(a) Blocks.
(1) The lengths, widths, and shapes of blocks shall be determined with due regard to: provision of adequate building sites suitable to the special needs of the type of use contemplated; zoning requirements; needs for vehicular and pedestrian circulation; control and safety of street traffic; limitations and opportunities of topography; and convenient access to water areas.
(2) Blocks are encouraged to be no more than 500 feet. If block length exceeds 500 feet, then additional traffic calming devices shall be used at an interval of no more than 500 feet.
(3) Blocks shall have sufficient width to allow two tiers of lots of minimum depth except where single tier lots are required to separate development from through vehicular traffic or another type of use, in nonresidential subdivisions, or where abutting a water area.
(4) Where deemed necessary by the Planning Board, a pedestrian crosswalk at least 15 feet in width may be required to provide convenient public access to a public area such as a park or school, to a water area, or to areas such as shopping centers, religious or transportation facilities.
(5) Block numbers shall conform to the city or county street numbering system, if applicable.
(b) Lots.
(1) All lots in new subdivisions shall conform to the zoning requirements of the district in which the subdivision is located. Conformance to zoning requirements means, among other things, that the smallest lot in the subdivision must meet all dimensional requirements of the zoning code. It is not sufficient merely for the average lot to meet zoning requirements.
(2) Lots shall meet any applicable Catawba County Health Department requirements.
(3) Double frontage lots shall be avoided wherever possible.
(4) Side lot lines shall be substantially at right angles to or radial to street lines.
(c) Easements.
(1) Easements for underground or above ground utilities shall be provided, where necessary, across lots or centered on rear or side lot lines and shall be at least 25 feet wide for water and sanitary sewer lines and as required by the companies involved, for telephone, gas and power lines. The subdivision administrator will determine whether one easement is sufficient or whether several easements are necessary to accommodate the various facilities and the subdivider shall provide the required easements.
(2) Where a subdivision is traversed by a stream or drainage way, a drainage easement shall be provided conforming with the lines of such stream and of sufficient width as will be adequate for the purpose.
(d) Access Points:
(1) Subdivisions that front more than one public road shall provide a minimum of one access point on at least two public roads. Exceptions may be made due to extreme topography, water and other natural features.
(2) If a subdivision has more than one access point on the same public road those access points must be separated by at least 300 feet or as many feet as possible based on the property's road frontage, topography, water and other natural features affecting the property.
(e) Open Space: Each subdivision shall reserve a minimum of 25% of the total property for open space. The open space may consist of any combination of active space (playgrounds, ball fields, etc.) or passive space (greenways, trails, natural vegetation, etc.). Unless accepted for dedication or otherwise agreed to by the city, another unit of local government, the state or a private non-profit land conservancy, the cost and responsibility of maintaining the open space and any facilities located thereon shall be borne by the property owner and/or a homeowners association.
(Ord. of 4-6-92, No. 190-92; Ord. of 3-6-06, No. 5-06)