§ 8.24.500 Improvement Requirements.
   (A)   General.
      (1)   Conformance. All subdivision improvements shall conform to city standard plans and specifications. This requirement applies to all public and private improvements and other public or private infrastructure.
      (2)   Exception. The City Engineer may allow deviations from the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications pertaining to private subdivision improvements and infrastructure, except for private streets, which must comply with city standards.
      (3)   Filing. Copies of the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications shall be maintained on file in the office of the City Engineer.
      (4)   Phased maps.
         (a)   Whenever a subdivider submits a final map for a fraction or portion of the area shown for subdivision on a tentative subdivision map or tentative parcel map, the subdivider shall prepare a master water, sewer, and storm drain plan for the complete map area.
         (b)   The subdivider shall submit the master water, sewer, and storm drain plan prepared by a registered civil engineer for review by the City Engineer at the time of the filing of the first phased map is submitted for any of the affected area.
      (5)   Submittals. The plans, profiles, and specifications of all improvements required by the provisions of this section shall be submitted to and approved by the City Engineer prior to the filing of the final subdivision map or parcel map.
   (B)   Public access. All streets, including alleys, shall be consistent with the Tulare Municipal Code, established city policy on street design and improvements and the following:
      (1)   All subdivided lots shall have access to a public or private street.
      (2)   The map shall clearly identify streets and alleys, and drainage, public utilities, and other public easements within the public right-of-way.
      (3)   Streets with no access at the end or at the boundary of subdivision shall be dedicated unconditionally to the city when required by the city.
   (C)   Street infrastructure. All street infrastructure shall be installed as required by the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications.
      (1)   Street lighting. Street design shall include street lighting.
      (2)   Street trees. Each subdivider shall comply with all applicable sections of the Street Tree Planting ordinance.
      (3)   Signs. Street name signs, directional signs, warning signs, markers, barricades, regulatory signs, and other safety devices and public facilities shall be installed by the subdivider.
   (D)   Pedestrian and bicycle paths. Pedestrian ways and bicycle paths shall be improved per the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications.
      (1)   The subdivider shall install sidewalks along all streets as required by the City of Tulare Public Improvement Standards.
      (2)   The subdivider shall construct bicycle paths and pedestrian ways within an approved subdivision in compliance with the Transportation and Circulation Element of the General Plan and any applicable specific plan.
   (E)   Transit facilities and railroad crossings. The subdivider shall provide a dedication or an irrevocable offer of dedication for local transit facilities to serve residents of the subdivision.
      (1)   Improvements. Improvements include but are not limited to bus turnouts, benches, shelters, landing pads, and other similar items.
      (2)   Railroad crossings.
         (a)   The subdivider shall provide improvements for all railroad crossings necessary to provide safe access to and circulation within the subdivision.
         (b)   All expense of railroad crossings shall be paid by the subdivider.
         (c)   The subdivider shall prepare all necessary documentation for railroad crossings, which includes, but is not limited to, all documents necessary for an application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for the establishment and improvement of the crossing.
   (F)   Bridges, culverts, and major thoroughfares.
      (1)   General. Bridges, culverts, and other similar structures shall be installed for drainage, access, or public safety, as deemed necessary by the City Engineer.
      (2)   Placement. Bridges, structures, and culverts shall be placed at grades and shall be of design and size approved by the City Engineer.
   (G)   Storm drainage and flood control.
      (1)   Stormwater runoff from the subdivision shall be collected and conveyed by a storm drain system consistent with the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications and approved by the City Engineer.
      (2)   The storm drain system shall provide for the protection of abutting and off-site properties that would be adversely affected by any increase in run-off attributed to the development.
      (3)   The location, size, and type of watercourses or drainage works, and all drainage of streets and other drainage works between streets, shall comply with city standards or as required by the City Engineer.
      (4)   The city may require the establishment of an assessment district to ensure the future maintenance of the storm drain system.
      (5)   Within selected flood lines, the subdivider shall comply with the requirements of the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program and the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications as to the construction of all flood control works.
   (H)   Irrigation ditches and wells.
      (1)   Existing irrigation ditches within a subdivision shall be abandoned. Irrigation ditches that cannot be abandoned shall be placed in conduits or structures covered according to the plans and specifications of the City Engineer and the Tulare Irrigation District.
      (2)   Any abandoned well or existing well within a proposed subdivision shall be completely filled and capped as per the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications.
   (I)   Grading.
      (1)   Subdivisions shall incorporate grading and erosion control measures consistent with city standards and approved by the City Engineer.
      (2)   All grading within the city shall employ the best available management practices, as determined by the City Engineer, to minimize airborne dust, erosion, sedimentation, and unnecessary grading.
      (3)   Grading and erosion control measures shall prevent sedimentation or damage to off-site properties.
   (J)   Sewage facilities.
      (1)   All sanitary sewer lines, appurtenances, and service connections shall be constructed or laid to the lines and grades approved by the City Engineer.
      (2)   Sanitary sewer lines shall be of the size and design as approved by the City Engineer.
      (3)   The subdivider shall install an approved sewer connection to the property line of each lot within the subdivided area and mark an "S" on the curb face so that it may be easily located.
      (4)   The subdivider shall be required to extend sewer lines at the subdivider's own expense from the nearest point of connection with existing city mains.
   (K)   Water supply system.
      (1)   Water mains shall be constructed to serve each lot within the subdivision and shall be of a size and design as approved by the City Engineer.
      (2)   The subdivider shall be required to extend water mains at the subdivider's own expense from the nearest point of connection with the existing city mains.
   (L)   Fire hydrants. The subdivider shall install fire hydrants, with their associated underground water pipes and appurtenances, of sizes and locations as required and approved by the City Engineer.
   (M)   Underground utilities and service lines.
      (1)   Utility lines, including but not limited to electric, communications, street lighting, and cable television, shall be placed underground.
      (2)   The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section, in accordance with applicable tariffs of the respective service utilities as filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies for the installation of the facilities.
      (3)   Appurtenances and associated equipment such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in an underground system may be placed above ground with prior city approval.
      (4)   The above requirements do not apply to utility lines which do not provide service to the area being subdivided or to electric distribution and transmission lines with a capacity in excess of 66 kV.
      (5)   Subject to the City's Engineer's approval, where joint use poles are permitted to remain, all lines using the poles may remain in place. All service to individual lots shall be placed underground.
      (6)   Underground cables, conduit and conductors, and all materials and appurtenances necessary, shall be installed according to the City Design Guidelines and Standard Drawings and Specifications and the serving public utility company.
   (N)   Off-site improvements. Requirements for construction of off-site improvements shall be as provided in Cal. Gov't Code § 66462.5.
(Ord. 15-12, passed 12-15-2015)