(A) Other definitions. All definitions in VA Code § 15.2-2201, as amended, and in the Northampton County Code, including the Zoning Ordinance, are equally applicable to this chapter. In the event of a difference, any definitions herein shall take precedence over a definition in the Zoning Ordinance for the purpose of this chapter, and any definitions herein shall take precedence over a definition in the Code of Virginia, unless the Code of Virginia definition is mandatory. Any term used in this chapter which is not defined in this chapter, shall be given its common and ordinary meaning unless the term has been defined elsewhere in the Northampton County Code, or by state statute, regulation, or by the Virginia Supreme Court or the Virginia Court of Appeals, and the definition is applicable to the context in which the term is used.
(B) The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
ADJACENT AND ABUTTING PROPERTY. Property which touches or is contiguous to, or is separated by a road or right-of-way from other property.
BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT. Any change, adjustment, relocation, vacation or alteration of the boundary line of a lot or parcel of record.
CENTRAL SEWERAGE SYSTEM. A sewerage system consisting of pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains, or sewage treatment plants, including but not limited to septic tanks and/or drain fields or any of them, designed to serve three or more connections used for conducting or treating sewage, which is required to be approved by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to VA Code §§ 15.2-2126 et seq.
CENTRAL WATER SYSTEM. A water supply system consisting of a well, springs, or other source and the necessary pipes, conduits, mains, pumping stations, and other facilities in connection therewith, to serve or to be capable of serving three or more connections, which is required to be approved by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to VA Code §§ 15.2-2149 et seq.
CHESAPEAKE/ATLANTIC PRESER VATION AREA or CAP. Any land designated as a Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Part 111 of the Chesapeake/Atlantic Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations, 9 VAC 10-20-70 et seq. and VA Code § 15.2-2284, as amended.
CLERK OF THE COURT. The clerk of the circuit court of Northampton County, Virginia or the clerk's deputies and assistants.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. The adopted Comprehensive Plan for Northampton County, as amended from time to time.
CONDOMINIUM. Any real property, and any incidents thereto, or interests therein, in which individual dwelling units or apartments of a multi-unit structure or area are owned individually, in conjunction with an undivided interest in common elements appertaining to each individual unit and which undivided interest is vested in each owner of any individual unit or apartment.
COUNTY ATTORNEY. The Northampton County Attorney or the County Attorney's designee.
CUL-DE-SAC. A road having one end that opens to traffic and having the other end terminated by a vehicle turn-around space.
EASEMENT. A grant by a property owner of the use of his or her land by another party for a specific purpose.
ENGINEER. A person licensed to practice as a professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
FAMILY SUBDIVISION. The single division of property for the purpose of sale or gift to a member of the immediate family of the owner of the property, that is, to the natural or legally defined child, spouse, sibling, grandchild, grandparent, or parent of the owner of property.
IMPROVEMENT. Any utilities and facilities required by this chapter, including, but not limited to, roads, cul-de-sacs, traffic signalization and controls, sanitary sewers, storm water management, and erosion control or shoreline stabilization facilities, drainage control facilities, water systems, and curbs and gutters.
LAND SURVEYOR or SURVEYOR. Any person licensed to practice as such in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
PARENT TRACT. A legally recorded lot or parcel existing of record on the effective date of this chapter.
PERSON. Any individual, corporation or other entity capable of owning real estate. See also NCC § 10.02(B).
PHASED SUBDIVISION. A subdivision for which a preliminary plat is approved for the entire property and for which a master phasing plan was submitted with the preliminary plat, and for which two or more record plats, individually pertaining to less than the entire property, are submitted sequentially for review and approval.
PLAT. A map or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or has been subdivided. When used as a verb PLAT is synonymous with SUBDIVIDE.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY. A plat upon which the plan for a subdivision is presented for approval as a preliminary plat pursuant to this chapter, and which may not be recorded with the land records of the county.
PLAT, RECORD. A final plat upon which the plan for a subdivision is presented for approval pursuant to this chapter, whether preceded by an approved preliminary plat or not, and which, once approved and signed by the subdivision agent, is in form for recording with the land records of the county.
PUBLIC SEWERAGE SYSTEM. A central sewerage system owned or operated by a public authority or municipality.
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. A central water system intended to be owned or operated by a public authority or a municipality for the purpose of furnishing potable water.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. A strip of land dedicated or reserved for a road, crosswalk, railroad, sanitary or storm sewer, water main, drainage facility, public utility, or other special use. The term RIGHT-OF-WAY for land platting purposes under this chapter shall mean that every right-of-way hereafter
established and shown on a plat is to be separate and distinct from lots or parcels adjoining such right-of-way and not included within the dimensions or areas of such lots or parcels.
ROAD. A public or private way set aside as a permanent right-of-way for motor vehicle travel and affording access to abutting properties. For the purpose of this chapter, the word ROAD shall include the words STREET, HIGHWAY, LANE, AVENUE, and BOULEVARD.
ROAD, PRIVATE. Any road that is not maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, regardless of ownership, and not intended for acceptance into the state highway system.
ROAD, PUBLIC. A road maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation or one intended for acceptance into the state highway system as meeting its specifications.
SUBDIVISION AGENT. The Zoning Administrator of Northampton County or his or her designated agent.
SUBDIVIDE. The process of dividing land or otherwise adjusting boundary lines to establish a subdivision.
SUBDIVIDER. One or more persons who own property to be subdivided, or to be divided by family division.
SUBDIVISION. The division, including re-subdivision or family subdivision, of a parent tract or the establishment of any condominium regime, resulting in two or more lots. It shall also include the vacation of plats and the adjustment of boundary lines.
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR VDOT STANDARDS. One or more applicable standards or requirements of the Virginia Department of Transportation pertaining to the design or construction of any public road and any improvement related thereto. Virginia Department of Transportation standards include, but are not limited to, those standards and requirements set forth in its road design manual, road and bridge standards manual, and subdivision street requirements manual.
ZONING ORDINANCE. The Zoning Ordinance of Northampton County, Virginia.
(Ord. passed 11-15-2006; Am. Ord. passed 11-10-2020; Am. Ord. passed 12-8-2020)