CHAPTER 5 STANDARDS AND DESIGN

CHAPTER 5 STANDARDS AND DESIGN

SECTION:

10-5-1: Access

10-5-2: Streets And Highways

10-5-3: Local And Collector Streets; Widths

10-5-4: Boundary Line Streets

10-5-5: Intersection Angle And Block Cutoff

10-5-6: Curve Radius

10-5-7: Alleys

10-5-8: Street Names

10-5-9: Easements

10-5-10: Block Lengths And Widths

10-5-11: Lots

10-5-12: Pedestrian Way

10-5-13: Underground Utilities

10-5-14: Waiver Of Preliminary Soils Report

10-5-15: Mailboxes In Public Right-Of-Way

10-5-1: ACCESS:

Each lot of parcel of a subdivision shall be provided with vehicular access to a street or highway improved and maintained by (i) either a public agency or (ii) in the case of a private street maintained as set forth in a homeowner association, or other mechanism to guarantee continued maintenance of the street or highway, both of which shall be connected thereto directly or indirectly by means of vehicular access which has been approved by the Commission or Council, whichever is applicable. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-2: STREETS AND HIGHWAYS:

All streets, as far as practicable, shall be designed to eliminate traffic hazards and shall ensure an efficient and practical flow of traffic.§ The streets shall also conform in width and alignment to those designated on the Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan and to the Kern County Engineering Development Standards. If any street in the subdivision is a continuation, or approximately a continuation of an existing street, the conformity of the amount of nonconformity of such a street, to such existing street shall be accurately shown. Whenever the County surveyor or the City of Engineer has established the center line of a street or alley, the date shall be shown on the final subdivision map. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-3: LOCAL AND COLLECTOR STREETS; WIDTHS:

All collector and local streets shall have a right-of-way width consistent with the standards and specifications set forth in the Kern County Engineering Development Standards except as provided in Sections 10-5-4, 10-5-5, and 10-5-6 below. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-4: BOUNDARY LINE STREETS:

Any land intended to be a part of the ultimate width of a highway or street, lying along and adjacent to any such boundary, shall have a width consistent with the standards and specifications set forth in the Kern County Engineering Development Standards. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-5: INTERSECTION ANGLE AND BLOCK CUTOFF:

Any highway or street intersecting any other highway or street shall intersect at an angle as near a right angle as is practicable as set forth in the Kern County Engineering Development Standards.§ (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-6: CURVE RADIUS:

The centerline curve radii on all streets and highways shall conform to accepted engineering standards of design and shall be subject to approval by the City Engineer.§ (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-7: ALLEYS:

Alleys may be provided at the rear of each lot and shall be not less than twenty feet (20') in width.§ Where two (2) alleys intersect, a corner cutoff of not less than ten feet (10') measured from the point of intersection along the sideline of the alley shall be required.§ In the rear of all lots used or intended to be used for commercial, industrial, or high density residential alleys at least thirty feet (30') in width or other adequate off street loading facilities shall be provided.§ (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-8: STREET NAMES:

10-5-8: STREET NAMES#

Each street or way which is dedicated and is a continuation of or approximately the continuation of any existing dedicated street or way shall be shown on the tentative map and shall be given the same name as such existing street or way.§ The proposed name of each other street or way shown on the tentative map shall be submitted to the Planning Department for approval, and if such name is appropriate for a street name, such name shall be approved. The words "avenue", "boulevard", "place" or other designation of any such street or way shall be spelled out in full on the final subdivision map and such terms shall be approved by the Planning Department. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-9: EASEMENTS#

(A) Utility Distribution Lines and Equipment Enclosures#

Unless otherwise permitted by the Municipal Code, the Kern County Engineering Development Standards, or other City standards, or a utility company or other agency being affected, utility distribution lines shall be placed underground within the public right-of-way, and a six foot (6') by six foot (6') public utility easement for equipment enclosure shall be required adjacent to lot sideline and street right-of-way line intersection, excepting corner lots.§

(B) Easement Delineation on Maps#

The sidelines of all easements shall be shown by fine dotted lines. If any easement already of record cannot be definitely located, a statement of the existence, the nature thereof and its recorded reference must appear on the title sheet. Distances and bearing on the sidelines of lots which are cut by an easement must be arrowed or so shown that the map will indicate clearly the actual lengths of the lot lines. The widths of all easements and sufficient ties thereto definitely to locate the same with respect to a tract map must be shown. For parcel maps, easements shall be shown substantially in the correct location in relation to the corners of the property being divided, however when such easement is not being dedicated the ties to the easement need not be shown on the map. A recorded reference must be given for all easements shown on the map if already of record. If an easement is being dedicated by the map, it shall be set out in the owner's certificate of dedication. All notes and figures pertaining to easements shall be considerably smaller and lighter than those relating to the subdivision itself.

(C) Conflicting Easements and Rights-of-Way#

The City shall prohibit the approval of any parcel map, final map, or project which shows potentially conflicting easements and/or rights-of-way, except on condition that the City's street use easement/right-of-way is deemed to be first in time and first in priority with respect to any potentially conflicting easement and/or right-of-way.

(D) Dedication of Property with Existing Easements#

The City shall not accept any dedication of property and/or off-site public improvements in which a previous easement exists, in conjunction with any parcel map, final map, or project which shows potentially conflicting easements and/or rights-of-way, except on condition that the City's street use easement/right-of-way is deemed to be first in time and first in priority with respect to any potentially conflicting easement and/or right-of-way. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-10: BLOCK LENGTHS AND WIDTHS#

(A) Block Lengths#

Blocks shall not exceed seven hundred feet (700') in length between street lines, except where previous adjacent streets by nature of the alignment of those streets, requires longer blocks or when resubdivisions justify or require, by finding of the Council, a variation from this requirement.

(B) Block Widths#

The width of each block shall be sufficient for a layout of at least two (2) tiers of lots including alleys, provided however, that the surrounding layout lines of ownership justify or make necessary a variation from this requirement. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

10-5-11: LOTS#

(A) **Lots Sizes:** All lots or parcels shall be of such size and dimension as required by the Land Use Classification of the General Plan, Specific Plan, or zoning district in which they are located.§ Consideration may be given for a topographical location and other physical conditions of the proposed subdivision by the Advisory Agency.

(B) **Lot Lines:** The street side lot lines of all corner lots, so far as possible, shall be at right angles to the street(s) which the lot faces, or radial or approximately radial if the street is curved.§

(C) **Divided Lots:** No lot shall be divided by the city boundary line. Each such boundary line shall be made a lot line.

(D) **Double Frontage Lots:** Double frontage lots shall not be approved except where the conditions permit no other reasonable form of platting.§ Where land abuts a major or secondary street, double frontage lots may be permitted when the Advisory Agency deems it to be reasonable due to such controlling factors as traffic, safety, appearance and setback. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

**10-5-12: PEDESTRIAN WAY:**

Except in the case of any reversion to acreage map, or boundary map, a transverse pedestrian-way of adequate width may be required through the approximately middle of each block having a length of more than seven hundred feet (700').§ (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

**10-5-13: UNDERGROUND UTILITIES:**

All utility distribution facilities (including, but not limited to, electric, communication and cable television lines) installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to any residential or commercial subdivision shall be placed underground except equipment appurtenant to underground facilities. The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this subsection, and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies involved for the installation of said facilities. Industrial subdivisions may be excluded from the provisions of this section upon a showing that such under grounding is not financially feasible. Services from public utilities shall be made in such a manner to eliminate, as much as possible, the necessity for disturbing the street pavement, gutter, culvert and curb. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

**10-5-14: WAIVER OF PRELIMINARY SOILS REPORT:**

A preliminary soils report requirement may be waived, when the City Engineer finds that due to the knowledge the City has as to the soil qualities of the soils in the subdivision, no preliminary analysis is necessary.§ (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)

**10-5-15: MAILBOXES IN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY:**

When post office regulations prohibit delivery of mail to mailboxes which are not located adjacent to curb lines, the subdivider shall install, as a part of the required improvements, mailboxes for each individual dwelling unit to be located within the subdivision. Wherever possible, the subdivider shall install uniformly designed mailboxes no closer than six inches (6") from the face of the curb and at a height of four feet (4') above the curb.§ The supports shall be of durable material, either concrete, brick, or metal set into the ground a minimum of twenty four inches (24"), and secured with concrete. The box should be wood or metal. Colors, design, and material of the mail boxes should reflect the character of the development and shall be subject to approval by the Postmaster and the Project Assistance Team. Where post office requirements dictate the installation of collective mail boxes in centralized locations, the design and location of said collective mail boxes shall be subject to approval by the Project Assistance Team and the Postmaster prior to issuance of a final inspection by the Building Official. (Ord. 839-20, 10-20-2020)