Chapter 16.74
LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS

Sections:

16.74.010    Purpose.

16.74.020    Application required.

16.74.030    Approval authority.

16.74.040    Public hearing.

16.74.050    Lot line locations.

16.74.060    Lot line adjustments in the coastal zone.

16.74.070    Findings.

16.74.080    Appeals.

16.74.090    Time limitations.

16.74.100    Time extensions.

16.74.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures and standards for changing the boundary or boundaries between four or fewer existing adjoining parcels as provided by the Subdivision Map Act to ensure lot line adjustments are consistent with the general plan, zoning ordinance, and the local coastal program. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.020 Application required.

A request for a lot line adjustment must be made through submittal of a city application and requisite fees. At a minimum, an application package shall include copies of deeds for all properties included in the request, a plat map depicting existing and proposed lot lines and drawn to scale by a licensed land surveyor or registered civil engineer, and written permission from each property owner involved in the application. Additional information may be required as determined by the community development director. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.030 Approval authority.

The community development director shall be authorized to issue decisions on lot line adjustment applications. Lot line adjustment applications accompanied by other permits under the jurisdiction of the planning commission or city council shall be considered by the highest decision-making body. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.040 Public hearing.

An application for a lot line adjustment shall be considered in a public hearing if it is accompanied by other permits which require a public hearing (e.g., coastal development permit). (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.050 Lot line locations.

Lot lines shall not be relocated if it would result in any of the following:

A. Impair any legal access or easements.

B. Include any lots, which in the director’s judgment, based on design, size, or specifications of the original document creating the parcel, were not intended as a building site (e.g. utility lots or road lots).

C. Result in any lots which do not comply with applicable zoning regulations, including but not limited to lot size and building setback requirements, or exacerbate the nonconformity of any existing undersized lot. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.060 Lot line adjustments in the coastal zone.

Lot line adjustments within the coastal zone shall require approval of a coastal development permit and shall not be approved or conditionally approved unless the existing parcels are legal and the reconfigured parcels resulting from the lot line adjustment will conform to the local coastal program, including minimum parcel size and density. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.070 Findings.

The following findings shall be made to approve an application for a lot line adjustment:

A. All lots resulting from the lot line adjustment comply with the general plan, zoning ordinance, and local coastal program.

B. All lots involved in the proposed lot line adjustment were legally created pursuant to the California Subdivision Map Act and any local ordinance in effect at the time.

C. Reconfigured parcels resulting from a lot line adjustment in the coastal zone would provide equivalent or better protection to coastal resources. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.080 Appeals.

An interested party may appeal a community development director decision to the planning commission by filing a complete appeal application with requisite fees within ten business days of the decision. Decisions by the planning commission may be appealed to the city council in accordance with Chapter 2.52 of this code. Appeals of lot line adjustments which include a coastal development permit shall be processed in accordance with the local coastal program. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.090 Time limitations.

A lot line adjustment approval shall be valid for one year from the effective approval date. Prior to expiration, the property to be exchanged must be conveyed and revised deeds which describe the reconfigured parcels must be recorded with the county of Santa Cruz. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)

16.74.100 Time extensions.

Upon written application and requisite fees submitted prior to expiration of the lot line adjustment, a single one-year extension may be granted. The one-year extension shall commence from the initial expiration date. (Ord. 1014 § 1 (part), 2017)