22.10.010—22.10.030

 

SUBDIVISIONS

 

Chapters:

22.10 Subdivision Improvements

Chapter 22.10*[*]

SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENTS

Sections:

22.10.010 Intent

22.10.020 Scope and authority.

22.10.030 Definitions.

22.10.040 Applicable and exempted subdivisions.

22.10.050 Improvement requirements General

22.10.051 Utility easements.

22.10.052 Notification of neighboring property owners.

22.10.055 Underground utilities.

22.10.060 Appeals.

22.10.070 Violation Penalty.

22.10.010 Intent. The intent of this chapter is to specify regulations supplemental to the Kenai Peninsula Borough subdivision ordinance and to specify the improvements to be required for each subdivision, and exemptions to the requirements. (Ord. 87-8 (S) part), 1987)

22.10.020 Scope and authority. This chapter shall govern all subdivisions within the City of Homer under the authority of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Code, Chapter 20. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

 

22.10.030 Definitions. The following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth in this section, unless otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires:

22.10.030(a)—22.10.050(b)

 

a. "Subdivider" means a person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, governmental unit or combination of any of these which may hold any recorded or equitable ownership interest in land, and dividing or proposing to divide such land so as to constitute a subdivision as defined in this section. This term shall also include all heirs, assigns or successors in interest, or representatives of, the subdivider, owner, proprietor or developer.

b. "Subdivision" means the division of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, sites, or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease, or building development, including any subdivision or resubdivision. When appropriate to the context, the term shall refer to the process of subdividing or to the land or areas subdivided. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

 

22.10.040 Applicable and exempted subdivisions. The standards of this chapter shall apply to all subdivisions in the City of Homer. Exemptions from the requirements of Chapter 22.10 of this Code may be granted concurrent with preliminary plat approval by the Homer Advisory Planning Commission under the following conditions:
a. Resubdivision of existing subdivisions not to exceed three lots, and involving no new dedications of rights-of-way;

b. Special conditions and circumstances exist which are peculiar to the property involved, and are not generally applicable to other properties in the City. These special conditions cannot be caused by the actions of the applicant;

c. Financial hardship or inconvenience shall not be considered grounds for granting exception;

d. Previous exceptions shall not be considered grounds for granting exception. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

 

22.10.050 Improvement requirements General.

a. No subdivision plat shall be released by the Kenai Peninsula Borough for filing at the State Recorder's Office, until the subdivider or developer of such subdivision constructs streets in all rights-of-way dedicated by said plat, and all other utilities and other public improvements to be constructed in said rights-of-way dedicated by said plat, and all other utilities and other public improvements to be constructed in said rights-of-way according to the standards and procedures required under Title 11 of this Code.  The plat shall not be released for filing until the City of Homer issues written approval of said street and utility improvements to the Kenai Peninsula Borough.  This provision may be waived if the developer signs an agreement with the City of Homer that no building permit and/or request for utility connection will be submitted to the City for any lot within the subdivision until such time as the improvements are completed and accepted by the City of Homer. This agreement shall be recorded and constitute a covenant running with the land.

b. Plats may be exempted from these provisions by the Commission as provided for in Section 22.10.040.

 

                           258-36                     (Homer 12/06)

22.10.050(c)—22.10.055(b)

 

c. The subdivider shall be required to dedicate street rights-of-way according to the standards and specifications of Chapter 11.04 of this Code and the City of Homer Design Criteria Manual. Beyond a minimum of sixty feet, the subdivider may agree to a note attached to said subdivision plat providing sufficient setback to allow future expansion of the right-of-way without removal of improvements. Horizontal alignments are subject to City review; the City may require realignment of streets on proposed plats if the alignments do not conform to Chapter 11.04 and the Design Criteria Manual. Final plat approval shall thus be subject to the approval of horizontal alignments by the City Public Works Engineer.
d. All street and utility main improvements to be constructed as part of a subdivision improvement project shall be constructed according to the procedures of Chapter 11.20 of this Code. The City shall accept no such improvements unless a development agreement is executed prior to construction of such improvements.
e. All streets constructed as part of a subdivision improvement project shall be monumented according to the procedures of Chapter 11.20 (Section11.20.090 (d) of this Code. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

22.10.051 Utility easements. Each lot of a new subdivision must have access from a fifteen foot utility easement. (Ord. 90-5, 1990)

22.10.052 Notification of neighboring property owners. A copy of the preliminary plat shall be mailed to the owners of record on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assessor's records of real property within five hundred feet of the periphery of the parcel affected by the proposed plat. (Ord. 93-1, 1993)

22.10.055 Underground utilities.

a. All wire or cable facilities, including, but not limited to, electric power, telephone and telecommunications cables, providing permanent service in newly developed residential subdivisions shall be located underground throughout the subdivision at the expense of the subdivision developer. The subdivision developer is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section and shall make necessary arrangements, including financial arrangements, with the serving utility company or companies for the installation of such facilities. The subdivision developer shall provide appropriate easements or dedicated rights-of-way so as to provide access for all utilities and so as to cause minimum conflict between utilities. Developers of new commercial and industrial properties are encouraged to provide for the location of all utilities underground.
b. All existing overhead utility wire or cable facilities, including, but not limited to, electric power, telephone, and telecommunications cables which shall, April 14, 1987, be relocated and/or which receive major modifications, shall be placed underground unless the utility obtains an exception pursuant to the provisions of subparagraphs e. and f. of this section. Major modifications shall not include reconductoring, reinsulating or in-

 

                           258-37                     (Homer 12/06)

22.10.055(b)—22.10.060

 

kind replacement. The provisions of this subparagraph shall apply equally to the abandonment of pole lines except that if one utility abandons a pole line another existing utility which shares that pole line may buy the pole line and continue to use the pole line for the acquiring utility's cable facilities.

c. After October 24, 2006, all extensions of utility wire or cable facilities including, but not limited to, electric power, telephone, and telecommunications cables for the purpose of providing such utility service to any land not served before that date by overhead cable facilities shall be installed only as provided by HCC Chapter 14.50.

d. Appurtenances such as transformers, switching boxes, terminal boxes, meter cabinets, pedestals, ducts and other facilities necessary to underground utilities may be placed above ground.
e. Exceptions to the requirement of this section that utility cable facilities be placed underground may be approved by City Manager or designee for good cause shown including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Plats which receive preliminary approval prior to adoption of the ordinance from which this section derives;

2. Facilities which must cross abnormally wet, swampy areas;
3. Facilities which must cross areas that are subject to abnormal frost heaving;

4. Facilities which must be placed in areas subject to abnormal drainage;
5. Facilities which must be placed in areas where the utility is unable to obtain necessary rights-of-way;

6. Facilities providing temporary service not to exceed one year when frozen ground or other conditions make burial of such facilities an undue hardship on the utility;
7. Facilities which have to cross unplatted, or unrecorded, or undeveloped tracts of land;

8. Electric power lines having a line to line voltage greater than 35KV;
9. Electric power lines carrying more than one thousand KVA of electrical energy;

10. Future users of existing pole lines when the host utility is overhead; provided, however, the future user must agree to vacate the pole line when the host utility vacates the pole line.
f. Exceptions, other than those listed in subsection d of this section, to the requirements of this section may be granted by the City Council, after review and recommendation by the Planning Commission, upon making a finding that conditions exist which make underground placement of utilities unreasonable or impractical. (Ord. 06-50(S) §1 (part), 2006); Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

22.10.060 Appeals. Any person or persons who are affected by an action or determination taken under this chapter, may appeal said action under the appeals procedure outlined in Chapter 21.93 of this Code. Appeals from any action by the City Council granting or denying an exception under subsections d and e of Section 22.10.055

                           258-38                     (Homer 09/09)

22.10.060—22.10.070

denying an exception under subsections d and e of Section 22.10.055 shall be taken directly to the Superior Court for the State of Alaska, within thirty days from the date of such action. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

22.10.070 Violation Penalty. The violation of any provision contained in this chapter shall be punished under Section 1.16.010. (Ord. 87-8 (S) (part), 1987)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           258-39                     (Homer 12/06)



[*] Editor’s Note:  The provisions of this chapter were originally enacted by Ordinances 85-15 and 96-39(S), which were repealed by Ordinance 87-8(S).

 

 

                                  258-35                     (Homer 12/06)