Development Engineering FAQs
- How do I find information about public improvement plans, aerial photographs, subdivision maps, or Records of Survey?
- When can I request a vacation?
- What is a traffic study and why do we need it?
- When is a traffic study required?
How do I find information about public improvement plans, aerial photographs, subdivision maps, or Records of Survey?
The Public Resource Center is the City's archive of public improvements plans, aerial photographs, subdivision maps, and Records of Survey. The Resource Center also includes a database containing City survey control information that is available for public use. The Resource Center is an important source of information for City staff, design consultants, and the general public. The Public Resource Center is located at 300 Richards Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95811. Let the counter staff know that you would like to do research in the resource center.
When can I request a vacation?
A property owner whose property encumbers or abuts a public street or public service easement may request a vacation/abandonment of the area. For example, a property owner may request abandonment of a portion of street frontage adjoining their property that was never developed or is no longer needed due to altered circulation patterns.
What is a traffic study and why do we need it?
A traffic study is needed if a project has a potential to create a significant transportation-related environmental impact or a detriment to traffic safety. The Development Services Department has established the following guidelines in making a preliminary evaluation regarding any need for traffic study:
- Identify potentially significant traffic impacts, if any, as part of the project's environmental document (e.g., Environmental Impact Report or Negative Declaration, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act).
- Identify possible mitigation measures for those impacts.
- Identify and evaluate any changes to the circulation network proposed by a development.
- Evaluate how the project elements will affect traffic operations, in context of site design, driveway locations, turn movements permitted to and from the project site, locations of nearby traffic signals, and potential to create unsafe traffic conditions.
- Traffic study results are also used to identify and assist in the design of specific transportation improvements like roadway and intersection design required with a project. These improvement requirements are incorporated into the conditions of project approval.
When is a traffic study required?
A traffic study is needed if a project has a potential to create a significant transportation-related environmental impact or a detriment to traffic safety. The Development Services Department has established the following guidelines in making a preliminary evaluation regarding any need for traffic study:
- The project will generate more than 100 new trips during the peak traffic hours of the adjacent roadways (AM, PM, or Midday).
- The project will generate more than 50 new peak hour trips, and if a transportation facility (roadway and/or intersection) located on a main access route to the site is currently operating at an unacceptable Level of Service.
Note: Level of Service (LOS) ranges from A (excellent) to F (poor). The City General Plan established LOS C as acceptable. - The project may have a potential to create a hazard to public safety.
- The project could substantially change the off-site transportation system (including facilities for vehicles, buses, light rail, pedestrians, bikes, etc.) or connections to it.