Chapter 17.34
EXCEPTIONS FROM STREET
DESIGN STANDARDS
Sections:
17.34.010 Generally.
An applicant for a short subdivision or subdivision who believes the design standards of Chapter 17.28 OMC are inappropriate for the short subdivision or subdivision they are proposing may, as part of their submittal, request a deviation from those standards. All requests for deviations shall be reviewed and a recommendation to the planning commission shall be made by the administrator and public works director. Recommendations shall be incorporated into the staff report.
A. The exception request shall specify the design standards they desire to follow and the justification for using those standards rather than the use specified in Chapter 17.28 OMC.
B. The planning commission shall review and evaluate all such requested exceptions to the standards of Chapter 17.28 OMC, with regard to the following factors:
1. The comprehensive plan for the area and the suitability of the proposed street standard in terms of the plan;
2. The intensity of development in the proposed short subdivision or subdivision; the level of vehicle traffic expected; and level of guarantee, by zoning or commitments prohibiting further subdivision, so that further increases in traffic will not occur;
3. The relationship of the proposed nonstandard street to the overall street system in the area and possible need to extend those streets to serve adjacent properties that might be further divided;
4. The opportunity, by reducing the standards in accordance with subsections (B)(1), (2) and (3) of this section, to accomplish a preservation of the natural environmental setting of the area being subdivided. This would occur as a result of having narrower cleared rights-of-way, less need for cuts and fill on cross-slope streets, and by the ability to more closely follow existing terrain if slope standards were relaxed. The intended end result would be less disturbance of vegetation, watercourses, wetlands, topography and riparian habitat.
C. If the request is for a short subdivision, the planning commission shall consider the request and make a recommendation to the city council.
If the request is for a subdivision, the request shall be reviewed in conjunction with the subdivision review and the planning commission shall specifically recommend approval, approval with modification, or disapproval of the exception request as part of their recommendation regarding the subdivision to the city council. (Ord. 746, 1991)