(a) Lot sizes and shapes. Lots within subdivisions shall conform to the following standards:
(1) Lot widths, areas, and building setback lines shall conform to at least the minimum requirements of the city's zoning ordinance.
(2) Residential lots having excessive depth in relation to width shall be avoided, and under no circumstances shall a depth-to-width ratio exceed three to one.
(3) Corner lots for residential use shall be provided with extra width to permit appropriate building setback from and orientation to both streets. Lots abutting a pedestrian walkway shall be treated as corner lots.
(4) Lots intended for purposes other than single-family or two-family residential use shall be specifically designated for such purposes.
(b) Lot division. Lots, outlots or other parcel of land in a recorded plat shall not be divided for the purpose of sale or lease for building development unless approved by the planning commission.
(1) Procedures. Application for lot divisions shall be submitted in writing to the planning commission and be accompanied by a sketch drawn to scale showing the original lot, the proposed division, all pertinent dimensions and the proposed legal descriptions.
(2) Conformance to minimum size. The proposed divisions shall not create lots which would be less than the minimum sizes required by the zoning ordinance and shall not have the effect of increasing the number of buildable lots in a subdivision. This provision shall not apply to nonresidential subdivisions.
(c) Lot arrangement. Lots within subdivisions shall conform to the following standards:
(1) Every lot shall front or abut on a public street.
(2) Side lot sides shall be at right angles or radial to the street centerline, or as nearly as possible thereto.
(3) Residential lots abutting major thoroughfares or secondary streets, where marginal-access streets are not desirable or possible to attain, shall be platted with reverse-frontage lots with an approved screen planting contained in a nonaccess reservation along the rear property line having a minimum width of 15 feet, or such other treatment as may be adequate for the protection of residential properties, or with side lot lines parallel to the major traffic streets.
(d) Uninhabitable lots. Lots located wholly within the floodplain or lots deemed by the city council to be uninhabitable shall not be platted for residential occupancy, nor for such other purposes as may increase danger to health, life or property or aggravate the flood hazard; but such land within the plat shall be set aside for such uses as shall not produce unsatisfactory living conditions.
(e) Lot remnants. All remnants of lots below minimum size left over after platting of a larger tract shall be added to adjacent lots rather than allowed to remain as unusable parcels.
(f) Modifications. Variations, exceptions and/or modifications of this division may be made by the planning commission in specific cases where it is determined that unusual topographical conditions or other physical conditions justify such modifications.
(Ord. No. 73, § 17(7), 3-4-1968)