Chapter 16.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
16.04.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this title is to regulate the subdivision of land and to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare; to prevent the overcrowding of land; to provide for orderly development of land; to lessen congestion in the streets and highways; to provide adequate light and air; and to facilitate adequate provisions for water, utilities, sewerage, parks and recreational areas, storm drainage, sites for schools and other public requirements; to provide for ingress and egress; and to require uniform monumenting of land subdivisions and conveyancing by accurate legal descriptions. (Ord. 25.H § 1(part), 1999: Ord. 25.G § 2(Exh. A)(part), 1996)
16.04.020 Applicability.
A. Subdivisions and subdivision plats as defined in this chapter shall comply with these regulations. Short subdivisions shall comply with the regulations in Chapter 16.32 BMC. Lot line adjustments shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 16.28 BMC.
B. Exemptions. The provisions of this title shall not apply to the following:
1. Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose;
2. Divisions of land for agricultural purposes, where each parcel is five acres or more in area and which does not include any new streets, rights-of-way, or other provisions for necessary public areas and facilities. (Ord. 25.H § 1(part), 1999: Ord. 25.G § 2(Exh. A)(part), 1996)
16.04.030 Definitions.
As used in this title:
“Adjacent property owners” means any property owner of record, according to the records of the county assessor, whose property adjoins or abuts property proposed for division, or any portion thereof, or whose property is within three hundred feet of the property proposed for division.
“Application” consists of the completed application form, completed SEPA checklist, application fee, required number of preliminary plat drawings, and list of names and stamped, addressed envelopes for properties within three hundred feet of the proposed subdivision or short plat.
“Biofiltration” is a facility including, but not limited to, grass-lined swales, grass-lined sheet flow filters, grass-lined detention areas, or densely vegetated above-ground retention/detention ponds, any of which utilize vegetation to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and to improve water quality.
“Dedication” means the deliberate appropriation of land by an owner for any general and public uses, reserving to himself no other rights than such as are compatible with the full exercise and enjoyment of the public uses to which the property has been devoted. The intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by the owner by the presentment for filing of a final plat or short plat showing the dedication thereon, and the acceptance by the public shall be evidenced by approval of such plat for filing by the city.
“Final plat” means a final, precise drawing of the proposed subdivision or short subdivision with the dedication which contains all requirements of this chapter and has been approved by the city council. The format of the drawing shall meet standards defined by the city engineer.
“Local neighborhood service street” means a street that provides access to individual driveways and is usually a cul-de-sac and dead-end street.
“Lot” means a fractional part of subdivided lands having fixed boundaries being of sufficient area and dimension to meet minimum zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts or parcels and any other requirements defined by this title.
“Major traffic street” means a principal route for movement of traffic through the city. This class of street connects local cities and commercial areas to the city. It also connects to higher level regional streets outside of the city.
“Minor traffic street” means a street that serves as a distributor of traffic from major traffic streets to less important streets and secondary generators such as schools and parks.
“Modification” means a significant alteration to a plat or short plat after preliminary approval has been granted which is made necessary by on-site conditions and is not covered by ordinary field changes authorized by the city engineer or public works. Modification is not intended to allow exceptions to otherwise applicable ordinances and development standards.
“Neighborhood traffic street” means a street that collects and distributes traffic from higher level streets to residential areas.
“Official plans” means those plans or regulations or portions thereof adopted by code by the city council including but not limited to the comprehensive plan, the zoning ordinance, and this title.
“Planning commission” means that commission established by the city council as provided in Chapter 35.63 RCW.
“Plat” means a map or representation of a subdivision showing thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into lots, blocks, streets and alleys or other subdivision requirements, conditions or dedications.
“Preliminary plat” means the neat and to-scale drawing of a proposed subdivision or short subdivision, showing the general layout of streets, and alleys, lots, blocks, and restrictive covenants, to be applicable to the subdivision, and other elements of a plat or subdivision which shall furnish a basis for the approval or disapproval of the general layout of a subdivision as required in BMC 16.20.020. The plat will be so designated until improvements shown on the approved drawings are installed or a sufficient bond or other suitable security is posted to ensure and assure installation.
“Recorded plat” means a final, approved drawing of proposed subdivision, or short subdivision with dedication, that has been filed for record with the county auditor.
“Short plat” means a map or representation of a short subdivision.
“Short subdivision” means the division of land into four or less lots, tracts, parcels, or sites for any purpose other than as excepted in BMC 16.04.020.
“Significant tree” means a significant tree as defined in Chapter 17.50 BMC.
“Subdivider” means any person, firm, corporation, or other entity undertaking or having an interest in title to the land being divided into lots, tracts, or parcels.
“Subdivision” means a division of land into five or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease, gift or development, or other purpose other than as excepted in BMC 16.04.020(B), and shall include all resubdivisions of land.
“Tree” means a tree as defined in Chapter 17.50 BMC. (Ord. 352 § 1, 2007: Ord. 25.H § 1(part), 1999: Ord. 25.G § 2(Exh. A)(part), 1996)