26.04.040 PURPOSE.

This title is adopted to regulate the division of land and to require the construction of certain prescribed improvements which are needed as a consequence of the division of land in order to achieve the following purposes among others:

(1) To promote the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare;

(2) To insure the development of land in a manner consistent with the community objective as set forth in the general plan;

(3) To insure that all subdivision and development of land conforms to the primary objectives of preserving and enhancing the qualities of the community and such attributes as may hereafter be set forth in the general plan;

(4) To protect property in the City against deterioration and obsolescence;

(5) To preserve and protect the natural amenities of the community and to establish the character thereof, and through design, provide a harmonious relationship between the completed subdivision and its natural environment;

(6) To provide lots of adequate size and appropriate design for the purposes for which they are to be used;

(7) To protect the community to the maximum extent from: excessive stormwater runoff; wanton destruction of trees; increased soil erosion; earth movement; earthquake hazards; and other geological hazards;

(8) To make law enforcement and fire protection easier through orderly design in the development and construction of adequate facilities and improvements;

(9) To ensure, at the time of subdivision, the construction of adequate storm drainage, sewage disposal, and other utilities, services, and improvements needed as a consequence of the division of land;

(10) To ensure that governmental costs are minimized by requiring the installation of improvements of adequate size and quality;

(11) To provide streets of adequate capacity, with appropriate improvements; to provide access to abutting property and to carry the anticipated traffic; and to ensure that streets are designed so as to minimize hazards to the safety of vehicles and their occupants, as well as to pedestrians;

(12) To ensure that street rights-of-way are in harmony with the total environment and provide a sense of open space to that portion of the community;

(13) To provide pedestrian paths and other features for the safety and convenience of pedestrians desiring access to community facilities, for travel throughout the community, and for enjoyment of the natural amenities of that portion of the community;

(14) To minimize through traffic on residential streets;

(15) To make possible the coordination of subdivision development with the provision of public facilities such as parks, recreation areas and schools;

(16) To assist in implementing the general plan and especially such elements as the policy on land use and intensity of development and the preservation of natural amenities.