Chapter 17.12
SHORT SUBDIVISIONS
Sections:
17.12.040 Application submittal and contents.
17.12.060 Performance under conditional approval.
17.12.070 Distribution of copies and filing of short plat.
17.12.080 Transfer of ownership following short plat approval.
17.12.090 Accumulative short plats.
17.12.010 Purpose.
The procedures regulating short subdivisions are established to promote orderly and efficient division of lots on a small scale and to comply with the provisions of chapter 58.17 RCW and all applicable codes and ordinances, as adopted by the city of Sumner. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.020 Approval criteria.
The following criteria are the minimum measures by which each proposed short subdivision will be considered:
A. Creation of sites which are consistent with all applicable zoning and health regulations;
B. Establishment of access to a public road for each segregated parcel;
C. A proposed short plat may be denied because of flood, inundation or regulated wetlands. Construction of protective improvements may be required as a condition of approval;
D. If adjacent to another municipality or Pierce County, consideration shall be given to the subdivision standards of that jurisdiction as well as the requirements of this code;
E. Adequate provision shall be made for drainage ways, streets, alleys, other public ways, water supplies and sanitary wastes, as deemed necessary; and
F. The proposal is consistent with the Sumner comprehensive plan. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.030 Scope.
Any land being divided into nine or fewer parcels, lots, tracts, or sites, any one of which is less than 20 acres in size, and which land has not been divided in short subdivision within the previous five years, shall meet the requirement of this chapter; provided, that the land in the short subdivision may not be further divided in any manner within a period of five years without the filing of a final plat, except that when the short plat contains fewer than nine parcels, the owner of the short plat may file an alteration within a five-year period to create up to nine lots within the boundaries of the original short plat and the parcel is not held in common ownership with a contiguous parcel which has been subdivided within the preceding five years. (Ord. 2851 § 3, 2023; Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.035 Large lots.
Any land being divided into four or fewer parcels, lots, tracts, or sites, all of which are 20 acres or greater in area, shall not be subject to the requirements of this chapter, but shall meet all other applicable regulations or ordinances of the city of Sumner. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.040 Application submittal and contents.
A. The application for approval of a short subdivision shall be submitted to the department of development services on forms to be provided by the department along with the appropriate fees established by SMC 18.56.060.
B. A complete application shall include the following:
1. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant;
2. A certification by the applicant showing the entire contiguous land in which there is any interest by reason of ownership, contract for purchase by agreement or option by any person, firm or corporation in any manner connected with the development;
3. The existing zoning classification;
4. The square footage of each lot or parcel to accurately show that each lot or parcel contains sufficient footage to satisfy minimum zoning or health requirements. The square footage of land contained in access easements, access panhandles or pipe stem configurations shall not be included in the lot size computations;
5. The source of water supply for each lot, including fire hydrant locations;
6. The method of sanitary sewage disposal and, if septic tanks are to be used, the preliminary percolation test must be submitted. The percolation test shall be conducted in accordance with the Tacoma-Pierce County health department’s regulations. A separate percolation test must be performed on each lot of the proposed short subdivision;
7. The short plat drawing shall be submitted on a reproducible mylar having minimum dimensions of 18 inches by 24 inches and containing the following information:
a. A legal description of the short subdivision and of all the lots, tracts, and parcels therein, together with the legal description of private roads and easements;
b. The date, scale, and north arrow;
c. The boundary lines to scale of the tract to be subdivided and of each lot contained therein. All boundary lines are to be properly dimensioned;
d. The number assigned to each lot;
e. The location and widths of any easement for public services and utilities within the area contained within the short subdivision;
f. The location and size of the closest utilities considered for service to the site;
g. The boundaries of all lands reserved in the deed for common use of the property owners of the short subdivision.
h. The map and legal descriptions included in the face of the plat shall be prepared and certified by a registered land surveyor; and
i. Indication of the building envelope as defined in SMC 17.04.060.
8. Any additional pertinent information required by the director and/or city engineer. (Ord. 2788 § 16, 2021; Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.050 Short plat review.
A. Short subdivisions shall be subject to the procedures established in chapter 18.56 SMC, Procedures for land use permits.
B. Based on comments from city departments and applicable agencies, the director shall review the proposal relative to the criteria of SMC 17.12.020. A proposed short plat shall only be approved when consistent with all the provisions of SMC 17.12.020.
C. Appeals of the director’s decision shall be as provided in chapter 18.56 SMC, Procedures for land use permits.
D. An applicant for a short subdivision may request that certain requirements established or referenced by this section be modified. Such requests shall be processed according to the procedures for variances in chapter 18.56 SMC, and shall satisfy the criteria of chapter 18.54 SMC, Variances and special exceptions. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.060 Performance under conditional approval.
Where a short plat is approved subject to conditions, no building permit shall be issued for property subject to the short subdivision prior to final inspection and approval of any required improvements, or until required conditions have been met. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.070 Distribution of copies and filing of short plat.
The director shall return the original to the applicant for recording. The applicant must submit a recorded mylar copy to the director, which shall be part of the permanent recorded plats of the city of Sumner. The mylar copy of the approved final short plat will contain the elements as described in SMC 17.12.040. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.080 Transfer of ownership following short plat approval.
Whenever any parcel of land lying within the city is divided under the provisions of this chapter relating to short plat, no person, firm, or corporation shall sell or transfer any such lot, tract, or parcel without having first had and recorded the final short plat. (Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)
17.12.090 Accumulative short subdivisions.
Piggyback or accumulative short subdivisions, circumventing the requirements of a full subdivision, are not permitted. (Ord. 2588 § 2, 2016: Ord. 1763 § 1 (part), 1996)