§ 21-191. Planning standards.

(a)

Subdivision design shall be in conformity with the goals, objectives and policies of the City as defined in the comprehensive plan and with adopted policies guiding the physical development or redevelopment of properties within the City.

(b)

Subdivision lot design shall be in conformity with the zoning district regulations and all general provisions pertaining thereto.

(c)

The proposed street layout shall be integrated with the circulation network of the surrounding area. The following planning standards shall promote public convenience and safety:

(1)

Right-of-way widths shall be designed based on the expected functional classifications as defined in the traffic circulation element of the Winter Haven Comprehensive Plan and as specified in adopted land development regulations;

(2)

Where subdivisions are bordered by public right-of-way, additional right-of-way may need to be dedicated so as to meet minimum widths specified in the comprehensive plan;

(3)

No partial right-of-way shall be accepted along subdivision boundaries;

(4)

Where dedicated right-of-way is extended to an adjoining property or street, there shall be no reserved strips affording private control of future access. The City may require public reserved strips where such reservations promote the public health and safety and implement the comprehensive plan;

(5)

No subdivision shall be approved without access to at least one (1) off-site public right-of-way having a minimum width of fifty (50) feet;

(6)

Permanent dead-end streets extending more than two (2) lots or more than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet shall provide a cul-de-sac turnaround, the location and specifications of which shall be established by the City engineer and the fire department;

(7)

No residential lots having a width less than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet shall abut an arterial thoroughfare without also directly abutting a local or collector street;

(8)

No lot shall be approved with less than twenty (20) feet of frontage on a public or private street right-of-way;

(9)

Corner lots in all subdivisions shall contain a buildable area comparable to that provided in all other lots in the subdivision;

(10)

No public streets shall be dedicated within forty (40) feet of the high water elevation of any lake, except where public access to the lake is to be provided;

(11)

No street shall be accepted as a public street unless the extreme high water table or a new water table established as the result of the installation of an approved underdrain system is at least one (1) foot below the road base course;

(12)

Private ownership of streets may be permitted with approval by the City commission, if the developer, in writing, assures the City that these private improvements shall be kept in a satisfactory state of repair and maintenance by the developer or by legally established homeowners association, which shall be clearly stated on the face of the final plat.

(d)

All subdivisions shall provide sidewalks in accordance with the following standards:

(1)

Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of all internal streets, whether public or private. The sidewalks on building lots must be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for that lot. Where a common lot(s) abuts an internal street, the sidewalk shall be installed by the developer prior to approval of the final plat.

(2)

Sidewalks located on internal streets shall be a minimum of four (4) feet in width.

(3)

Where a subdivision abuts an adjoining collector or arterial roadway, the developer shall also install a minimum five-foot sidewalk along the subdivision's frontage.

(4)

Sidewalks shall be located in the rights-of-way or in a public easement approved by the City Engineer. All sidewalks shall be located a minimum of three (3) feet from the curb, or edge of pavement if no curb is present. Subject to the City's approval in advance, sidewalks may on occasion be located closer to the curb or edge of pavement to protect mature trees and above ground utility equipment.

(5)

All sidewalks shall conform to the latest Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards in effect at the time of site plan approval.

(6)

Developers of private communities may petition the City Manager to allow payment of a fee in lieu of the construction of sidewalks along internal streets. The fee shall be based on the number of linear feet of sidewalk required by this Code multiplied by the cost per linear foot as determined by the utility and engineering services' director. The developer shall still be required to install sidewalks along adjoining roadways where required by this Code.

(e)

Except where alleys are provided for the purpose of access and utility placement, easements no less than fifteen (15) feet wide or wider as the City engineer deems necessary shall be dedicated for the installation of underground utilities by the City or franchised utility providers. Easements for watercourses or drainage ways traversing a subdivision shall be of a width sufficient to convey the volume of stormwater projected to be generated by the twenty-five-year storm event. Such easements shall be approved by the City engineer.

(Ord. No. O-00-09, Art. 3 (3.08.01), 4-24-00; Ord. No. O-00-19, § 3(O), 7-10-00; Ord. No. O-04-33, § 1(Exh. A), 6-14-04)