Chapter 16.04 DEFINITIONS

Chapter 16.04
DEFINITIONS

Sections:

16.04.010 Incorporated definitions.

Whenever any words or phrases used in this title are not defined herein but are defined in the Subdivision Map Act or in CMC Title 17 (Zoning), such definitions shall be deemed incorporated herein and shall apply as set forth in this chapter. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)

16.04.020 Specific definitions.

Throughout this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the meanings as described in this section:

A. “CEQA” shall mean the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 as amended.

B. “Chief planning official” shall mean the community development director of the city, or his or her designee.

C. “City” shall mean the city of Covina.

D. “City engineer” shall mean the city engineer of the city and shall include his or her designated deputies.

E. “Condominium” shall mean an estate in real property consisting of an undivided interest in common in a portion of a parcel of real property together with a separate interest in space in a residential, industrial or commercial building on the real property, such as an apartment, office or store. In addition, a condominium may include a separate interest in other portions of such real property.

F. “County” shall mean the county of Los Angeles.

G. “County recorder” shall mean the recorder for the county of Los Angeles.

H. “Design” shall mean:

1. Street alignments, grades, and widths;

2. Drainage and sanitary facilities and utilities, including alignments and grades thereof;

3. Location and size of all required easements and rights-of-way;

4. Lot size and configuration;

5. Traffic access;

6. Grading;

7. Land to be dedicated for park or recreational purposes;

8. Such other specific physical requirements in the plan and configuration of the entire subdivision as may be necessary to ensure consistency with, or implementation of, the general plan or any applicable specific plan; and

9. The linking of components of the built environment, thereby establishing a sense of order and organization to what otherwise can be perceived as disjointed or haphazard development.

I. “Development agreement” shall mean an agreement duly entered into pursuant to California Government Code Section 65864 et seq.

J. “Final map” shall mean a map showing a subdivision of five or more parcels for which a tentative and final map are required by the Subdivision Map Act and this title, prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and this title and designed to be filed for recordation in the office of the county recorder.

K. “General plan” shall mean the general plan of the city of Covina, including all adopted elements and maps, as it may be amended from time to time.

L. “Geologically hazardous area” shall mean an area which may be affected by one or more of the geologic hazards discussed in the hazards element of the general plan of the city.

M. “Government Code” shall mean the Government Code of the State. If at any time any of the sections of the Government Code referred to in this chapter are redesignated by a new number, such new number shall thereupon be deemed substituted for such old number wherever the same appears in this chapter.

N. “Gross area” shall mean the entire area within the boundaries of a lot or parcel, measured to the centerline of adjoining alleys, highways or streets or to the underlying fee ownership of such adjoining alleys, highways or streets, whichever is applicable.

O. “Improvement” shall mean any street work and utilities to be installed, or agreed to be installed, by the subdivider on the land to be used for public or private streets, highways, ways, and easements, as are necessary for the general use of the lot owners in the subdivision and local neighborhood traffic and drainage needs as a condition precedent to the approval and acceptance of the final map or parcel map. It also means any other specific improvements or types of improvements, the installation of which either by the subdivider, by public agencies, by private utilities, or by any other entity approved by the city, or by a combination of them, is necessary to ensure consistency with, or implementation of, the general plan or any applicable specific plan. Improvements shall be constructed in accordance with city engineering specifications, where applicable.

P. “Lot” shall mean a unit or portion of land separate from other units or portions by description, as shown on a final map or parcel map, or by such other map or instrument approved by the city or applicable governmental entity under the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and city ordinances in effect at the time of such approval, for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing.

Q. “Lot line adjustment” shall mean a boundary realignment between four or fewer existing adjoining lots or parcels, under the same or different ownership, where land taken from one parcel is added to an adjoining parcel, and where a greater number of parcels other than originally existed is not thereby created.

R. “May” shall mean permissive.

S. “Net area” shall mean that area of a lot or parcel of land exclusive of:

1. Public alleys, highways or streets;

2. Proposed public facilities, easements and dedications such as alleys, highways, streets or other proposed public sites, when included within the lot or parcel; and

3. Other public or private easements where the owner of the servient tenement does not have the right to use the entire surface of the land.

T. “Parcel” shall mean the same as a “lot.”

U. “Parcel map” shall mean a map which is designated to be placed on record with the office of the county recorder for any subdivision creating four or fewer lots or five or more lots if the subdivision complies with the provisions of California Government Code Section 66426(a), (b), (c), or (d).

V. “Person adversely affected” shall mean all persons designated in California Government Code Section 66452.5.

W. “Public hearing” shall mean a meeting whereby notice is given pursuant to CMC 16.02.100.

X. “State” shall mean the state of California.

Y. “Subdivider” shall mean a person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association who proposes to divide, divides, or causes to be divided real property into a subdivision for oneself or others. Employees or consultants of such persons or entities, acting in such capacity, are not “subdividers.”

Z. “Subdivision” shall mean the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units of improved or unimproved land, or any portion thereof, shown on the latest equalized county assessment roll as a unit or as contiguous units, for the purpose of sale, lease or financing, whether immediate or future. Property shall be considered as contiguous units even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easement or railroad rights-of-way. “Subdivision” includes a condominium project, as defined in California Civil Code Section 1351(f), a community apartment project, as defined California Civil Code Section 1351(d), or the conversion of five or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative, as defined in California Civil Code Section 1351(m).

AA. “Subdivision Map Act” shall mean the provisions of California Government Code Title 7, Division 2, Section 66410 et seq. and such amendments thereto as may be made from time to time.

BB. “Tentative map” shall mean a map for a proposed subdivision prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act for the purpose of showing the design of the proposed subdivision and the existing conditions in and around it. A tentative map need not be based upon an accurate or detailed field survey.

CC. “Tract map” may be used as a synonym for the term “final map.”

DD. “Vesting tentative map” shall mean a tentative map prepared in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 16.10 CMC that shall have printed conspicuously on its face the words “Vesting Tentative Map” at the time it is filed.

EE. “Zoning code” shall mean CMC Title 17, including all text and maps, as it may be amended from time to time. (Ord. 23-02 § 16, 2023; Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)