Chapter 19.16
SHORT SUBDIVISIONS
Sections:
19.16.020 Short subdivision procedures.
19.16.030 Short subdivision improvements—Surety—Time limit.
19.16.040 Short subdivision final approval—Recording.
19.16.050 Short subdivision—Preliminary application appeals.
19.16.060 Zoning effect of final approval.
19.16.010 General provisions.
A. Applicability of Provisions. Every division or redivision of land for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership into nine or fewer lots, parcels or tracts, any one of which is less than one one hundred twenty-eighth of a section or five acres, shall proceed in compliance with this section.
B. Redivision of Platted Lots. As provided in RCW 58.17.060, a lot that is created by a short subdivision shall not be further divided by short platting for a period of five years; provided, however, that when the short subdivision contains fewer than nine lots, nothing in this section shall prevent the filing of an alteration or amendment within a five-year period to create up to nine lots, within the original short plat boundaries. The amended short plat shall be recorded in accordance with the following provisions:
1. The amended short subdivision must comply with the procedures and requirements of the current regulations for short subdivision approval. A new survey shall not be required except for new lines created by the amended short subdivision.
2. The title of the amended short plat shall be: “Short Plat No. ___ Amending Short Plat No. ___.” The second blank above shall be completed by the applicant prior to submission of the amended short subdivision.
3. The amended short plat shall show all of the land shown on the original short subdivision and shall bear the acknowledged signatures of all parties having ownership interest in the affected lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions within the original short subdivision as shown by a current title certificate.
4. Any further divisions within said five-year period must be processed as a subdivision in compliance with this title.
5. Minor clerical errors may be corrected by the surveyor upon approval of the director by recording an affidavit with the county auditor specifically referencing the short subdivision by number and the correction.
C. Placing Lots or Parcels on Assessment Rolls. No lot or parcel of land subject to the provisions of this section shall be placed on the county assessor’s tax rolls until an approved short subdivision has been filed for record with the county auditor.
D. Administrative Authority. The director and city engineer are responsible for processing and approving proposed short subdivisions. (Ord. 2210 § 5, 2008: Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).
19.16.020 Short subdivision procedures.
A. Application Requirements.
1. Preapplication Meeting. Before making an application for a short subdivision, the applicant may arrange to have the proposal reviewed informally by submitting a preapplication request to the community development department. The proposal should include the information required for submission of a preliminary short subdivision. Upon receipt of a properly prepared request, community development shall notify the applicant of the time and place of the preapplication conference.
2. Application for Short Subdivision. Application for a short subdivision shall consist of the following:
a. A general application form, completed and signed by the developer;
b. A short plat map and any supplemental material prepared in accordance with Chapter 19.55 CMC, Table of Required Information. The number of prints shall be as required on the application form;
c. A title insurance report which bears the original signature of the title officer and is no more than thirty days old shall be furnished by the developer. The report must confirm that the title of the land in the proposed short subdivision is vested in the name of the owners having a title interest and whose signatures appear on the plat’s certificate; and
d. The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee as established by the city fee schedule.
B. Administrative Review.
1. Review Procedure. The director shall distribute copies to other affected agencies for review and comment. Community development shall issue the determination of completeness, including the preliminary determination of consistency (in accordance with procedures established in RCW 36.70B.030 and 36.70B.070) incorporating all agency concerns.
2. Technical Review. The director, with the assistance of reviewing agencies, shall determine if the proposal conforms to the policies, standards and accepted design principles for the following:
a. The comprehensive plan and zoning code;
b. Public facilities, including, but not limited to, transportation, facilities, stormwater, drainage, water supply, sewage disposal, streets, sidewalks, nonmotorized transportation, street lights, fire protection facilities, easements and utilities within and around the proposed short subdivision;
c. The proposed lots have adequate means of ingress and egress in accordance with the provisions of this title; and
d. The public interest will be served by the subdivision and/or dedication.
3. Access to the boundary of all short subdivisions and all short platted lots shall be provided by a street meeting city street standards. If the subdivider uses a private street, each lot owner having access thereto shall have a responsibility for maintenance of such private street. Any private street shall also contain a drainage and utilities easement.
4. Decision. Upon completion of technical review, the director shall notify the applicant in writing of the decision to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the proposed short subdivision. (Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).
19.16.030 Short subdivision improvements—Surety—Time limit.
A. Roads, sidewalks and other improvements which may be required in short subdivisions shall be completed prior to the final short plat certification and recording unless engineered improvement plans with adequate surety are provided in the same manner and standards as required for subdivisions in CMC 19.12.100; except, that all improvements covered by surety shall be completed within one year of recording the short plat.
B. Improvement plans along with the completed short plat map shall be submitted to community development not later than six months following the date of conditional approval. (Ord. 2210 § 6, 2008: Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).
19.16.040 Short subdivision final approval—Recording.
Upon receipt of the completed short plat which meets all requirements of this section, the director and city engineer shall certify approval of the short plat. Two mylar bases and the required recording fee shall be furnished to the city of Centralia. The director shall then forward one mylar base to the city engineer. One mylar shall be recorded with the Lewis County auditor by the director within five days after the date the last required signature has been obtained. After recording, the developer shall provide one eleven-inch-by-seventeen-inch paper copy of the recorded mylar to community development within seven days of recording the final plat. No building permits will be issued until the copy of the recorded plat has been provided to community development. The fees for this copy shall be paid by the developer in addition to all other recording fees. (Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).
19.16.050 Short subdivision—Preliminary application appeals.
A. The decision of the director on a preliminary short subdivision application shall be final and conclusive unless appealed to the hearing examiner in accordance with the procedures and standards for open record appeals.
B. The final decision of the hearing examiner on the appeal of a preliminary short subdivision decision shall be final and conclusive unless appealed to the superior court of Lewis County. (Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).
19.16.060 Zoning effect of final approval.
Any lots in a short subdivision shall be a valid land use notwithstanding any change in zoning laws for a period of five years from the effective date of final approval under RCW 58.17.170. (Ord. 2158 § 1 (part), 2005).