC. In addition, streets shall conform to engineering standards as approved by the city engineer relative to street grades, horizontal curvature, tangents between reverse curves, vertical alignments, and curbline radii. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.060 Blocks.
Blocks shall be so designed as to assure traffic safety and ease of traffic control and circulation. Blocks shall be wide enough to allow for two tiers of lots unless the topography or other factors preclude them. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 04-023 § 9, 2004: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.070 Lot access requirements and restrictions.
Every lot shall contain the minimum frontage on a public or private street as required by the applicable section of BGMC Title 17. Lots adjacent to a street which has been designated as an arterial by the city council shall be provided with access other than the arterial, unless a specific exemption is granted to this requirement. The plat of a subdivision or short subdivision containing lots adjacent to a designated arterial shall not be approved unless the plat recites a waiver of the right of direct access to the arterial, for example, a ten-foot-wide no-access easement. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 13-07 § 13, 2013: Ord. 04-023 § 10, 2004: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.080 Lot line angles.
Where practicable, side lot lines shall be straight lines running at or near right angles to the street upon which the lots front. Side lot lines on curved streets should run at or near radially to the curve. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.090 Lot size and width requirements.
Lots shall meet the lot area and width requirements of BGMC Title 17. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.095 Narrow lot standards.
A. Narrow lots are defined as any lot with less than fifty feet of frontage. Narrow lot developments shall submit development plan at the time of preliminary plat submittal and incorporated into the civil engineering plan set. As an alternative to the narrow lot standards, alley accessed lots may be proposed, in conformance with Table 12.116.040D.
B. The narrow lot development plan shall show compliance with the following:
1. Proposed location and width of streets, sidewalks, and landscape strips;
2. Proposed location, species, and size of required street trees;
3. Proposed location of other infrastructure including light poles, fire hydrants, and community mailboxes (may be reserved areas) and existing overhead lines;
4. Proposed location of public water line, water meter, and sewer line to serve each narrow lot;
5. Proposed location and dimensions of areas reserved on each narrow lot for private utilities (phone, cable, gas, electric, etc.) and roof infiltration systems;
6. Proposed location and width of driveways;
7. Showing one parking space per narrow lot, either on street, or in a common parking area, located within or along streets abutting the project site;
8. If common parking is used, showing:
a. Conformance to the city’s parking standards in Chapter 17.133 BGMC.
b. No more than five parking stalls in each area unless the applicant demonstrates required parking cannot otherwise be provided.
c. Such spaces shall be designed to allow for backing movements directly into local access streets only.
d. Sidewalk connectivity shall occur either in front of or behind the common parking area, made up of a concrete surface and designed per engineering standards. No vehicle overhang is authorized in the sidewalk, thereby allowing for safe and accessible routes of travel for pedestrians.
e. Common parking areas shall be maintained by a homeowners’ association according to a maintenance agreement to be recorded with the plat.
9. Lots with less than forty feet of frontage shall have a shared driveway unless accessed by an alley. (Ord. 21-34 § 1, 2021; Ord. 20-08 § 4 (part), 2020: Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018)
16.125.100 Double and reverse frontage lots.
Double frontage lots and reverse frontage lots are prohibited, except where essential to provide separation of residential development from railways, limited access highways, natural resources or commercial and industrial activities or through an approved modification consistent with the requirements of Chapter 16.135 BGMC. This standard is intended to provide building orientation to streets and avoid fencing along street yards. When double- or reverse-frontage lots are developed, fencing along street yards shall be set back behind a landscaped parkway of at least twenty feet in width which is located between the street and property line. This criterion shall also apply to corner lots that are adjacent to double frontage lots.
Parkways shall be placed in a tract that is to be owned by the HOA or the abutting property owners. Landscape plantings shall include a combination of trees and evergreen shrubs which, upon maturity, adequately screen the fencing. Landscaping shall be low maintenance and after establishment shall not require irrigation. A landscape plan shall be required, in compliance with this section, for all double- and reverse-frontage lots that are approved. All required plantings and irrigation, as required, shall be installed prior to occupancy of the structures they are providing screening for. Parkways are to be maintained by the HOA or the abutting property owners, when a HOA does not exist. A note to that effect shall be placed on the plat. Alley access and corner lots are permitted by this code, and do not constitute “double-frontage” or “reverse-frontage” lots. (Ord. 20-08 § 4 (part), 2020: Ord. 19-23 § 2 (part), 2019: Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 04-023 § 11, 2004: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.110 Flag lots.
Flag lots are discouraged, but, if designed with the required lot size and lot width at the regulatory front setback line, may be allowed where topography makes standard design or more frontage impossible or impractical. Where such flag lots are allowed, the street frontage of each lot shall be as required by BGMC 17.106.030, Table 17.106-2, and the lot access shall not be more than two hundred feet long. Not more than two flag lots shall abut each other. Two abutting flags may reduce their street frontage by up to fifty percent if a shared driveway access easement is in place. (Ord. 19-23 § 2 (part), 2019: Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)
16.125.120 Easements.
Easements for drainage channels and drainageways, electric, telephone, water, sanitary sewer, gas and similar utilities, alleys and pedestrian access shall be provided as determined by the city engineer and the planning director, as appropriate. Easements shall be of sufficient widths to assure that the same may be maintained and improved. (Ord. 18-09 § 3 (part), 2018: Ord. 99-008 § 1(F) (part), 1999; Ord. 99-004 § 2 (part), 1999: Ord. 95-769 § 4 (part), 1995)