Chapter 16.18
MERGER OF CONTIGUOUS PARCELS
Sections:
16.18.020 When parcels may be merged.
16.18.040 Property owner requested merger.
16.18.050 Effective date of merger.
16.18.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide procedures for the merger of contiguous parcels under common ownership. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)
16.18.020 When parcels may be merged.
The owner of any contiguous parcel may initiate the merger of any parcel. The chief planning official, city engineer, planning commission or city council may require the owner of any contiguous parcel to request the merger of any or all contiguous parcels within the city in conjunction with the giving of any variance, conditional use permit, or any other development approval under this title or the zoning code. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)
16.18.030 Reserved.
16.18.040 Property owner requested merger.
A. Requirements. A voluntary merger of lots may be requested by a property owner/applicant. A lot may be merged with one or more contiguous lots held by the same owner if any one of the contiguous lots held by the same owner does not conform to standards for minimum lot size or dimension specified by the applicable land use district or if at least one such lot meets one or more of the requirements specified in CMC 16.18.030(A)(3).
B. When the owner or owners of record of any contiguous parcel requests the merger of said contiguous parcels, application shall be made on the forms and in the manner specified by the city engineer.
C. Within 30 days following receipt of a completed application to merge parcels, the city engineer shall determine whether the affected parcels are to be merged. To merge contiguous parcels the city engineer shall make the following findings:
1. The merged parcel complies with the appropriate provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and all applicable city requirements for the merging of contiguous parcels;
2. The merged parcel does not adversely affect the purpose and intent of the city’s general plan or the public health, safety and welfare.
D. If the city engineer determines that the subject parcels shall be merged, he or she shall cause the notice of determination of voluntary merger to be recorded with the county recorder, specifying the name(s) of the record owner(s) of the affected property, and particularly describing the real property merged. The city engineer shall also send the written notice of determination of voluntary merger to the owner(s) of record of the affected property at least 10 days prior to recordation of the said notice.
E. If the city engineer determines that the subject parcels should not be merged, the city engineer shall send notice by standard mail to the owner(s) not later than 10 days following his or her determination, explaining the reasons why the subject parcels should not be merged and outlining the city engineer’s findings. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)
16.18.050 Effective date of merger.
The merger of any contiguous parcels shall become effective upon recordation of the notice of determination of voluntary merger with the county recorder. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)
16.18.060 Appeal of merger.
The appeal of the city engineer’s determination either to merge or deny merger of contiguous parcels shall be made in accordance with the appeal provisions contained in CMC 16.02.120. (Ord. 05-1915 § 1, 2005.)