Chapter 18.30
LOT COMBINATIONS AND BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENTS
Sections:
18.30.020 Written request required.
18.30.030 Adjustment request – Contents.
18.30.040 Adjustment request – Review standard.
18.30.050 Approval – Authority – Finalization.
18.30.060 Approval – Conditions.
18.30.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a method for summary approval of lot combinations and boundary line adjustments which do not create any additional lot, tract, parcel, site or division, while ensuring that such boundary line adjustment satisfies public concerns of health, safety and welfare. (Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).
18.30.020 Written request required.
The lot lines between existing lots may be adjusted by the city upon written request of the affected property owners, through date-stamped receipt of a completed application. (Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).
18.30.030 Adjustment request – Contents.
The request for lot combination or boundary line adjustment shall be accompanied by and shall contain the following:
(1) The completed application and fee per adopted city resolution;
(2) A scale drawing of the affected lots, including the dimensions of the lot before and after the proposed lot combination or boundary line adjustment, and a plot plan as appropriate showing the location and dimensions of existing structure(s) in relation to the proposed lot/boundary line adjustment as prepared by a professional land surveyor;
(3) The names, addresses and signatures of all persons having any ownership interest or a lien upon the affected parcel;
(4) A title guarantee from a title company authorized to do business in the state of Washington, showing all encumbrances against the property and the names of the persons in whom title is vested and no older than 30 days;
(5) An application for a boundary line adjustment shall not involve more than five contiguous lots. This limitation shall not apply to a boundary line adjustment that results in the combination of lots. (Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).
18.30.040 Adjustment request – Review standard.
(1) The city planning director and city engineer shall review the proposed boundary line adjustment request in accordance with the following standards:
(a) The affected lots must be in the same zoning classification;
(b) The resulting lots must have dimensions meeting the minimum lot size requirements in effect at the time the request is made for the zone in which each lot is located, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section;
(c) Setbacks in effect at the time the request is made must be met as to all structures upon the lot as they relate to the new lot line;
(d) The shapes of the resulting lots must not be inconsistent with the general lot configuration for other lots in the area, and other existing city codes relating to lot shapes, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section;
(e) No lot shall be created which does not have access to water supply and sanitary sewer disposal, and/or access for vehicles, utilities and fire protection.
(2) A lot line adjustment for a preexisting legal nonconforming lot of record will be allowed, even though the resulting lots do not meet the lot size requirements of the existing zoning code, if:
(a) There is no net increase in the number of lots;
(b) The resulting lots are each either equal to or larger in area than the smallest of the existing legal lots of record from which the new lots were created. (Ord. 05-23 § 4, 2023; Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).
18.30.050 Approval – Authority – Finalization.
(1) The planning director will review the boundary line adjustment request and comment in accordance with the review criteria. Upon submittal of a boundary line adjustment meeting the review criteria, the planning director may approve the boundary line adjustment or defer to the city council for the decision on approval.
(2) After approval of any boundary line adjustment by the planning director or city council, it will be signed by all appropriate city officials. After the city has approved the boundary line adjustment, the applicant shall record the boundary line adjustment with the Pierce County auditor’s office within 10 calendar days. Failure to record the executed boundary line adjustment with the county auditor within the time limits set forth herein shall render the boundary line adjustment approval null and void. No boundary line adjustment shall be deemed completed until such time it, and any necessary transfer of property, is recorded with the county auditor’s office in accordance herewith and a copy of the recorded document is returned to the city. (Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).
18.30.060 Approval – Conditions.
The following requirements are conditions of approval:
(1) Payment of all fees owed to the city for its services, calculated pursuant to BMC 18.32.020;
(2) Survey and setting of all the corners of the new lot(s) by a licensed land surveyor;
(3) Execution of deeds and related documents by the affected owners and lienholders, on forms to be provided by the city and recorded by the applicant with the county in order to effectuate the boundary line adjustment, with copies of the recorded documents returned to the city;
(4) Determination of identity of affected owners by a title report or other documentation satisfactory to the city engineer;
(5) Such other conditions as may be necessary to protect the public health, safety and public welfare. (Ord. 09-20 § 1, 2020).