GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND DESIGN STANDARDS

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. VIII, ch. 69, art. V

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.500 General requirements and design standards.

Sec. 69.500. - General requirements and design standards. (a) Subdividers shall use these general requirements and design standards in developing new subdivisions. In cases where an official map exists, that map shall supersede these standards. Unless otherwise stated, the director of public works shall have the authority to modify these standards for reasons of design or safety; such reasons shall be in writing and attached to the plat. (b) These standards shall be considered minimum requirements and shall be waived by the city council only under circumstances set forth in Section 69.703. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.501 Streets.

Sec. 69.501. - Streets. (a) Standards. Streets shall conform to the comprehensive plan and the official map, if any. No new residential subdivision shall be created without provision for streets which meet these requirements and design standards. In cases of commercial/industrial subdivisions, the director of public works may require different standards. (b) Alignment. All streets should connect with or terminate at other streets to the extent possible. Cul-de-sac streets are discouraged except where traffic safety or physical site constraints make them necessary. New streets shall provide for the continuation of existing streets of adjoining subdivisions and for projection of streets into adjoining properties which are not yet subdivided. Local streets shall discourage use by through traffic. Where a subdivision abuts or contains an existing or proposed minor arterial, the planning administrator may require marginal access streets reverse frontage lots which contain screen planting in a nonaccess reservation along the rear property line, deep lots with rear service alleys or such other treatment as may be necessary for adequate protection of residential properties and the separation of through and local traffic. (c) Width. Except in the Highwood area (as defined in Section 69.200), all right-of-way widths and roadway widths shall conform to the following minimum dimensions unless modified by the director of public works: Right-of Way Width in Feet | Roadway Width in Feet Minor Arterials | 80 | 44 Collectors | 66 | 36 Local Streets | (Director of Public Works) Industrial Streets | (Director of Public Works) In Highwood, local streets created after the effective date of this ordinance [Ordinance No. 17890] shall have a minimum roadway width of twenty-four (24) feet and minimum right-of-way width of fifty (50) feet. When existing local streets that were less than twenty-four (24) feet wide as of October, 1990, are disturbed for installation of city services or resurfacing, they shall be rebuilt at their original widths, as reported to the director of public works by the Highwood Task Force in October, 1990, (Appendix A), unless a wider street is requested by petition of abutting property owners. Because of narrower streets, on-street parking may be restricted to ensure adequate width for emergency vehicle access. (d) Deflections. When the centerline of connecting streets or the centerline of a single street deflect from each other at any one point by more than five (5) degrees, they shall be connected by a curve with a radius appropriate to the design speed of the street; such radius shall be approved by the director of public works. (e) Grades. All centerline gradients shall be at least one-half of one percent (0.5%) and shall not exceed the following: Grade Major Arterials | 6% Collectors | 6% Local Streets | 10% (f) Intersections: (1) Jog: Street intersections with centerline offsets of less than twenty-five (25) feet shall require prior approval by the director of public works. (2) Angle: In general, all streets shall join each other so that, for a distance of one hundred (100) feet, the street is approximately at right angles to the street it joins. In no case shall any street intersect any other street at an angle of less than eighty (80) degrees. (3) Size: Intersections of more than four (4) corners shall be prohibited. (g) Cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sacs shall not exceed six hundred (600) feet in length and shall terminate in a circular turnaround having a minimum right-of-way radius of fifty (50) feet and a roadway radius of forty (40) feet. (h) Industrial and commercial streets. The director of public works shall establish different requirements and standards for commercial and industrial streets. (i) Street names. Street names shall be subject to the approval of the city council. No street names shall be used which will duplicate or be confused with, either phonetically or by spelling names of existing streets. The name of an extension or continuation of an existing street shall be the same as that of the existing street. Generally, no street should change direction by more than ninety (90) degrees without a change in street name. (Ord. No. 17890, § 3, 11-21-91; C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.502 Alleys.

Sec. 69.502. - Alleys. (a) Required. Alleys shall be provided where topography renders driveways from the street to service or off-street parking areas impractical, where limited access streets prohibit driveways to off-street parking and service areas, and in a T3 or T4 district where alleys are designed as part of an interconnected street network in an approved master plan. (b) Width. All alley right-of-way widths shall conform to the following minimum standards. Right-of Way Width in Feet | Roadway Width in Feet Industrial/Commercial | 24 | 20 Residential | 20 | 16 (c) Layout. Alley intersections and sharp changes of alignment shall be avoided, but, where such are unavoidable, corners shall be cut with sufficient radius to permit safe and easy vehicular movement. Generally, dead-end alleys shall be prohibited, but, where unavoidable, shall be provided with adequate turnaround facilities as may be determined by the director of public works. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; Ord. No. 11-27, § 1, 4-20-11)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.503 Utilities.

Sec. 69.503. - Utilities. (a) Location. Unless waived, all utility facilities, including, but not limited to, gas, electric power, telephone and CATV cables, shall be located underground and within the street or alley right-of-way. (b) Service connections. Underground service connections to the street property line of each platted lot shall be installed at the subdivider's expense. At the discretion of the city council, the requirements for service connections to each lot may be waived in the case of adjoining lots to be retained in single ownership and intended to be developed for the same primary use. (c) Easements: (1) Easements centered on rear lot lines shall be provided for utilities (private and municipal); such easements shall be at least ten (10) feet wide. Proper coordination shall be established between the subdivider and the applicable utility companies regarding the width and the establishment of utility easements established on adjoining properties. (2) Where topography makes impractical the inclusion of utilities within street or alley rights-of-ways, utility easements at least five (5) feet in width or as approved by the director of public works shall be provided on rear lot lines. Where topography also makes impractical the inclusion of utilities within the rear lot lines, perpetual unobstructed easements of at least five (5) feet in width shall be provided along side lot lines with satisfactory access to the road or rear lot lines. Wherever possible, easements shall be continuous from block to block and shall present as few irregularities as possible. Such easements shall be indicated on the plat and shall be cleared and graded where required. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.504 Drainage and storm sewers.

Sec. 69.504. - Drainage and storm sewers. (a) Separate systems. The planning commission shall not recommend for approval any plat of subdivision which does not make adequate provision for storm or surface water runoff. The stormwater drainage system shall be separate and independent of any sanitary sewer system. (b) General requirements. Each subdivision will be required by the planning commission to provide stormwater management for all storms up to and including the one hundred-year storm, as defined by the director of public works. The applicant shall control the peak stormwater discharge rates from the site to less than one and sixty-four one hundredths (1.64) cubic feet per second per acre. Furthermore, the applicant must provide an adequate outlet for any spring or surface water that may exit either previous to or as a result of the subdivision. All plans shall be designed in accordance with the rules, regulations and standards of the director of public works. Facilities intended to be dedicated to the city shall be located in the street right-of-way where feasible and otherwise shall be located in perpetual, unobstructed easements of a width to be determined by the director of public works. (c) Accessibility to public storm sewers: (1) Where a public storm sewer is accessible, the applicant shall install all necessary storm sewers within the subdivision and connecting to the public storm sewer. Where no public storm sewer is available, adequate provision shall be made for the disposal of stormwater as specified by the director of public works. Subdivisions in business and industrial districts shall have underground storm and clearwater sewer systems constructed throughout, and these systems shall be connected to an approved public sewer, drainage way or outfall where available. (2) If a connection to a public storm sewer will be provided eventually, as determined by the director of public works and the planning commission, the developer shall make arrangements for future stormwater disposal by a public utility system at the time the plat receives final approval. (d) Accommodation of upstream drainage areas. Adequate provisions shall be made to accommodate potential runoff from the entire upstream drainage area. The director of public works shall determine the necessary size of the facility, based on the provisions of the development standards and specifications assuming conditions of maximum potential watershed development permitted by the zoning code. (e) Effect on downstream drainage areas. The director of public works shall also study the effect of each subdivision on existing downstream drainage facilities outside the area of the subdivision. Local government drainage studies together with such other studies as shall be appropriate shall serve as a guide to needed improvements. Where it is anticipated that the additional runoff incident to the development of the subdivision will overload an existing downstream drainage facility, the planning commission may withhold approval of the subdivision until provision has been made for the improvement of said potential condition in such sum as the planning commission shall determine. No subdivision shall be approved unless adequate drainage will be provided to an adequate drainage watercourse or facility. (f) Areas of poor drainage. A plat for an area which is subject to flooding may be approved by the planning commission, provided, that: (1) Sufficient fill be placed so that minimum street and lot elevations are at least twelve (12) inches above the elevation of the maximum probable flood as determined by the director of public works. (2) Any filling in this area would not cause increased flooding of other areas. (3) An overflow zone is provided along any stream or watercourse which is sufficiently wide to contain or move the maximum probable flood, as determined by the director of public works. (4) No structure or fill be placed in the overflow zone. (5) For all subdivisions in the RC-1 Floodway District and RC-2 Flood Fringe District: a. The subdivision and the individual lots shall have road access no lower than two (2) feet below the regulation flood protection elevation. b. The floodway and flood fringe district boundaries, the regulatory flood protection elevation and the required elevation of all access roads shall be clearly labeled on all required subdivision drawings and documents. c. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established criteria for removing the special flood hazard area for certain structures properly elevated on fill above the 100-year flood elevations. FEMA's requirements incorporate specific fill compaction and side slope protection standards for multistructure or multilot developments. These standards should be investigated prior to the initiation of site preparation if a change of special flood hazard area designation will be requested. (g) Stormwater detention ponds. (1) Drainage criteria: The subdivider shall provide for stormwater detention in compliance with the following standards: a. Drainage from any site being developed or extensively redeveloped with drainage to the public sewer or public right-of-way shall be controlled in accordance with best management practices to comply with required local and regional water quality, volume, and rate control standards. These standards include but are not limited to chapter 52, stormwater runoff. b. Where feasible, the drainage system shall be designed so that all stormwater runoff and surface water from the site shall discharge in a manner so as to preclude drainage of water onto the adjacent properties. c. Reserved. (2) Dedication of Land: The planning commission shall require that land be reserved for stormwater detention ponds in locations designated in the comprehensive plan or as designated by the director of public works such that their use will prevent erosion or substantially reduce the costs of the stormwater disposal system. Each reservation shall be of suitable size, dimension, topography, and general character and shall have adequate access for public maintenance. The area shall be shown and marked on the plat, "Reserved for Stormwater Detention Pond Purposes." The developer shall dedicate all such ponding areas to the city as a condition of final subdivision plat approval. Where the required ponding area, as designated in the comprehensive plan or as designated by the director of public works, has a value in excess of seven (7) percent of the market value of the subdivision lands as determined by the city valuation engineer, it shall be offered to the city for purchase; the city shall be given a reasonable time to respond. (3) Money in lieu of land: In the event that a particular subdivision does not contain a stormwater detention pond, as designated in the comprehensive plan, on the official map or by the director of public works, the planning commission shall require, prior to final approval of the subdivision plat, that the applicant deposit with the city a cash payment in lieu of land reservation. Such deposit shall be placed in a stormwater detention pond fund to be established by the city. Such deposit shall be used by the city for improvements to, or maintenance of, existing ponds or acquisition of property. Such deposit must be used for facilities that will be actually available to and benefit the persons in said subdivision and be located in the general neighborhood of the subdivision. The amount deposited shall be seven (7) percent of the market value of the subdivision lands at the time of the subdivision application, as determined by the city valuations engineer. (C.F. No. 91-531, § 35, 5-6-93; C.F. No. 93-1718, § 116, 12-14-93; C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; Ord 23-16, § 4, 4-12-23)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.505 Water facilities.

Sec. 69.505. - Water facilities. (a) General requirements: (1) The applicant shall install water main facilities in a manner prescribed by the water utility. All plans shall be designed in accordance with the rules, regulations and standards of the water utility, health department and other appropriate agencies. Plans shall be approved by the above agencies. (2) Where public water mains are not available for extension, action shall be taken by the applicant to create a water supply district for the purpose of providing a water supply system capable of providing domestic water use and fire protection. (3) Looped water mains shall be required unless specifically varied by the water utility and fire department. (b) Locations with water mains available. Water mains facilities shall connect with the public water main facilities. Water mains shall be installed to serve each lot and to grades and sizes required by approving officials and agencies. To eliminate future street openings, all underground water facilities shall be installed before any final paving of a street shown on the subdivision plat. Fire hydrants shall be located at each intersection and no more than six hundred (600) feet apart and shall be approved by the applicable protection unit. Water main facilities shall be subject to the specifications, rules, regulations and guidelines of the water utility. (c) Locations with no available water mains: (1) Action shall be taken by the applicant to create a water supply district for the purpose of providing a water supply system capable of providing domestic water use and fire protection. (2) In single-family zoning districts, if the planning commission determines that a public water main is not available, individual wells may be used or a central water system provided in such a manner that an adequate supply of potable water will be available to every lot in the subdivision. Water samples shall be submitted to the health department for its approval, and individual wells and central water systems shall be approved by the appropriate health authorities. Orders of approval shall be submitted to the planning commission. (3) If the planning commission requires that a connection to a public water main eventually be provided as a condition to approval of an individual well or central water system, the applicant shall make arrangements for future water service at the time the plat receives final approval. Performance or cash bonds may be required to insure compliance. (d) Mandatory connection to public water mains. Except in the R-LL District, if a public water main is placed in a street abutting upon developed property, the owner thereof shall be required to connect the development to the public water main within three (3) years. (e) Provision of water facilities in the R-LL District. In the R-LL District, existing individual wells or central water systems shall be permitted to continue, in accordance with applicable city, county and state requirements. New individual wells or central water systems shall be permitted, in accordance with applicable city, county and state requirements, except if a public water main is in place. If a public water main is in place prior to development, new development shall connect to it. If a public water main is placed in a street abutting upon developed property with an existing individual well or central water system, the owner shall not be required to connect to the public water main. (Ord. No. 17890, § 4, 11-21-91; C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.506 Sewerage facilities.

Sec. 69.506. - Sewerage facilities. (a) General requirements. The applicant shall install sanitary sewer facilities in a manner prescribed by the director of public works. All plans shall be designed in accordance with the rules, regulations and standards of the director of public works, health department and other appropriate agencies. Plans shall be approved by the director of public works. Sanitary sewer extension permits must be obtained from the metropolitan waste control commission and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency prior to commencement of the work. (b) Locations with sewers available. Sanitary sewerage facilities shall connect with public sanitary sewerage systems. Sewers shall be installed to serve each lot and to grades and sizes required by approving officials and agencies. No individual disposal system or treatment plants (private or group disposal systems) shall be permitted. Sanitary sewerage facilities (including the installation of laterals in the right-of-way) shall be subject to the specifications, rules, regulations and guidelines of the health officer, public works department, MWCC and MPCA. (c) Locations with no available sewers. Where public sanitary sewerage systems are not reasonably accessible but will become available, subdivision of land shall not be allowed until sewers are available. Where public sanitary sewer service cannot reasonably be provided, the director of public works may authorize an on-site disposal system. Such on-site disposal system shall be subject to the rules, regulations and standards of the director of public works. (d) Mandatory connection to public sewer system. Except in the R-LL District, if a public sanitary sewer is accessible and a sanitary sewer is placed in a street or alley abutting upon developed property, the owner thereof shall be required to connect to said sewer within two (2) years. (e) Provision of sewerage facilities in the R-LL District. In the R-LL District, existing individual sewage treatment systems shall be permitted to continue in accordance with applicable city, county and state requirements. New individual sewage treatment systems shall be permitted in accordance with applicable city, county and state requirements, except if public sewer is available. If public sewer is available prior to development, new development shall connect to it. If public sewer is placed in a street or alley abutting developed property with an individual sewage treatment system, the owner shall not be required to connect to the public sewer system. (Ord. No. 17890, § 5, 11-21-91; C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.507 Blocks.

Sec. 69.507. - Blocks. (a) Block width. Blocks must have sufficient width to provide for two (2) tiers of lots of appropriate depths. Exceptions to this prescribed block width may be permitted in blocks adjacent to major streets, railroads or topographic barriers. (b) Block length. Block lengths must generally be between three hundred thirty (330) and six hundred sixty (660) feet, depending on the surrounding development context. This may be modified by the city council to ensure compliance with the comprehensive plan and development or project plans for sub-areas of the city. (c) Crosswalks. Pedestrian ways or crosswalks, not less than eight (8) feet wide, may be required by the city council through the center of blocks where deemed essential to provide circulation or access to schools, playgrounds, shopping centers, transportation or other community facilities. (d) Industrial blocks. Blocks designed for industrial uses must be of such length and width as may be determined suitable by the city council for prospective use. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; Ord. No. 25-59, § 6, 11-12-25)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.508 Lots.

Sec. 69.508. - Lots. (a) Street frontage. All lots designated for residential use must adjoin a street except for back lots and developments that have individually described lots for each dwelling structure and a common lot for open space, yards and off-street parking, in which case the common lot must adjoin a street. (b) Alley frontage. All interior lots designated for residential use must adjoin an alley when available. (c) Through lots. Through lots must be avoided except where essential to provide separation of residential development from traffic arteries or to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation. (d) 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 and in providing driveway access to buildings on such lots from an approved street. (e) Lots on slopes. Newly created lots must allow for a minimum setback for development of forty (40) feet from the top of bluff lines as defined by the comprehensive plan. Lot arrangement shall avoid, wherever possible, the placement of structures on eighteen (18) percent slope or steeper, or the necessity to alter such slopes for purposes of construction. (f) Solar access. In subdivisions of ten (10) acres or larger, lots must be platted in a north-south orientation to maximize solar access. (g) Lot access. (1) Street access. Lots must not, in general, derive access exclusively from an arterial or collector roadway. The number of curb cuts must be minimized and where driveway access from a major or secondary street may be necessary for several adjoining lots it is generally required that such lots be served by a combined access drive in order to limit possibility of traffic hazard and limit curb cuts on such street. Except where it is determined impractical, unreasonable, or harmful to the public safety by the zoning administrator, driveways should be designed and arranged so as to avoid requiring vehicles to back into traffic on arterial and collector streets. (2) Alley access. Vehicular access may be from an abutting alley when available, except where it is determined in the review of a site plan application by the zoning administrator that there are circumstances unique to the property that make this impractical, unreasonable, harmful to the public safety; or where maintenance of alley surfaces, erosion control, or protection of water quality may be impaired. (h) Lot dimensions. Lot dimensions shall comply with the minimum standards of the zoning code. Where lots are more than double the minimum required area for the zoning district, the city council may require that such lots be arranged so as to allow further subdivision and the opening of future streets where they would be necessary to serve such potential lots, all in compliance with the zoning code and these regulations. (i) Flag lot width. Lot widths must conform to the minimum lot standards of the zoning district with the following additional standards: (1) For flag lots, the width of the narrow corridor that provides street access must be a minimum of twenty (20) feet. As part of subdivision review, the minimum width may be increased or reduced further based on easement requirements related to emergency access, utilities, steep slopes or other site conditions as approved by the city. (2) For reverse flag lots, the width of the narrow corridor that provides alley access must be a minimum of twelve (12) feet. (j) Easements. (1) For back lots, an easement that is a minimum of twenty (20) feet wide across a single adjoining lot must be provided for pedestrian, water, sanitary sewer, and gas line connections to the nearest public street and for house numbers that can be clearly seen and read from the public street. As part of subdivision review, the minimum width may be increased or reduced further based on city and other applicable regulatory requirements related to emergency access, utilities, steep slopes or other site conditions and constraints. An easement reflecting all utilities, reciprocal pedestrian and vehicular access for pedestrians and any vehicles, and shared maintenance responsibilities must address regulatory requirements and be the responsibility of developer to record prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or building permit. (2) For flag lots, an easement across the narrow corridor that provides street access may be required for shared vehicular access with the adjoining lot. If shared vehicular access is used, an easement reflecting reciprocal vehicular access and shared maintenance responsibilities is the responsibility of developer to record prior to receiving a certificate of occupancy or building permit. (k) Side lot lines. Side lot lines generally must be at right angles to or radial to street lines. (l) Split zoning. Lots must not be created which result in split zoning classifications. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; Ord 23-43, § 8, 10-18-23)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.509 Preservation of natural features and amenities.

Sec. 69.509. - Preservation of natural features and amenities. (a) Generally. Existing natural features, such as trees, significant slopes and similar irreplaceable assets, shall be preserved in the design of the subdivision. No change of grade of the land shall be effected until approval of the preliminary plat. (b) Trees. Shade trees shall be planted by the subdivider in accordance with section 69.600. (c) Slopes. Lots with slopes of twelve (12) percent or greater shall undergo site plan review prior to approval of a preliminary plat. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.510 Flood plain.

Sec. 69.510. - Flood plain. No land in the flood plain shall be subdivided which is unsuitable for the intended use because of flooding or inadequate drainage, water supply or sewage treatment facilities. Water and sewage treatment facilities shall comply with the provisions of chapter 68, river corridor overlay districts, and road access both to the subdivision and to the individual building sites shall be no lower than two (2) feet below the regulatory flood protection elevation. For all subdivisions in the flood plain, the floodway and flood fringe boundaries, the regulatory flood protection elevation, the required elevation of all access roads shall be clearly labeled on all required subdivision drawings and platting documents. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.511 Parkland dedication.

Sec. 69.511. - Parkland dedication. (a) Parkland dedication requirements. Pursuant to Minn. Stats. § 462.358, Subd. 2, as amended and as otherwise provided below, for platting of land for residential, commercial, or industrial development, a reasonable portion of the buildable land may be required to be dedicated or conveyed to the city on a one-time basis, prior to or at the same time as recording the final plat, for public use for parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, trails, wetlands, or open space needed as a result of the plat, to a maximum of nine (9) percent of the total acreage of new lots that are being created for new residential or mixed-use development and to a maximum of four (4) percent of the total acreage of new lots that are being created for new commercial or industrial development. Land so dedicated shall be within the plat and/or, subject to agreement by the city council and the subdividers, in close proximity to the plat. The city council shall determine the amount, location, and configuration of any land dedicated, taking into consideration the suitability and adaptability of the land for its intended purpose, future needs of the proposed development, and the following criteria: (1) The parkland standards in section 63.702 for future development of the plat, and whether the development will be under-served by parks due to distance to existing parks, population density, or inadequate size of existing nearby parks; (2) Conformance with the city's adopted comprehensive plan and development or project plans for sub-areas of the city, and areas identified for park or open space in an adopted city, regional, state, or national plan; (3) Areas that connect existing components of the open space network; (4) Areas adjacent to existing public parks, trails, or open space; (5) Areas representing significant landforms, native plant communities, sensitive habitat, or historical events; (6) Areas containing vegetation identified as endangered or threatened, or that provide habitat for animals identified as endangered, threatened, or of special concern under 15 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. or Minn. Stats. § 84.0895, and rules adopted under these respective laws; (7) Availability and commitment of resources, public and/or private, to develop, operate, and maintain the new park land; (8) Land to be dedicated shall be large enough for its intended purpose; (9) Land dedicated solely for roadway, stormwater retention, or utility purposes, or otherwise unsuitable for the purposes listed above, shall not be accepted; (10) Dedicated land shall be accessible to the public served unless the city council determines that the dedicated land is an environmentally or ecologically sensitive area for which public access would be detrimental. (b) One-time basis of parkland dedication requirements. Once parkland has been dedicated or conveyed to the city under this section to meet the needs for parkland created by the plat, there shall be no further parkland dedication requirement under section 63.701 at the time of building permits. If the property is later re-platted, or if a requirement for parkland dedication or a fee in lieu has previously been imposed at the time of building permits, the amount of parkland to be dedicated shall be based on the area of new lots and additional development for which parkland dedication or a fee in lieu has not previously been required. Residential/mixed-use projects having previously dedicated land or paid a fee in lieu of land at the time of platting prior to the effective date of this section shall be required to pay the parkland dedication fee at the time of building permits under section 63.701 less the prorated value of the land dedicated or the fee in lieu of land paid at the time of platting. (c) Parkland dedication option; private land maintained for public use. The city council may, at its discretion, waive all or a portion of the land dedication required under subdivision (a) of this section and enter into an agreement for the private development and/or maintenance of land for public use for parks, playgrounds, recreation facilities, wetlands, trails, or open space within the proposed plat, subject to the following conditions: (1) The land area or value of the land and improvements privately developed and maintained for public use for parks, playgrounds, trails, open space, or conservation purposes must at least equal that required under this ordinance. (2) Land, facilities, and improvements accepted under this provision shall be accessible to the public in a manner similar to public land. (3) The city council must find, after recommendation of the director of parks and recreation and the parks commission, that such land and improvements will serve the purposes listed in subdivision (a) of this section. (4) The city and the owners, subdividers, or developers of the land must have executed a parkland development agreement insuring that specified land shall be developed and maintained by the owners, subdividers, or developers, and any and all successors in interest thereof, of any type whatsoever, which includes, but is not limited to heirs and assigns, for the purposes listed in subdivision (a) of this section. The owners, subdividers, or developers must include a covenant running with the specified land indicating that the land to be developed and maintained for the purposes listed in subdivision (a) will revert to the city in the event of a failure to comply with this requirement. When a recordable covenant concerning the ownership, maintenance or use of private areas and facilities for parkland development is required, the covenant shall be submitted to the city for approval. Such covenant shall be recorded prior to or at the same time as the final plat when related to requirements under subdivision (a) of this section. (d) Parkland dedication; conveyance standards. Prior to dedication and conveyance of the required property to the city, the owners, subdividers or developers shall provide the city with an acceptable abstract of title or registered property abstract for all land dedicated for park purposes, evidencing good and marketable title without liens or encumbrances of any kind except those encumbrances which the city council has approved or required in connection with the proposed plat. The foregoing abstracts shall otherwise evidence good and marketable title free and clear of any mortgages, liens, encumbrances, assessments and taxes. For any dedication of land required under subdivision (a) of this section that is not formally dedicated to the city with the final plat, the landowner shall record all deeds for conveyance of the property to the city prior to or at the same time as recording the final plat. (C.F. No. 06-1047, § 1, 3-28-07; Ord 15-27, § 3, 8-26-15)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.512 Public sites.

Sec. 69.512. - Public sites. Where a proposed park, playground, school or other public site is wholly or partly within the boundary of a proposed subdivision and such proposed public site is not dedicated to the city, no action shall be taken towards approval of the preliminary plat for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days to allow the planning commission or board of education the opportunity to consider and to take action towards acquisition of such public site by purchase or other cause. (C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; C.F. No. 06-1047, § 2, 3-28-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 69.513 Monuments.

Sec. 69.513. - Monuments. (a) All plats must show boundary references with distance and direction to at least two (2) existing government corners. Ramsey County Coordinates, North American Datum of 1983, must be shown on these existing government corners. Where it would cause undue hardship, City of Saint Paul second order control network monuments may be substituted in lieu of the two (2) existing corners. This option is to be determined by the chief surveyor of the City of Saint Paul, Department of Public Works. (b) Ramsey County Coordinates must be shown on all government corners controlling a plat boundary. These corners shall be referenced to the plat by distance and direction. (c) Monuments found in place from previous surveys that determine the new plat boundary must be shown and designated as "found," whether these monuments are actually a part of the new plat or not. These monuments must also be referenced to the new plat by distance and direction. (d) A note on the plat shall state the basis for the geographical orientation of the plat. An example of an acceptable form would: (1) assign a bearing to a specific line of the plat; (2) orient the bearing system to Grid North, Minnesota State Plane Coordinate System of 1983 South Zone; (3) orient the bearing system to Ramsey County Coordinates, North American Datum of 1983; and (4) assign a bearing to a specific section line. The statement "All bearings are on an assumed datum" shall not be used. (e) Plats showing elevations must be referenced to a durable bench mark described on the plat together with its location and elevation given in City of Saint Paul Datum or other acceptable datum as determined by the chief surveyor of the City of Saint Paul, Department of Public Works. Elevations shall be given to the nearest hundredth of a foot. The date of the elevation survey shall also be shown. If the bench mark is within the plat, its location shall be plotted by distance and direction and labeled. (C.F. No. 93-1718, § 117, 12-14-93; C.F. No. 03-1028, § 1, 4-7-04; C.F. No. 06-1047, § 2, 3-28-07)

Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITVIIIZOCO_CH69ZOCOUBRE_ARTVGEREDESTFetched: 11/1/2026