Chapter 17.01
USER GUIDE
Sections:
17.01.010 Introduction.
17.01.020 What is a subdivision?
17.01.030 How is a plat reviewed?
17.01.040 What are the criteria for approval?
17.01.050 What happens after a plat is approved?
17.01.060 What about a simple boundary line adjustment or elimination?
17.01.070 How do you modify an existing subdivision?
17.01.080 How do you change a recorded subdivision?
17.01.090 How do you eliminate a recorded subdivision?
17.01.100 Is there another process by which you can subdivide land?
17.01.110 Can you cluster lots within a subdivision?
17.01.010 Introduction.
This title contains standards, regulations and processes for the division of land and adjustment of property boundaries within the city. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.020 What is a subdivision?
The process of dividing land into smaller lots is often generically referred to as a subdivision. However, in this title, the term “subdivision” refers specifically to the division of land into five or more lots, while the division of land into four or fewer lots is called a “short subdivision.” Most of the regulations for subdivisions and short subdivisions are the same, but a short subdivision is an administrative process where an application is reviewed and decided upon by city staff whereas a subdivision is reviewed and decided upon by the city’s hearing examiner. A plat is the drawing or map which shows the subdivision or short subdivision. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.030 How is a plat reviewed?
The plat review process for a short subdivision, including the infrastructure improvement requirements for approval, is set forth in Chapter 17.09 ACC. The plat review process for a subdivision, from the pre-application conference to preliminary approval by the hearing examiner, is set forth in Chapter 17.10 ACC. Chapter 17.16 ACC includes additional requirements for planning and other studies to be submitted for review along with the preliminary plat. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.040 What are the criteria for approval?
A plat must be laid out in accordance with the standards and specifications set forth in Chapter 17.14 ACC. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.050 What happens after a plat is approved?
Once the layout of a subdivision has been approved by the city, it is said to have preliminary approval. Then the applicant must submit construction drawings of the infrastructure that was proposed in the preliminary plat. Once these construction drawings are approved by the city and the infrastructure has been built, inspected and accepted by the city, the plat has final approval and can be recorded with the appropriate county. In the case of a subdivision, an additional application, review and approval process is required for this final approval. This final plat process is set forth in Chapter 17.12 ACC. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.060 What about a simple boundary line adjustment or elimination?
Other land adjustment tools are also outlined in this title, including boundary line adjustments (Chapter 17.06 ACC) and boundary line eliminations (Chapter 17.08 ACC). Boundary line adjustments are the movement of a boundary line that does not result in the creation of a new lot. Boundary line eliminations are the merging of two or more lots by eliminating one or more lot lines. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.070 How do you modify an existing subdivision?
The applicant can request a modification of subdivision standards and specifications through the process set forth in Chapter 17.18 ACC. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.080 How do you change a recorded subdivision?
After a subdivision has been recorded with the county in which it is located, any proposed change to the subdivision is called a subdivision alteration. The alteration process is set forth in Chapter 17.20 ACC. If the applicant proposes to make a change to an approved preliminary plat before final plat approval and recording, then the applicant may request an adjustment to the preliminary plat through the process set forth in ACC 17.10.100. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.090 How do you eliminate a recorded subdivision?
A plat may also be vacated, or eliminated, after recording. Chapter 17.22 ACC outlines the process by which a plat may be vacated, and to whom the title to the vacated property shall vest. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.100 Is there another process by which you can subdivide land?
The binding site plan process is an alternative form of land division. It may be used for the division of land for commercially or industrially zoned property, or for certain types of residential development. This process is set forth in Chapter 17.24 ACC. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)
17.01.110 Can you cluster lots within a subdivision?
The city of Auburn allows clustering of lots within a subdivision onto a portion of the site, while maintaining the density of the residential zone. Clustering allows future development to occur at an appropriate density for infrastructure services; it also protects environmentally sensitive areas or cultural/historic features by clustering lots away from these areas. The standards by which clustering is allowed are set forth in Chapter 17.26 ACC. (Ord. 6239 § 1, 2009.)