The following principles, standards and requirements will be applied by the City Council and Planning Commission to evaluating plans for proposed subdivision or land developments. The standards and requirements outlined herein shall be considered minimum standards and requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare. Where literal compliance with the standards herein specified is clearly impractical, the City Council may modify or adjust the standards to permit reasonable utilization of property while securing substantial conformance with the objectives of this chapter.
A. 
Land shall be suited to the purposes for which it is to be subdivided or developed.
B. 
Land which is unsuitable for development because of hazards to life, safety, health or property shall not be subdivided or developed until such hazards have been eliminated or unless adequate safeguards against such hazards are provided for in the subdivision or land development plan. Land included as having unsuitable characteristics would be the following:
(1) 
Land subject to flooding or which has a high groundwater table.
(2) 
Land which, if developed, will create or aggravate a flooding condition upon other land.
(3) 
Land subject to subsidence.
(4) 
Land subject to underground fires.
(5) 
Land containing significant areas of slope greater than 10%.
(6) 
Land which, because of topography or means of access, is considered hazardous by the City Council.
(7) 
Land which is subject to ground pollution or contamination.
C. 
Proposed subdivisions or land developments shall be coordinated with existing nearby neighborhoods so that the community as a whole may develop harmoniously.
D. 
Proposed land uses shall conform to Chapter 450, Zoning, of the Code of the City of DuBois.
A. 
Proposed streets shall be properly related to such street plans or parts thereof as have been officially prepared and adopted by the City and shall be coordinated with existing or proposed streets in adjoining subdivisions or land developments.
B. 
Proposed streets shall further conform to such county and state road and highway plans as have been prepared, adopted or filed as prescribed by law.
C. 
Streets shall be related to the topography so as to produce usable lots and acceptable grades.
D. 
Access shall be given to all lots and portions of the tract in the subdivision or land development and to adjacent unsubdivided territory unless the topography clearly indicates that such connection is not feasible. Streets giving such access shall be improved to the limits of the subdivision or land development and shall be improved to City specifications. Reserve strips and land-locked areas shall not be created.
E. 
Streets shall be laid out to preserve the integrity of their design. Local access streets shall be laid out to discourage their use by through traffic and, where possible, arterial streets shall be designed for use by through traffic.
F. 
Where the proposed subdivision or land development contains or is adjacent to an existing or proposed arterial street or a highway designated as a limited access highway by the appropriate highway authorities, provisions shall be made for marginal access streets at a distance acceptable for the appropriate use of the land between the arterial street or limited access highway and the marginal access streets. The City Council may also require rear service areas, double frontage lots, or such other treatment as will provide protection for abutting properties, reduction in the number of intersections with primary streets, and separation of local and through traffic.
G. 
Half or partial streets will not be permitted in new subdivisions or land developments except where essential to reasonable subdivision or development of a tract in conformance with the other requirements and standards of this chapter and where, in addition, satisfactory assurance for dedication of the remaining part of the street can be secured.
H. 
Wherever a tract to be subdivided or developed borders an existing half or partial street, the entire street shall be shown on the plan.
I. 
Dead-end streets shall be prohibited, except as stubs (with adequate turning capability) to permit future street extension into adjoining tracts, or when designed as culs-de-sac.
J. 
New reserve strips, including those controlling access to streets, shall be forbidden.
K. 
Where adjoining areas are not subdivided, the arrangement of streets in a proposed subdivision or land development shall be made to provide for the proper projection of streets into the unsubdivided land.
L. 
Street names shall be coordinated with existing or platted street names, and if a new street is a continuation of or is aligned with an existing or platted street, it shall bear the same name as the existing or platted street.
M. 
No street shall be laid out or opened which extends to or crosses any boundary between the City and any other municipality except with the specific approval of the City Council and upon such condition as the City Council may impose. If the street is proposed to serve a commercial area, an industrial area or a residential area of 50 dwelling units or more located in another municipality, the street shall not be approved unless the area is also served by a street in the other municipality and unless the relevant traffic facilities of the City are adequate to handle the anticipated volume.
N. 
All streets shall have a uniform width throughout their respective lengths, except where otherwise required by the City Council pursuant to § 390-26B(2).
[Amended 5-10-1999 by Ord. No. 1598]
A. 
Street classification. Three functional classifications are hereby established for the streets and roads in the City:
(1) 
Arterial. This classification includes highways which provide intra-county or intermunicipal traffic of substantial volumes where the average trip lengths are usually five miles or greater. Generally, these highways should accommodate operating speeds of 35 to 55 miles per hour.
(2) 
Collector. This classification is intended to include those highways which connect local access highways to arterial highways. They may serve intra-county and intermunicipal traffic. They may serve as traffic corridors connecting residential areas with industrial, shopping and other service. They may penetrate residential areas. Generally, these highways will accommodate operating speeds of 35 miles per hour.
(3) 
Local access. This classification is intended to include streets and roads that provide direct access to abutting land and connections to higher classes of roadways. Traffic volumes will be low and travel distances generally short. These streets and roads should be designed for operating speeds of 25 miles per hour or under.
B. 
Right-of-way widths.
(1) 
Minimum widths for each type of public street shall be as follows:
Type of Street
Right-of-Way Width
(feet)
Cartway Width
(feet)
Arterial
80 to 120
46
Collector
60
34
Local access
50
24
(2) 
Where a proposed subdivision abuts or contains an existing public street or road having a right-of-way width less than would be required if said street or road were created under this chapter, sufficient additional width for right-of-way shall be provided and dedicated to meet the foregoing standards. Additional right-of-way and cartway widths may be required by the City Council to promote public safety and convenience when special conditions require it and to provide parking space in areas of intensive use.
C. 
Culs-de-sac.
(1) 
Culs-de-sac, whether permanent or temporary, shall be provided at the closed end with a turnaround having a minimum radius to the edge of the finished street or curbline of not less than 50 feet.
(2) 
Unless future extension is clearly impractical or undesirable, the turnaround right-of-way shall be placed adjacent to a property line, and a right-of-way of the same width as the street shall be carried to the property line in such a way as to permit future extension of the street into the adjoining tract. At such time as such a street is extended, the overage created by the turnaround outside the boundaries of the extended street shall revert in ownership to the property owners fronting on the turnaround of the cul-de-sac.
(3) 
Commercial and industrial culs-de-sac shall be reviewed for adequacy by the City Engineer. His recommendations will be given to the City Council, who shall have final authority in this matter.
(4) 
Permanent culs-de-sac shall be kept to a minimum and shall not exceed 600 feet in length.
D. 
Street alignment.
(1) 
Whenever street lines are deflected by more than 5°, connection shall be made by horizontal curves.
(2) 
The minimum radius at the center line for horizontal curves on collector and arterial streets shall be 300 feet, and for local streets the minimum radius shall be 100 feet.
(3) 
On local access streets, the minimum tangent between reverse curves shall be at least 100 feet; on collector and arterial streets, the minimum tangent shall be at least 250 feet.
(4) 
Minimum vertical sight distance measured four feet above grade shall be 300 feet for collector and arterial streets and 100 feet for local access streets.
E. 
Street grades.
(1) 
The minimum grade on all streets shall be 1/2%.
(2) 
The maximum grade on collector or arterial streets shall be 7% and on local access streets 10%.
(3) 
Vertical curves shall be used in changes of grade exceeding 1% and shall provide proper sight distances as specified hereinabove.
F. 
Street intersections.
(1) 
Local streets shall not intersect with collector or arterial streets on the same side at intervals of less than 800 feet as measured from center line to center line.
(2) 
The distance between center lines of streets opening onto the opposite side of a proposed or existing street shall be not less than 150 feet unless the streets are directly opposite each other.
(3) 
Multiple intersections involving the junction of more than two streets shall be avoided. Where this proves impossible, such intersections shall be designed with extreme care for both pedestrian and vehicular safety.
(4) 
Streets shall be all laid out to intersect as nearly as possible at right angles. Local streets shall not intersect collector or arterial streets at an angle of less than 75°. The intersection of two local streets shall not be at an angle of less than 60°.
(5) 
Minimum curb radius at the intersection of two local streets shall be at least 20 feet, and minimum curve radius at an intersection of a local street and a collector or arterial street shall be at least 25 feet.
(6) 
There shall be provided and maintained at all intersections clear sight triangles of 75 feet in all directions measured along the center line from the point of intersection. Nothing which obstructs the vision of a motorist shall be permitted in this area.
(7) 
Intersections shall be designed with a flat grade wherever practical. Where the grade of any street at the approach to an intersection exceeds 7%, a leveling area shall be provided having a grade of not greater than 4% for a distance of 25 feet measured from the nearest right-of-way line of the intersecting street.
G. 
Pavement design.
(1) 
All components of the pavement structure shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Specifications, Form 408.
(2) 
Minimum requirements. The following shall be considered to be minimum standards for street construction in the City:
Alternates
Type
Local Access Streets
(inches)
Collector and Arterial Streets
(inches)
Rigid pavement
Plain cement concrete subbase
6
6
Flexible pavements
Surface
ID-2
1 1/2
1
Base
Bituminous
4
6
Subbase
6 (if req.)
6 (if req.)
Surface
ID-2
3
3
Base
Crushed aggregate (regular or dense grade)
6
10
Subbase
6 (if req.)
9 (if req.)
Surface
ID-2
3
3
Base
Modified stone aggregate
8
10
Subbase
6 (if req.)
9 (if req.)
H. 
Alleys and driveways.
(1) 
Alleys are prohibited in residential developments.
(2) 
Driveways serving properties located adjacent to an intersection shall be offset from the intersection of the curbline a distance not less than the required setback dimension.
A. 
Curbs.
(1) 
Curbs shall be provided on all streets and parking compounds located within multifamily and apartment building developments. Curbs shall also be required on new streets in subdivisions or land developments in which the average lot width of interior lots at the required building setback line is 100 feet or less. Curbs may also be required in any subdivision in which the lot areas or lot widths exceed the above minimum, when the center line street grade of any street exceeds 3%. In such cases, curbs or other drainage controls shall be installed to properly control surface drainage and protect the streets from erosion. The requirement of curbs may be waived at the discretion of the City Council.
(2) 
All curbs shall be depressed at intersections to sufficient width to accommodate wheelchairs. Depression shall be in line with sidewalks where provided.
(3) 
Curbs may be either the vertical type or rolled curb and gutter type. Rolled curb and gutter shall not be used on collector streets. The transition from one type of curb to another shall occur only at street intersections.
(4) 
All curbs shall be constructed of portland cement concrete with expansion joints every 20 feet and shall follow PennDOT standards where applicable.
B. 
Sidewalks.
(1) 
Sidewalks shall be provided on all streets and parking compounds located within multifamily and apartment building developments. Sidewalks shall also be required on new streets in subdivisions or land developments in which average lot width of interior lots at the required building setback line is 100 feet or less. The requirement of sidewalks may be waived at the discretion of the City Council.
(2) 
Minimum widths for sidewalks along each type of public street shall be four feet and shall follow PennDOT specifications where applicable.
A. 
Lots shall be laid out and graded to provide positive drainage away from buildings. The City Council may require a grading and drainage plan for individual lots, indicating a buildable area within each lot complying with the setback requirements, for which positive drainage is assured.
B. 
No person, corporation or other entity shall block, impede the flow of, alter, construct any structure, or deposit any material or thing, or commit any act which will affect normal or flood flow in any communal stream or watercourse without having obtained prior approval from the City or the Department of Environmental Protection, whichever is applicable.
C. 
Where a subdivision or land development is traversed by a natural watercourse, there shall be provided a drainage easement or right-of-way conforming substantially with the line of such watercourse and of such width as will be adequate to preserve natural drainage.
D. 
The City will assure that all permanent streams not under the jurisdiction of other official agencies are maintained open and free-flowing.
E. 
The subdivider or developer, and each person, corporation, or other entity which makes any surface changes, shall be required to:
(1) 
Collect on-site surface runoff and dispose of it to the point of discharge into the common natural watercourse of the drainage area.
(2) 
Design drainage facilities to handle runoff from upstream areas, assuming full development of those areas, based upon the Comprehensive Plan for the City.
(3) 
Design, construct, and/or install such drainage structures and facilities as are necessary to prevent erosion damage to the subdivision or land development, adjacent property and downstream property. Such structures and facilities shall satisfactorily convey such surface waters to the nearest practical street, storm drain, detention pond, or natural watercourse.
F. 
Storm sewers, culverts, and related installations shall be provided to permit unimpeded flow of natural watercourses, to drain all low points along streets, and to intercept stormwater runoff along streets at intervals reasonably related to the extent and grade of the area drained.
G. 
Storm sewers, as required, shall be placed in front of the curb or curbline when located in a street right-of-way. When located in undedicated land, they shall be placed within an easement not less than 15 feet wide, as approved by the City Engineer, who may require additional width of easement as circumstances warrant.
H. 
Street drainage will not be permitted to cross intersections or the crown of the road:
(1) 
Maximum spacing of street inlets shall not exceed 600 feet.
(2) 
All street inlets shall be PennDOT Type C or M. Inlet tops shall be cast-in-place reinforced concrete or precast concrete.
(3) 
All culvert ends shall be provided with either reinforced concrete headwalls or pipe end sections.
(4) 
Minimum pipe size shall be 15 inch diameter.
(5) 
When material for storm drain systems is not specified, PennDOT specifications will govern.
I. 
All springs and sump pump discharges shall be collected so as not to flow in the streets.
J. 
Stormwater roof drains shall not discharge water directly over a sidewalk.
K. 
Stabilized outlets shall be provided for footer drains, floor drains, and downspouts.
L. 
The Soil-Cover Complex Method of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture shall be used as the primary means of estimating stormwater runoff.
M. 
The Rational Method may be used for analysis of storm sewer systems and for stormwater management facilities in minor subdivisions.
N. 
Where the estimated runoff based upon the above methods is doubtful, several recognized methods should be studied and compared.
O. 
The minimum design criteria shall be a ten-year storm. Higher frequency conditions shall be used in sensitive areas and where an overflow would endanger public or private property.
P. 
Runoff calculations must include complete hydrologic and hydraulic design and analysis of all control facilities.
Q. 
Control facilities.
(1) 
Permanent control measures/facilities shall be designed to assure that the maximum rate of stormwater runoff is not greater after development than prior to development for a ten-year storm frequency. More stringent criteria may be required in sensitive areas where stormwater problems presently exist.
(2) 
Control facilities shall be designed to meet, at a minimum, the design standards and specifications of the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Handbook for Clearfield County.
(a) 
Detention ponds may be waived by the City Council on the recommendation of the City Engineer at sites in close proximity to the major streams. This is to facilitate drainage prior to stream flooding.
(b) 
In areas underlain with limestone geology, ponds shall be limited to the detention (dry) type unless the developer can show a special need for a retention pond, in which case it shall have a lining. Detention ponds shall be prohibited in areas of known sinkholes unless the pond is lined. If a sinkhole develops in a pond or channel before acceptance by the City, a lining shall be required.
(c) 
Any ponds with slopes steeper than three to one shall be fenced with a six-foot fence of a type subject to the approval of the City.
(3) 
A maintenance program for control facilities must be included as part of the grading and drainage plan.
(a) 
Maintenance during development activities of a project shall be the responsibility of the contractor, developer and owner.
(b) 
Arrangement for maintenance of permanent control facilities after completion of development activities shall be made before approval of final plans is given by the City Council.
(4) 
In cases where permanent control facilities are owned by an entity, it shall be the responsibility of that entity to maintain control facilities (e.g., homeowners' association). In such cases a legally binding agreement between the owner and the City shall be made, providing for maintenance of all permanent erosion control facilities, including the inspection by the City.
A. 
Blocks and lots shall be graded to provide proper drainage away from buildings and to prevent the collection of stormwater in pools. Minimum two-percent slope away from structures shall be required.
B. 
Lot grading shall be of such design as to carry surface waters to the nearest practical street, storm drain, or natural watercourse. Where drainage swales are used to deliver surface waters away from buildings, their grade shall not be less than 1% nor more than 4%. The swales shall be sodded, planted or lined as required. A grading and draining plan shall be required for all subdivisions and land developments, except minor subdivisions.
C. 
No final grading shall be permitted with a cut face steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical, except under one or more of the following conditions:
(1) 
The material in which the excavation is made is sufficiently stable to sustain a slope steeper than two horizontal to one vertical, and a written statement of a civil engineer, licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and experienced in erosion control, to that effect is submitted to the City Engineer and approved by him. The statement shall state that the site has been inspected and that the deviation from the slope specified hereinbefore will not result in injury to persons or damage to property.
(2) 
A concrete or stone masonry wall constructed according to sound engineering standards, for which plans are submitted to the City Engineer for review and approval is provided.
D. 
No final grading shall be permitted which creates any exposed surface steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical, except under one or more of the following conditions:
(1) 
The fill is located so that settlement, sliding or erosion will not result in damage or be hazardous to adjoining property, streets, alleys, or buildings.
(2) 
A written statement from a civil engineer, licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and experienced in erosion control, certifying that he has inspected the site and that the proposed deviation from the slope specified above will not endanger any property or result in property damage, is submitted to and approved by the City Engineer.
(3) 
A wall is constructed to support the face of the fill.
E. 
The top or bottom edge of slopes shall be a minimum of three feet from property or right-of-way lines of streets or alleys in order to permit the normal rounding of the edge without encroaching on the abutting property. All property lines, where walls or slopes are steeper than one horizontal to one vertical and five feet or more in height, shall be protected by a protective fence no less than three feet in height, approved by the City Engineer.
F. 
All lots must be kept free of any debris or nuisances whatsoever.
A. 
The length, width, shape and design of blocks shall be determined with due regard to the provision of adequate sites for buildings of the type proposed, to the land use and/or zoning requirements of the City, the topography of the land being subdivided, and the requirements for safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian circulation.
B. 
Unless the topography of the land being subdivided or the existing pattern of development in the immediately adjacent area shall be otherwise than herein required, the following minimum standards for the design and size of blocks and lots shall prevail:
(1) 
Blocks shall not exceed 1,600 feet in length, nor be less than 500 feet in length.
(2) 
Residential blocks shall generally be of sufficient depth to accommodate two tiers of lots, except where reverse frontage lots bordering an arterial or collector street are used, or where, due to the contour of the land or the necessary layout of the subdivision, there is insufficient depth between intersecting streets for such two-tier design.
(3) 
Crosswalks or interior pedestrian walks shall be required in blocks exceeding 1,000 feet in length to provide for pedestrian circulation or access to community facilities. Such walks shall be paved for a width of not less than four feet, shall be located in easements not less than 10 feet in width, and shall, insofar as possible, be located in the center of any such block.
(4) 
Blocks for commercial and industrial areas may vary from the elements of design contained in this section if the nature of the use requires other treatment. In such cases, off-street parking for employees and customers shall be provided along with safe and convenient limited access to the street system. Space for off-street loading shall also be provided with limited access to the street system. Extensions of streets, railroad access rights-of-way, and utilities shall be provided as necessary.
(5) 
Lot lines intersecting street lines shall be substantially at right angles or radial to street lines.
(6) 
Lots shall, in general, front on a street which has already been dedicated to the City, or which the subdivider or developer proposes to dedicate to the City in connection with approval of the final plan. In commercial or industrial subdivisions or land developments where access is proposed to be provided by private streets within the subdivision or land development, this requirement may be waived by the City Council.
(7) 
The City shall assign house numbers to each lot within a subdivision.
(8) 
Minimum lot sizes shall be in accordance with Chapter 450, Zoning, of the Code of the City of DuBois.
(9) 
Remnants of land smaller than required for a lot shall not be permitted within any subdivision. Such remnants shall be incorporated in existing or proposed lots or dedicated to public use, if acceptable to the City Council.
(10) 
Double frontage lots are prohibited except in accordance with Subsection B(2) of this section.
(11) 
No residential lots shall be created which front upon an arterial or collector street, as defined in § 390-26A of this chapter.
A. 
It is the policy of this City that all subdivided lands shall have immediate access to a public street. Because of unique property configuration and location, this City recognizes the need for limited exceptions to the foregoing general policy.
B. 
No subdivision will be approved on a private street or road if more than two lots already front on such street or road or if, after subdivision, more than two lots will front on such private street or road.
A. 
In order to promote the highest environmental quality possible, the degree to which the applicant has preserved existing salient natural features and land forms intrinsic to the site shall be assessed. Terms of approval of a plat may be subject to the manner in which the layout or design of the plan has preserved existing natural features, such as but not limited to trees, wooded areas and watercourses.
B. 
Open space. Where the applicant is offering for dedication, or is required by ordinance to establish a reservation of open space or preserve an area of scenic or historic importance, a "limit of work," which will confine excavation, earthmoving procedures and other changes to the landscape, may be required to ensure preservation and prevent despoliation of the character of the area in open space.
C. 
Tree preservation. Whenever possible, trees shall not be removed unless they are located within the proposed street right-of-way, within the proposed building area, or within utility locations and equipment access areas. In areas where trees are retained, the original grade level shall be maintained, if possible, so as not to disturb the trees.
D. 
Topsoil preservation. All of the topsoil from areas where cuts and fills have been made should be stockpiled and redistributed uniformly after grading. All areas of the site shall be stabilized by seeding or planting on slopes of less than 10% and shall be stabilized by sodding on slopes of 10% or more and planted in ground cover on slopes of 20% or greater.
E. 
Landscaping. For all multifamily, apartment, office, commercial, and industrial subdivisions or land developments, a landscaping plan shall be provided and shall include sufficient plantings for the required open space, planting strips, screenings, formal gardens, shade trees and natural barriers.
F. 
Buffer planting requirements. Buffer yard requirements shall be as specified in Chapter 450, Zoning, of the Code of the City of DuBois.
G. 
Preserved landscaping. When there is a conscientious effort to preserve the existing natural integrity and character of a site and where such preservation effectuates areas of woodland and trees comparable to required planting improvements, i.e., landscaping and buffer screening, the plan may be received in lieu of additional landscaping requirements.
H. 
Trees. The planting of trees within the street right-of-way line shall not be permitted. The planting of any trees within the private property of each residential lot shall be at the discretion of the property owner or developer.
I. 
Watercourse protection. Where a subdivision or land development is traversed by a natural watercourse, there shall be provided a drainage easement or right-of-way conforming substantially with the line of such watercourse and of such width as will be adequate to preserve natural drainage. Such easement shall be in addition to the open space required in Subsection B of this section.
A. 
All residential subdivisions or land development plats submitted after the effective date of this chapter shall provide for suitable and adequate recreation in order to:
(1) 
Ensure adequate recreational areas and facilities to serve the future residents of the City.
(2) 
Maintain compliance with recreational standards as developed by the National Recreation and Parks Association.
(3) 
Reduce increasing usage pressure on existing recreational areas and facilities.
(4) 
Ensure that all present and future residents have the opportunity to engage in many and varied recreational pursuits.
(5) 
Reduce the possibility of the City becoming overburdened with the development and maintenance of many very small, randomly planned and widely separated recreation areas.
B. 
Exemptions and requirements.
(1) 
The following are exempt or partially exempt from the provisions of this section:
(a) 
Any single and/or multifamily residential subdivisions or land development plan in a residential zone classification for which a preliminary plan has been submitted prior to the effective date of this chapter.
(b) 
Any residential subdivision or land development plan, whether single and/or multifamily, that contains less than 30 dwelling units may be exempted by the City Council from dedicating land for recreational purposes, but shall pay the fee in lieu of dedication as provided in this chapter. Yard extensions shall be excluded from this requirement.
(2) 
The amount of land required to be provided for recreational purposes for residential subdivision or land development plans not exempted from the provisions of this section shall be as follows:
(a) 
Single-family developments. In the case of single-family subdivision, the developer shall provide a minimum of 1,500 square feet per lot.
(b) 
Multiple-family developments. In multiple-family developments, a minimum contiguous area of 10% of the total area shall be provided for recreation, exclusive of roadways of the land being developed.
(3) 
A maximum of 25% of the total land area required by this section to be provided for recreation may consist of floodplain areas.
(4) 
Such land set aside shall be suitable to serve the purpose of active and/or passive recreation by reason of its size, shape, location and topography and shall be subject to the approval of the City Council.
(5) 
The developer shall satisfy the City Council that there are adequate provisions to assure retention and all future maintenance of such recreation areas by maintaining ownership or by providing for and establishing an organization for the ownership and maintenance of the recreation area, and such organization shall not be dissolved nor shall it dispose of the recreation area by sale or otherwise, except to an organization conceived and established to own and maintain the recreation area, without first offering to dedicate the same to the City.
C. 
Recreation area location criteria. The Planning Commission and City Council, in exercising their duties regarding the approval of subdivision and land development plans, shall consider the following criteria in determining whether to approve the proposed location of recreation areas in the developer's subdivision and land development plans:
(1) 
Site or sites shall be easily and safely accessible from all areas of the development to be served, have good ingress and egress and have access to a public road; however, no public road shall traverse the site or sites.
(2) 
Site or sites shall have suitable topography and soil conditions for use and development as a recreation area.
(3) 
Size and shape for the site or sites shall be suitable for development as a particular type of park. Sites will be categorized by the City using the standards established by the National Recreation and Parks Association (Publication No. 10005, as revised).
(4) 
When designing and developing these recreation areas, it shall be done according to the standards established by the National Recreation and Parks Association.
(5) 
Site or sites shall, to the greatest extent practical, be easily accessible to essential utilities, such as water, sewer and electric.
(6) 
Site or sites shall meet minimum size requirements for usable acreage with respect to National Recreation and Parks Association standards, with 75% of such area having a maximum slope of 7%.
(7) 
Recreation sites shall be located in such a manner which allows maximum practical solar access to neighboring structures.
(8) 
Where open space is being provided, it shall be located, wherever possible, to provide a buffer from the shading effects of taller structures or obstructions on existing or proposed shorter buildings.
D. 
Dedication to municipality.
(1) 
In a case where the developer does not wish to retain the required recreation area, such area may be offered for dedication to the City for public use.
(2) 
In addition to approving the recreation site areas to be dedicated to the City, the Planning Commission shall make its recommendation to the City Council as to whether the dedication shall be accepted by the City.
(3) 
Such areas dedicated to the City for public use shall be suitable for recreation purposes by reason of size, shape, location, topography and access.
(4) 
The Planning Commission may find dedication to be impractical because of the size, shape, location, access, topography, drainage or other physical features of the land and that such dedication would adversely affect the subdivision or land development and its future residents or occupants, or that there is no land area within the proposed subdivision which is practical for dedication to the public because of size, access, topography or other physical characteristics.
(5) 
When the City Council deems it to be in the public interest to accept dedicated land, such acceptance shall be by means of a signed resolution, to which the property description of the dedicated recreation area shall be attached.
E. 
Fee in lieu of dedication.
(1) 
Where the City Council agrees with the developer that because of the size, shape, location, access, topography or other physical features of the land it is impractical to dedicate land to the City or set aside a recreation area as required by this section, the City Council shall require a payment of a fee in lieu of dedication of such land, which shall be payable to the City prior to approval of each final section of the overall plan by the City Council. Such fee shall be calculated by multiplying the number of dwelling units in each section by the fee per dwelling unit.
(2) 
The amount of the fee shall be set from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
(3) 
All monies paid to the City Council pursuant to this section shall be used only for the acquisition of and/or capital improvements for park and recreation purposes.
A. 
General purpose.
(1) 
The City Council finds that the minimization of erosion and control of sedimentation in connection with land development and subdivision are in the public interest, affecting public health, safety and welfare, and therefore those regulations governing erosion control and sedimentation control are necessary for the City.
(2) 
No changes shall be made in the contour of the land, no grading, excavating, removal or destruction to the topsoil, trees or other vegetative cover of the land shall be commenced until such time that a plan for minimizing erosion and sedimentation has been processed with and reviewed by the City Engineer and/or Clearfield County Soil and Water Conservation District, or there has been a determination by the above entities that such plans are not necessary.
(3) 
No subdivision or land development plan shall be approved unless: (a) there has been an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the City Council that provides for minimizing erosion and sedimentation consistent with this section, and an improvement bond or other acceptable securities are deposited with the City in the form of an escrow guarantee which will ensure installation and completion of the required improvements; or (b) there has been a determination by the City Council that a plan for minimizing erosion and sedimentation is not necessary.
(4) 
Where not specified in this chapter, measures used to control erosion and reduce sedimentation shall at a minimum meet the standards and specifications of the Clearfield County Soil and Water Conservation District. The City Engineer, or other officials as designated, shall ensure compliance with the appropriate specifications, copies of which are available from the Soil and Water Conservation District.
B. 
Performance principles. The following measures are effective in minimizing erosion and sedimentation and shall be included where applicable in the control plan:
(1) 
Stripping of vegetation, regrading, or other development shall be done in such a way that will prevent all but minor erosion.
(2) 
Development plans shall preserve salient natural features, keep cut-fill operations to a minimum, and ensure conformity with topography so as to create the least erosion potential and adequately handle the volume and velocity of surface water runoff.
(3) 
Whenever feasible, natural vegetation shall be retained, protected, and supplemented.
(4) 
The disturbed area and the duration of exposure shall be kept to a practical minimum.
(5) 
Disturbed soils shall be stabilized as quickly as practicable.
(6) 
Temporary vegetation and/or mulching shall be used to protect exposed critical areas during development.
(7) 
The permanent final vegetation and structural erosion control and drainage measures shall be installed as soon as practical in the development.
(8) 
Provisions shall be made to effectively accommodate the increased runoff caused by changed soil and surface conditions during and after development. Where necessary, the rate of surface water runoff will be structurally retarded.
(9) 
Sediment in the runoff water shall be trapped until the disturbed area is stabilized by the use of debris basins, sediment basins, silt traps, or similar measures.
C. 
Grading for erosion and other environmental controls. In order to provide suitable sites for building and other uses, improve surface drainage, and control erosion, the following requirements shall be met:
(1) 
Streets shall be improved to a mud-free or otherwise permanently passable condition as one of the first items of work done on a subdivision or development. The wearing surface shall be installed in accordance with § 390-26G and as approved in the final plan.
(2) 
Provisions shall be made to prevent surface water from damaging the cut face of excavations or the sloping surfaces of fills, by installation of temporary or permanent drainage across or above these areas.
(3) 
Fill shall be placed and compacted so as to minimize sliding or erosion of the soil.
(4) 
Fills placed adjacent to watercourses shall have suitable protection against erosion during periods of flooding.
(5) 
During grading operations, necessary measures for dust control will be exercised.
(6) 
Grading equipment will not be allowed to enter into flowing streams. Provisions will be made for the installation of temporary or permanent culverts or bridges.
D. 
Responsibility.
(1) 
Whenever sedimentation damage is caused by stripping vegetation, grading or other development, it shall be the collective responsibility of the land developer and subdivider and of the contractor, person, corporation and other entity causing such sedimentation to remove it from all adjoining surfaces, drainage systems and watercourses and to repair any damage at his expense as quickly as possible.
(2) 
Maintenance of all erosion and sedimentation control facilities during the construction and development period is the responsibility of the land developer or subdivider.
(3) 
It is the responsibility of any developer or subdivider and any person, corporation, or other entity doing any act on or across a communal stream, watercourse or swale, or upon the floodplain or right-of-way, to maintain as nearly as possible in its present state the stream, watercourse, swale, floodplain or right-of-way during the pendency of the activity and to return it to its original or equal condition after such activity is completed.
(4) 
The subdivider or land developer shall provide and install, at his expense, in accordance with City requirements, all drainage and erosion control improvements (temporary and permanent) shown on the erosion and sediment control plan.
E. 
Compliance with regulations and procedures.
(1) 
The City Council, in its consideration of all preliminary plans of subdivision and land development, shall condition its approval upon the execution of erosion and sediment control measures as contained in Subsections B and C of this section.
(2) 
The installation and design of the required erosion and sediment control measures shall be in accordance with standards and specifications of the Clearfield County Soil and Conservation District.
F. 
Stream channel construction. Stream channel construction on watersheds with drainage areas in excess of 1/2 square mile or in those cases where downstream hazards exist will conform to criteria established by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 390-35, Floodplain area regulations, was repealed at time of adoption of Code revisions (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).