For the purposes of this chapter, words and terms are defined as follows:
(1) Alley. A public right of way, primarily for vehicular traffic along the side or in the rear of properties, which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting properties.
(2) Block. A tract of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights of way, bulkhead lines or shore lines of waterways, or corporate boundary lines of the City.
(3) Building. Any structure designed, built or intended for the shelter, enclosure or protection of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind.
(4) Building Setback Line. A line within a lot or other parcel of land, so designated on the plats of the proposed subdivision, between which line and the adjacent boundary of the street upon which the lot abuts, the erection of a building is prohibited.
(5) City Plan. A comprehensive plan which indicates the general locations recommended for the various functional classes of public works, places and structures and for the general physical development of the City, and which includes any unit or part of such plan and any amendment or revision.
(6) Crosswalk. A public right of way located across a block to provide pedestrian access to adjacent streets or alleys.
(7) Cul-de-Sac. A minor street having one open end and being permanently terminated by a vehicle turn-around.
(8) Easement. A grant by a property owner for the use of a strip of land by the general public, a corporation, or a certain person or persons, for a specific purpose or purposes.
(9) Highway. A right of way for vehicular traffic which traverses a non-urban area, usually a State or Federal numbered route.
(10) Lot. A portion of a subdivision or other parcel of land intended for transfer of ownership or for building development.
(11) Official Zoning Map. A drawing, now or hereafter adopted by the City Council, which represents, to scale, the jurisdictional area over which the City of Freeport exercises subdivision jurisdiction, and which sets forth the location, alignment and classification of existing and proposed major public streets and highways and the location of existing and proposed public schools, parks and other public grounds.
(12) Official Zoning Map Ordinance. An ordinance, now or hereafter adopted by the City Council, which includes in part the Official Zoning Map and a set of specifically stated standard requirements of the City relating to size of streets, alleys, public ways, parks, playgrounds, school sites, other public grounds, and ways for public service facilities; the kind and quantity of materials which shall be used in the construction of streets and alleys; and the kind and quality of materials for public service facilities as may be consistent with the Illinois Commerce Commission or industry standards, and containing the standards required for drainage and sanitary sewers and collection and treatment of sewage.
(13) Owner. A record title holder, an owner of any interest in land, or a contract purchaser of land. If an owner is a corporation, the term "owner" shall include the name of the corporation and the names of its officers or directors, and if an owner includes a partnership or partnerships, the term "owner" shall mean and include the names of all of the partners, and if an owner is a trustee, the term "owner" shall mean and include all of the beneficiaries of the trust.
(14) Parkway. A route intended to be used primarily by passenger vehicles and whose right of way is or is intended to be developed in a park-like character.
(15) Planning Commission. The Planning Commission of the City.
(16) Plan. A plan, plat, map, drawing or chart on which the subdivider's plan for a planned development or for the subdivision of land is presented and which he or she submits for approval.
(17) Planned Development. A tract of land which is developed initially as a unit under single ownership or control which includes two or more principal buildings.
(18) Plat, Final. The drawings and documents presented for final approval and as described in Section 1224.08(b). A final plat may be either for a planned development or for a subdivision.
(19) Plat, Preliminary. The drawings and documents presented for tentative approval. A preliminary plat may be either for a planned development or for a subdivision.
(20) Roadway. The paved area within a street right of way intended for vehicular traffic, including all curb and gutter facilities.
(21) Street. An area which primarily serves or is intended to serve as a vehicular and pedestrian access to abutting lands or to other streets. The word "street" refers to the right of way or easement, whether public or private, and not to the roadway, paving or other improvement within the street right of way.
(22) Street, Approved. Any street, whether public or private, meeting standards and specifications of the City.
(23) Street, Marginal Access. A minor street which is parallel and adjacent to highways and primary thoroughfares and which provides access to abutting properties and protection to local traffic from fast, through-moving traffic on the highways and primary thoroughfares.
(24) Street, Minor. A street intended primarily as access to abutting properties.
(25) Street, Private. Any street which is under the jurisdiction of an individual, corporation or trustee, or any street which is privately owned or established.
(26) Street, Primary. A street of considerable continuity which serves or is intended to serve as a major traffic artery connecting large areas.
(27) Street, Public. Any primary or secondary thoroughfare or minor street which is shown on a subdivision plat and is or is to be dedicated for public use.
(28) Street, Secondary or Collector. A street which carries traffic from minor streets to the primary street system, including the principal entrance streets of residence development and streets for circulation within such development.
(29) Street Width. The shortest distance between lines of lots delineating the public street.
(30) Subdivider. The person or persons responsible for preparing and recording the plats of the subdivision and for carrying out all appropriate requirements relating thereto as outlined in this chapter. The term "subdivider" shall also mean and include the owner or owners of the land.
(31) Subdivision. The division of land into two or more parts, any of which is less than five acres, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or building development, including all public streets, alleys, ways for public service facilities, parks, playgrounds, school grounds or other public grounds, and all tracts, parcels, lots or blocks, and the numbering of all such tracts, parcels, lots or blocks, by progressive numbers, giving their precise dimensions, provided, however, that the following shall not be considered a subdivision and shall be exempt from the requirements set forth herein:
A. The division or subdivision of land into parcels or tracts of five acres or more in size, which division or subdivision does not involve any new streets or easements of access;
B. The division of lots or blocks of less than one acre in any recorded subdivision, which division does not involve any new streets or easements of access, provided that the width of the lot at the building setback line will not be less than that of other recorded lots fronting on the same street within the same block;
C. The sale or exchange of parcels of land between owners of adjoining and contiguous land;
D. The conveyance of parcels of land or interests therein for use as a right of way for railroads or other public utility facilities, which conveyance does not involve any new streets or easements of access;
E. The conveyance of land owned by a railroad or other public utility, which conveyance does not involve any new streets or easements of access;
F. The conveyance of land for highway or other public purposes, or grants or conveyances relating to the dedication of land for public use, or instruments relating to the vacation of land impressed with a public use;
G. Conveyances made to correct descriptions in prior conveyances;
H. The sale or exchange of parcels or tracts of land existing on July 17, 1959, into no more than two parts and not involving any new streets or easements of access.
(1977 Code §67-105; Ord. 80-14. Passed 3-3-80; Ord. 2020-12. Passed 3-2-20.)
(32) Sub-soil Base. An approved sub-soil base is a base on which a fully-loaded tandem dump truck (ten cubic yard capacity) can travel without wheel rutting occurring.
(Ord. 97-66. Passed 11-3-97.)