Chapter 16.08 Definitions

(a) The following words and phrases when used in this title shall for the purposes of this title have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this chapter, unless their context clearly indicates that they are intended to have some other meaning.

(b) Words used in the present tense include the future; the plural includes the singular; the word "shall" is always mandatory; the word "may" denotes a use of discretion in making a decision; and the words "used" and "occupied" shall be considered to be followed by the words "or intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied." (Ord. 979 §2.01 (part) 1975).

16.08.020 Access panhandle.

"Access panhandle" means a strip of land having a width narrower than that of the lot, tract or parcel to be served thereby and designed for the purpose of providing access to lot, tract or parcel, being less in width than the minimum lot width allowed under the applicable zoning. (Ord. 979 § 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.030 Alley.

For the definition of "alley" see Title 17, Section 17.08.060. (Ord. 979 § 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.040 Block.

"Block" means a group of lots, tracts or parcels within well-defined and fixed boundaries. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.050 Commission.

"Commission" means the Montesano city planning commission. (Ord. 979 § 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.060 Cul-de-sac.

"Cul-de-sac" or "dead end street" means a street closed at one end by an area of sufficient size for turning vehicles around. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.070 Declaration of short subdivision.

"Declaration of short subdivision" is a document signed by all persons having any real interest in the land being subdivided and acknowledged before a notary that they signed the document as their free act and deed. The declaration shall as a minimum contain the elements of:

(1) A legal description of the tract being divided and all parcels contained therein; and

(2) An illustrative map; and

(3) If applicable, the restrictive covenants. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.080 Dedication.

"Dedication" means the deliberate appropriation of land by an owner for any general and public uses, reserving to himself 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 by the presentment for filing of a final plat or short plat showing the dedication thereon; and the acceptance by the public shall be evidenced by the approval of such plat for filing by the city council of the city of Montesano. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.090 Easement.

"Easement" means a grant by a property owner to specific persons or to the public of the right to use that property for a specific purpose. (Ord. 979 §2.01 (part), 1975).

16.08.100 Final plat.

"Final plat" means the final drawing of the subdivision and the dedication prepared for filing for record with the county auditor, and containing all elements and requirements set forth by state law and in this title adopted pursuant thereto. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.110 Lot.

"Lot" means a fractional part of subdivided lands having fixed boundaries, being of sufficient area and dimensions to meet the minimum requirements of the Montesano zoning ordinance for width and area. The term shall include tracts or parcels. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.120 Lot, double-frontage.

"Double-frontage lot" means a lot with street frontage along two opposite boundaries. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.130 Lot, key.

"Key lot" means the first lot to the rear of a corner lot, the front lot line of which is an approximate continuation of the side lot line of the corner lot. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.140 Lot, reverse-frontage.

"Reverse-frontage lot" means a double-frontage lot for which the boundary along one of the streets is established as the front lot line and the boundary along the other street is established as the rear lot line, and over the rear of which is an easement as provided in this title. The rear lot line of the lot shall be that boundary abutting a traffic artery or other disadvantageous use. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.150 Plat.

"Plat" menas 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. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.160 Person.

"Person" means every natural person, firm, partnership, association, social or fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, branch of government, or any other group or combination acting as a unit. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.170 Planned unit development.

"Planned unit development" means a unified development in which the subdivision and zoning regulations apply to the project as a whole rather than to its individual lots, in order to gain a more advantageous use of the land. (Ord. 979 §2.01 (part), 1975).

16.08.180 Preliminary plat.

"Preliminary plat" means a neat and approximate drawing of a proposed subdivision showing the general layout of streets and alleys, lots, blocks and restrictive covenants to be applicable to the subdivision, and other elements of a plat or subdivision which shall furnish a basis for the approval or disapproval of the general layout of a subdivision. (Ord. 979 §2.01 (part), 1975).

16.08.190 Reserve strip.

"Reserve strip" means a parcel of ground located usually at the edge of a subdivision for the purpose of restricting access from the end or side of a street. A reserve strip must be deeded separately to the grantee as Parcel A, B, etc., of whichever plat it is in. This strip must be dedicated to the public when the platting continues across the strip to the adjoining property. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.200 Right-of-way.

"Right-of-way" means the area between boundary lines of a street, alley or public easement. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.210 Roadway.

"Roadway" means that portion of a right-of-way that is improved and maintained for vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.220 Short plat.

"Short plat" means the map or representation of a short subdivision containing all of the pertinent information as required by this title. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.230 Short subdivision.

"Short subdivision" means the division of land into nine or less lots, tracts, parcels, sites or subdivisions for the purpose of transfer of ownership, sale or lease. (Ord. 1348 §17, 1994: Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.240 Street.

For the definition of "street," see Title 17, Section 17.08.540. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.250 Street, access.

For the definition of "access street" see Title 17, Section 17.08.550. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.260 Street, collector.

"Collector streets" provide for movement within the smaller areas, which are often definable neighborhoods, and may be bounded by higher class arterials. Collector arterials serve very little "through" traffic, but serve a high proportion of local traffic requiring direct access to abutting land uses. (Ord. 979 §2.01 (part), 1975).

16.08.270 Street, look).

"Loop street" means a minor street of limited length which generally follows a U alignment with both legs intercepting the same street. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.280 Street, major arterial.

For the definition of "major arterial street," see Title 17, Section 17.08.560. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.290 Street, minor.

"Minor street" means a street, usually of limited continuity, which serves primarily to provide the principal means of access to abutting property only. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.300 Street, secondary arterial.

For the definition of "secondary arterial street," see Title 17, Section 17.08.570. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.310 Subdivider, developer or plattor.

"Subdivider," "developer," or "plattor" means any person, firm or corporation undertaking the subdividing or resubdividing of a lot, block or other parcel of land. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.320 Subdivision.

"Subdivision" means the division of land into five or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions, whether immediate or future, for the purpose of sale or lease and shall include all resubdivision of land.

The division of land shall be accumulative over any period of time. This definition applies whether or not there is a dedication involved. (Ord. 979 2.01(part), 1975).

16.08.330 Utilities easements.

"Utilities easements" means rights-of-way which may be used by public utilities, including, but not limited to, electricity, water, natural gas, sewer, telephone and television cable, for the construction, operation, maintenance, alteration and repair of their respective facilities. All facilities for furnishing the foregoing utilities, such as lines, wires, cables and pipes, shall be installed underground in any subdivisions created after April 22, 1975, in the city of Montesano and shall meet city specifications for such underground installations. (Ord. 979 §2.01(part), 1975).