ARTICLE III. SUBDIVISION DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS

Sec. 30-20. General.

(a) Every subdivision shall conform to the requirements and objectives of the general plan, or any parts thereof, as adopted by the commission and the city council, to the zoning ordinance and to other ordinances and regulations of the city, and to the Arizona Revised Statutes.

(b) Where the tract to be subdivided contains all or any part of the site of a park, school, flood control facility, or other public area as shown on the general plan or as recommended by the commission, such site should be dedicated to the public or reserved for acquisition by the public within a specified period of time. An agreement should be reached between the subdivider and the appropriate public agency regarding time, method and cost of such acquisition. In the event the commission determines that such an agreement has not been reached within a reasonable period of time, then the commission may make a determination that the requirements of this section have been met.

(c) Land which is subject to periodic flooding, land which cannot be properly drained, or other land which, in the opinion of the city, is unsuitable for any use shall not be subdivided; except that the city may approve subdivision of such land upon receipt of evidence from the city engineer that the construction of specific improvements can be expected to render the land suitable; thereafter, construction upon such land shall be prohibited until the specified improvements have been planned and construction guaranteed.

Sec. 30-21. Street location and arrangement.

(a) Whenever a tract to be subdivided embraces any part of a street designated in an adopted city streets and highways plan, such street shall be platted in conformance therewith.

(b) Street layout shall provide for the continuation of such streets as the city may designate.

(c) Certain proposed streets, as designated by the city, shall be extended to the tract boundary to provide future connection with adjoining unplatted lands.

(d) Local streets shall be so arranged as to discourage their use by through traffic.

(e) Where a proposed subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed arterial route, the city may require marginal access streets or reverse frontage with non-access easements along the arterial route, or such other treatment as may be justified for protection of residential properties from the nuisance and hazard of high volume traffic, and to preserve the traffic function of the arterial route.

(f) Streets shall be so arranged in relation to existing topography as to produce desirable lots of maximum utility and streets of reasonable gradient, and to facilitate adequate drainage.

(g) Half-streets shall be discouraged except where necessary to complete a street pattern already begun, or to insure reasonable development of a number of adjoining parcels. Where there exists a platted half-street abutting the tract to be subdivided, and said half-street furnishes the sole access to residential lots, the remaining half shall be platted within the tract.

Sec. 30-22. Street and block design.

All street and block design shall conform to the City of Tempe, public works department, division of engineering, "engineering design criteria" manual.

Sec. 30-23. Pedestrian ways and multi-use paths.

Pedestrian ways and multi-use paths may be required where essential for circulation, or access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, transportation, and other community facilities. Pedestrian ways and multi-use paths may be used for utility purposes.

Sec. 30-24. Lot planning.

(a) Lot width, depth, and area shall comply with the minimum requirements of the zoning ordinance and shall be appropriate for the location and character of development proposed, and for the type and extent of street and utility improvements being installed. In general, urban density of three (3) or more lots per gross acre must have urban street and utility improvements. "Urban improvements" is interpreted to mean paved and curbed streets, sidewalks, local storm drainage system, public water supply, and, wherever reasonably possible, public sanitary sewerage.

(b) Where steep topography, unusual soil conditions, or drainage problems exist or prevail, the commission may recommend special lot width, depth, and area requirements which exceed the minimum requirements of the particular zoning district.

(c) Lot depths shall conform to zoning ordinance standards.

(d) Side lot lines shall be substantially at right angles or radial to street lines, except where other treatment may be justified in the opinion of the city.

(e) Every lot shall abut upon a public street or furnish satisfactory access thereto.

(f) Single-family residential lots extending through the block and having frontage on two (2) parallel streets shall not be permitted; backing of lots to thoroughfares shall be prohibited except where expressly permitted by this chapter or where justified in the opinion of the city.

Sec. 30-25. Easement planning.

(a) Utility easements. Easements for utilities shall be provided along side lot lines, three (3) feet on each side of lot lines for distribution facilities.

(b) Utility easements on curvilinear streets. For lots facing on curvilinear streets, utility easements or alleys may consist of a series of straight lines with points of deflection not less than one hundred twenty (120) feet apart. Points of deflection should always occur at the junction of side and rear lot lines on the side of the exterior angle. Curvilinear easements or alleys may be provided, providing that the minimum radius for the alley or easement shall be not less than eight hundred (800) feet.

(c) Drainage easements. Where a stream or important surface drainage course abuts or crosses the tract, dedication of a public drainage easement of a width sufficient to permit widening, deepening, relocating, or protecting said water course shall be required.

(d) Lot areas. Land within a public street or drain easement or land within a utility easement for major power transmission (tower) lines or pipelines shall not be considered a part of the minimum required lot area except where lots exceed one-half (1/2) acre in area. This shall not be construed as applicable to land involved in utility easements for distribution or service purposes.

(e) Bus bay and shelter easements. All lots at far side of arterial to arterial and arterial to collector intersections shall provide bus bay and shelter easements as shown in the City of Tempe Standard Details.

(f) Multi-use path easements. All lots abutting multi-use corridors as designated by the most recent update of the Tempe bikeway plan and map shall provide easements as shown in the City of Tempe Standard Details.

Sec. 30-26. Street naming.

Subdivider may propose the street names subject to approval by the city engineer at the preliminary plat stage.