Chapter 16.04
General Provisions

Sections:

16.04.010    Title.

16.04.020    Purpose.

16.04.030    Exceptions.

16.04.040    Applicability.

16.04.050    Regulation mandatory--City council authority.

16.04.010 Title.

This title shall be known and may be cited as the Montesano platting and subdivision ordinance. (Ord. 979 §1.01, 1975).

16.04.020 Purpose.

This title is adopted in furtherance of the comprehensive plan of the city. It is declared that the regulations contained in this title are necessary for the protection and preservation of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and are designed, among other things, to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the municipality; to lessen traffic congestion land area in new developments for all the requirements of community life; to conserve and restore natural beauty and other natural resources; and to facilitate adequate provision for transportation, water, sewerage, and other public uses and requirements. (Ord. 979 §1.02, 1975).

16.04.030 Exceptions.

The provisions of this title shall not apply to the following:

(1)    Cemeteries and other burial plots while used for that purpose;

(2)    Divisions made by testamentary provisions, the laws of descent, or upon court order;

(3)    Any division of land into lots or tracts each of which is 1/128th 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; provided, that no dedication of a public right-of-way is required to service the lots, and further provided, that for the purpose of computing the size of any lot which borders on a street or road the lot size shall be expanded to include that area which would be bounded by the centerline of the road or street and the side lot lines of the lot running perpendicular to such centerline;

(4)    Any movement of lot lines or exchange of land between adjacent property owners, provided such movement or exchange does not create a new lot and no existing lot thereby becomes substandard within the meaning of the Montesano zoning ordinance as codified in this title;

(5)    Any plat which has been granted preliminary approval prior to July 1, 1974. (Ord. 979 §1.03.01, 1975).

16.04.040 Applicability.

Except as provided in Section 16.04.030, the regulations contained in this title shall apply to the subdivision of any lot, parcel or tract of land into two or more lots or tracts, or other divisions of land, for the purpose of sale or building development, whether immediate or future, including the resubdivision or replatting of land or lots. The regulation shall apply in every situation where there is a dedication of streets, alleys, or easements, or land for public use. (Ord. 979 §1.03.02, 1975).

16.04.050 Regulations mandatory--City council authority.

(a)    Any map, plat, replat or plan made after April 22, 1975, of any proposed subdivision or any part thereof lying within the corporate limits of the city of Montesano shall be presented for approval and he recorded as prescribed by this title. No such map, plat, replat or plan shall be recorded or have any validity unless or until it shall have had the recommendation of the city planning commission and the approval of the city council of the city of Montesano and such other approvals as may be required by this title.

(b)    Recommendations of the planning commission shall be advisory only.

(c)    The sole authority to approve final plats, and to adopt or amend platting ordinances shall reside in the city council of the city of Montesano. (Ord. 979 §1.04, 1975).