For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. (The word
BUILDING
includes the word
STRUCTURE
and vice-versa.)
ABUTTING.
Real property to a depth of two ownerships or 660 feet from property in question.
ADJOINING.
Sharing an edge or a boundary; touching.
ALLEY.
A permanent public service way providing only a secondary means of vehicular access to the back or side of property otherwise abutting a street. An alley does not include a "frontage street" or "commercial service drive".
BLOCK.
A unit or property bounded by streets and/or railroad rights-of-way, waterways, or other definite barriers.
BLOCK FRONTAGE.
Property having frontage on one side of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting or intercepting streets, or a street with a waterway, or other definite barrier.
BUILDABLE AREA.
The portion of the lot remaining after required yards or setback lines have been provided. Buildings may be placed in any part of the buildable area, but if there are limitations on the amount of the lot which may be covered by buildings, some open space may be required within the buildable area.
BUILDING.
A structure having a roof supported by posts, poles, columns or walls, for the shelter, support, enclosure or protection of persons, animals, chattels, or property. When separated by party walls, without any opening through walls, each portion of such a building shall be considered a separate structure.
BUILDING, DETACHED.
A building having no structural connection with another building.
BUILDING, FRONT LINE OF.
The actual line of any portion of the building, including the overhang, nearest the front lot line, in contrast to the front setback line.
BUILDING LINE
or
BUILDING SETBACK LINE.
The line which establishes the minimum depth of yard, beyond which no building or structure is permitted, as measured from the right-of-way line or the lot line. For the purpose of this chapter the proposed right-of-way lines according to the thoroughfare plan of current adoption will be considered as the street lines for lots bordering such streets and thoroughfares.
BUILDING PERMIT.
A permit signed by the Plan Commission staff stating that a proposed improvement complies with the provisions of Chapter 150, Chapter 156, and such other parts of this Code of Ordinances, as may be applicable.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.
A certificate signed by the Plan Commission staff stating that the occupancy and use of land or a building or structure referred to therein complies with the provisions of this Code of Ordinances.
COMMERCIAL SERVICE DRIVE.
A street other than a frontage street that runs parallel or generally parallel to the frontal street and mainly located in the space to the rear of the building(s).
COMMISSION
or
PLAN COMMISSION.
The Town of Whiteland Advisory Plan Commission.
COMMON AREA.
Space or parcels within or related to a development, not in individually owned lots or dedicated for public use, but which is designated and intended for the common use or enjoyment of the residents of the development.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
The comprehensive plan for Whiteland, Indiana, (Resolution 2011-04) adopted April, 11, 2011, as may be amended from time to time, according to the requirements of I.C. 36-7-4-500 et seq.
CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District.
COUNCIL.
The Whiteland Town Council.
COUNTY.
Johnson County, Indiana.
COVENANTS.
A series of formal, sealed, binding agreements or laws.
CUL-DE-SAC, COURT,
or
DEAD-END STREET.
A residential street having one end open to traffic and being permanently terminated by a vehicle turn-around.
DESIGN STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL.
The document, its appendices and any subsequent revisions and additions, that is approved by the Town Council and that sets forth the standards and specifications for public improvements in the Town of Whiteland, which is incorporated herein by reference.
DEVELOPMENT.
(1) Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to:
(a) Construction or placement of a building greater than 400 sq. ft., construction of any addition to a building, and reconstruction;
(b) Installing a manufactured home at a site, preparing a site for a manufactured home or installing a travel trailer on a site for more than 180 days;
(c) Installing utilities, erection of walls and fences, construction of roads, or similar projects;
(d) Construction of flood control structures such as levees, dikes, channel improvements, and the like;
(e) Mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, or drilling operation;
(f) Construction and/or reconstruction of bridges or culverts;
(g) Storage of materials; or
(h) Any other activity that might change the direction, height, or velocity of flood or surface waters.
(2) DEVELOPMENT
does not include activities such as the maintenance of existing buildings and facilities such as painting, re-roofing, resurfacing roads; or gardening, plowing, and similar agricultural practices that do not involve filling, grading, excavation, or the construction of permanent buildings.
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING
. The official, or his designee, authorized to enforce this chapter of the Code and other chapters pertaining to planning, zoning and building construction.
DRAINAGE BOARD.
The Johnson County Drainage Board.
EASEMENT.
A right of the owner of one parcel of land, by reason of such ownership, or a right of the public, to use the land of another for a special purpose as designated; a strip of land to be used by the general public, a corporation, a utility company, or a certain person for a specific reason, for purposes of providing services to property. The property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the area within easements on their property.
FRONTAGE.
That side of a lot abutting on a street or public way and ordinarily regarded as the front of the lot. Lots shall not be considered to front on stub ends of streets and in the case of corner lots will be considered to front on both intersecting streets.
FRONTAGE STREET.
A street that runs parallel to the public street or highway and located within the space between the building(s) and the public street or highway.
IMPROVEMENT LOCATION PERMIT.
A permit which may be combined with a
BUILDING PERMIT
signed by the Plan Commission Staff stating that a proposed improvement or use complies with the provisions of the Zoning, Building, and Subdivision Control Ordinances. A
TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT LOCATION PERMIT
is an
IMPROVEMENT LOCATION PERMIT
authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals or staff with a definite time limit attached thereto.
JURISDICTION OF THE PLAN COMMISSION.
The territory within the Town of Whiteland, Indiana, the boundaries of which are shown on the Zone Map, as amended, which includes all of the area over which this chapter is effective.
LOT.
A parcel, plat, tract, or area of land intended as a unit for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of offer, sale, lease, transfer of ownership, or development, either on the installment plan or on any and all other plans, terms, and conditions, including resubdivision. It may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which is recorded in the office of the County Recorder, or it may include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to one another and used or treated as one, or it may be a parcel of land described by metes and bounds. However, in no case shall any residual lot or parcel be created which does not meet the requirements of this chapter. In determining lot area and boundary lines, no part thereof within a street shall be included.
LOT AREA.
The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot, computed exclusive of any portion of a street, existing or proposed.
LOT, CORNER.
A lot at the junction of and having frontage on two or more intersecting streets. For the purpose of this chapter, corner lots are considered to have two front yards and two side yards.
LOT COVERAGE.
The total area of a lot that is covered, roofed, occupied, or enclosed by principal and accessory buildings and structures, expressed as a percentage of the lot area.
LOT, DEPTH OF.
The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line or side lot lines for corner lots.
LOT, FLAG.
A lot that gains access to a street by means of a corridor having less than the required lot width. Also known as a panhandle lot.
LOT FRONTAGE.
The linear distance of a lot measured at the front lot line where said lot abuts a street, measured between side lot lines.
LOT, INTERIOR.
A lot other than a
CORNER LOT
or
THROUGH LOT
.
LOT LINE.
The property line between two established parcels of land or one parcel and a public right-of-way or place.
LOT LINE, FRONT.
A line separating the lot from the public way.
LOT LINE, REAR.
A lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line and, in the case of an irregular or triangular shaped lot, a line ten feet in length within the lot, parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front lot line.
LOT LINE, SIDE.
Any lot boundary line not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT OF RECORD.
A lot which is part of a subdivision, the map of which has been recorded in the office of the County Recorder, or a parcel of unplatted land, the deed to which has been recorded in the office of the County Recorder, provided that such lot was of a size that met the minimum dimensions for lots in the district in which it was located when recorded, or was recorded prior to January 12, 2004.
LOT, THROUGH.
A lot having frontage on two parallel, or approximately parallel streets. Also
DOUBLE FRONTAGE LOT
.
LOT, WIDTH.
The dimension of a lot, measured between side lot lines on the front building line.
OWNERS ASSOCIATION.
A corporation or other entity that is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of two or more persons who each own a lot in fee simple and acts, in accordance with the articles, bylaws, and other documents governing the entity to:
(1) Acquire, transfer, manage, repair, maintain, or engage in construction on or in the land and improvements on the land related to the use of the lots owned by the members of the corporation;
(2) Purchase insurance to cover a casualty or an activity on or in the land and improvements on the land; or
(3) Engage in an activity incidental to an activity described in divisions (1) or (2).
PERSON.
A corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, or any other group acting as a unit, as well as a natural person.
PETITIONER.
Any person, firm, or corporation engaged in developing or improving a tract of land.
PLAN COMMISSION STAFF.
The Director of Planning and Zoning, his or her designees, and/or other persons designated by the Plan Commission to advise them on matters pertaining to planning and zoning.
PLAT.
A series of drawings, certificates and covenants indicating the subdivision or re-subdivision of land, either filed or intended to be filed for record.
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.
Significant economic injury that arises from the strict application of this chapter to the conditions of a particular, existing parcel of property. Practical difficulties are not as significant as the injury associated with hardship, that is, it does not deprive the parcel owner of all reasonable economic use of the parcel, yet they are clearly more significant than compliance cost.
PRIMARY APPROVAL.
An approval that may be granted by the Plan Commission and signed by the President of the Plan Commission on a plat of a subdivision which complies with the procedures, standards of improvements, and conditions have been met by the applicant as required by this code. Primary approval is a final decision of the Plan Commission inasmuch as it may be subject to judicial review.
PUBLIC WAY.
A street, frontage street, or road, not an easement or an alley.
REAR ACCESS DRIVE.
A drive which accesses the street or right-of-way through the rear of the property.
REPLAT.
A subdivision or plat, the site of which has heretofore been platted or subdivided with lots or parcels of land. It may include all or any part of a previous subdivision or plat.
RULES OF PROCEDURE.
The Rules of Procedure adopted by resolution by the Plan Commission.
SECONDARY APPROVAL.
An approval that may be granted by the Plan Commission and signed and certified by the President of the Plan Commission on a plat of the subdivision which the Plan Commission has already given its primary approval before it can be filed with the County Auditor and recorded by the County Recorder, and the improvements and installations have been completed as required by this Code or, if the improvements and installations have not been completed as required, the applicant therefore has provided a bond or other proof of financial responsibility in accordance with the requirements of this Subdivision Code.
SETBACK.
The required minimum horizontal distance, measured perpendicularly, between the building line and the related front, side, or rear property line.
STREET.
A public right-of-way, other than an alley, or place dedicated or otherwise legally established for public use, usually affording the principal means of vehicular travel or passage. A street may also be identified according to type of use as follows:
(1) STREET, ARTERIAL.
A street designated for large volumes of traffic movement. Certain arterial streets may be classed as limited access highways to which entrances and exits are provided only at controlled intersections and access is denied to abutting properties. Arterial streets may be divided subcategories, such as primary and secondary, in accordance with this chapter, the Zoning Code, Comprehensive Plan, and/or Thoroughfare Plan.
(2) STREET, COLLECTOR.
A street planned to facilitate the collection of traffic from residential streets and to provide circulation within neighborhood areas and convenient ways for traffic to reach arterial streets.
(3) STREET, LOCAL.
A street designated primarily to provide access to abutting properties, usually residential. Certain residential streets may be marginal access streets parallel to arterial streets, which provide access to abutting property and ways for traffic to reach access points on arterial streets.
SUBDIVISION.
The division of any parcel of land into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units (excluding condominium units regulated under IC 32-25-1-1 et seq.), plats, or interests for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of offer, sale, lease, transfer of ownership, or development, either on the installment plan or on any and all other plans, terms, and conditions, including resubdivision. Subdivision shall also include the improvement of one or more parcels of land for residential, commercial or industrial structures or groups of structures involving the subdivision and allocation of land as streets or other 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 utilities and facilities.
SUBDIVISION, EXEMPT.
Subdivisions of lots of record that meet any of the following conditions:
(1) A division of land pursuant to an allocation of land in the settlement of a decedent's estate or a court decree for the distribution of property.
(2) A division of land for the acquisition of street right-of-way or easement.
(3) A division of land for the sale or exchange of tracts between adjoining land owners, provided that no additional building lots are created by the division.
(4) A division of land for the sale or exchange of tracts to correct errors in an existing legal description, provided that no additional building lots are created by this division.
(5) A division of land into cemetery plots for the purpose of burial of corpses.
(6) Final survey corrections of property lines for townhouses and other attached dwellings, after construction, when the perimeter boundaries of the original parcel are in conformance with the previously recorded plan.
(7) Consolidation of more than one lot into a single lot or tract, provided that prior easements are vacated when such easements were recorded along property lines to be eliminated and no perimeter lot lines are modified.
(8) A division which is proposed to be legally effectuated by eminent domain proceedings.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
The Technical Advisory Committee of the Plan Commission is a committee whose purpose is to make recommendations to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals concerning standards, design and impact upon streets, utilities, facilities for planned unit development proposals, subdivision plans, and development plans; the Board of Zoning Appeals may also request the committee to review variance requests and conditional uses. Refer to the Plan Commission Rules of Procedure regarding the membership of the Technical Advisory Committee.
THOROUGHFARE PLAN.
The part of the comprehensive plan for the town, now or hereafter adopted, which includes a major street and highway plan and sets forth the location, alignment, dimensions, identification, and classification of existing and proposed streets, highways, and other thoroughfares for the town within its environs.
TOWN.
The Town of Whiteland, Indiana.
YARD.
A space on the same lot with a building, which is open, unoccupied and unobstructed by structures, except as otherwise provided in this Code.
YARD, FRONT.
A yard extending across the full width of the lot, unoccupied other than by steps, walks, terraces, driveways, lamp posts, and similar appurtenances, the depth of which is the distance between the front lot line and the building line.
YARD, REAR.
Yard extending across the full width of the lot between the rear of the principal building and the rear lot line unoccupied other than by accessory buildings, and steps, walks, terraces, driveways, lamp posts and similar structures, the depth of which is the least distance between the rear lot line and the rear of such principal building.
YARD, SIDE.
A yard between the building and side lot line, extending from the front yard or from the front lot line where no front yard is required, to the rear yard, unoccupied other than by architectural appurtenances projecting not more than 24 inches from the building, or open or lattice-enclosed fire escapes or fireproof outside stairways, projecting not more than four feet, and certain accessory uses in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The width of the required side yard is measured horizontally at 90 degrees with the side lot line from the nearest point of the building.
ZONE MAP.
The map authorized by § 156.041 of the Code of Ordinances that shows the boundaries of and areas covered by the zoning districts of the town, and any amendments thereto.
ZONING ORDINANCE.
The ordinance and Zone Map that provide regulations and requirements and procedures for land use controls and development standards, and which indicate where subdivision of land may occur; specifically, Chapter 156, the Zoning Code, of the Town of Whiteland Code of Ordinances.
(Ord. 2014-03, passed 5-12-14)