§ 154.186 DEFINITIONS.
   For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   ALLEY. A public or private right-of-way primarily designed to serve as secondary access to the side or rear of those properties whose principal frontage is on a street.
   APPLICANT. The owner of land proposed to be subdivided for his or her representation. Consent shall be required from the legal owner of the premises.
   BLOCK. An area of land within a subdivision that is entirely bordered by streets, or by streets and the entire boundary or boundaries of the subdivision, or a combination of the above with a river or lake.
   BOULEVARD. The portion of the street right-of-way between the curb line and the property line.
   BUILDING. Any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind, and includes any structure.
   COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. The group of maps, charts and text that make up the comprehensive long-range plan of the City.
   DESIGN STANDARDS. The specifications to land owners or subdividers for the preparation of plats, both preliminary and final, indicating among other things, the optimum, minimum or maximum dimensions of such items as rights-of-way, blocks, easements and lots.
   EASEMENT. A grant by a property owner for the use of a strip of land and for the purpose of constructing and maintaining drives, utilities, including, but not limited to, wetlands, ponding areas, sanitary sewers, water mains, electric lines, telephone lines, storm sewer or storm drainageways and gas lines.
   FINAL PLAT. A drawing or map of a subdivision, meeting all of the requirements of the City and in such form as required by the county for the purpose of recording.
   INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. A septic tank, seepage tile sewage disposal system, or any other approved sewage treatment device.
   LOT. Land occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces as are required under the provisions of the zoning regulations, having not less than the minimum area required by this chapter for a building site in the district in which the lot is situated and having its principal frontage on a street.
   LOT, CORNER. A lot situated at the intersection of two streets, the interior angle of the intersection not exceeding 135 degrees.
   LOT IMPROVEMENT.
      (1)   Any building, structure, place, work of art or other object, or improvement of the land on which they are situated constituting a physical betterment of real property, or any part of the betterment.
      (2)   Certain LOT IMPROVEMENTS shall be properly bonded as provided in these regulations.
   OUTLOT. A lot remnant or parcel of land left over after platting, which is intended as open space or other use, for which no development is intended and for which no building permit shall be issued.
   OWNER. Includes the plural as well as the singular, and where appropriate shall include a natural person, partnership, firm, association, public or quasi-public corporation, private corporation or a combination of them.
   PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. Public land and open spaces in the City dedicated or reserved for recreation purposes.
   PEDESTRIAN WAY. A public right-of-way or private easement across a block or within a block to provide access for pedestrians and which may be used for the installation of utility lines.
   PERCENTAGE OF GRADE. On street centerline, the distance vertically from the horizontal in feet and tenths of a foot for each 100 feet of horizontal distance.
   PRELIMINARY PLAT. A tentative drawing or map of a proposed subdivision meeting the requirements herein enumerated.
   PROTECTIVE COVENANTS. Contracts made between private parties as to the manner in which land may be used, with the view to protecting and preserving the physical and economic integrity of any given area.
   PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT. Any drainage ditch, roadway, parkway, sidewalk, pedestrian way, tree, lawn, off-street parking area, lot improvement or other facility for which the City may ultimately assume the responsibility for maintenance and operation, or which may affect an improvement for which local government responsibility is established.
   SETBACK. The distance between a building and the property line nearest thereto.
   STREET. A public right-of-way affording primary access by pedestrians or vehicles or both, to abutting properties, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare, parkway, road, avenue, boulevard.
   STREET WIDTH. The shortest distance between lines of lots delineating the street’s right-of-way.
   STREETS, CUL-DE-SAC. A local street with only one outlet and having an appropriate terminus for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
   STREETS, LOCAL ARTERIAL STREETS. Those streets connecting important locations inside communities and typically serving local trips. LOCAL ARTERIALS generally connect to regional arterials and regional collectors. They serve as mobility corridors and as primary roads for accessibility. In fully developed urban areas, they tend to carry high volumes of traffic, and provide a high degree of access to adjacent properties.
   STREETS, LOCAL COLLECTOR STREET. Those streets whose primary function is to provide access to adjacent land by serving as a connection between the local street network and arterial roadways or regional collectors. They also connect developed areas within communities with other developed areas within communities Local collector streets primarily provide principal access to residential neighborhoods, including, to a lesser degree, direct land access.
   STREETS, LOCAL STREET. Those streets which are used primarily for access to abutting properties and for traffic movement. This classification would be applied to most City streets.
   STREETS, MARGINAL ACCESS STREET (FRONTAGE ROAD). Those local streets which are parallel and adjacent to thoroughfares and highways; and which provide access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
   STREETS, PRINCIPAL ARTERIAL STREETS. Those streets carrying highest volumes of traffic and highest level of service at the greatest speed for the longest uninterrupted distance. Serving as links between larger cities and connecting major business concentrations.
   STREETS, REGIONAL ARTERIAL STREETS. Those streets connecting important locations inside and outside different regions. Rice, Dakota and Goodhue County roads that connect communities, and access principal arterials, should be considered REGIONAL ARTERIALS. REGIONAL ARTERIALS emphasize mobility and access needs to be carefully managed to avoid capacity and safety problems. There is typically more access to regional arterials than to principal arterial.
   STREETS, REGIONAL COLLECTOR STREET. Those streets which provide a balance of serving both mobility and access needs. They consist of county roads that provide connectivity between the regional and local arterial system, and collect distribute traffic from developed areas. In general, regional collectors emphasize mobility over access.
   SUBDIVIDER. Any individual, firm, association, syndicate, co-partners, corporation, trust or other legal entity having sufficient proprietary interest in the land sought to be subdivided to commence and maintain proceedings to subdivide the same under this subchapter.
   SUBDIVISION. The division of land resulting in a parcel of land less than five acres in area or less than 300 feet in width, for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development or, if a new street is involved, any division of land. The term includes resubdivision and, when appropriate to the context, shall relate to the process of subdividing or to the land subdivided.
   SUBDIVISION, ADMINISTRATIVE. A division, combination or lot line adjustment where the intent is to permit the adding of a parcel of land to an abutting lot, adjust a lot line or divide an existing parcel into two lots.
(Ord. passed 3-20-2002, § 30.02)