(a) Plats, plans and proposed public improvements shall conform to this chapter, the comprehensive plan as it applies within the city limits (except where it conflicts with existing zoning); master thoroughfare plan; parks and recreation policies; Meacham, Alliance and Spinks Airport controls; and other city codes, ordinances, policies, rules or regulations.
(b) These subdivision regulations shall be administered in accordance with the following.
(1) Sites and access. Appropriately sized sites per the comprehensive zoning ordinance and access to public schools, parks, playgrounds and other community facilities shall be provided in conformance with rules and regulations of the city. Subdivisions shall provide an adequate system of streets with multiple routes and connections serving the same origins and destinations.
(2) Adequate public facilities and infrastructure.
a. Each subdivision of land shall provide adequate public facilities including water, wastewater collection and disposal, drainage facilities, parks and recreation facilities, and transportation facilities necessary to properly serve the proposed development, including related off-site facilities.
b. The adequacy of public facilities shall be determined by evaluating their conformance with the minimum levels of service, as established in this chapter or any other applicable city development standards.
1. Street access. All final platted lots shall have a paved direct access to an all weather paved hard surfaced public or private street or an access easement approved by the public safety departments and the city engineer.
2. Water. All final platted lots must be connected to a domestic public water system or served by a non-contaminated private water well, when public water service is not available in accordance with adopted city water department policy for water service. The public water system shall not cross property lines, parallel side or rear property lot lines, nor encroach into natural areas or wetlands, without written approval from the city water department.
3. Wastewater. All final platted lots shall be connected to a public wastewater collection and treatment system or served by a county health department approved aerobic or septic sanitary waste disposal system, when a public wastewater system is not available in accordance with City of Fort Worth water department policy for wastewater service. The projected wastewater discharge of a proposed development shall not exceed the capacity of the public wastewater system. The public wastewater collection system shall not cross property lines, or parallel side or rear property lot lines, without written approval from the city water department.
4. Stormwater management. Stormwater management shall conform to the adopted stormwater management policies and ordinances adopted by the city.
5. Parks and recreation. Park and recreation facilities and features shall be deemed adequate when all required park fees have been paid and/or all required agreements for land dedication or participation have been approved and accepted by the department of park and recreation and the city council.
6. Public utilities. All final platted lots must have access to public and franchise public utilities.
(3) Drainage and natural land features. Subdivisions shall be designed and platted in conformance with the tree preservation ordinance and the stormwater management policy and ordinances. Floodplain and floodway conservation, wetland protection and the preservation of historic and archaeological sites and natural features including steep slopes and protected wildlife habitats shall conform to federal and state laws.
(4) Urban forestry plan.
a. Subdivision plats are subject to the tree preservation and planting requirements of the zoning ordinance of the City of Fort Worth in effect at the time of vesting. Prior to the submission of any plat for review and approval by the city, the applicant shall apply for an urban forestry permit or a waiver from such permit from the planning and development department.
b. Should compliance with the urban forestry permit require a provision for the planting of one or more trees per residential lot, a note shall be placed on the final plat stating: “In accordance with City of Fort Worth tree ordinance, construction shall require the provision of one tree per 5,000 square feet of lot area prior to final building inspection.”
(5) Incorporation of adopted design standards and policy manuals.
a. Design manuals. The city’s traffic engineering manual; Installation Policy and Design Criteria for Water, Wastewater, and Reclaimed Water Infrastructure; and utility construction policies, as adopted and amended by the city council and published by the city, are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in these regulations.
b. Installation of community facilities. The city’s community facilities agreement ordinance is incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth in these regulations.
c. Chapter 212 of the State of Texas Local Government Code. Tex. Local Government Code Chapter 212, governing: Municipal Regulation of Subdivisions and Property Development is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in these regulations.
d. City Council adopted form based codes and/or design overlay zoning districts containing a regulating plan, street cross sections, or streetscape standards are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in these regulations and shall apply to those areas zoned with the appropriate zoning suffix.
e. Access Management Policy. The city’s Access Management Policy is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in these regulations.
f. Active Transportation Plan. The Active Transportation Plan, as may be amended, is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in these regulations.
(Ord. 17794, § 8, passed 9-25-2007; Ord. 17851, § 1 (App. C, Ch. 5), passed 10-30-2007; Ord. 17924, §§ 1, 3, passed 12-18-2007; Ord. 20382-09-2012, § 5, passed 9-11-2012; Ord. 22051-01-2016, § 1, passed 1-12-2016; Ord. 22274-06-2016, § 1, passed 6-14- 2016, eff. 6-23-2016; Ord. 23225-06-2018, § 1, passed 6-5-2018, eff. 8-1-2018; Ord. 23679-06-2019, § 3, passed 6-4-2019; Ord. 25824-11-2022, § 1, passed 11-8-2022)
Editor’s note:
Ord. 17924, § 1, adopted December 18, 2007, deleted the provisions of § 31-136, incorporation of adopted design standards and policy manuals, and renumbered said provisions as § 31-81(d). Said provisions have been designated as § 31-81(e) at the discretion of the editor, as there already exist provisions designated (d). See also the Code Comparative Table.