Chapter 16.20
SHORT PLAT

Sections:

16.20.010    Purpose.

16.20.020    Preliminary consideration.

16.20.030    Application.

16.20.035    Short plat document – Certificates and recording.

16.20.040    Minimum improvements and dedication of land.

16.20.050    Action by plat administrator.

16.20.060    Resubdivision limitation.

16.20.070    Agreements to transfer land conditioned on final plat approval.

16.20.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide procedures for the division of land into four or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership within the city of Colville. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.020 Preliminary consideration.

Prior to the preparation of the short plat, the applicant may consult with the plat administrator and other city officials as necessary to determine subdivision, zoning, and other relative requirements. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.030 Application.

An application for a short plat shall consist of the following:

A. An application form completed and signed by the subdivider or authorized agent, containing at a minimum the following information:

1. Name, address and phone number of the applicant;

2. Agreement of the legal owner(s) of the property to be short subdivided;

3. Legal description of the parcel, zoning certification, and date of application.

B. A minimum of six copies of the short plat containing the following:

1. A legible map, based upon a survey, drawn to a scale of one inch equals 100 feet, or a comparable scale appropriate to the illustration of required detail, showing boundaries of the property, legal descriptions of the proposed lots, lot area in square feet, rights-of-way, street location and dimensions, easements, north point, scale and date, name of property owner, and the name and phone number of the person preparing the map(s);

2. Location of any existing structures or other improvements;

3. Location and sizes of existing utilities, including sewer and water, fire hydrants, storm drains, electricity and communication lines;

4. Location of critical resource areas, such as wetlands, geologically hazardous areas, wellhead protection areas, areas subject to flooding, and habitat conservation areas;

5. Location of any roads, utilities, easements, rights-of-way, or offers of dedication proposed for the short plat.

C. A preliminary title report showing the names of anyone with an interest in the land being subdivided.

D. When applicable, an environmental checklist or assessment in accordance with prevailing standards and procedures established under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and associated guidelines.

E. An application fee in an amount established by the city council. (Ord. 1225 NS § 2, 2001; Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.035 Short plat document – Certificates and recording.

A. Every short plat shall be legibly represented on one or more sheets of mylar with permanent black ink or equivalent approved material. Each sheet shall measure 24 inches by 36 inches, and shall have a marginal line drawn completely around each sheet which leaves an entirely blank left margin of two inches and a margin of one-half inch on the remaining edges.

B. Each sheet of the short plat shall contain the short plat title, description of land as to quarter section in which the subdivision is located, the plat scale, and the north point. All signatures ascribed to the final plat shall be original signatures, written in permanent black ink.

C. Each short plat shall include a certificate bearing the printed names of all persons having an interest in the subdivided land, signed by the said persons and acknowledged by them before a notary public, consenting to the subdivision of the land and reciting a dedication by them of all lands shown on the plat to be dedicated for public uses.

D. Should any of the land used for roads, streets, drainage system, utilities, etc., which is normally dedicated to public use be retained in private ownership, it shall be clearly shown on the short plat and listed in the written data to the effect that the city accepts no responsibility for construction and maintenance of such facilities, and the name of the individual or corporation who shall have such responsibility shall be given.

E. Each short plat shall also include approval certificates of:

1. The registered land surveyor who made, or under whose supervision was made, the survey of the subdivision. The certificate shall be accompanied by the signature of the surveyor under whose supervision the plat was made;

2. The plat administrator’s certificate approving the short plat for the city of Colville;

3. The auditor’s certificate providing for the record of filing with the Stevens County auditor.

F. The plat administrator shall forward the original tracing of an approved short plat to the office of the county auditor for recording.

G. All approved short plats presented to the county auditor shall be accompanied by such filing fees as are required by that office, and such fees shall be paid by the subdivider. (Ord. 1225 NS § 3, 2001; Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.040 Minimum improvements and dedication of land.

Short subdivisions shall be subject to the requirements for dedication of land for public purposes and to the minimum requirements of Chapter 16.16 CMC. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.050 Action by plat administrator.

A. Upon receipt of a complete application, the plat administrator shall distribute copies of the information to each city department, to include as a minimum the city street department, fire department, water/sewer department, public works director, and police department.

B. Review of a short plat shall be completed within 30 days of the receipt of a complete application.

C. A preliminary short plat shall be subject to a Type I review consistent with Chapter 17.108 CMC, except if a short subdivision contains a public dedication or if minimum improvements are required, the plat administrator may require a public hearing to be held before the planning commission, who shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application.

D. The plat administrator, without a public hearing but with the assistance of other reviewing agencies, may approve a preliminary short plat, with or without conditions, if all of the following findings of fact can be made in an affirmative manner:

1. The proposed short plat conforms to the Colville comprehensive plan, CMC Title 17, Zoning, and this title as well as any other applicable plans developed pursuant to law. In addition, if the property, in part or total, abuts a state highway, the proposed short plat is in compliance with any rules of Washington State Department of Transportation.

2. The physical characteristics of the site, including but not limited to topography, soil conditions, or unique natural features such as susceptibility to flooding, wildlife habitat, or wetlands, have been considered in the project design.

3. The proposed lots are served with adequate means of drainage, water supply, sewage disposal, fire and police protection, schools and educational services, streets, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and other necessary services.

4. Appropriate provisions have been made for dedications, easements, and reservations.

5. The public use and interest will be served by permitting the proposed division of property.

6. If applicable, the terms and conditions of the approved subdivision, within which the short plat is located, have been met. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.060 Resubdivision limitation.

Land within a short subdivision may not be further divided in any manner within a period of five years from the date of recording of a short plat with the Stevens County auditor without the filing of a final plat in accordance with the provisions established in this title for subdivisions, except that when the short plat contains fewer than four lots/parcels, nothing in this section shall prevent the owner who filed the original short plat from filing an alteration within the five-year period to create up to a total of four lots within the original short plat boundaries. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).

16.20.070 Agreements to transfer land conditioned on final plat approval.

If performance of an offer or agreement to sell, lease or otherwise transfer a lot, tract or parcel of land prior to the recording of the approved short plat is expressly conditioned on the recording of the approved short plan containing the lot, tract or parcel under this title, the offer or agreement does not violate any provisions of this title. All payments on account of an offer or agreement conditioned as provided in this section shall be deposited in an escrow or other regulated trust account, and no disbursements to sellers shall be permitted until the short plat is recorded. (Ord. 1159 NS § 1, 1997).