For the purpose of the Subdivision Regulations, the following terms and words shall have the meanings ascribed herein:
(1) Words used in the present tense shall include the future; the singular shall include the plural and the plural singular; the word "shall" is mandatory and not directive while the word "may" is permissive.
(2) “Applicant” means the owner of land proposed to be subdivided or his representative. The authority of the representative shall be established to the satisfaction of the Village Solicitor. Consent to subdivide shall be required from the legal owner of the premises. “Applicant” may be referred to as the “subdivider” or “developer”.
(3) “Block” means a piece or parcel of land entirely surrounded by public highways, public streets, streams or parks, etc., or a combination thereof.
(4) “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 Village Council.
(5) “Building” means any structure, permanently affixed to the land, having one or more floors and a roof, being bounded by either open spaces or lot lines and used as a shelter or enclosure for person, animals and/or property.
(6) “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.
(7) “Council” means the Municipal Council of the Village of Middlefield, Ohio.
(8) “County” means Geauga County, Ohio.
(9) “Cul-de-sac” means a minor street of which one end connects with another street and the other end terminates in a vehicular turnaround. A cul-de-sac may be permanent or temporary. A temporary cul-de-sac street has the ability to be extended and the cul-de-sac removed when future development occurs.
(10) "Final plat" means the final map, drawing or chart on which the subdivider's plan of subdivision is presented to the Planning Commission for approval and which, if approved, will be submitted to the Recorder of Geauga County, Ohio. The filing fee shall be paid by the developer.
(11) "Fiscal Officer" means the Municipal Fiscal Officer.
(12) “Frontage” means that portion of a lot abutting on a dedicated right-of-way.
(13) "Lot" means a parcel of land intended for transfer of ownership or building development, having its full frontage subject to the application of the Subdivision Regulations.
(14) "Municipality" means the Village of Middlefield, Ohio.
(15) "Mayor" means the Mayor of the Village of Middlefield, Ohio.
(16) "Official map" means the map established by the Planning Commission showing the streets, highways and parks theretofore laid out, adopted and established by law and any amendments thereto adopted by Council and the Commission, or additions thereto resulting from the approval of subdivision plats by the Commissioner and the subsequent filing of such approved plats.
(17) “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.
(18) "Owner" means any individual, firm, association, syndicate, copartnership, corporation, trust or any other legal entity having a sufficient proprietary interest in the land sought to be subdivided to commence and maintain proceedings to subdivide the land under the Subdivision Regulations.
(19) "Planning Commission" or "Commission" means the Planning Commission of the Municipality.
(20) "Preliminary plan or Plat" means the preliminary map, drawing or chart indicating the proposed layout of the subdivision.
(21) “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.
(22) "Solicitor" means the Solicitor or legal advisor of the Municipality.
(23) “Set Back”.
(a) Front Set Back - 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 - the minimum allowable distance between a building or structure and the side lot line as regulated by the zoning code.
(c) Rear Set Back - the minimum allowable distance between a building or structure and the rear lot line as regulated by the zoning code.
(24) “Streets and Alleys”.
(a) "Street" means a way for vehicular traffic, whether it is designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare, parkway, throughway, road, avenue, boulevard, lane, place or however otherwise designated.
(b) "Alley" means a minor street which is used primarily for vehicular service access to the back or the side of properties otherwise abutting on a street. Alleys shall not provide the main frontage of any parcel or lot.
(c) “Major street” means a principal or heavy traffic street of considerable continuity and used primarily as a traffic artery for intercommunication among large areas. Driveways should not be permitted access to these thoroughfares.
(d) “Collector street” means a street which carries traffic from minor streets to major street, including the principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets for circulation within such a development.
(e) “Dead-end street” means a minor street temporarily having only one outlet for vehicular traffic and intended to be extended or continued in the future.
(25) “Minor street” means as street used primarily for access to abutting properties.
(26) “Street width” means the shortest distance between the lines delineating the right of way of a street.
(27) “Subdivider” means any individual, firm, association, syndicate, copartnership, corporation, trust or any other legal entity commencing proceedings under the Subdivision Regulations to effect a subdivision of land for himself or for another. A “subdivider” is equivalent to an “applicant” or a “developer”.
(28) Subdivision” means the improvement of one or more parcels of land for residential, commercial or industrial structures or groups of structures involving the division or allocation of land for the opening, widening or extension of any street or streets, except private streets serving industrial structures; the division or allocation of land as open spaces for common use by owners, occupants or lease holders or as easements for the extension and maintenance of public sewer, water, storm drainage or other public facilities.
(29) “Village” means the Village of Middlefield, Ohio. “Village Administrator” means the Village Administrator of the Municipality as appointed by the Village of Middlefield Council.
(30) “Engineer” means a firm or individual employed by the Municipality for engineering services.
(31) “Subdivision Regulations” means Title Three of this Part Eleven - Planning and Zoning Code and any amendments thereto.
(Ord. 10-130. Passed 10-7-10.)