Chapter 12.08
GENERAL CONTROLS

Sections:

12.08.010    General requirements.

12.08.020    Streets and highways.

12.08.030    Lots.

12.08.040    Blocks.

12.08.050    Parking areas.

12.08.060    Utility easements.

12.08.070    Grades.

12.08.080    Curves and tangents.

12.08.090    Sanitary sewers.

12.08.100    Water supply.

12.08.110    Underground utilities.

12.08.010 General requirements.

(a)    The city of South Gate shall not approve a map unless it finds that the proposed subdivision, together with the provisions for its design and improvements, is consistent with the city of South Gate general plan and adopted elements thereof.

(b)    All improvements required to be completed as conditions for approval of a map shall be completed at the expense of the subdivider.

(c)    All improvements required to be completed as conditions for approval of a map shall conform to the specifications approved by the city engineer.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.020 Streets and highways.

(a)    Freeways, limited-access and unlimited-access state highways shall conform to the standards of the California State Department of Transportation (Cal Trans), and where same are involved in any subdivision, they shall be subject to individual determination by the city. The standards of the California State Department of Transportation shall be deemed to be the minimum standards that will be acceptable.

(b)    Major highways shall be not less than one hundred feet in right-of-way and shall be designed to contain not less than four traffic lanes, each twelve feet in width, a left-hand turning lane of fourteen feet in width, and two parking lanes each eight feet wide.

(c)    Secondary highways shall be not less than eighty feet in right-of-way and shall be designed to contain not less than four traffic lanes each twelve feet wide and two parking lanes each eight feet wide.

(d)    Collector Streets.

(1)    Residential collector streets shall be not less than sixty feet in right-of-way, and shall be designed to contain not less than two traffic lanes each twelve feet wide and two parking lanes each eight feet wide.

(2)    Industrial collector streets shall be not less than sixty-four feet in right-of-way.

(e)    Local and cul-de-sac streets shall be not less than fifty-four feet in right-of-way, nor more than five hundred feet in length except where special conditions might justify a lesser width or greater length. The radius at the terminus of the cul-de-sac should not be less than fifty feet. Cul-de-sac local streets shall be subject to individual determination by the city. Stub end streets or rights-of-way may be required to the edge of the subdivision.

(f)    Special local streets, where railroads, parkways, grade separations, freeways and hills, or other dominant factors are involved, shall be subject to individual determination by the city.

(g)    Along major highways, limited-access highways, or freeways, a service roadway separated from the traffic roadway by an acceptable separation strip, when indicated by the general plan or specific plan of the city, or plans of the California State Department of Transportation, will be required for access to abutting private property and local streets. All dimensions on such multiple roadway thoroughfares shall be as defined on the city’s general plan or the California State Department of Transportation Plan. In the absence of the sources mentioned above, dimensions shall be prescribed by the city engineer.

(h)    Curved major highways shall normally have a centerline radius of not less than one thousand feet. Lesser radii may be used if evidence indicates above requirements are not practicable.

(i)    Curved secondary highways shall normally have a centerline radius of not less than five hundred feet. Lesser radii may be used if evidence indicates above requirements are not practicable.

(j)    Curves on collector and local streets shall normally have a centerline radius of not less than two hundred feet. Lesser radii may be used if evidence indicates above requirements are not practicable.

(k)    Street corners at the property line shall have a corner cutoff of ten feet.

(l)    Street intersections shall be as near right angles as practicable. In no case shall the angle be less than eighty degrees.

(m)    Streets which are a continuation of streets in contiguous territory shall be so aligned as to assure that their centerlines shall coincide. In cases where straight continuations are not physically possible, such centerline shall be continued by curves.

(n)    In areas where no specific plans exist, the layout of all improvements, including roadways, curbs, parkways, dividing strips, sidewalks, sewer lines and water mains within the rights-of-way or all highways, streets, alleys, and utility easements shall be established by the city engineer and approved by the city council.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.030 Lots.

(a)    Lot areas shall be such as will conform to the standards of development as defined by Title 11 (Zoning), or by other specific plans adopted pursuant to law.

(b)    Lots having no frontage on a public street may be cause for disapproval of subdivision.

(c)    The width of lots shall be such as will conform to standards of development as defined by Title 11 (Zoning), or other specific plans adopted pursuant to law.

(d)    No lot shall be divided by a county, city, school district or other taxing district boundary line.

(e)    The side lines of lots shall be approximately at right angles to the street line on straight streets or to the tangent on curved streets.

(f)    Double frontage lots are prohibited in residential zones.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.040 Blocks.

(a)    Blocks less than three hundred thirty feet in length, or more than nine hundred ninety feet in length, may be cause for disapproval, but in no case shall a block be longer than thirteen hundred twenty feet.

(b)    In blocks nine hundred ninety feet long or over, pedestrian ways at least ten feet wide may be required.

(c)    Long blocks are desirable adjacent to major or secondary highways in order to reduce the number of intersections.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.050 Parking areas.

Special areas for off-street parking of motor vehicles, offered for dedication or to be otherwise reserved for public use in connection with proposed business, industrial, unlimited multiple residential or institutional property, shall be subject to determination by the city as to size, location, shape adequacy, and shall conform to the standards of development as defined by Title 11 (Zoning) or by other specific plans adopted pursuant to law.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.060 Utility easements.

Where alleys are not required, utility easements may be required adjacent to the public or private street right-of-way. If the easement parallels the boundary of a subdivision along which no contiguous easement exists, the utility easement, if required, shall be not less than ten feet in width. Such easements, if required, shall be noted as provided in Chapter 12.14 of this title.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.070 Grades.

Any grade greater than six percent shall be subject in each case to review. Grades of more than ten percent may be cause for disapproval of a map.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.080 Curves and tangents.

Suitable tangents must be used between all curves.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.090 Sanitary sewers.

Where a sewer is constructed within a highway or street, the subdivider shall install a six-inch sewer line to the property line of each lot within the subdivided area. All sanitary sewer lines, appurtenances and service connections shall be constructed prior to paving to the grade established by the city engineer and shall be of size and design as he designates.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.100 Water supply.

Whenever water shall be provided from a common source, or sources, approved by the city of South Gate, water mains shall be constructed to serve each lot within the subdivided area and shall be such size, design and material as to meet the standards established by the city engineer. Fire hydrant connections, including valves, shall be installed to the rear or back of the curb.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)

12.08.110 Underground utilities.

Utility lines, serving the subdivision, including but not limited to gas, electric, communications, street lighting and cable television shall be required to be placed underground. The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section, and he shall make the necessary arrangements with the utility companies for the installation of such facilities. For the purposes of this section, appurtenances and associated equipment such as, but not limited to, surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts in any underground system may be placed aboveground. The planning commission may waive the requirements of this section if topography, soil, or any other conditions make such underground installations unreasonable or impractical.

This section shall not apply to utility lines which do not provide service to the area being subdivided.

(Ord. 1444 § 2 (part), 7-14-80)