1311.01 APPROVAL OF PLAT AND DEFINITIONS.
   (a)   No plat of a subdivision of land within the City shall be recorded until it has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and such approval has been confirmed by Council and the approval of both the Commission and Council has been endorsed on the plat. However, no plat of a subdivision of land within the City involving the dedication or the vacation of any public street, alley or highway shall be recorded until it has been approved by Council and such approval has been endorsed on the plat.
   (b)   For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings hereafter provided:
      (1)   “Applicant” means the owner of land proposed to be subdivided or his or her representative. The authority of the representative shall be established to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director. Consent to subdivide shall be required from the legal owner of the premises.
      (2)   “Block” is all that part of one side of a street, which is between two intersecting streets.
      (3)   “Bond” means any form of security including a cash deposit, surety bond, collateral, property, or instrument of credit in an amount and form satisfactory to the City Council.
      (4)   “Building” means any structure with substantial walls and roof securely affixed to land and entirely separated on all sides from any similar structure by space or by walls in which there are no communicating doors, windows, or similar openings.
      (5)   “Construction plans” means the maps or drawings accompanying a subdivision plat and showing the specific location and design of improvements to be installed in the subdivision.
      (6)   “Council” means the City Council of the City of Euclid, Ohio.
      (7)   “Cul-de-sac” is a local street having only one outlet and a paved terminal for safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
      (8)   “Easement” means authorization by a property owner for use by another, and for a specified purpose, of any designated part of his or her property.
      (9)   “Engineer” means the City Engineer of the City of Euclid, Ohio.
      (10)   “Engineer, registered or surveyor” is an engineer or surveyor registered in the State of Ohio.
      (11)   “Escrow” means a deposit of cash with the City of Euclid in lieu of an amount required and still in force on a performance or maintenance bond.
      (12)   “Frontage” means that portion of a lot abutting on a dedicated right-of-way.
      (13)   “Grade” means the slope of any surface specified in percentage terms.
         A.   “Finished grade” means the elevation of the surface of the ground of any parcel of land after construction of buildings, parking, driveways, streets, the completion of all landscaping, and any other improvements.
         B.   “Natural grade” means the elevation of the undisturbed natural surface of any land.
         C.   “Established street grade” means the elevation of the street, established by the City Engineer, measured at the centerline of the street.
      (14)   “Lot” means a tract, plat, or portion of subdivision or other parcel of land intended as a unit for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or for building development.
         A.   “Lot - double frontage” means a lot, other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street.
         B.   “Lot - flag” means any lot, except one located on a cul-de-sac in a platted subdivision, having less than the required minimum lot width measured at the front of the lot. Such a lot shall not be created by minor subdivisions unless there is a showing of unnecessary hardship.
         C.   “Lot improvement” means 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 such betterment.
      (15)   “Off-site” means any premises not located within the area of the property to be subdivided, whether or not in the same ownership of the applicant for subdivision approval.
      (16)   “Planning Commission” means the Municipal Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Euclid, Ohio.
      (17)   “Public improvement” means any drainage ditch, roadway, parkway, sidewalk, pedestrian way, treelawn, off-street parking area, lot improvement, or other facility for which the City may ultimately assume the responsibility for operation and maintenance or which may effect an improvement for which the City is responsible.
      (18)   “Right-of-way” means a strip of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, walkway, or other public improvement relating to public travel or access.
      (19)   “Set back.”
         A.   “Front set back” means the minimum allowable distance between a building or structure and the right-of-way line, as regulated by the Zoning Code.
         B.   “Side set back” means the minimum allowable distance between a building or structure and the side lot line as regulated by the Zoning Code.
         C.   “Rear set back” means the minimum allowable distance between a building or structure and the rear lot line as regulated by the Zoning Code.
      (20)   “Streets.”
         A.   “Local street” means a street intended to provide access to other streets from individual properties, generally bearing a volume of traffic no greater than 800 ADT (average daily traffic).
         B.   “Minor collector street” means a street which carries internal traffic within a given neighborhood, connecting local streets to the major collectors or to the arterial system and generally bearing a volume of traffic no greater than 4,000 ADT.
         C.   “Major collector street” means a street which carries traffic from the minor collector system to the arterials. Traffic usually has origin and destination within the community and does not exceed 10,000 ADT.
         D.   “Arterial street” means a street which accommodates traffic to and from the expressways or to or through major commercial districts. Traffic volumes are generally greater than 10,000 ADT.
         E.   “Expressway” means a street entirely devoted to the movement of large volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds. Access is completely controlled, not intended to serve abutting property.
      (21)   “Structure” means that which is constructed having a location on or in the ground or attached to that having location on or in the ground; the term shall include buildings, outdoor seating facilities, outdoor theaters, swimming pools, platforms, tents, towers, bridges, fences, barriers, poles, roadside signs.
      (22)   “Subdivision.”
         A.   The division or re-subdivision of land into two or more parts, lots, parcels, sites, units, tracts, or interests for the purpose of transfer of ownership, lease, or building development either immediate or future;
         B.   The division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description, devise, intestacy, lease, map, plat or other recorded instrument;
         C.   The improvement of one or more parcels of land for structures or groups of structures involving the division or allocation of land for the opening, widening, or extension of any street, right-of-way, or easement; or
         D.   The re-subdivision of any lot or lots in any recorded subdivision. Provided, however, that the sale and exchange of parcels between adjoining lot owners, where such sale or exchange does not create additional building sites, shall not be defined as a subdivision.
      (23)   “Subdivision, minor” means any subdivision, all lots of which front on an existing City dedicated street and with which there is no new street or right-of-way required or proposed. Such subdivisions of any parcel shall be limited to lot adjustments, lot consolidations, and lot splits involving no more than three lots which are adjusted, consolidated, or resulting and no variances are required. The Planning and Zoning Commission may establish special procedures by rule pursuant to Section 1301.11 for processing minor subdivisions.
      (24)   “Tree” means any tree, shrub, or other woody plant.
      (25)   “Zoning Code” means the Zoning Code of the City of Euclid, Ohio.
(Ord. 45-1962. Passed 3-19-62; Ord. 66-2001. Passed 4-2-01.)