Chapter 18.03 DEFINITIONS

Except where specifically defined in this chapter, all words used in this title shall carry their customary meanings. Words used in the present tense include the future, and the plural includes the singular; the word “he” or “his” shall also refer to “she” or “her,” the word “shall” is always mandatory, the word “may” denotes a use of discretion in making a decision, the words “used” or “occupied” shall be considered as though followed by the words “or intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied.” (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 11, 2008).

18.03.020 Applicant.

“Applicant” means the owner or owners of record of the property subject to an application for land division or lot line adjustment, or the authorized representative of such owner or owners. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 12, 2008).

18.03.030 Application.

“Application” means all of the application forms, plans and accompanying documents required by this title for any particular land division or lot line adjustment request. The city shall not be considered to be in receipt of an application under this title until the director has verified that an application is complete. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 13, 2008).

18.03.032 Base flood.

“Base flood” means the flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in a given year, also referred to as the “100-year flood.” (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 14, 2008).

18.03.033 Base flood elevation.

“Base flood elevation” means water surface elevation, in feet, above mean sea level for the base flood and referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1988 (or Pierce County datum or United States Coast and Geodetic Datum of 1988 which are the same). (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1751 § 1 (Exh. A), 2011; Ord. 1676 § 15, 2008).

18.03.035 Binding site plan.

“Binding site plan” means a drawing to a scale pursuant to Chapter 18.09 FMC which: (A) identifies and shows the areas and locations of all streets, roads, improvements, utilities, open spaces, and any other matters specified by Chapter 18.09 FMC; (B) contains inscriptions or attachments setting forth such appropriate limitations and conditions for the use of the land as are established by the local government body having authority to approve the site plan; and (C) contains provisions making any development be in conformity with the site plan. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 16, 2008).

18.03.040 Block.

“Block” means a group of lots, tracts, or parcels within well defined and fixed boundaries. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 17, 2008).

18.03.050 Dedication.

“Dedication” means the deliberate conveyance of land by an owner or owners to the city for any general and public uses, reserving to the owner or owners no other rights than such as are compatible with the full exercise and enjoyment of the public uses to which the property has been devoted. The intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by the owner or owners presenting for filing a final plat showing the dedication thereon. Acceptance by the city shall be evidenced by the approval of the city council of such final plat for filing. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 18, 2008).

18.03.060 Department.

“Department” means the city’s community development department, or its successor, unless otherwise specified. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 19, 2008).

18.03.070 Director.

“Director” means the director of the city’s community development department, or its successor, unless otherwise specified. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 20, 2008).

18.03.080 Final plat.

“Final plat” means the final drawing of a subdivision, or short subdivision (final short plat) and dedication prepared for filing for record with the county auditor, and containing all elements and requirements as set forth in Chapter 18.06 FMC, and as set forth in Chapter 58.17 RCW. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 21, 2008).

18.03.090 Improvements.

“Improvements” means the streets, sidewalks, street lights, fire hydrants, stormwater facilities, sanitary sewer facilities, domestic water facilities, and other utilities and facilities to be constructed in conjunction with any particular land division, as set forth in Chapter 18.07 FMC and applicable city development regulations. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 22, 2008).

18.03.100 Land division.

“Land division” means the creation of any new lot or lots for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership, whether such lot or lots is created by subdivision, short subdivision, large lot division, or binding site plan. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 23, 2008).

18.03.110 Large lot division.

“Large lot division” means a division of land into lots, tracts or parcels, each of which is five acres or larger. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 24, 2008).

18.03.120 Lot.

“Lot” means an area of land under single or common ownership, which has been created by any of the various land division methods for the purpose of lease, sale or transfer of ownership, defined by fixed and definite boundaries, and having sufficient area and dimension to accommodate development allowed by the zone in which it is located. The term shall not include those tracts or parcels which are not buildable, but are created for common or public use such as road and utility tracts. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 25, 2008).

18.03.130 Lot line adjustment.

“Lot line adjustment” means the relocation of the boundaries of a lot, which relocation does not result in the creation of any additional lot or lots nor create any lot, tract, parcel, site, or division which contains insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area for a building site. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 26, 2008).

18.03.135 Low impact development.*

See FMC 15.32.020. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1685 § 1(Exh. A), 2009).

18.03.136 Low impact development best management practices.*

See Chapter 15.32 FMC. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1954 § 29, 2016; Ord. 1685 § 1(Exh. A), 2009).

18.03.137 Low impact development techniques.*

Repealed by Ord. 1954. (Ord. 1685 § 1(Exh. A), 2009).

*Code reviser’s note: Ordinance 1685 added new definition Sections 18.08.125, 18.08.126 and 18.08.127. Since Chapter 18.08 was previously repealed by Ordinance 1676, the sections have been renumbered to appear in this chapter.

18.03.140 Monument.

“Monument” means a permanent type survey marker which conforms to the city standard detail for monuments, or an approved substitute. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 27, 2008).

18.03.150 Panhandle.

“Panhandle” means an irregular extension or protrusion of a lot, created for the purpose of providing such lot with frontage on a public or private street or access way. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 28, 2008).

18.03.160 Plat.

“Plat” is a map or representation of a subdivision, showing thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into lots, blocks, streets and alleys, or other divisions and dedications. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 29, 2008).

18.03.170 Preliminary plat.

“Preliminary plat” means a neat and approximate drawing of a proposed subdivision, or short subdivision (preliminary short plat), showing the general layout of streets and alleys, lots, blocks and other elements of a subdivision consistent with the provisions of this title. The preliminary plat shall be the basis for approval or disapproval of the general layout of a subdivision or a short subdivision (preliminary short plat). (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 30, 2008).

18.03.180 Public way.

“Public way” means any publicly owned land set aside for utility infrastructure, stormwater management and surface transportation purposes, including vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian transportation, whether improved or not improved. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1954 § 30, 2016; Ord. 1676 § 31, 2008).

18.03.190 Short plat.

Repealed by Ord. 2043. (Ord. 1676 § 32, 2008).

18.03.200 Short subdivision.

“Short subdivision” means the division or redivision of land into nine or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership, consistent with the provisions of this title, except “large lot divisions” as defined in this chapter. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 33, 2008).

18.03.210 Street.

“Street” means any land legally segregated or reserved for the purpose of providing for vehicular travel and access to real property. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 34, 2008).

18.03.220 Subdivision.

“Subdivision” means the division or redivision of land into 10 or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership, consistent with the provisions of this title, except “large lot divisions” and “binding site plans” as defined in this chapter. (Ord. 2043 § 1 (Att. E), 2021; Ord. 1676 § 35, 2008).

18.03.270 USC and GS.

“USC and GS” means the United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey. (Ord. 1676 § 36, 2008).

18.03.280 USGS.

“USGS” means United States Geodetic Survey. (Ord. 1676 § 37, 2008).