3.1.200 Lot, Parcel and Block Design

3.1.200 Lot, Parcel and Block Design.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to create orderly development as the City grows and redevelops. The size, width, topography and orientation of lots or parcels shall be appropriate for the location of the land division and for the type of development and use contemplated.

B. Applicability. New development shall be consistent with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable sections of this code.

1. Depth and width of new lots or parcels must meet the minimum standards specified for the zoning district. Where no minimum standards are specified, the depth and width must be adequate to provide for the off-street service and parking facilities required by the type of use and development contemplated.

2. On steep slopes, increased lot or parcel sizes may be required to avoid excessive cuts, fills and steep driveways.

3. On tracts containing watercourses or rock outcroppings, increased lot or parcel sizes may be required to allow adequate room for development and protection of the topographic or natural feature.

4. Each lot or parcel must abut upon a street other than an alley for the minimum width required for lots or parcels in the zone, except:

a. For lots or parcels fronting on the bulb of a cul-de-sac, the minimum frontage is 30 feet, except for townhomes;

b. For approved flag lots or parcels, the minimum frontage is 15 feet;

c. For townhomes and lots or parcels in zero lot line developments, the minimum frontage is 20 feet; and

d. In zones where a minimum frontage width is not specified, the minimum frontage is 50 feet.

5. All side lot or parcel lines shall be at right angles to the street lines or radial to curved streets for at least one-half the lot or parcel depth wherever practical.

6. Corner lots or parcels must be at least five feet more in width than the minimum lot width required in the zone, except for townhomes.

7. All permanent utility service to lots or parcels shall be provided from underground facilities. The developer shall be responsible for complying with requirements of this section, and shall:

a. Make all necessary arrangements with the utility companies and other persons or corporations affected by the installation of such underground utilities and facilities in accordance with rules and regulations of the Public Utility Commission of the State of Oregon.

b. All underground utilities and public facilities installed in streets shall be constructed prior to the surfacing of such streets.

D. Street Connectivity and Formation of Blocks. To promote efficient multi-modal circulation along parallel and connecting streets throughout the City, developments must produce complete blocks bounded by a connecting network of streets, in accordance with the following standards:

1. New development must construct and extend planned streets (arterials and collectors) in their planned projection as shown in the Transportation System Plan. New developments must construct and/or extend a connected network of local streets as needed to meet block length and perimeter requirements in subsection (D)(2) of this section. Where the Transportation System Plan, Special Planned District, Refinement Plan, Master Plan, Area Plan or other such plans do not provide specific block length and perimeter standards, the requirements listed below apply:

2. Block lengths and perimeters must not exceed the following standards as measured from centerline to centerline of through intersecting streets:

a. Six hundred sixty feet block length and 2,000 feet block perimeter in all Residential Zones;

b. Four hundred feet block length and 1,500 feet block perimeter in the Central Business District, Convenience Commercial, Mixed-Use Riverfront and Professional Office Districts;

c. Six hundred sixty feet block length and 2,640 feet block perimeter for all other districts;

d. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make an exception to the maximum block length and/or block perimeter if the applicant can demonstrate that the block length and/or block perimeter cannot be satisfied due to topography, natural features, existing development or other barriers, or it is unreasonable to meet such standards based on the existing pattern of development, or other relevant factors. When an exception is granted, the Review Authority may require the land division or site plan to provide blocks divided by one or more access corridors in conformance with the provisions of BDC 3.1.300, Multi-Modal Access and Circulation. Access corridors must be located to minimize out-of-direction travel by pedestrians and bicyclists and must meet all applicable standards.

3. New street connections to arterials and collectors are governed by BDC 3.1.400, Vehicular Access Management.

4. Except as otherwise provided in an approved Master Plan, private streets, where allowed by this code, must be constructed to public standards and must contain a public access easement along the length and width of the private facility.

E. New Lot and Parcel Access on Arterial and Collector Streets. In order to protect the operations and safety of arterial and collector streets, access management is required during lot and parcel development. New lots and parcels created through land division that have frontage onto an arterial or collector street must provide alternative options for access as indicated below:

i. Residential lots or parcels must provide access to an existing alley.

ii. Where an alley does not exist, an alley must be created at the time of land division approval and must provide access to the residential lots or parcels.

b. Discretionary Track. If the applicant states in the written narrative they are electing to use a Type II discretionary track, then the applicant may request that the Review Authority make a determination that access from an existing alley or the development of an alley is impractical due to physical or topographical constraints, natural features or existing development patterns. In this situation, double frontage lots may be permitted.

2. Nonresidential, mixed-use and multi-unit dwelling lots or parcels must provide other access alternatives to the individual lots that abut the arterial or collector street.

a. Double frontage lots or parcels of adequate depth to accommodate the future use may be permitted, except multi-unit dwelling lots or parcels must be a minimum of 50 feet in depth. The creation of double frontage lots does not relieve the property owner from their responsibilities to construct and maintain the sidewalk/multi-use path and park strip on the nonaccess side.

b. When a lot or parcel has frontage onto two or more streets, access must be provided first from the street with the lowest classification.

3. The land division must provide for local street grid connections to the arterial and collector street in accordance with the block length and perimeter standards of this section. [Ord. NS-2463, 2023; Ord. NS-2445, 2022; Ord. NS-2423, 2021; Ord. NS-2353, 2019; Ord. NS-2177, 2012; Ord. NS-2016, 2006]