23.22.100

Except as provided in Section 23.22.106 , design of all subdivisions shall conform to the standards set forth in this Section 23.22.100 : A. Streets and alleys 1. All subdivisions shall be served by one or more streets providing adequate ingress and egress to and from the subdivision. 2. New streets within each subdivision shall conform to the City's thoroughfare and circulation plans and shall provide for the continuation of streets that serve the property contiguous to the subdivision. Streets serving lots on two sides shall be at least 60 feet wide unless a narrower street is warranted by special physical circumstances as determined by the Director, in consultation with the Director of Transportation, or as specified in the Right-of-Way Improvements Manual. 3. Street intersections shall be as nearly at right angles as practicable and in no event shall the angle formed be less than 30 degrees. 4. A cul-de-sac shall be designed according to the Right-of-Way Improvements Manual to provide a circular turnaround at the closed end. A tee or other reasonable alternative may be authorized by the Hearing Examiner in lieu of the turnaround. Cul-de-sac streets shall not exceed 450 feet in length and the right-of-way shall be at least 50 feet wide, except under special circumstances a lesser width is permitted. 5. Street networks shall provide ready access for fire and other emergency vehicles and equipment, and routes of escape for inhabitants. 6. Alleys shall be at least 16 feet wide plus such additional width as shall be necessary for an adequate turning radius. B. Blocks. Blocks shall be designed to promote traffic safety and ease of traffic control and circulation. Blocks shall be identified by letters or numbers. C. Lots 1. Every lot shall be provided with convenient pedestrian and vehicular access to a street or to a permanent appurtenant easement that satisfies the requirements of Sections 23.53.005 and 23.53.006 . 2. Lots shall be numbered with reference to blocks. 3. Every lot, except unit lots and lots proposed to be platted for individual live-work units in zones where live-work units are permitted, shall conform to the following standards for lot configuration, unless a special exception is authorized under subsection 23.22.100.D: a. If a lot is proposed with street frontage, then one lot line shall abut the street for at least 10 feet; and b. No lot shall be less than 10 feet wide for a distance of more than 10 feet as measured at any point; and c. No proposed lot shall have more than six separate lot lines. The lot lines shall be straight lines, unless the irregularly-shaped lot line is caused by an existing right-of-way or an existing lot line; and d. If the property proposed for subdivision is adjacent to an alley, and the adjacent alley is either improved or required to be improved according to the standards of Section 23.53.030 , then no new lot shall be proposed that does not provide alley access for vehicles, except that access from a street to an existing use or structure is not required to be changed to alley access. Proposed new lots shall either have sufficient frontage on the alley to meet access standards for the zone in which the property is located or provide an access easement from the proposed new lot or lots to the alley that meets access standards for the zone in which the property is located. D. Special exception. The Director's recommendation on a proposed subdivision, as a Type II special exception decision, may modify the standards of subsection 23.22.100.C.3, if the applicant demonstrates that the proposed plat meets the following criteria: 1. The property has one of the following conditions not created by the applicant: a. Topography, natural obstructions, configuration of existing lot lines prior to platting, existing platting patterns, or street alignment that prevent the platting of one or more lots according to the standards of subsection 23.22.100.C.3; b. Location of existing principal structures that are retained on a lot existing prior to the proposed platting require a platting configuration of one or more lots that cannot reasonably meet the standards of subsection 23.22.100.C.3; c. Location of existing easements or feasibility of access to portions of the property prevents the configuration of proposed plat lines that meet the standards of subsection 23.22.100.C.3. 2. Modification of the standards of subsection 23.22.100.C.3 shall be the minimum necessary to allow platting of lots that each contain a building area for development meeting the development standards of the zone in which the proposed plat is located. 3. Lots created under the special exception standards of this subsection 23.22.100.D shall not have a configuration that requires a variance from setbacks and yard requirements of the Land Use Code or a variance or exception from Chapter 25.09 for any development that may be proposed on the lots. E. Design Standards for Pedestrian Access and Circulation. Design of sidewalks and private sidewalk easements for pedestrian access and circulation shall meet the standards of the Seattle Right-of-Way Improvements Manual. F. Drainage, Storm Sewer and Utility Easements. 1. Easements for drainage channels and ways shall be of sufficient width to assure that they may be maintained and improved. Easements for storm sewers shall be provided and shall be of sufficient width and in proper location to permit future installation. Utility easements shall be in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by the appropriate City department. 2. Easements for electric, telephone, water, gas and similar utilities shall be of sufficient width to assure installation and maintenance. G. Underground Utility Installation. Subdivisions located adjacent to subdivisions having underground utility lines shall provide underground utility lines including but not limited to those for electricity, telephone, CATV and street lighting. (Ord. 127099 , § 2, 2024; Ord. 126157 , § 4, 2020; Ord. 124378 , § 4, 2013; Ord. 123809, § 1, 2012; Ord. 122615 , § 2, 2007; Ord. 122205, § 4, 2006; Ord. 121477, § 1, 2004; Ord. 119239, § 2, 1998; Ord. 118794, § 4, 1997; Ord. 118409, § 174, 1996; Ord. 110570, § 1, 1982.)