Solano County Municipal Code Art. VII Design Requirements

The provisions of this Article apply only to subdivisions for which a final map or parcel map is required. All tentative maps must be consistent with the Solano County General Plan and satisfy all applicable planning, zoning, design and improvement requirements specified or incorporated in this Code.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

The road layout of a proposed subdivision shall be consistent with all road right-of-way designations and general alignment shown on the Circulation Element of the Solano County General Plan. As a condition of approval of tentative maps, subdividers may be required to dedicate, or to make irrevocable offers of dedication, or to obtain offers of dedication of real property for roads, alleys, flood control, drainage, public utility purposes or other public purposes, together with such access rights and abutter’s rights as may be required for public purposes. All roads that are to be offered for dedication and used for vehicular traffic shall conform to the Road Improvement Standards and Land Division and Subdivision Requirements for public roads, and all other roads that are to be used for access shall conform to the Road Improvement Standards and Land Division and Subdivision Requirements for private roads.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

Whenever overhead utilities are allowed in a proposed subdivision by this Code, utility easements of sufficient width shall be provided along the rear or side lot lines. Whenever possible, such easements shall extend an equal distance into each of two abutting lots. This requirement may be modified or recommended for modification by the Advisory Agency if warranted by unusual circumstances in a particular proposed subdivision. To the extent practicable, underground utility easements, whenever necessary, shall be abutting and parallel to lot lines.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

The design of a subdivision shall conform to good engineering practices, conform to Section 12.2-52, Standards for Subdivisions, Flood Damage Prevention of the Solano County Code, and shall provide for the proper drainage of the subdivision and all lots and improvements therein based on the runoff that can be anticipated from ultimate development of the watershed. The subdivision shall contain no undrained depressions. The subdivision and all lots and improvements therein shall be protected from off-site drainage or flood damage. All public facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems shall be located, elevated and constructed to minimize or eliminate potential flood damage. Any concentrations or increases of surface water resulting from the development of the subdivision must be conveyed by means of adequate facilities to a suitable natural watercourse in the area. If channels need to be constructed or improved to facilitate surface water removal, reasonable dedications to the appropriate public agency may be required. The design shall depict all those channels and all rights-of-way reasonably necessary for their improvements and maintenance. Such rights-of-way shall include, in addition to the channels themselves, and access right-of-way alongside the entire length of the channels.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

If an existing or proposed State highway abuts or crosses a proposed subdivision, the subdivider shall secure all pertinent road data and specifications, and shall make the design of the proposed subdivision compatible with such State highway.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

Whenever a proposed subdivision is located within the boundaries of a public water agency willing and able to provide water service to the lots, the public water agency shall be chosen as the water purveyor for the proposed subdivision. At the time of tentative map approval, the Advisory Agency may waive the requirements of this section for good cause shown.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

When the proposed subdivision contains lots that are not served by a public water agency, each lot shall have a water supply provided by a private, individual well or spring and the subdivider shall submit to the Environmental Health Services Division the water source quantity information which complies the criteria listed as follows:

(a) All proposed lots within water yield zones “A” and “B” as designated on the USGS Water Bearing Rock Map dated 1972 (on file with the Department of Environmental Management) shall submit water quantity test results prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map which demonstrate that ample water for domestic purposes is available on each lot. The test shall conform to methods specified in the Solano County Water Supply Standards.

(b) All proposed lots within water yield zones “C” and “D” shall be presumed to have an adequate water source for domestic purposes.

(c) All well yield tests shall be conducted by a professional with proper training and knowledge relating to water quantity testing and who is licensed well-driller, a registered civil engineer, hydrologist or registered geologist.

(d) The results of water source production testing for subdivisions shall be reported on forms developed by the Environmental Health Services Division and shall include data relative to static water level, draw-down rates, pumping rates, and well recovery rates and test duration information.

(e) A minimum yield of 3 gallons per minute shall be deemed acceptable for domestic use provided that a note is included on the final map or parcel map that at least 500 gallons of water storage capacity will be required at the time of lot development. A yield of five gallons per minute shall be deemed acceptable for residential development with no additional storage requirements for drinking water supplies; however, additional storage may be required to meet the current fire code.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

Whenever a proposed subdivision is located within the boundaries of a public sewer agency willing and able to provide sewer services to the lots, the public sewer agency shall be chosen to provide sewer service to the proposed subdivision. At the time of tentative map approval, the Advisory Agency may waive the requirements of the first sentence of this section for good cause shown.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

(a) In all cases where sewage disposal is not to be by means of a sewer operated by public sewer agency, it shall be by means of an individual sewage disposal system located entirely on the lot generating the sewage. Each proposed lot within a subdivision that is not served by a public sewer system shall meet minimum site and design criteria in this Section and Chapter 6.4 of the Solano County Code.

(b) Minimum Parcel Size.

(1) Parcels which are served by on-site sewage disposal systems and individual, on-site water supplies shall not be less than 5 acres.

(2) Parcels, which are served by on-site sewage disposal systems and community water supplies, operated by a public agency or utility district shall be no less than 2.5 acres. Where a planned unit development process is proposed where parcels may vary in size, the overall density of the project shall not be greater than one dwelling unit per 2.5 acres with a community water supply and no individual parcel development parcel shall be less than one acre in area.

(3) Parcels which meet the above-noted minimums, but are otherwise limited by conditions such as steep slopes, watercourses, easements, wetlands or other site constraints shall be sufficient size to accommodate conventional development (considering buildable area, driveways, parking areas and etc.) without the need to waive required setbacks, leach field area, or reserve areas.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

Prior to recordation of the final map or parcel map, the subdivider shall cause the area within the subdivision to be included in a County Service Area or other special district providing street lighting. At the time of tentative map approval, the Advisory Agency may waive this requirement if it finds that inclusion within such a service area or other special district is unnecessary because of the size or location of the proposed lots.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)

The Advisory Agency may require that improvements to be constructed or installed by the subdivider for the benefit of the subdivision contain supplemental size, capacity, number or length for the benefit of property not within the subdivision, and that some or all of those improvements be dedicated to public whenever the Advisory Agency determines that such supplemental size, capacity, number, length is necessary to ensure orderly development or otherwise protect the public health, safety or welfare. Any such requirement shall be subject to the condition precedent that the County enters into a reimbursement agreement with the subdivider pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 66485) of Chapter 4 of the Subdivision Map Act.

(Ord. No. 1608, §2)