§ 24-121. Planning and design requirements.

(a)

The Planning Board shall require that proposed subdivisions conform to the following:

(1)

All lots shall be designed to be located wholly within the County and platted in conformance with all of the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance applicable to the subject property.

(2)

In cases where the proposed subdivision is situated in a portion of the Regional District not planned to be served by public water and/or sewerage facilities, proposed lots shall be designed to meet the minimum lot size requirements for individual systems, as contained in Subtitle 22 of this Code and in the Comprehensive Ten Year Water and Sewerage Plan.

(3)

When lots are proposed on land adjacent to an existing or planned roadway of arterial or higher classification, they shall be designed to front on either an interior street or a service road. As used in this Section, a planned roadway or transit right-of-way shall mean a road or right-of-way shown in a currently approved State Highway plan, General Plan, or master plan. If a service road is used, it shall connect, where feasible, with a local interior collector street with the point of intersection located at least two hundred (200) feet away from the intersection of any roadway of collector or higher classification.

(4)

Residential lots adjacent to existing or planned roadways of arterial classification shall be platted with a minimum depth of one hundred and fifty (150) feet. Residential lots adjacent to an existing or planned roadway of freeway or higher classification, or an existing or planned transit right-of-way, shall be platted with a depth of three hundred (300) feet. Adequate protection and screening from traffic nuisances shall be provided by earthen berms, plant materials, fencing, and/or the establishment of a building restriction line, when appropriate.

(5)

The preliminary plan and final plat shall conform to the area master plan, including maps and text, unless the Planning Board finds that events have occurred to render the relevant recommendations within the comprehensive plan no longer appropriate, is no longer applicable, or the District Council has not imposed the recommended zoning. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this Section, a proposed preliminary plan or final plat of subdivision may be designed to conform with the land use policy recommendations for centers, as approved within current County general plan. In such cases, the Planning Board may approve a preliminary plan application as may be designed to conform with the land use policy recommendations for centers, as duly approved within the current General Plan.

(6)

When indicated by a master plan or the General Plan or when requested by a public agency, land may be placed in reservation, pursuant to Division 7 of this Subtitle.

(7)

Provision shall be made for the eventual ownership of outlots or residue parcels by incorporating them into platted lots or into adjacent parcels or by other means deemed acceptable by the Planning Board.

(8)

Corner lots shall be rounded with a radius of not less than twenty (20) feet or provided with an equivalent truncation.

(9)

Walkways, with rights-of-way not less than ten (10) feet wide, shall be provided through all blocks over seven hundred fifty (750) feet long, when deemed necessary by the Planning Board.

(10)

Generally, subdivisions shall be designed to avoid unnecessary and costly roads, utility extensions, grading, and energy consumption.

(11)

Significant natural features which are impossible or difficult to reproduce, such as waterways, streams, hills, wooded lands, and specimen trees, should be preserved to the degree practicable.

(12)

Lot size averaging may be permitted for preliminary plans accepted prior to July 1, 2006 in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance when the Planning Board finds that:

(A)

The subdivision design provides for better access, protects or enhances historic resource or natural features and amenities, or otherwise provides for a better environment than that which could be achieved by the exclusive use of standard lots.

(B)

The subdivision design provides for an adequate transition between the proposed sizes and locations of lots and the lots, or lot size standards, of any adjacent residentially zoned parcels.

(C)

The subdivision design, where applicable, provides for an adequate transition between the proposed natural features of the site and any natural features of adjacent parcels.

(13)

Generally, lots, except at corners, should have access to only one (1) street.

(14)

If an entrance feature or gateway sign is proposed in a residential subdivision, it shall be identified on the preliminary plan on a separate Homeowners' Association parcel, or easement located on a homeowner's lot, and be designed in accordance with the standards in Section 27-624 of the Zoning Ordinance. A Homeowners' Association or other entity or person designated in a maintenance arrangement approved by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, shall be responsible for the maintenance of the entrance feature or gateway sign.

(15)

The Planning Board shall not approve a preliminary plan of subdivision until evidence is submitted that a stormwater management concept plan has been approved by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement or the municipality having approval authority, unless the Planning Board finds that such approval will not affect the subdivision.

(16)

Except as indicated in Section 24-132, the subdivision shall be designed and platted in accordance with the provisions for woodland conservation and tree preservation contained in Subtitle 25.

(17)

Historic resources should be preserved.

(18)

Significant archeological sites identified in accordance with the Planning Board Guidelines for Archeological Review should be preserved in place, to the extent practicable and should be interpreted as appropriate.

(19)

Condominium townhouse dwelling units approved after September 1, 2012 shall conform to the lot standards of this Subtitle and Subtitle 27 for possible future conversion to fee simple lots.

(CB-48-1981; CB-73-1987; CB-74-1989; CB-110-1989; CB-112-1989; CB-116-1989; CB-39-1994; CB-45-1997; CB-13-2005; CB-92-2005; CB-4-2006; CB-8-2012; CB-104-2012; CB-28-2014; CB-39-2016; CB-85-2018)