Part 4
LAND DIVISION

Chapter 15.62
LAND DIVISION IN GENERAL

Sections:

15.62.010    Purposes.

15.62.020    Authority.

15.62.030    Applicability.

15.62.040    Binding site plans.

15.62.050    Exemptions.

15.62.060    Pre-application conference.

15.62.070    Time limitations for approval or disapproval of plats— Extensions.

15.62.080    Comparative procedures table.

15.62.010 Purposes.

The purposes of Chapters 15.62, 15.64, 15.66 and 15.68 are to regulate the subdivision of land and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare in accordance with standards established by the state. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.020 Authority.

These regulations in Chapters 15.62, 15.64, 15.66 and 15.68 are established in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 58.17 RCW and should not preclude full compliance to Chapter 58.17 RCW. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.030 Applicability.

A.    Every subdivision and short subdivision must comply with the provisions of this title.

B.    No person may subdivide or develop land within the city except in accordance with the provisions contained in this title, unless specifically exempted from such provisions.

C.    No development permit will be issued for any parcel of land developed or divided in violation of the city shoreline master program.

D.    A building or development permit must be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.040 Binding site plans.

RCW 58.17.035 allows cities to adopt regulations allowing subdivision through binding site plan. The city opts to not allow subdivision through binding site plan. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.050 Exemptions.

In accordance with Chapter 58.17 RCW, the provisions of Chapters 15.62, 15.64, 15.66 and 15.68 do not apply to:

A.    Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose;

B.    Divisions of land into lots or tracts each of which is one-one hundred twenty-eighth of a section of land or larger, or five acres or larger if the land is not capable of description as a fraction of a section of land;

C.    Divisions made by testamentary provisions, or the laws of descent;

D.    A division made for the purpose of alteration by adjusting boundary lines, between platted or unplatted lots or both, which does not create any additional lot, tract, parcel, site or division nor create any lot, tract, parcel, site or division which contains insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area for a building site;

E.    Assessors plats, provided that they contain a survey of subdivision and contain permanent control monuments as required by Chapter 58.17 RCW. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.060 Pre-application conference.

A.    An applicant may request a pre-application conference with the city planner before submitting an application to discuss requirements and the review process, in accordance with Section 15.08.040.

B.    If an applicant requests consolidated permit processing, a pre-application conference is required. (Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.070 Time limitations for approval or disapproval of plats— Extensions.

A.    Preliminary plats will be approved, disapproved or returned to the applicant for modification or correction within ninety (90) days from the date when a complete application is filed, unless the applicant:

1.    Agrees to an extension of the time period; or

2.    The ninety (90) day limitation is extended to include up to twenty-one (21) days as specified under RCW 58.17.095(3).

B.    If an environmental impact statement is required as provided in RCW 43.21C.030, the ninety (90) day period will not include the time spent preparing and circulating the environmental impact statement.

C.    Final plats and short plats will be approved, approved with conditions, denied or returned to the applicant within thirty (30) days from the date when a complete application is filed, unless the applicant consents to an extension of the time period.

D.    For all existing preliminary plats that have not expired at the adoption of this chapter, a final plat meeting all requirements of this chapter must be submitted by the applicant to the city council for approval within fourteen (14) years of the date of preliminary plat approval, and any preliminary plats approved on or after January 1, 2015, shall expire in accordance with RCW 58.17.140. (Ord. 866 § 1, 2016; Ord. 803 § 1, 2012; Ord. 627 (part), 1999)

15.62.080 Comparative procedures table.

 

Short Plat

Preliminary Plat

Final Plat

Optional pre-application conference

(Section 15.08.040)

X

X

 

Applicant submits application

X

X

X

Determination of completeness

(Section 15.08.070)

X

X

X

Notice of application (Section 15.08.090)

 

X

 

City planner review and recommendation

X

X

X

City council public hearing

X

X

 

City council review and decision

X

X

X

Report of decision

(Sections 15.08.120 and 15.08.130)

X

X

 

Applicant files short plat with county auditor

X

 

 

Final plat filed with county auditor

 

 

X

(Ord. 627 (part), 1999)