(A) Unless otherwise specifically provided, or unless otherwise clearly required by the context, the words and phrases defined in this section shall have the meanings herein set forth when used in this chapter. If a word or phrase used in this chapter is not defined by this section or elsewhere in this chapter, to
the extent such word or phrase is defined in G.S. Chapter 160D, that definition shall control.
AUTHORIZED AGENT. One who is acting as representative for, or by the authority of the subdivider.
BLOCK. A piece of land bounded on one or more sides by streets or roads.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The Board of County Commissioners; County Board of Commissioners; the governing body of the County of Greene, North Carolina.
BUFFER STRIP. An area of land that shall not be developed, required to separate land uses deemed incompatible. Front yard setbacks and side yards are examples of buffers. In some cases, additional screening, landscaped or otherwise, may be required.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE. A line parallel to the property line which establishes the minimum allowable distance between nearest portions of any buildings, steps, eaves, gutters, and similar fixtures, and the street right-of-way line when measured perpendicularly thereto.
COLLECTOR STREET. A street which serves the connecting street system between local residential streets and the thoroughfare system.
CORNER LOT. A lot which occupies the interior angle at the intersection of two street lines. The street line forming the least frontage shall be deemed the front of the lot except where the two street lines are equal, in which case, the owner shall be required to specify which is the front when requesting a building permit.
CUL-DE-SAC. A short street having one end open to traffic and the other end being permanently terminated and a vehicular turn around provided.
DEDICATION. A gift, by the owner, or a right to use of land for a specified purpose or
purposes. Because a transfer of property rights is entailed,
DEDICATION must be made by written instrument.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. A statement prepared and signed by the subdivider and the buyer of the subject real estate, fully and completely disclosing the status (whether public or private) of the street upon which the lot fronts. The statement shall also include an explanation of the consequences and responsibility as to maintenance and construction of proposed roadways.
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT. A continuous (through) lot which is accessible from both streets upon which it fronts.
EASEMENT. A grant by the property owner for use by the public or others of a strip of land for specified purposes.
FLAG LOT. A type of lot that is shaped like a flag, with a narrow strip (flagpole) providing access from the larger buildable area (the flag) to the lot's frontage.
INTERIOR LOT. A lot other than a corner lot with only one frontage on a street.
LOT. A portion of a subdivision or any other parcel of land intended as a unit for transfer of ownership or for development, or both. The word LOT includes the word PARCEL or PLOT.
LOT OF RECORD. A lot which is a part of a subdivision, a plat of which has been recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Greene County prior to the adoption of this chapter; or, a lot described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been so recorded prior to the adoption of this chapter.
OFFICIAL MAPS OR PLAN (LAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN). Any maps or plans officially adopted by the County Board of Commissioners as a guide for the development of the county. Such terms shall be construed to include any plans adopted pursuant to G.S. § 160D-501.
OPEN SPACE. An area (land and/or water) generally lacking in man-made structures and reserved for enjoyment in its unaltered state.
ORDINANCE. This Subdivision Ordinance.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT. A land development project comprehensively planned as an entity via a unitary site plan which permits flexibility in building siting, mixtures of building types and land uses, recreational areas and usable open spaces, and the preservation of significant natural features. Included within this definition shall be planned unit residential developments and planned unit non-residential developments or combination thereof.
PLANNING BOARD. The Planning Board of Greene County established pursuant to G.S. § 160D-301.
PLAT. A map or plan delineating a tract or parcel of land to be subdivided, land to be dedicated for public use, or right-of-way for street or utility purposes. The word PLAT shall include the terms MAP, PLAT, and PLAN.
PLAT, FINAL. A map of land subdivision prepared in a form suitable for filing of record with necessary affidavits, dedications, acceptances, and with complete bearings and dimensions of all lines defining lots and blocks, streets, public areas, and other dimensions of land, as prescribed by this chapter.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY. A map of proposed land subdivision showing the character and proposed layout of the tract in sufficient detail to indicate the suitability of the proposed subdivision of land, as prescribed by this chapter.
PRIVATE DRIVEWAY. A roadway serving two or fewer lots, building sites, or other division of land and not intended to be public ingress or egress.
PUBLIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM. A system serving two or more dwelling units and approved by the Greene County Health Department and the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources or its successor.
RECREATION AREA OR PARK. An area of land or combination of land and water resources that is developed for active and/or passive recreation pursuits with various man-made features that accommodate such activities.
RESERVATION. A reservation of land not involving the transfer of property rights. It simply constitutes an obligation to keep property free from development for a stated period of time.
REVERSED FRONTAGE LOT. A lot on which the frontage is at right angles or approximately right angles (interior angles less than 135°) to the general pattern in the area. A reversed frontage lot may also be a corner lot, an interior lot or a through lot.
SINGLE-TIER LOT. A lot which backs upon a limited access highway, a railroad, a physical barrier, or another type of land use and to which access from the rear is usually prohibited.
STREETS. A right-of-way dedicated to the public for vehicular traffic.
(a) FREEWAY, EXPRESSWAY, or PARKWAY. Divided multi-lane roadway designed to carry large volumes of traffic at relatively high speeds. A FREEWAY provides for continuous flow of vehicles with no direct access to abutting property or streets and with access to selected crossroads provided via connecting ramps. An EXPRESSWAY is a divided highway with full or partial control of access and generally with grade separations at major intersections. A PARKWAY is a highway for non-commercial traffic, with full or partial control of access, and usually located within a park or a ribbon of park-like development.
(b) FRONTAGE ROAD. A street that is parallel to a fully or partially access controlled street which functions to provide controlled access to adjacent land.
(c) PRIVATE STREET. An undedicated private right-of-way which affords access to abutting properties and requires a subdivision
streets disclosure statement in accordance with G.S. § 136-102.6.
(d) MAJOR THOROUGHFARES. Consist of interstate, other freeway and expressway links, and major streets that provide for the expeditious movement of volumes of traffic within and through urban areas. LOCAL STREET. Any link not part of a higher order urban system and which serves primarily to provide direct access to abutting land and access to higher systems.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground of which is attached to something having more or less permanent location on the ground.
SUBDIVIDER. Any person, firm, or corporation who subdivides or develops any land deemed to be a subdivision as defined in this chapter.
SUBDIVISION. Any division of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, building sites, or other divisions when any one or more of those divisions is created for the purpose of sale or building development, whether immediate or future, and shall include all divisions of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets; but the following shall not be included within this definition nor be subject to the regulations authorized by this chapter:
(a) The combination or recombination of portions of previously subdivided and recorded lots where the total number of lots is not increased and the resultant lots are equal to or exceed the standards of the county as shown in this chapter.
(b) The division of land into parcels greater than ten acres where no street right-of-way dedication is involved.
(c) The public acquisition by purchase of strips of land for the widening or opening of streets or for public transportation system corridors.
(d) The division of a tract in single ownership whose entire area is no greater than two acres into not more than three lots, where no street right-of-way dedication is involved and where the resultant lots are equal to or exceed the standards of the county, as shown in this chapter.
(e) The division of a tract into parcels in accordance with the terms of a probated will or in accordance with intestate succession under Chapter 29 of the General Statutes.
THROUGH LOT or DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT. A lot other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street. Through lots abutting two streets may be referred to as double frontage lots.
(B) Tense and number.
(1) The present tense includes future and present tense and vice versa.
(2) The singular number includes the plural and vice versa.
(C) Word interpretation.
(1) The word "may" is permissive.
(2) The words "shall" and "will" are mandatory.
(3) The word "building" includes the word "structure."
(4) The word "county" shall mean the "County of Greene."
(5) The word "Board of Commissioners" or "County Commissioners" shall mean the "Greene County Board of County Commissioners."
(6) The words "Register of Deeds" shall mean the "Register of Deeds for Greene County, North Carolina."
(7) The word "street" includes the words "roads" and "highway."
(8) General Statutes Chapter 160D is applicable to this chapter. In the event of any conflict between this chapter and G.S. Chapter 160D, the provisions of G.S. Chapter 160D shall control.
(9) The words "written" or "in writing" are deemed to include electronic documentation.
(10) Unless specified otherwise, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, delivery by first-class mail shall be deemed received on the third business day following deposit of the item for mailing with the United States Postal Service, and delivery by electronic mail shall be deemed received on the date sent.
(D) Minimum requirements. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, all subdivisions shall be held to the minimum requirements set forth, for the promotion of the public safety, health and general welfare of Greene County and shall neither limit nor repeal any other powers granted under state statutes.
(E) Rounding numbers. All calculations that result in a fraction or part of a whole number shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number except when calculating density. For density calculations, any fraction shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(Ord. passed 6-21-21)