For the purpose of these subdivision regulations, the word “building” includes the word “structure;” the word “engineer,” unless otherwise modified, means City Engineer; and “specifications” or “standard specifications” refers to the City Standard Specifications adopted by the Council and on file with the City Clerk. All words shall carry their customary meanings, except as specifically defined hereafter:
1. “Acquisition plat” means the graphical representation of the division of land or rights in land, created as the result of a conveyance or condemnation for right-of-way purposes by an agency of the government or other persons having the power of eminent domain.
2. “Administrative official” means the City official appointed by the Council to assist with the administration of these subdivision regulations, who shall be responsible for issuance of building permits.
3. “Aliquot part” means a fractional part of a section within the United States public land survey system. Only the fractional parts one-half, one-quarter, one-half of one-quarter, or one-quarter of one-quarter shall be considered an aliquot part of a section.
4. “Alley” means a right-of-way providing a secondary means of access to the side or rear of those properties whose principal frontage is on some other street.
5. “Arterial street” means a public right-of-way with a high degree of continuity which serves the movement of large volumes of traffic between various districts as designated in the comprehensive plan.
6. “Auditor’s plat” means a subdivision plat required by either the Auditor or the Assessor, prepared by a surveyor under the direction of the Auditor.
7. “Building line” means a line designating the allowable proximity of a building to an adjacent street, alley or property line.
8. “Collector street” means a street that carries traffic from minor streets to an arterial, including the principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets for basic circulation within such a development as designated in the Comprehensive Plan.
9. “Commission” means the City Planning and Zoning Commission.
10. “Comprehensive Plan” means the current comprehensive plan for the development of the City, or any of its geographical parts, adopted by the Council and including any amendment to such plan or parts thereof.
11. “Conveyance” means an instrument filed with a recorder as evidence of the transfer of title to land, including any form of deed or contract.
12. “Cul-de-sac” means a minor street having one open end and being permanently terminated at the other end by a vehicular turnaround.
13. “Division” means dividing a tract or parcel of land into two (2) parcels of land by conveyance or for tax purposes. The conveyance of an easement, other than a public highway easement, shall not be considered a division for the purpose of these subdivision regulations.
14. “Easement” means a grant by a property owner of the use of land for specific purpose.
15. “Final plat” means a map or plan of record of a subdivision, and any accompanying material, as described in Section 176.07 of these subdivision regulations.
16. “Forty-acre aliquot part” means one-quarter of one-quarter of a section.
17. “Government lot” means a tract, within a section, which is normally described by a lot number as represented and identified on the township plat of the United States public land survey system.
18. “Lot” means a tract of land represented and identified by number or letter designation on an official plat.
19. “Marginal access street” means a minor street which is parallel and adjacent to an arterial, and which provides access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.
20. “Metes and bounds description” means a description of land that uses distances and angles, uses distance and bearings, or describes the boundaries of the parcel by reference to physical features of the land.
21. “Minor street” means a local street of limited continuity used primarily for access to abutting properties and the local needs of a neighborhood.
22. “Official plat” means either an auditor’s plat or a final subdivision plat that meets the requirements of these subdivision regulations and has been filed for record in the offices of the Recorder, Auditor and Assessor.
23. “Parcel” means a part of a tract of land.
24. “Pedestrian way” means a right-of-way across or within a block for use by pedestrian traffic, whether designated as a pedestrian way or a crosswalk or other.
25. “Permanent real estate index number” means a unique number or combination of numbers assigned to a parcel of land pursuant to Section 441.29 of the Code of Iowa, as amended.
26. “Plat of survey” means the graphical representation of a survey of one or more parcels of land, including a complete and accurate description of each parcel within the plat, prepared by a registered land surveyor.
27. “Preliminary plat” means a tentative map or plan of a proposed subdivision.
28. “Proprietor” means a person who has a recorded interest in land, including a person selling or buying land pursuant to a contract, but excluding persons holding a mortgage, easement, or lien interest.
29. “Protective covenants” means contracts entered into between private parties and which constitute a restriction on the use of all private property within a subdivision for the benefit of property owners.
30. “Roadway” means the developed portion of a street available for vehicular traffic.
31. “Street” means a public right-of-way which affords primary means of access by pedestrians and vehicles to abutting properties.
32. “Subdivider” means any person who undertakes the subdivision of land as defined herein.
33. “Subdivision” means the division of a tract, lot, or parcel of land into two or more lots, plats, sites, or other divisions of land.
34. “Subdivision design standards” means the guides, principles, and specifications for the preparation of subdivision plans, including the Waukee Standard Specifications For Public Improvements and the Des Moines Metropolitan Design Standards Manual.
35. “Subdivision plat” means the graphical representation of the subdivision of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, having a number or letter designation for each lot within the plat and a succinct name or title that is unique for the county where the land is located.
36. “Surveyor” means a registered land surveyor who engages in the practice of land surveying pursuant to Chapter 542B of the Code of Iowa, as amended.
37. “Tract” means an aliquot part of a section, a lot within an official plat, or a government lot.