§ 6.2. Lot Improvements
6.2.1 Lot Arrangement . The lot arrangement shall be such that there will be no foreseeable difficulties, for reasons of topography or other conditions, in securing building permits to build on all lots in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and Galveston County Health Regulations, and in providing driveway access to buildings on the lots from an approved street.
6.2.2 Lot Dimensions. Lot dimensions shall comply with the minimum standards of the Santa Fe Zoning Ordinance. Where lots are more than double the minimum required area for the zoning district, the Planning Commission may require that those lots be arranged so as to allow further subdivision and the opening of future streets where they would be necessary to serve potential lots, all in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and these regulations. In general, side lot lines shall be at right angles to street lines (or radial to curving street lines) unless a variation from this rule will give a better street or lot plan. The lot width on corner lots shall be increased to reflect the increase in the side building setbacks. Depth and width of properties reserved or laid out for business, commercial, or industrial purposes shall be adequate to provide for the off-street parking and loading facilities required for the type of use and development contemplated, as established in the Zoning Ordinance.
(Ordinance No. 07-2007 of March 8, 2007)
6.2.3 Lot Orientation . The lot line common to the street right-of-way shall be the front line. All lots shall face the front line and a similar line across the street. Wherever feasible, lots shall be arranged so that the rear line does not abut the side line of an adjacent lot.
6.2.4 Double Frontage Lots and Access to Lots .
A. Double Frontage Lots . Double frontage and reversed frontage lots shall be avoided except where necessary to provide separation of residential development from traffic arterials or to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation.
B. Access from Major and Secondary Arterials . Lots shall not, in general, derive access exclusively from a major or secondary street. Where driveway access from a major or secondary street may be necessary for several adjoining lots, the Planning Commission may require that such lots be served by a combined access drive in order to limit possible traffic hazards on the street. Where possible, driveways shall be designed and arranged so as to avoid requiring vehicles to back into traffic on major and secondary arterials.
6.2.5 Soil Preservation, Grading, and Seeding .
A. Soil Preservation and Final Grading . No certificate of occupancy shall be issued until final grading has been completed in accordance with the approved final subdivision plat and the lot pre-covered with soil with an average depth of at least four (4) inches which shall contain no particles more than two (2) inches in diameter over the entire area of the lot, except that portion covered by buildings or included in streets, or where the grade has not been changed or natural vegetation seriously damaged. Topsoil shall not be removed from residential lots or used as spoil, but shall be redistributed so as to provide at least four (4) inches of cover on the lots and at least four (4) inches of cover between the sidewalks and curbs, and shall be stabilized by seeding or planting.
B. Lot Drainage . Lots shall be laid out so as to provide positive drainage away from all buildings, and individual lot drainage shall be coordinated with the general storm drainage pattern for the area. Drainage shall be designed so as to avoid concentration of storm drainage water from each lot to adjacent lots.
C. Lawn-Grass Seed and Sod . Lawn seed, sod, or plugs shall be required for each lot in a residential subdivision.
6.2.6 Debris and Waste . No cut trees, timber, debris, earth, rocks, stones, soil, junk, rubbish, or other waste materials of any kind shall be buried in any land, or left or deposited on any lot or street at the time of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and removal of those items and materials shall be required prior to issuance of any certificate of occupancy on a subdivision. No items and materials as described in the preceding sentence shall be left or deposited in any area of the subdivision at the time of expiration of any subdivision improvement agreement or dedication of public improvements, whichever is sooner.
6.2.7 Water Bodies and Watercourses . If a tract being subdivided contains a water body, or portion thereof, lot lines shall be so drawn as to distribute the entire ownership of the water body among the fees of adjacent lots. The Planning Commission may approve an alternative plan whereby the ownership of and responsibility for safe maintenance of the water body is so placed that it will not become a City of Santa Fe responsibility. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the minimum area of a lot required under the Zoning Ordinance may be satisfied by land that is under water. Where a watercourse separates the useable area of a lot from the street by which it has access, provisions shall be made for installation of a culvert or other structure, of design approved by the City of Santa Fe Development Officer.