(a)

General requirements. The following general design requirements shall apply to all subdivisions:

(1)

Land subject to flooding, improper drainage, or erosion, or which is for topographical, geological or other reasons unsuitable for residential use shall not be platted for residential use nor for any other uses that will increase the danger to health, safety, or property destruction, unless the hazards can be and are corrected.

(2)

The name of the subdivision must have the approval of the planning commission. The name shall not duplicate nor closely approximate the name of an existing subdivision.

(3)

Access to every lot in a subdivision shall be provided over a public street. Street names shall require the approval of the commission. Road signs shall be constructed and installed to county specifications at the expense of the subdivider.

(4)

All proposed subdivisions shall conform to the town comprehensive plan and development policies in effect at the time of submission to the commission.

(b)

Street requirements.

(1)

The design and installation of streets shall conform to VDOT standards.

(2)

Street names shall require the approval of the commission which shall not approve new street names until after a recommendation is received from the county. Streets that are obviously in alignment with streets already in existence and already named shall be given the name of those of existing streets.

(3)

The subdivider shall be responsible for securing written approval of the street design by VDOT prior to approval of the final plat. All new public and private streets shall be subject to this requirement.

(c)

Lot design requirements.

(1)

Lot areas and dimensions and yard areas shall conform to applicable requirements of articles VII and VIII of this chapter.

(2)

Lots shall not contain peculiarly shaped elongations solely to provide necessary square footage of area or street footage which would be unusable for normal purposes.

(3)

Every lot shall front on a public street, and the side lines of lots shall be approximately at right angles, or radial to the street line unless otherwise approved.

(4)

In the case of lots for residential purposes, the lot area shall conform to the requirements of article VIII of this chapter. The lot area may be greater than the minimum specified if the commission finds that condition of health and/or safety so require, based on recommendations of the health department, or other appropriate agencies.

(5)

Double frontage lots should be avoided except where essential to provide separation of residential development from traffic arterials or to overcome specific disadvantages of topography and orientation. A planting screen easement of at least ten feet, and across which there shall be no right of access, shall be provided along the line of lots abutting such a traffic artery or other disadvantageous use.

(6)

Drain fields and reserve drain fields must be located within the main body of the lot they serve. Peculiar lot configurations to accommodate drain fields located remotely from the main building site shall not be permitted.

(d)

Environmental design requirements. Land to be subdivided shall be laid out and improved in reasonable conformity to existing topography, in order to minimize grading and cut and fill, and to retain, insofar as possible, the natural contours, limit stormwater runoff, and conserve the natural cover and soil. An erosion and sediment control plan must be submitted and approved prior to removal of any topsoil and/or gravel or any grading activity. All grading activity shall be done in accordance with the provisions of the county erosion and sedimentation control ordinance. Calculations shall be submitted as part of the erosion and sedimentation plan which justify the design of runoff control measures.

(e)

Easements.

(1)

Easements having a minimum width of 20 feet shall be provided as are necessary for utility lines, and underground mains and cables, where appropriate. Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel or stream, there shall be provided a stormwater drainage easement of adequate width, but not less than eight feet. Parallel streets may be required by the commission in connection therewith.

(2)

It is hereby required there be a conveyance of common or shared easements to franchised cable television operators furnishing cable television and public service corporations furnishing cable television, gas, telephone and electric service to the proposed subdivision. Once a developer conveys an easement that will permit electric, cable or telephone service to be furnished to a subdivision, the developer shall, within 30 days after written request by a cable television operator or telephone service provider, grant an easement to that cable television operator or telephone service provider for the purpose of providing cable television and communications services to that subdivision, which easement shall be geographically coextensive with the electric service easement, or if only a telephone or cable service easement has been granted, then geographically coextensive with that telephone or cable service easement; however, the developer and franchised cable television operator or telephone service provider may mutually agree on an alternate location for an easement. If the final subdivision plat is recorded and does not include conveyance of a common or shared easement as provided herein, the planning commission or zoning administrator shall not be responsible to enforce the requirements of this subsection.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2241(A)6.

(f)

Private streets. All new streets shall be designed and constructed in accordance with VDOT's subdivision street requirements. Private streets are discouraged but may be allowed in planned unit developments and other special applications upon issuance of a special use permit by the town council.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-1301)

The subdivider shall install the following physical improvements at his cost in accordance with the provisions of this article:

(1)

Markers. Markers shall be installed in accordance with the following provisions:

a.

Markers shall be iron pipes or steel pins five-eighths of an inch in diameter and 15 inches long and driven so as to be flush with finished grades at all street corners, angles in streets, the beginning and end of all curves in streets, at all points where the street intersects the exterior boundaries of the subdivision and all lot corners and angles.

b.

Where rock is encountered, a hole shall be drilled four inches deep, into which shall be cemented a steel rod one-half inch in diameter, the top of which shall be flush with the finished grade line.

(2)

Water and sewage facilities. Water and sewage facilities shall be provided in all subdivisions and shall adhere to the following requirements:

a.

All public water and sewage facilities shall be constructed in accordance with the current specifications of the health department, or the town, whichever is applicable.

b.

All public water and sewage systems shall be installed at the expense of the subdivider, and where oversized lines or pumping stations are required by the health department, or the town, whichever is applicable, to provide capacity to handle flow originating from outside the subdivision, the subdivider shall install the additional water and sewage facilities as provided for in the current line extension policies of the agency requiring the additional facilities.

c.

All lots located within the subdivision shall be connected to existing public systems under the following conditions:

1.

Whenever the subdivision is 1,000 feet or less from an existing public water and/or sewage system, the subdivider shall be required to install the appropriate connecting lines to the existing systems as provided for in the current policies of the health department or the town, whichever is applicable.

2.

Whenever the subdivisions is more than 1,000 feet from an existing public water and/or sewage system, the town council may require the subdivider to install the appropriate connecting lines as provided for in the current policies of the health department or the town, whichever is applicable.

d.

Non-public water systems and/or on-site sewage systems may be installed provided that public water and/or sewage systems cannot be constructed in the subdivision as determined by the town council.

e.

All water and sewage facilities shall be inspected and approved by the appropriate official in accordance with section 24-758(c)(3). All water and sewerage facilities installed by a developer shall be inspected by a licensed engineer who shall certify that the installation was done according to a set of as-built plans and certify to the town, VDOT, and the state department of health that all required testing was performed and approved.

f.

All private waste disposal systems including their reserve areas shall be located on the same property as the building site that the private waste disposal system benefits.

(3)

Streets and drainage. Streets and drainage facilities shall be constructed in accordance with the following requirements:

a.

Extensions of existing streets or new streets of subdivision shall be paved before being opened to the public. In lieu of completion of pavement, a bond or surety shall be provided as in section 24-733. Pavements shall be in the entire length of the portion of the street opened to the public. Streets shall be constructed in accordance with the specifications of the state department of highways and transportation.

b.

Street identification signs approved by the zoning administrator shall be installed at all street intersections in any subdivision by the subdivider.

c.

All street and drainage improvements shall be inspected and found in compliance with requirements of this chapter and standards of the state department of highways and transportation, as evidenced by the written approval of the resident engineer, as provided in section 24-758(c)(4).

(4)

Other improvements.

a.

Where outdoor recreation facilities are provided in connection with common open space, they shall be of a design and construction approved by the commission.

b.

Where the subdivider wishes to plant trees between the pavement edge and the adjacent right-of-way lines, he shall first confer with the zoning administrator to determine the side of the street on which the utility pole for power, streetlights and telephone will be located. On the side of the street on which the utility pole will be placed, the trees shall be limited to those not exceeding 20 feet in mature height. On the side of the street opposite the utility pole line, the planting of trees shall not be restricted.

c.

The subdivider shall obtain approval from the town council for the design of a street lighting system. The subdivider shall fund the installation, install or have installed any street lighting system serving the subdivision and make appropriate arrangements for its maintenance.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-1302)

(a)

Where features of the town comprehensive plan, such as school sites, parks, and other public spaces are located in whole or in part in a proposed subdivision such features shall be reserved by the subdivider. Whenever such reserved land, or any portion thereof, is not acquired, optioned, or condemned by the appropriate public agency within a one-year period from the date of recording the subdivision, the subdivider may claim the original reservation, or portion thereof, and cause it to be subdivided in a manner suitable to the subdivider subject to the provisions herein. The commission may waive this reservation requirement whenever the public body responsible for land acquisition executes a written release stating that such a planned feature is not being acquired.

(b)

Whenever the plat proposes the reservation of land to public use and the planning commission or the appropriate agency finds that such land is not required or suitable for public use, the commission may either refuse to approve said plat or it may require the arrangement of lots within such land.

(Zoning Ord. 2003, § 18.1-1303)