Chapter 17.04 DEFINITIONS*

The purpose of this chapter is to carry out the intent of the city’s land division regulations. The terms defined in this chapter are the minimum necessary to resolve questions of interpretation. Terms not defined shall hold their common and generally accepted meaning as found in the Second College Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary unless specifically defined otherwise in this code.

The following terms shall be interpreted as follows:

(1) Words used in the present tense include the future;

(2) The plural includes the singular and vice versa;

(3) The words “will” and “shall” are mandatory;

(4) The word “may” indicates that discretion is allowed;

(5) The word “used” includes designed, intended, or arranged to be used;

(6) The masculine gender includes the feminine and vice versa;

(7) The word “person” may be taken for persons;

(8) The word “building” includes a portion of a building or a portion of the lot on which it stands;

(9) Distances shall be measured horizontally unless otherwise specified;

(10) The word “structure” includes buildings;

(11) The word “occupied” includes designed or intended to be used. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001)

17.04.010 Alley/lanes.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1495 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.020 Applicant.

“Applicant” means a person, including a corporate person, who undertakes to divide land, pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 58.17 RCW. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.030 Arterial.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.035 Binding site plan.

“Binding site plan” means a drawing to a scale specified by local ordinance which: (1) identifies and shows the areas and locations of all streets, roads, improvements, utilities, open spaces, and any other matters specified by local regulations; (2) 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 (3) contains provisions making any development be in conformity with the site plan. It is a division of land to lots or tracts for industrial or commercial use, when approved by the city for the use of the land, in accordance with local regulations, RCW 58.17.020 and 58.17.035, and recorded with Clark County. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001)

17.04.036 Bioretention facility.

“Bioretention facility” means a shallow depression or planter combining vegetation with a specified soil mix designed to filter, transpire, and infiltrate runoff in a way that mimics natural drainage functions. Bioretention facilities can be cells, swales or planters. For the purposes of this title, “bioretention facility” includes rain gardens. (Ord. 1821 § 1 (Att. A), 2016)

17.04.040 Building line/building setback.

“Building line/building setback” means a line established by the minimum yard requirement as the minimum allowable distance between the wall of a building and the street right-of-way or property line when measured perpendicularly thereto. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.050 City of Washougal department.

“City of Washougal department” means the department of community development. (Amended during 9/08 supplement; Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.060 Collector street.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.070 Comprehensive plan.

“Comprehensive plan” means plans, maps, reports or any combination thereof, adopted in December of 1994 by the city council for the guidance of growth and improvement of the city, including modifications which may be made from time to time, in accordance with the State Growth Management Act. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.075 Cul-de-sac (dead end street).

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.080 Director.

“Director” means the community development director or designated representative. (Ord. 1613 § 1 (Exh. A), 2008; Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.090 Easement.

“Easement” means a grant of the right to use a portion of land for specific purposes, as part of a plat or subdivision or provided between parties for common and mutual benefit and recorded. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.100 Flag stem or flag lot access strip.

“Flag stem” or “flag lot access strip” 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 a lot, tract or parcel not having full frontage on a public street. (Ord. 1740 § 1 (Exh. A), 2013; Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.110 Hammerhead street.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.120 Industrial/commercial collector.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001)

17.04.130 Lot.

“Lot” means a fractional part of divided lands having fixed boundaries, being of sufficient area and dimension to meet minimum zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts and parcels, as created through platting and recorded in accordance with Chapter 58.17 RCW and any and all amendments. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.145 Local residential street.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.146 Native vegetation.

“Native vegetation” means vegetation comprised of plant species, other than noxious weeds, that are indigenous to the coastal region of the Pacific Northwest and which reasonably could have been expected to naturally occur on the site. (Ord. 1821 § 1 (Att. A), 2016)

17.04.150 Pedestrian way.

“Pedestrian way” means a right-of-way or easement for pedestrian traffic. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.160 Person.

“Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, syndicate or any legal entity, including any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other similar representative thereof. See also “applicant.” (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.170 Planning commission.

“Planning commission” means the city of Washougal planning commission. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.180 Plat.

“Plat” means a map or representation of a subdivision, or short subdivision showing thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into lots, blocks, streets and alleys or other divisions or dedications. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.190 Private road.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1495 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.200 Public dedication.

“Public dedication” means the deliberate granting 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. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.210 Public road.

“Public road” means an improved and maintained public right-of-way which provides vehicular circulation or a principal means of access to abutting properties, and includes provisions for public utilities, curbs and gutters or alternatives as approved by the director of public works, pedestrian walkways, cut-and-fill slopes, street lights, street trees, and storm drainage. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.220 Right-of-way.

“Right-of-way” means the area between boundary lines of a street or other easement. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.230 Roadway.

“Roadway” means the portion of street right-of-way developed for vehicular traffic. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.240 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 or lease, or transfer of ownership. (Ord. 1629 § 1 (Exh. A), 2009; Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.250 Sidewalk.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.260 Subdivision.

“Subdivision” means the division or redivision of land into 10 or more lots, parcels or tracts for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership. (Ord. 1629 § 1 (Exh. A), 2009; Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001; Ord. 1233 § 1 (Exh. A), 1997)

17.04.270 Walkway/pedestrian path.

As defined within the Washougal Engineering Standards, current edition. (Ord. 1520 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1421, 2001)