A. The following definitions shall be used to define words or phrases in this title. Whenever any words or phrases used in this title are not defined herein, but are defined in the Subdivision Map Actor in Title 17 (Zoning Ordinance), such definitions are incorporated herein and shall apply as though set forth herein in full, unless the context clearly indicates a contrary intention.
"Arterial streets" means streets intended to provide the majority of the city's traffic carrying capacity; provides connections to the freeway system and to collector streets; provides access to major travel generators; typically designed with four lanes for through traffic, two parking/transit/right-turn lanes, and a median with single left-turn lane at intersections.
"Block" means the area or parcels of land that is entirely bounded by subdivision boundaries, streets, highways or railroad tracks, excepting alleys.
"Collector streets" means streets intended to provide connectivity between local streets and the arterial street system; also provides access to adjacent land uses; typically designed with two lanes for through traffic, two parking/transit lanes and a median for left-turn access.
"Condominium" means an estate in real property consisting of an undivided common interest in a parcel of real property together with a separate interest of space in a residential, industrial or commercial building on such real property. A condominium may include, in addition, a separate interest in other portions of such real property. Apartment cooperatives shall be defined as condominiums.
"Conversion" means the creation of separate ownership of existing real property together with a separate interest in the space of a residential, industrial or commercial building.
"Design" means street alignments, grades and widths; drainage and sanitary facilities, and utilities, including alignments and grades; location and widths of all required easements and right-of-ways; access drives and pedestrian ways; lot size and configuration; traffic access; grading; land to be dedicated for park or recreational uses; and such other specific requirements as necessary to conform to the general plan or any adopted specific plan.
"Environmental impact report" means an informational document which, when its preparation is required, shall be considered by every public agency prior to its approval or disapproval of a project. The purpose of an environmental impact report is to provide public agencies and the public in general with detailed information about the effect which a proposed project is likely to have on the environment; to list ways in which the significant effects of such a project might be minimized; and to indicate alternatives to such a project, as specified in Section 21100 of the California Environmental Quality Act.
"Freeways" means streets intended exclusively for movement of high volumes of inter-city, regional, and longer local trips at high speeds.
"General Plan" means the general plan of the City of Visalia and any amendment thereto.
"Improvement" means and includes street construction, storm drainage facilities, utilities, culverts, landscaping, sanitary sewer facilities, traffic control devices and other facilities as necessary for the general use of the owners in the subdivision and local neighborhood traffic.
"Local streets" means streets intended exclusively to provide access to adjacent land uses; typically designed with two through lanes with parking on both sides.
"Lot" means a parcel of land separated from other parcels of land as the result of a recorded subdivision map or parcel map.
"Lot line adjustment" means an adjustment of the lot line between four (4) or fewer adjoining parcels, where the land taken from one parcel is added to an adjacent parcel, and where a greater number of parcels than originally existed is not thereby created, provided the lot line adjustment is approved by the city planner.
"Major arterial streets" means streets intended to provide a high level of capacity in selected high volume corridors; provides connections to the freeway system and to collector streets; provides access to major travel generators; typically designed with six lanes for through traffic, a parking/transit/right-turn lane, and a median with dual left-turn lanes at intersections.
"Merger" means the joining of two or more contiguous parcels of land, under one ownership, into one parcel.
"Parcel map" means a map prepared to divide or consolidate in accordance with the provisions of this title and the map act.
"Reversion to acreage" means a map prepared for the purpose of reverting to acreage land previously subdivided.
"Subdivider" means a person, firm, corporation, partnership, or associate who causes to be divided real property into a subdivision for himself, herself, or for others; except that employees and consultants of such persons or entities, acting in such capacity, are not subdividers.
"Subdivision" means the division of any improved or unimproved contiguous land for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing, whether immediate or future. Property shall be considered as contiguous units, even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easements or railroad rights-of-way. Subdivision includes a condominium project, as defined herein or in Section 1350 of the Civil Code or a community apartment project, as defined in Section 11004 of the Business and Professions Code. Any conveyance of land to a governmental agency, public entity, or public utility shall not be considered a division of land for purposes of computing the number of parcels.
Subdivision does not include:
1. Buildings divided into apartments, offices, stores or similar space within apartment buildings, industrial buildings, commercial buildings, mobile home parks, or trailer parks for the purpose of lease or financing;
2. Land divided by mineral, oil, or gas leases;
3. Land dedicated for cemetery purposes under the Health and Safety Code of the State of California.
"Subdivision improvement standards" means standard details, standard specifications, and other standards approved by the City Council shall govern the improvements to be constructed pursuant to this title and Subdivision Map Act.
"Subdivision Map Act" means the latest edition of the Subdivision Map Act of the state of California.
"Street" means a thoroughfare, dedicated as such or acquired for public use as such, other than an alley, which afford the principal means of access to abutting land. "Street" includes streets, avenues, courts, drives, parkways, ways, or lands.
"Tentative map" means and refers to a map made for the purpose of showing the design of a proposed subdivision or parcel map and the existing conditions in and around it.
"Vesting tentative map" means a tentative map for a residential subdivision that shall have printed conspicuously on its face the words "Vesting Tentative Map" at the time it is filed. (Ord. 2017-01 (part), 2017: Ord. 9605 § 32 (part), 1996: prior code § 9040)