The language set forth in the text of this title shall be interpreted in accordance with the following rules of construction:
(A) The singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.
(B) The present tense includes the past and future tenses and the future the present.
(C) The word "shall" is mandatory, while the word "may" is permissive.
(D) The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.
(E) Whenever a word or term defined hereinafter appears in the text of this title, its meaning shall be construed as set forth in the definition thereof; and any word appearing in parentheses directly after a word herein defined shall be construed in the same sense as that word.
The following words and terms, wherever they occur in this title, shall be construed as herein defined:
ALLEY: A right of way which affords secondary means of access to properties abutting upon a street.
BLOCK: A tract of land bounded by streets or by a combination of one or more streets and parks, cemeteries, shorelines of waterways, corporate limit lines, or other lines of demarcation.
BUILDING COMMISSIONER: The building commissioner of the city of Savanna, or his duly authorized representative.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE: A line within a lot or other parcel of land so designated on the final plat, which denotes the area between such line and the adjacent street right of way line where an enclosed building and other obstructions are prohibited, except those obstructions that are permitted by zoning ordinance regulations.
CITY CLERK: The city clerk of the city of Savanna.
COLLECTOR STREET: A street within a subdivision which has wider right of way and roadway widths, and which is a prime entrance or circulating street. Its primary function is to distribute and collect traffic to and from minor streets.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The composite of the functional and geographic elements of the official comprehensive plan of the city of Savanna and environs or any segment thereof, in the form of plans, maps, charts, text of reports, implementing ordinances and the official map.
CUL-DE-SAC: A minor street with a single outlet.
EASEMENT: A quantity of land set aside over or under which a liberty, privilege or advantage in land without profit, is dedicated and is distinct from ownership of the land, is granted either to the public, a particular person, or a combination of both.
FINAL PLAT: A map or plan of a subdivision and any accompanying material as described in chapter 4 of this title.
FRONTAGE ROAD: A minor street which is parallel to any either adjacent to or within the right of way of a thoroughfare.
HALF STREET: A street of less than the total required width along one or more property lines of a subdivision.
LAND IMPROVEMENT: Any sanitary sewerage system, storm sewer system water supply and distribution systems, roadway, side strip, sidewalk, pedestrianway, no access strip, off street parking area, or other improvement which the city may require under this title.
LOT: A portion of a subdivision or other parcel of land intended for transfer of ownership or for building development.
LOT, BUTT: The words "butt lot" mean a lot at the end of a block and located between two (2) corner lots.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE: The words "double frontage lot" mean a lot which has a pair of opposite lot lines along two (2) substantially parallel streets.
MINOR STREET: A street of limited continuity. Its primary purpose is to serve abutting properties.
"NO ACCESS" STRIP: A land area at least twelve feet (12') wide along the rear lot line of a double frontage lot and abutting a thoroughfare within which no vehicular driveways shall be permitted.
OWNER OR SUBDIVIDER: Includes any person, firm, association, partnership, private corporation, public or quasi-public corporation, or a combination of any of them, or other legal entity having sufficient proprietary interest in the land sought to be subdivided or divided to commence and maintain proceedings under the provisions of this title.
PEDESTRIANWAY: A right of way across or within a block designated for pedestrian use.
PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD: The Savanna city planning and zoning board.
PRELIMINARY PLAT: A tentative map or plan of a proposed subdivision as described in chapter 3 of this title.
ROADWAY: That portion of the street designated for vehicular use.
SIDE STRIP: The unpaved strip of land within a street right of way and is parallel to the roadway.
SIDEWALK: That portion of the street designated for pedestrian use.
STREET: A right of way which affords primary means of access by pedestrians and vehicles to abutting properties, whether designated as a street, avenue, highway, road, boulevard, easement or however otherwise designated.
STREET WIDTH: The shortest distance between the right of way lines of a given street.
SUBDIVISION: A described tract of land which is to be, or has been, divided into two (2) or more lots or parcels, or any division of land when a new street is involved, for the purpose of transfer of ownership of building development. A subdivision shall not include the following:
(A) The division or subdivision of land into parcels or tracts of five (5) acres or more in size which does not involve any new streets or easements of access.
(B) The division of lots or blocks in any recorded subdivision which does not involve any new streets or easements of access.
(C) The sale or exchange of parcels of land between owners of adjoining and contiguous land.
(D) The conveyance of parcels of land or interest therein for use as right of way for railroads or other public utility facilities.
(E) The conveyance of land owned by railroad or other public utility which 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 following the division into no more than two (2) parts of a particular parcel or tract of land existing on the effective date hereof which do not involve any new streets or easements.
The term "subdivision" includes resubdivision and, where it is appropriate to the context, relates to the process of subdividing or to the land subdivided.
SUBDIVISION DESIGN STANDARDS: The basic land planning principles established as guides for the preparation of preliminary plats.
THOROUGHFARE: A street with a high degree of continuity and serving as an arterial trafficway between the various districts of Savanna and its environs. (1977 Code; amd. Ord. 2158, 4-26-2016)