Article 3, Subdivision Code

Tentative maps shall be accompanied by appropriate environmental documents in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Streets in a subdivision which provides an approved alternate pedestrian circulation system shall have a right of way that will provide a minimum parkway width of at least four (4) feet.

If an existing or proposed arterial highway or transportation corridor as shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (a component of the Circulation Element of the County of Orange General Plan) is located so that any portion of such highway lies within or adjacent to a subdivision, the highway or corridor shall be shown on the map in a width and in an alignment corresponding to the Master Plan of Arterial highways, and the highway or corridor shall be designed in accordance with the Standard Plans or applicable specific plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors and the County of Orange Highway Design Manual.

Where the County Bikeway Plan (for street bicycles) or the Master Plan of Regional Riding and Hiking Trails (for mountain bicycles, hikers, and equestrians) or any officially adopted specific or precise plan designates such trials as lying wholly or partially within any proposed subdivision, the necessary right-of-way for such trials shall be shown on the map in compliance with such adopted plans, and shall be designed in accordance with the County of Orange Highway Design Manual and the Riding and Hiking Trails Design Manual.

Tentative map boundaries shall be drawn so as to include all of the area of all abutting parcels which are owned by the same property owner and proposed for boundary alteration.

Each tentative map shall be signed by the property owner or owners of record, and shall be accompanied by evidence of the real property proposed for subdivision.

All local street and highway corner cutoffs and corner radii shall be designed in conformance with the Standard Plans as adopted by the Board of Supervisors unless otherwise approved.

The centerline radii of curves on local streets or highways shall be designed in conformance with County of Orange Highway Design Manual as adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

Tentative maps shall illustrate the existing and proposed manner in which water drains onto, across and off of the land being subdivided, including the facilities and easements necessary to accommodate the drainage.

Any subdivision proposed to be located in an area shown on the Safety Element to be a State designated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) or State Responsibility Area (SRA), Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, or Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and including areas not designated by the State that are subject to brush fires or wildfires, shall provide appropriate fire protection by means of firebreaks, fuel modification programs, access and egress roads, gates, sufficient water supply, secured fire protection agreements, landscaping and open spaces, and such other methods that the Fire Chief has determined will insure the public health, safety and welfare of the future occupants of the subdivision and the adjacent area.

Areas proposed for subdivision in (FP-1), (FP-2) and (FP-3) Districts, as defined in Zoning Code Section 7-9-113, FP 'Floodplain' District Regulations, shall provide for flood protection meeting the criteria set forth in the said regulations for all building sites.

Any proposed subdivision fronting upon any lake or reservoir which is owned in part or entirely by a public agency may be designed so as to provide reasonable public access by fee or easement from a public highway to the water of the lake or reservoir upon which the subdivision borders, either within the subdivision or a reasonable distance from the subdivision.

The design of the areas listed below shall include appropriate landscaping for aesthetic, noise suppression, fire protection and/or erosion control purposes: (a) Man-made slopes greater than five (5) feet in height; (b) Common areas; (c) Roadway medians and parkway areas; (d) Lots containing existing significant trees or other plants proposed to be preserved; (e) Fuel modification areas; (f) Other open space areas.

Local streets shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) feet in length without a significant change in alignment.

Man-made slopes shall be designed so that they can be conveniently maintained so as to minimize erosion, slope failure and unsightly conditions.

The maximum height of man-made slopes steeper than five (5) feet horizontal to one (1) foot vertical shall be as follows: Type 'A' and Type 'B' | No maximum

Each lot or parcel being created by a subdivision shall be either numbered or lettered. If it is numbered, it must comply with the requirements of a building site as defined in the Zoning Code.

Local parks shall be shown on the tentative map as required by the Local Park Implementation Program or other approved document and in a manner consistent with the General Plan such as dedication or any other approved method.

These pedestrian ways shall not be less than six (6) feet in width.

Private streets serving four (4) or less parcels as access to a public street shall provide for a minimum pavement width of sixteen (16) feet within a minimum twenty-foot-wide-right-of-way.

Private streets serving five (5) parcels or more as access to a public street shall provide for a minimum pavement width of twenty-eight (28) feet within a minimum forty-foot-wide-right-of-way.

Private streets serving four (4) or less parcels as access to a public street shall provide for a minimum pavement width of sixteen (16) feet within a minimum twenty-foot-wide-right-of-way.

Private streets serving five (5) parcels or more as access to a public street shall provide for a minimum pavement width of twenty-eight (28) feet within a minimum forty-foot-wide-right-of-way.

Streets in residential districts requiring a building site area of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet or more and where no sidewalks are to be installed, shall have a right-of-way that will provide a parkway width of at least four (4) feet.

Subdivisions shall be designed so as to limit vehicular access in accordance with the County of Orange Highway Design Manual.

Any proposed subdivision fronting upon a public waterway, river or stream shall be designed so as to provide reasonable public access by fee or easement from a public highway to and along that portion of the bank of the river or stream bordering or lying within the proposed subdivision.

All lots intended for development shall be connected to a sanitary sewer system unless the Director has determined that each lot is adequate to accept a private septic system.

Sidewalks shall be designed in accordance with the Standard Plans adopted by the Board of Supervisors and located as follows: (1) Along both sides of arterial highways. (2) Along all commercial and industrial frontage; (3) Along both sides of collector streets; (4) Along residential frontage where the required minimum building site area is less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet and the lots have access to the street, except in those instances where an alternate pedestrian circulation system is proposed; (5) Along all streets leading directly to a school, a designated school bus stop or a park; (6) Where the sidewalk will provide a continuation or link between other sidewalks.

Unless the requirement is waived by the Director pursuant to subsection (b) or deferred pursuant to subsection (c), tentative maps shall be accompanied by a preliminary soils report based upon adequate test borings and prepared by a registered civil engineer.

Street lighting shall be provided along, and at the intersections of all arterial highways and local streets in accordance with the illumination levels specified in the Standard Plans except as otherwise approved by the Director.

Tentative maps shall be accompanied by a preliminary title report which discloses all possessory interests and interests of record in the land being subdivided when determined to be necessary by the Director.

Utility lines, including, but not limited to, electric, communications, street lighting, gas transmission and cable television, shall be required to be placed underground within any new, revised or reactivated residential subdivision.

The Subdivision Committee shall not approve or conditionally approve a tentative map which does not conform with applicable zoning except as provided in subsection (b) below.