A. Subdivision Density. The maximum number of dwelling units permitted within a proposed subdivision shall not exceed the density established by the general plan for the area or the maximum number of dwelling units permitted by the applicable zoning districts, whichever is less, and may be further restricted by considerations of safety, traffic access or circulation, the slope of the natural terrain, the physical suitability of the site, the nature or extent of existing development, the availability of public facilities, utilities, or open spaces or any other provision set forth herein.
B. Blocks.
1. Size. Blocks shall be designed to allow for adequate building sites for the type of use proposed, to allow for convenient pedestrian and vehicular circulation, access, traffic control and safety, and with regard to limitations created by topography.
Block lengths shall be dependent upon intersection spacing as set forth in subsection G of Section 18R.08.020 of these criteria.
Block widths shall be sufficient to allow for two tiers of lots with rear easements as required.
2. Corners. At intersections, all block corners shall be rounded at the property line on a 20-foot radius curve. Greater radii may be required where necessary for traffic safety.
C. Lots Generally.
1. Width and Area. The minimum width the area of all lots shall conform to the requirements of the zoning districts in which the subdivision is located.
2. Depth. The depth of a residential lot, exclusive of flag lots, shall not be greater than three times the width of the lot. Minimum residential lot depth shall be 80 feet.
3. Lot Frontage. All lots within a proposed subdivision shall have frontage on a public or private street.
4. Lot Lines. The side lot lines wherever practical shall be at right angles or radial to street lines, except where the community development director determines an alternative design is acceptable.
5. Lots Adjoining City Limits. No lot shall be divided by a city boundary line.
6. Lot Grading. All lots shall be adequately drained. Surface water from each lot shall be conducted directly to the adjacent street or alley, or to underground storm drainage facilities or drainage channels.
D. Lot Configuration.
1. Flag Lots. Flag lots shall be approved only where required by topographic conditions or where there is no practical alternative design for the development of the interior portions of excessively deep parcels. Flag lots shall conform to all of the following requirements:
a. Flag lots shall conform to all of the requirements contained in these criteria except those provisions relating to lot line and lot frontages set forth in subsection C above, and shall have a minimum area of 6,000 square feet. The accessway serving the flag lot(s) shall not be included when calculating the required lot area of any lot.
b. The accessway to the rear lot(s) shall conform to the following design standards:
(1) An accessway serving one unit on a single lot shall be at least fifteen (15) feet wide, with twelve (12) feet thereof being paved. An accessway serving two or three lots, or a single lot with more than one unit, shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet wide with twenty (20) feet thereof paved the entire length of the accessway with an adequate turnaround provided at the end. The number of flag lots served by one accessway shall not exceed three, except that no more than two infill residential flag lots, as defined by section 19.76.180, shall be served by one accessway.
(2) Curbs and gutters may be required depending on drainage requirements, however, sidewalks shall not be required.
(3) The maximum length of a roadway serving one flag lot shall be 200 feet. The maximum length of a roadway serving two or three flag lots shall be 300 feet.
c. Each dwelling unit situated on a flag lot shall provide two (2) off-street parking spaces in addition to those spaces required by Title 19 of the Chico Municipal Code.
d. Prior to the time a flag lot is developed, the site plan therefor shall be reviewed and approved by the city fire chief for fire access and service requirements.
2. Double Frontage Lots. Double frontage lots will be approved only on collector and/or local streets and only if they meet at least one of the following requirements:
a. They are corner lots;
b. Their depth is greater than 200 feet;
c. Such lots are required by reason of unusual topographic or other physical conditions.
For lots which do not meet these requirements, the subdivider shall eliminate the double frontage condition by providing the city with an access waiver which waives all vehicular and pedestrian access rights to street along one of the two frontages. In addition, the subdivider shall provide an approved fence, landscaping, and sprinkler system along such non-access frontage. Maintenance of said landscaping shall be the responsibility of the subdivider and/or future subdivision lot owners.
Lots with triple frontages will not be authorized.
3. Backup or Side-on Lots. Backup (reverse frontage) or side-on lots may be approved in lieu of a frontage road adjacent to an arterial street. Where such lots are approved, access waivers of vehicular and pedestrian access rights to the arterial street over rear or side lot lines shall be required. The subdivider shall provide two (2) feet of additional right-of-way, landscaping, and a suitable fence or other approved barrier along such non-access frontage.
Rear lot lines are those lines adjacent to the arterial street.
4. Property Remnants and Reserve Strips. Remnants of property which do not conform to lot requirements or are not required for a public or private utility or other public use or approved access purpose shall not be created by a subdivision.
Reserve strips designed to provide private control of access to streets, alleys, easements, or other public ways shall not be permitted.
The advisory agency may require an access waiver to provide public control of access and to protect and facilitate the future development and extension of public rights-of-way.
E. Easements.
1. Public Utility and Cable Television Easements. Where alleys are not provided, the advisory agency, public utility agencies or cable television grantee may require public utility and/or cable television easements on each side of rear lot lines and/or side lot lines. Rear lot easements shall, as nearly as practicable, follow a direct course through the entire subdivision.
2. Storm Drain and Sanitary Sewer Easements. Storm drain and/or sanitary sewer easements, as described in the improvement standards, shall be dedicated as requested by the director. Easements of greater width may be required along natural water courses, conforming substantially to the lines of such channels.
Acquisition and maintenance of temporary construction easements outside of the limits of the subdivision shall be the subdivider’s responsibility.
(Res. No. 9 77-78 (part), Res. No. 57 82-83 §3, Res. No. 103 82-83 §§1, 2, Res. No. 127 86-87 §3, Res. No. 82 87-88 §2, Res. No. 105-07 §1, Res. No. 113-07, Res. No. 19-13)