§ 13. Improvements.

No improvements shall be started until the authorized representative of the governing body approves the complete construction plans and specifications. The improvements listed hereinafter in this section shall be installed prior to approval of the final plat; provided, however, in lieu of installation of these improvements, the subdivider may post a bond to cover the cost of improvements, as provided in section 14, subsection (b)(2).

(a)

Permanent markers. Wherever improvements are constructed under this section, all subdivision boundary corners and the corners of all lot intersections shall be marked with permanent markers. A permanent marker shall be a steel pipe or rod which extends a minimum of three feet below the ground line. Offset marking will be permitted; provided, however, exact offset courses and distances are shown on the subdivision plat.

For all subdivisions larger than 25 lots a permanent benchmark shall be accessibly placed, the elevation of which shall be determined with third order accuracy and based on mean sea level datum as determined by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and noted on the subdivision plat. Such permanent benchmark shall be concrete with a minimum dimension of four inches extending a minimum of four feet below the ground line.

(b)

Street improvements.

(1)

Base: All streets shall have a six-inch soil cement base or equal at least 21 feet wide on a graded roadbed at least 26 feet wide, all of which complies with the most recent specifications of the Federal Housing Administration. Data sheets S.K. 102, 101, 401, 462, 501, and 451 of Federal Housing Administration Land Planning Bulletin No. 3 printed in January 1965 give the specifications for the base courses.

(2)

All such streets shall be surfaced with a three-course bituminous surface treatment or equal, or better that meets the most recent specifications of the Federal Housing Administration. Data sheets S.L. 101, 110, 201, 301, 401, and 351, of the Federal Housing Administration Land Planning Bulletin No. 3 printed in January 1956 give the specifications for surface courses. The surface treatment shall be at least 20 feet for open ditch construction. For curb and gutter streets the minimum width shall be 27 feet measured back to back of curb.

(3)

Ditches: If curbs and gutters are not provided, ditches shall be provided having at least 3:1 fore slopes (or side slopes on the street side having at least three feet of horizontal distance for each one foot of vertical drop), and 2:1 back slopes on the property side having at least two feet of horizontal distance for each one foot of vertical drop.

(4)

Approved street markers bearing the names of the streets shall be provided and installed at each street intersection in the subdivision. The street markers shall be of a standard type and design which has been approved by the governing body.

(5)

Sidewalks of concrete or equivalent surface four feet in width shall be provided along all streets designated as major streets on the official major street plan adopted by the planning commission, and along all other streets where deemed essential for public safety by the governing body.

(c)

Storm drainage. All surface drainage courses shall have at least 1:1 side slope (or a vertical fall of one foot in each 800 feet of horizontal lengths).

Cross pipes under streets shall be reinforced concrete or asphalt dipped corrugated metal that meets the specifications of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. All specifications for pipes are found in section 9, part 4, division II of the State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development, Standard Specifications for Roads and Bridges, printed July 1955.

The plat or subdivision deed restrictions shall carry the notation or provision that the size and grade of culverts for driveways and other pipes in roadside ditches shall be approved by the authorized representatives of the governing body.

A contour map should be prepared for the area comprising the subdivision and all additional area necessary to include all watersheds which drain into the property to be developed.

In the design of the drainage for the subdivision provision should be made to adequately take care of adjacent watershed areas after development of the area, and where ditches and canals are used, adequate servitudes shall be provided for future needs. The governing body may require the subdivider to provide a contour map if it deems such contour map necessary.

(d)

Water supply. The subdivider shall connect with the municipal water supply and make it available for each lot within the subdivided area. Where paved streets or bituminous-surfaced streets are provided pipe connection for each lot shall extend beyond the edge of the street pavement or bituminous surface. Fire hydrants shall also be installed by the subdivider in accordance with recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (generally, fire hydrants shall be placed to the nearest property line, but no more than 400 feet apart). When connection is made with the municipal water supply such connection and installation shall be by the municipality at the subdivider's expense with a minimum of eight-inch mains and cut-off valves provided at each connection. Said mains to be looped with the existing water system to provide uninterrupted service in the event of breakage and/or repairs.

(e)

Sewers. If the subdivision is located where a public sanitary sewer is accessible, the subdivider shall connect with such sanitary sewer at the subdivider's expense and the subdivider shall provide adequate sewer lines accessible to each lot at his expense. The subdivider shall install wye pipe connection for each lot and, where paved streets or bituminous surfaced streets are provided, shall extend such pipe connection beyond the edge of the street pavement or bituminous surface. Sewer connections and subdivision sewer systems shall comply with the regulation of the governing body or its authorized representative and of the state board of health [and hospitals] and shall be constructed under the supervision of and approved by the parish health unit and the municipal manager of utilities and public works.

If no sanitary sewer is accessible, sewage disposal facilities shall be approved by and constructed under the supervision of the parish health unit and the municipal manager of utilities and public works.

(f)

Distribution of construction plans. When the construction plans are complete the subdivider shall furnish to the municipal manager of utilities and public works two sets of paper prints and one set of reproducible prints of the construction plans. Two paper prints of the sewers construction plans shall be furnished to the director of the parish health unit.

(Ord. No. 376-91, § 1, 7-8-1991; Ord. No. 411-94, § 1, 3-14-1994)