For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALLEY. A public right-of-way which affords a secondary means of access to abutting property.
BLOCK. An area of land within a subdivision that is entirely bounded by streets, or by streets and the exterior boundary or boundaries of the subdivision, or a combination of the above with a river.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. The group of maps, charts and texts 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 for the purpose of constructing and maintaining utilities, including, but not limited to, sanitary sewers, water mains, electric lines, telephone lines, storm sewer or drainage ways and gas lines.
FINAL PLAT. A drawing or map of a subdivision, meeting all the requirements of the city and in such form as required by the county for the purposes of recording.
PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS. Public land and open spaces in the city dedicated or reserved for recreation purposes.
PEDESTRIAN WAY. A public or private right-of-way across a block or within a block to provide access for pedestrians and which may be used for the installation of utility lines.
PERCENTAGES OF GRADE. On street centerline, means the distance vertically (up or down) 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 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.
ROAD WIDTH. The shortest distance between lines of lots delineating the road right-of-way.
STREET. A public right-of-way affording primary access of pedestrians and vehicles abutting properties, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare, parkway, road, avenue, boulevard, place or however otherwise designated.
STREET, COLLECTOR. A street used primarily to carry traffic between the thoroughfare systems and minor residential streets or non-residential or non-residential streets and designated as a major or minor collector in the Comprehensive Plan of the city or by other action of the Council.
STREET, CUL-DE-SAC. A minor street with only one outlet and having an appropriate terminal for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
STREET, MINOR. A street used primarily for access to abutting property and designated as a local street in the Comprehensive Plan of the city or by other action of the Council.
STREET, THOROUGHFARE. One used for heavy traffic and designated as a major or minor arterial street in the Comprehensive Plan of the city or by other action of the Council.
SUBDIVIDER. Any individual, firm, association, syndicate, copartnership, 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 chapter.
SUBDIVISION. The separation of an area, parcel or tract of land under single ownership into two or more parcels, tracts, lots or long-term leasehold interests of more than 20 years (including options to renew or other provisions giving similar lessee rights) where the creation of the leasehold interest necessitates the creation of streets, roads, alleys or other easements or rights for access or essential
utilities to the leasehold, for residential, commercial, industrial or other use or combination thereof, except those separations:
(1) Where all the resulting parcels, tracts, lots or interests will be 20 acres or larger in size and 500 feet in width for residential and agricultural uses, and five acres or larger in size for commercial and industrial uses;
(2) Creating cemetery lots;
(3) Resulting from court orders, or the adjustment of an improperly located lot line by the relocation thereof; and
(4) Resulting from the leasing of residential apartments or commercial space when the same is part of an existing structure or building.
TANGENT. A straight line that is perpendicular to the radius of a curve where a tangent meets a curve.
VERTICAL CURVE. The surface curvature on a road or highway centerline located between lines of different percentage of grade.
(Prior Code, § 12.02) (Ord. 102, Third Series, effective 2-21-1991; Ord. 103, Third Series, effective 3-7-1991; Ord. 149, New Series, effective 1-17-1995)