Chapter 16.11
UNIT LOT SUBDIVISIONS
Sections:
16.11.030 General requirements.
16.11.040 Approval procedures.
16.11.010 General provisions.
This chapter is to apply exclusively to the subdivision of land for detached single-family residences, detached accessory dwelling units, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard housing, townhomes, and cottage housing development. The purpose of this chapter is to allow for the creation of lots for the individual ownership of these types of housing units while applying only those site development standards applicable to the parent parcel(s) as a whole, rather than to individual lots resulting from the subdivision. A lot may be divided into separately owned unit lots and common areas, provided the following standards in this chapter are met. (Ord. C-1076 § 1, 2025)
16.11.020 Applicability.
A. Applicability.
1. Unit lot subdivision is processed as a short subdivision, and a maximum of nine unit lots may be created through this process.
2. A unit lot subdivision may be combined with a standard short subdivision so long as the portion of the development utilizing this chapter meets the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. C-1076 § 1, 2025)
16.11.030 General requirements.
A. Development as a whole on the parent lot, rather than individual unit lots, shall comply with applicable density and dimensional standards.
B. Access easements, joint use and maintenance agreements, and covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) identifying the rights and responsibilities of property owners and/or the homeowners’ association shall be executed for use and maintenance of common garage, parking, and vehicle access areas; bike parking; solid waste collection areas; underground utilities; common open space; shared interior walls; exterior building facades and roofs; and other similar features shall be recorded with the county auditor.
C. The parent lot and each unit lot shall make adequate provisions for ingress, egress, and utility access to and from each lot created by reserving such common areas or other easements over and across the parent lot as deemed necessary to comply with all other design and development standards generally applicable to the underlying site development plan.
1. A unit lot subdivision must accommodate utility connections and easement to each individual unit as approved by the Public Works Director.
2. Unit lot subdivision must follow the pedestrian and vehicular access requirements established in AHMC 17.06.095 and 17.09.095.
3. For a unit lot subdivision resulting in five or more unit lots, alley access meeting the Airway Heights Public Works standards is required, unless the Public Works Director determines it to be infeasible due to existing development, lack of connectivity, topography, or other physical constraints.
D. Within the parent lot, required parking for a dwelling unit may be provided on a different unit lot than the lot with the dwelling unit for which the parking serves, as long as the right to use the parking is included in dedication of the short plat or formalized by a permanent easement recorded with the county auditor and does not reduce the parking required for the use on that lot.
E. Portions of the parent lot not subdivided for individual unit lots shall be owned and maintained in common by the owners of the individual unit lots, or by a homeowners’ association comprised of the owners of the individual unit lots.
F. Each unit lot’s area and width for purposes of subdivision may be as small as the footprint of the building situated upon it, subject to the requirements of the building and fire codes, and utility service or easement requirements (i.e., building footprint plus five feet utility or easement access).
G. All buildings shall meet all applicable provisions of the building and fire codes including spacing requirements between detached structures contained in AHMC 17.06.090(A)(5) and 17.09.090(A)(5). (Ord. C-1076 § 1, 2025)
16.11.040 Approval procedures.
A. The procedures for processing a preliminary and final application unit lot subdivision shall follow those in Chapter 16.05 AHMC, Short Subdivisions.
B. Applications for a unit lot subdivision must include:
1. A site plan along with materials required by AHMC 16.05.030 and 16.05.040 showing the locations of building footprints, driveways, parking areas, open spaces, easement, access and circulation, and any other information designated by the City to ensure adequate review of the project for conformance with this section.
2. The legal description, parcel number, and/or street address (existing and modified, if applicable) of the original parent lot need to be provided in addition to legal descriptions for the new unit lots.
3. Distinct label of each unit lot on the parent lot (e.g., Unit Lot A, Unit Lot B, and so on).
C. Dedication language shall be placed on the face of the plat or short plat as recorded with the county auditor to state the following:
1. The title of the plat shall include the phrase “Unit Lot Subdivision.”
2. Approval of the development on each unit lot was granted by the review of the development, as a whole, on the parent lot.
3. Any access easements, joint use and maintenance agreements, and CC&Rs should be recorded with the county auditor.
4. Subsequent platting actions and additions or modifications to structure(s) may not create or increase any nonconformity of the parent lot.
5. Unit lots are not separate buildable lots independent of the overall development, and additional development of individual unit lots would be limited as a result of the application of development standards to the parent lot, including but not limited to building coverage and setbacks.
D. Revision and Expiration. Unit lot subdivisions follow the revision and expiration procedures for a short subdivision.
1. If the unit lot subdivision constitutes a revision, the original parent lot, along with its streets and other features, shall be shown in relation to the new arrangement of the child lot for review and approval. (Ord. C-1076 § 1, 2025)