The developer shall grade each subdivision in order to establish street grades, floor elevations of buildings and lot grades in proper relation to each other and to existing topography as follows.
(A) Grading Plan. Subdivisions shall be planned to take advantage of the natural topography so as to minimize grading as set forth in § 1246.02
. A grading plan shall be prepared for the street areas along with the street improvement details. Before buildings may be constructed, a detailed land development plan shall be prepared showing the buildings and paved areas on each lot and the grading of each block and lot.
(B) Block Grading.
(1) The grading of blocks and lots shall be in accord with the standards established by the Regional Planning Commission or the Federal Housing Administration Land Planning Bulletin No. 3, data sheet No. 72, or standards of the city. The plans may be based on any of the following grading systems:
(a) Where there is a ridge along rear lot lines and the lots drain to the streets;
(b) Where parts of all lots drain to a swale or ditch along rear lot lines;
(c) Where there is a gentle or a steep cross slope and drainage onto adjoining properties must be skillfully controlled;
(d) Where the land is relatively flat and adequate drainage must be formed; or
(e) A variation of the above conditions.
(2) The grading of the roadway shall extend the full width of the right-of-way. Tree lawns shall be graded at a gradient of not less than 2% or more than 3% upward from the curb to the sidewalk or property line.
(C) Lot Grading. The floor elevation of each building shall be set in relation to the driveway and the street. The lot shall be graded so that water drains away from each building at a minimum grade of 2%. Surface drainage swales with a minimum grade of 0.5% shall be designed so that surface water will drain onto a driveway, street gutter, storm sewer, drain inlet or natural drainage way. The minimum grade of driveways shall be 0.4%, and the maximum 12%. Grading shall be adjusted so that there will be no abrupt grades in the front yards and along side lot lines. The grades of earth terraces shall not exceed two and one- half to one. Masonry retaining walls shall have a hedge, fence or railing if they exceed three feet in height.
(D) Topsoil and Trees.
(1) The Commission shall require that topsoil shall be stripped from the roadway and construction areas, piled separately but not removed from the site or used as spoil. It shall also require that as many trees as can be reasonably utilized in the final development plan be retained, and the grading be adjusted to the existing grade at the trees.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this division, all trees shall be removed from any swale area indicated on a topographical drawing and/or on a site plot plan development drawing approved in connection with the project. In the event that a storm sewer is installed to convey water in lieu of a swale, trees need not be removed.
(Ord. 16-63, passed 5-20-1963; Ord. 108-92, passed 10-19-1992; Ord. 12-16, passed 2-22-2016)