Chapter 17.08
DEFINITIONS

Sections:

17.08.010    Generally.

17.08.010 Generally.

Certain words and terms used in this code are defined below to simplify wording, give the meaning of a technical term, or to eliminate ambiguity. Some definitions differ from definitions of the same words in standard dictionaries. Where this occurs, the definition in this code shall prevail. Words not defined shall be presumed to have common and universally accepted dictionary meanings. The word “person” includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, or corporation as well as an individual. The present tense includes the future tense; and the plural number includes the singular. The word “shall” is mandatory; the word “may” is permissive. The word “city” means the city of Monroe.

Administrator. See “subdivision administrator.”

“Approval, final” means official action taken by the city with respect to a final plat.

“Approval, preliminary” means official action taken by the hearing authority and council with respect to a proposed plat.

“Authority, hearing” means the hearing examiner for the city of Monroe.

“Binding site plan” means a scaled drawing, drawn by a professional surveyor, which: (1) identifies and depicts the locations of all streets, improvements, utilities, open spaces, and any other matters specified by local regulations; (2) contains inscriptions or attachments setting forth appropriate limitations and conditions for the use of the land; and (3) contains provisions making any development be in conformity with the site plan.

“Boundary line adjustment” means the adjustment of a boundary line between existing lots which results in no more lots, tracts, parcels, sites, or divisions than existed before the adjustment and which meets the criteria set forth in Chapter 17.30 MMC.

“City engineer” means the person appointed to be city engineer generally, or any engineer.

“Comprehensive plan” means policies and proposals prepared by the planning commission and adopted by the council to guide the orderly development of the city and to promote the general welfare.

“Consolidated hearing” means a public hearing at which all agencies required to hold public hearings shall consolidate hearing processes into one concurrent hearing.

“Council” means the city council of the city of Monroe.

“Dedication” means the appropriation of land by its owner for general or public use, who reserves no special rights to himself.

“Infrastructure” means but is not limited to the roads, sanitary sewer, municipal water, curb, gutter, sidewalk and streetscape required in the development of a subdivision, including off-site mitigation for roads, schools, and parks.

“Lot” means a parcel of land described by:

1.    Reference to a recorded plat;

2.    Metes and bounds;

3.    Section, range, and township; usually a part of a subdivision.

“Lot, fully developed” means parcels with improvements assessed by the Snohomish County assessor’s office at a value greater than ten thousand dollars (containing an existing structure) – for single-family lots – the existing structure is valued at greater than seventy percent of the land value and for multifamily and commercial lots – the existing structure is valued at greater than seventy-five percent of the land value.

“Lot, panhandle” or “flag lot” means a lot where the front and rear lot lines conform to zoning code requirements for lot dimensions except for the panhandle. The panhandle is a narrow strip of land to be utilized for access purposes from an improved public right-of-way. The panhandle or access portion of the lot is not be used to determine building setbacks, but is counted toward minimum lot area requirements.

“Official plans” mean the comprehensive plan, the zoning code, and the subdivision code of the city.

“Plat, final” and “final short plat” means the final drawing of the subdivision or short subdivision and dedication prepared for filing for record with the county auditor and contains all elements and requirements set forth in this chapter.

“Plat, preliminary” and “preliminary short plat” means a neat and approximate drawing of a proposed subdivision or short subdivision showing the general layout of streets and alleys, lots, blocks, and other elements of a subdivision or short subdivision consistent with the requirements of this chapter. The preliminary plat or preliminary short plat shall be the basis for the approval or disapproval of the layout of a final subdivision or final short subdivision by the hearing authority and/or city co\uncil.

“Plat, proposed” means the preliminary plan for subdivision submitted by the subdivider to obtain hearing authority and city council approval.

“Plat, short” means the map or representation of a short subdivision.

“Preapplication meeting” means a meeting between the applicant and city development staff to discuss process, code requirements and development alternatives.

“Public roads” means all lanes, roads, streets, and alleys which are open as a matter of right to public vehicular traffic.

“Short subdivision” means the division or redivision of land into nine or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership.

“Subdivider” means one who undertakes the subdivision or short subdivision of land. The term includes agents of the subdivider, such as engineers, surveyors, etc.

“Subdivision” means the division or redivision of land into ten or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership.

“Subdivision administrator” means the person designated to be responsible for the administration of this title and the interpretation of the subdivision regulations and shall be referred to herein as the administrator.

“Surveyor, professional land” means a person by reason of his or her special knowledge of the mathematical and physical sciences and principles and practices of land surveying, which is acquired by professional education and practical experience, is qualified to practice land surveying and as attested to by his or her legal registration in the state of Washington as a professional land surveyor. (Ord. 008/2009 § 2 (Exh. A); Ord. 033/2008 § 5; Ord. 009/2007 § 3; Ord. 1203, 2000; Ord. 1061, 1995)