Subd. 1. Blocks.
a. Block length. In general, intersecting streets determining block lengths shall be provided at intervals so as to serve cross-traffic adequately and to meet existing streets. Where no existing plats control, the blocks in residential subdivisions should not exceed 1200 feet in length, except where topography or other conditions justify a departure from this maximum and approval is received from the City Council. In blocks longer than 1000 feet, pedestrian ways or easements through the block may be required in locations deemed necessary for convenient pedestrian circulation.
b. Block width. The width of the block shall normally be sufficient to allow two tiers of lots of appropriate depth. Blocks intended for commercial use shall be of the width as to be considered most suitable for their respective use, including adequate space for off-street parking and deliveries.
Subd. 2. Lots.
a. Size. The minimum lot area, width and depth shall not be less than that established by the Shorewood Zoning Ordinance in effect at the time of adoption of the final plat. To eliminate any doubt as to the interpretation of lot size, the minimum lot square footage shall not include any portion of an adjacent public street, any portion of the city designated wetlands, as set forth in Chapter 1102 of the City Code, nor any portion of a lot located below the ordinary high water level of a lake. No lots less than the minimum square footage provided by the Shorewood Zoning Ordinance for the area involved shall be authorized by this chapter except upon the granting of a variance in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
b. Corner lots. Corner lots for residential use shall have additional width to permit appropriate building setbacks from both streets as required in the Zoning Ordinance.
c. Lot frontage. Every lot must have adequate frontage on a city approved street to accommodate a driveway and required driveway setbacks, as required in the Shorewood Zoning Ordinance.
d. Setback lines. Setback or building lines shall be shown on all lots intended for residential use and shall not be less than the setback required by the Shorewood Zoning Ordinance, as may be amended.
e. Lot remnants/outlots. Remnants of land below minimum lot size, except in instances of cluster zoning, shall be added to adjacent lots rather than remaining as unusable parcels. Outlots may be used, if they carry with it an easement in favor of the city, for open space to guarantee that the same will not be developed for building purposes. Outlots may also be used to set aside land to be platted at a later time. In these cases a resubdivision sketch for the outlot shall be required. Building permits shall not be issued for outlots or remnants.
f. Double-frontage lots. Double-frontage lots that have frontage on two parallel streets shall not be permitted, except where lots back on arterial streets or highways or where topographic or other conditions render subdividing otherwise unreasonable. The double-frontage lots shall have an additional depth of at least 20 feet in order to provide space for screen planting along the rear lot line.
g. Turn around access. Where proposed residential lots abut a collector or arterial street, they should be platted in such a manner as to encourage turn-around access and egress on each lot.
h. Lots abutting arterial streets. In new subdivisions there shall be no direct vehicular access from residential lots to arterial streets. Residential lots shall be separated from arterials by a 15 foot buffer strip, which may be in the form of added depth or width of lots backing on or siding on an arterial street right-of- way.
Subd. 3. Political boundaries. No singular plat shall extend over a political boundary or school district line without legal notification to and approval by affected units of government.
Subd. 4. Streets and alleys.
a. Continuous streets. Except for cul-de-sac streets, streets shall connect with streets already dedicated in adjoining or adjacent subdivisions, provide for future connections to adjoining unsubdivided tracts or shall be a reasonable projection of streets in the nearest subdivided tracts. The arrangement of arterials and collector streets shall be considered in their relation to the reasonable circulation of traffic, to topographic conditions, to run-off of storm water, to public convenience and safety and in their appropriate relation to the proposed uses of the area to be served.
b. Local streets and dead-end streets. Local streets should be planned as to discourage their use by non-local traffic. Dead-end streets are prohibited, but cul- de-sac streets shall be permitted where topography or other physical conditions justify their use. Cul-de-sac streets shall not be longer than 700 feet including a terminal turn-around which shall be provided at the closed end. The cul-de-sac shall have a right-of-way radius of not less than 50 feet.
c. Temporary cul-de-sac. In those instances where a street is terminated pending future extension in conjunction with future subdivision, a temporary turn-around facility shall be provided at the closed end in conformance with cul-de-sac requirements.
d. Frontage roads. Wherever the proposed subdivision contains or is adjacent to the right-of-way of a state highway or an arterial street, provision may be made for a marginal access street approximately parallel and adjacent to the boundary of the right-of-way or for a street at a distance suitable for the appropriate use of land between the street and right-of-way. The distance shall be determined with due consideration of the minimum distance required for lot depths.
e. Half-streets. Half-street shall be prohibited, except where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision and adjoining unsubdivided areas.
f. Private streets. Private streets shall be prohibited, except where absolutely essential to the enjoyment of property rights. When permitted, private streets shall serve no more than three lots and shall be designed to standards established by the City Engineer.
g. Street intersections. Streets shall be laid out so as to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles, except where topography or other conditions justify variations. Under no conditions shall the minimum angle of intersection of streets be less than 80 degrees. Street intersection jogs with an offset of less than 125 feet shall be avoided.
h. Street right-of-way width.
(1) Street right-of-way widths shall conform with following standards:
(a) Arterial street: 100 feet;
(b) Collector street: 60 feet;
(c) Local street: 50 feet;
(2) All subdivisions incorporating streets which are identified in the Hennepin County Thoroughfare Plan shall comply with the minimum right-of-way, surfaced width and design standards as outlined in the plan.
i. Street grades. Except upon the recommendation of the City Engineer, and the topography warrants a greater maximum, the grades in all streets, thoroughfares, collector streets, local streets and alleys in any subdivision shall not be greater than 8%. In addition there shall be a minimum center line grade on all streets and thoroughfares of not less than 1%.
j. Reverse curves. Minimum design standards for collector and arterial streets shall comply with Minnesota State Aid Standards.
k. Reserve strips. Reserve strips controlling access to streets shall be prohibited except under conditions accepted by the City Council.
l. Street plans for future subdivisions. Where the plat to be submitted includes only part of the tract owned or intended for development by the subdivider, a tentative plan of a proposed future street system for the unsubdivided portion shall be prepared and submitted by the subdivider.
m. Hardship to owners of adjoining property. Proposed street arrangements shall not cause hardship to owners of adjoining property in platting their own land and providing convenient access thereto.
Subd. 5. Provisions for resubdivision of large lots and parcels. When a tract is subdivided into larger than required building lots or parcels, the lots or parcels shall be so arranged as to permit the logical location and openings of future streets and appropriate resubdivision with provision for adequate utility connections for the resubdivision. Streets and utilities shall be extended to the boundary of the plat.
Subd. 6. Easements.
a. Width and location. An easement for utilities at least ten feet wide shall be provided on each side of all lot lines. If necessary for the extension of city water or sewer lines or similar utilities, easements of greater width may be required along lot lines or across lots.
b. Continuous utility easement locations. Utility easements shall connect with easements established in adjoining properties. These easements, when approved, shall not thereafter be changed without the approval of the City Council, after a public hearing.
c. Guy wires. Additional easements for pole guys should be provided, where appropriate, at the outside of turns. Where possible, lot lines shall be arranged to bisect the exterior angle so that pole guys will fall along side lot lines.
Subd. 7. Erosion and sediment control.
a. Commencement of work. No filling, grading or clearing of vegetation shall occur on the site during the processing of the plat until the final plat has been approved by the City Council. Violation of this provision shall make the application null and void.
b. Existing topography. The development shall conform to the natural limitations presented by topography and soil so as to create the least potential for soil erosion.
c. Staging. Erosion and siltation control measures shall be coordinated with the different stages of construction. Appropriate control measures shall be installed prior to development when necessary to control erosion.
d. Limitations on exposed ground. Land shall be developed in increments of workable size that adequate erosion and siltation controls can be provided as construction progresses. The smallest practical area of land shall be exposed at any one period of time. When soil is exposed, the exposure shall be for the shortest feasible period of time, as specified in the development agreement.
e. Removal/replacement of topsoil. Where the topsoil is removed, sufficient arable soil shall be set aside for respreading over the developed area. Top soil shall be restored or provided to a depth of four inches and shall be of a quality at least equal to the soil quality prior to development.
f. Tree preservation and reforestation. Natural vegetation shall be protected in accordance with the Shorewood Tree Preservation and Reforestation Policy.
g. Best management practices. All erosion control measures shall be installed according to the Minnesota Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices Manual and the City of Shorewood Department of Public Works Standard Specifications and Detail Plates, as may be amended.
Subd. 8. Storm drainage. All subdivision design shall incorporate adequate provisions for storm water runoff consistent with the Shorewood Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan, as amended, and be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer.
Subd. 9. Protected areas.
a. Where land proposed for subdivision is deemed environmentally sensitive by the city because of the existence of wetlands, drainage ways, water courses, floodprone areas or steep slopes, the design of the subdivision shall clearly reflect all necessary measures of protection to insure against adverse environmental impact.
b. Based upon the necessity to control and maintain certain sensitive areas, the city shall determine whether the protection will be accomplished through lot enlargement, redesign, conservation easement, dedication of those sensitive areas in the form of outlots or through the use of protective covenants in Planned Unit Developments.
c. Measures of protection shall include design solutions that allow for construction and grading involving a minimum of alteration to sensitive areas. Where these areas are to be incorporated into lots within the proposed subdivision, the subdivider shall be required to demonstrate that the proposed design will not require construction on slopes that exceed 12% or result in significant alteration to the natural drainage system, such that adverse impacts cannot be confined within the plat boundary.
(Am. Ord. 380, passed 2-11-2002)