To provide for the orderly, safe, efficient and livable development of land within the city of Carlton.

(Ord. 619, 2003)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all subdivisions, planned unit developments and partitions within the city of Carlton. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. Minimum Lot Area. Minimum lot area shall conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which the parcel is located.

B. Maximum Lot Area. When single-family residential use is proposed for a lot with an area double or greater than the minimum density of the underlying zone the planning commission may take into consideration the potential for further division of the lot at a future date.

C. Lot Width and Depth. The depth of a lot or parcel shall not be more than three times the width of the parcel, with the exception that parcels created for public utility uses or in zones where there is no minimum lot area requirement shall be exempt from width to depth ratio provisions.

D. Access. All lots and parcels created after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title shall provide a minimum frontage, on an existing or proposed public street, equal to twenty (20) feet. An exception shall apply when residential lots or parcels and planned unit developments, may be accessed via a private street or easement developed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17.64 or when the city finds that public street access is:

1. Infeasible due to parcel shape, terrain, or location of existing structures; and

2. Not necessary to provide for the future development of adjoining property.

E. Flag Lots. If a flag-lot is permitted, the following standards shall be met:

1. The access strip shall not be less than twenty (20) feet wide. The access strip shall be improved with minimum twelve (12) foot wide paved driveways that meet applicable city standards. If said access strip is over two hundred (200) feet in length, the driveway shall terminate in a turn-around capable of accommodating emergency fire vehicles;

2. The access strip shall not be included in the calculation of lot area for purposes of determining compliance with any minimum lot size provision of this title.

F. Through Lots. Through lots shall be avoided except where essential to provide separation of residential development from major traffic arteries, adjacent nonresidential activities, or to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation. A ten (10) foot wide screening or buffering easement, pursuant to the provision of Chapter 17.84, may be required by the city during the review of the land division request.

G. Lot Side Lines. The side lines of lots, as far as practicable, shall run at right angles to the right-of-way line of the street upon which the lots face.

H. Lot Grading. The minimum elevation at which a structure may be erected, taking into consideration the topography of the lot, the surrounding area, drainage patterns and other pertinent data, shall be established by the building inspector.

I. Utility Easements. Utility easements shall be provided on lot areas where necessary to accommodate public utilities. Such easements shall have a minimum total width as specified in Section 17.76.020. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. General. The length, width, and shape of blocks shall be designed with regard to providing adequate building sites for the use contemplated; consideration of needs for convenient access, circulation, control, and safety of street traffic; and recognition of limitations and opportunities of topography.

B. Sizes. Blocks shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) feet in length between street lines, except blocks adjacent to arterial streets, or unless the previous adjacent development pattern or topographical conditions justify a variation. The recommended minimum distance between intersections of arterial streets is one thousand eight hundred (1,800) feet.

C. Alleys. Alleys may be provided in all districts, however, alleys shall be provided in commercial and industrial areas, unless other permanent provisions for access to off-street parking and loading facilities are provided. (Ord. 619, 2003)

All improvements required by this title or as conditions of approval of any subdivision or partition shall be completed prior to the issuance of any building permits for any structures within the subject development. If the developer requests approval to record the final plat before all required improvements have been constructed and all conditions of approval have been met by the developer and accepted by the city, the developer shall provide a security guarantee satisfactory to the city that all improvements will be constructed in conformance with all city standards and ordinances and all conditions of approval will be satisfied. If the total street frontage of the development is less than or equal to two hundred fifty (250) feet, the applicant may request to sign and the city may grant an improvement deferral agreement or non-remonstrance agreement.

A. Frontage Improvements. Street improvements shall be required for all public streets on which a proposed land division fronts in accordance with Chapter 17.64. Such improvements shall be designed to match with existing improved surfaces for a reasonable distance beyond the frontage of the property. Frontage improvements shall include: sidewalks, curbing, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water lines, other public utilities as necessary, and such other improvements as the city shall determine to be reasonably necessary to serve the development or the immediate neighborhood.

B. Project Streets. All public or private streets within the land division shall be constructed as required by the provisions of Chapter 17.64. Private driveways serving flag lots or private streets shall be surfaced as per the requirements of this title.

C. Monuments. Upon completion of street improvements, centerline monuments shall be established and protected in monument boxes at every street intersection at all points of curvature, points of tangency of street center lines, and other points required by state law.

D. Bench Marks. Elevation benchmarks shall be set at intervals established by the city engineer. The benchmarks shall consist of a brass cap set in a curb or other immovable structure.

E. Surface Drainage and Storm Sewer System. Drainage facilities shall be provided within the land division and to connect the land division drainage to drainage-ways or to storm sewers outside the land division and shall be consistent with the most current adopted storm water master plan. Design of drainage within the land division shall take into account the capacity and grade necessary to maintain unrestricted flow from areas draining through the land division and to provide extension of the system to serve such areas. The design shall take into account provisions for the future extension beyond the land division to serve upstream properties that, in the judgment of the city, cannot be served otherwise.

F. Sanitary Sewers. Sanitary sewer shall be installed to serve the land division and to connect the Land division to existing mains both on and off the property being divided. The design shall take into account provisions for the future extension beyond the land division to serve upstream properties that, in the judgment of the city, cannot be served otherwise. The city may require that the construction of sewage lines of a size in excess of that necessary to adequately service the development in question, where such facilities are or will be necessary to serve the entire area within which the development is located when the area is ultimately developed.

G. Water System. Water lines with valves and fire hydrants serving the land division and connecting the land division to the city mains shall be installed. The design shall take into account provisions for extension beyond the land division to adequately grid the city system and to serve the area within which the development is located when the area is ultimately developed. However, the city will not expect the developer to pay for the extra pipe material cost of mains exceeding eight inches in size. Installation costs shall remain entirely the developer’s responsibility.

H. Pedestrian Facilities and Bicycle Ways. Sidewalks shall be installed along both sides of each public street and in any pedestrian or bicycle ways within the land division as well as along all frontages to existing streets. Sidewalks shall be extended as required to connect to other sidewalk systems. The city may defer sidewalk construction until the dwellings or structures fronting the sidewalk are constructed. Any required off-site sidewalks, sidewalks fronting public property, or sidewalks adjacent to existing structures shall not be deferred.

I. Pedestrian/Bicycle Design Standards. Pedestrian/bicycle access ways shall meet the following design standards:

1. Minimum dedicated width: ten (10) feet;

2. Minimum improved width: five feet;

3. Vision clearance: a clear line of visions for the entire length of the access way shall be required;

4. Pedestrian scale lighting fixtures shall be provided along the walkway and lighted to a level where the system can be used at night;

5. The access way shall be designed to prohibit vehicle traffic.

J. Other.

1. Curb cuts and driveway installations, excluding common drives, are not required of the land divider but, if installed, shall be according to the city standards;

2. Street tree planting is not required of the land divider but, if planted, shall be in accordance with city requirements and of a species compatible with the width of the planting strip;

3. Streetlights. The installation of underground electric service, light standards, wiring, and lamps for streetlights of a type required by city standards following the making of necessary arrangements with the serving electric;

4. Street Signs. The installation of street name signs and traffic control signs is required at locations determined to be appropriate by the city and shall be of a type required by city standards. (Ord. 647 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2006; Ord. 619, 2003)

In addition to other requirements, improvements installed by a developer for any land division, either as a requirement of these regulations or at his or her own option, shall conform to the requirements of this title and improvement standards and specifications adopted by the city, and shall be installed in accordance with the following procedure:

A. Improvement work shall not commence until plans have been checked for adequacy and approved by the city engineer. Plans shall be prepared in accordance with requirements of the city.

B. Improvement work shall not commence until the city has been notified in advance; and, if work has been discontinued for any reason, it shall not be resumed until the city has been notified.

C. Improvements shall be constructed under the inspection and to the satisfaction of the city engineer. The city may require changes in typical sections and details in the public interest, if unusual conditions arise during construction to warrant the change.

D. All underground utilities, sanitary sewers, and storm drains installed in streets by the developer shall be constructed prior to the surfacing of the streets. Stubs for service connections for underground utilities and sanitary sewers shall be placed to a length eliminating the necessity for disturbing the street improvements when service connections are made. Unless otherwise approved by the city, this shall be interpreted as extending to the right-of-way or easement line.

E. Upon completion of the public improvements and prior to final acceptance of the improvements by the city, the developer shall provide two certified as-built drawings of all public utility improvements to the city. As-built conditions and information shall be reflected on one set of Mylar base as-built drawings. The developer’s engineer shall submit the as-built drawings to the city. (Ord. 619, 2003)