Chapter 16.20 DESIGN STANDARDS

All subdivisions shall conform to the East Wenatchee Comprehensive Plan and all zoning regulations in effect at the time any plat of a subdivision is submitted for approval. Lots shall be of sufficient area, width and length to satisfy zoning requirements. (Ord. 282 § 5.00, 1979)

Article II. Design – Streets

16.20.020 Street locations.

The street layout of every subdivision shall be in conformance with any adopted comprehensive plan or circulation element thereof, and the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments, and shall provide for the continuation of major streets which serve property contiguous to the subdivision. Street networks shall provide ready access for fire and other emergency vehicles and the board, upon recommendation of the planning commission, may require additional access points if such are found to be necessary to protect the public safety. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.1, 1979)

16.20.030 Classification of streets.

Classification of streets shall be determined with reference to the comprehensive plan and Chapter 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.2, 1979)

16.20.040 Street intersections.

Street intersections shall be as nearly at right angles as is practicable and street jogs with offsets of less than 125 feet between centerlines should be avoided. All street intersections and driveway locations shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.3, 1979)

16.20.050 Street grades.

Gradients shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.4, 1979)

16.20.060 Street alignment.

Connecting street centerlines shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.5, 1979)

16.20.070 Subdivision boundary streets.

A street lying along the boundary of a subdivision may be dedicated less than the required width if it is practical to require the dedication of the remaining portion when the adjoining property is subdivided. To ensure that this occurs, a one foot reserve block shall be required on the subdivision boundary along the street for the purpose of withholding access from the unsubdivided property to such street until such time as a complete street is constructed. This same procedure will also be required when a street dead-ends at the boundary of any subdivision. Boundary streets shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.6, 1979)

16.20.080 Dead-end streets.

All dead-end streets shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.7, 1979)

16.20.090 Minimum standards for streets and sidewalks.

The minimum standards for streets and sidewalks are established in the provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.8, 1979)

16.20.100 Private streets.

Private streets in any subdivision shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.02.9, 1979)

Article III. Design – Alleys

16.20.110 Alley standards.

Alleys provided at the rear of lots shall have a minimum width of 20 feet, shall be paved with a dustless surface and shall comply with the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.04.1, 1979)

16.20.120 Alleys prohibited.

Dead-end alleys and alleys with sharp changes in direction are prohibited. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.04.2, 1979)

Article IV. Blocks

16.20.130 Length.

In general, blocks shall be as long as is reasonable and consistent with the topography and the needs for convenient access, circulation, control and safety of street traffic and the type of land use proposed. For residential subdivisions the block length ordinarily shall not exceed 1,320 feet or be less than 300 feet. (Ord. 282 § 5.06.1, 1979)

16.20.140 Width.

Except for reverse frontage parcels the width of blocks shall ordinarily be sufficient to allow for two tiers of lots of depths consistent with the type of land use proposed. (Ord. 282 § 5.06.2, 1979)

16.20.150 Super blocks.

For large parcels with access provided by cul-de-sac or loop streets entering from the periphery and for large parcels platted into one acre and larger lots such as in rural or agricultural areas, the criteria in EWMC 16.20.130 and 16.20.140 may be disregarded in favor of considerations on an individual basis. Blocks of acreage type lots shall have block lengths and widths that will lend themselves to later resubdivision in accordance with the standards prescribed in this title. (Ord. 282 § 5.06.3, 1979)

16.20.160 Pedestrian walks.

In residential subdivisions a through pedestrian walk right-of-way not less than 10 feet wide shall be provided near the midpoint of any block exceeding 600 feet in length where such a walk is deemed essential to provide circulation or pedestrian access to schools, parks, shopping centers and other community facilities. (Ord. 282 § 5.06.4, 1979)

Article V. Design – Lots

16.20.170 Access.

Every lot shall be provided with satisfactory access to an existing public road. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.1, 1979)

16.20.180 Limited access.

Lots adjacent to a road which has been designated an arterial on the comprehensive plan shall be provided with access other than the arterial in compliance with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.2, 1979)

16.20.190 Width and depth of residential lots.

All single-family residential lots shall have a minimum width and depth sufficient to meet the zoning ordinance lot width and depth requirements for the particular zone the property is in. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.3, 1979)

16.20.200 Corners at street intersections.

At street intersections shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.4, 1979)

16.20.210 Lot size related to slope.

As slope increases, residential lot sizes shall increase to partially or completely avoid the problems of drainage, siltation, flood control, potential landslides and accessibility which frequently are attributable to overdevelopment of slope areas. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.5, 1979)

16.20.220 Reverse frontage lots.

No residential lots shall have street frontage along two opposite boundaries unless topographical features or the need to provide separation of lots from arterials, railways, commercial activities or industrial activities justify the designing of reverse frontage lots. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.6, 1979)

16.20.230 Lot line angles.

Side lot lines shall be straight lines running within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the road upon which the lots front. Side lot lines on curved roads should run at or near radially to the curve. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.08.7, 1979)

Article VI. Easement Provisions

16.20.240 Public utilities.

Where alleys are not provided, easements for public utilities shall be provided along lot lines and shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width. Where possible the width of lot line easements shall be continuous and aligned from block to block within the subdivision and with adjoining subdivisions. Design and installation of utilities shall comply with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.10.1, 1979)

16.20.250 Unusual facilities.

Easements for unusual facilities such as high voltage electric transmission lines, drainage canals, pondage areas, etc., shall be of such width as is adequate for the purpose, including necessary access easements. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.10.2, 1979)

16.20.260 Utility installation.

Subdivisions shall provide underground utility lines in compliance with the standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in EWMC 12.52.060, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.10.3, 1979)

16.20.270 Watercourses.

Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, a drainage right-of-way conforming substantially to the line of such watercourse, drainage way, wasteway, channel or stream, and of such width for construction, maintenance and control as will be determined by the council upon recommendation from the city engineer or the planning commission, adequate for the purpose, shall be provided. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.10.4, 1979)

16.20.280 Access to public waters.

A. When the approving authority determines that the public interest will be served by having public access to or along any portion of a publicly owned or controlled body of water abutting or lying within a plat, the subdivider shall be requested to establish an adequate pedestrian easement(s) to assure such access. The use of such easement shall be limited to unhindered pedestrian walking and fishing along the edge of the stream or lake in addition to other uses as may be allowed at the discretion of the landowner.

B. At any time a preliminary plat is filed which contains or abuts a stream or lake, the community development department shall forward a copy of the preliminary plat to the Washington State Department of Game in accordance with EWMC 16.16.100. If the Game Department recommends that it would be in the public interest to have particular public access easements, and if the planning commission determines the same, then the State Game Department shall be requested to proceed and (1) attempt negotiation for the purchase of said easement(s), or (2) bring about a voluntary dedication by the subdivider of an adequate easement(s). If the State Game Department is unable or does not choose to negotiate said easement(s) and the developer does not voluntarily agree to dedicate the easement(s), the commission may still require, in the public interest, dedication of the easement(s) as a condition of preliminary plat approval. (Ord. 22-08 § 5 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.10.5, 1979)

Article VII. Fire Protection Standards

16.20.290 When required.

All subdivisions containing lots of less than one acre shall be required to provide water supplies for fire protection which shall be in addition to those water supplies required for domestic purposes. Water supplies for fire protection of lots over one acre in size may be required by the approving authority upon recommendation of the responsible fire authority in the area concerned. (Ord. 22-08 § 5 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.12.1, 1979)

16.20.300 Ingress – Egress.

A subdivision containing 40 lots or more shall contain at least two ingress-egress routes designed and constructed in compliance with standards and provisions of the comprehensive street standards in Chapters 12.50 through 12.60 EWMC, and any amendments. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.12.2, 1979)

16.20.310 Provision of water.

Water distribution mains on which fire hydrants are located shall be a minimum of six inches in diameter in commercial zones and four inches in residential zones. Minimum fire flows shall be 500 gallons per minute for two hours’ duration in all cases where water supplied for fire protection is required by the approving authority. (Ord. 22-08 § 5 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.12.3, 1979)

16.20.320 Hydrants.

In a subdivision where lot size is one-half acre or larger fire hydrants shall be spaced no further than 1,000 feet apart and in subdivisions where lot size is less than one-half acre fire hydrants shall be spaced no further than 600 feet apart. The size, type and location of fire hydrants shall meet the approval of the responsible fire authority in the area. (Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.12.4, 1979)

16.20.330 Additional requirements.

Where a subdivision is in or adjacent to forest, brush or grass covered lands or where it is determined that in the future additional developments will also be served by the distribution mains being installed as a part of the plat, the approving authority may require additional fire safety precautions including but not limited to annexation to existing fire districts, the provision of firefighting apparatus, the clearing and maintaining of permanent firebreaks, the provision of easements for access to adjacent lands and the installation of larger than minimum distribution mains. (Ord. 22-08 § 5 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 10-09 § 6, 2010; Ord. 282 § 5.12.5, 1979)