(a) “Access panhandle” is a strip of land having a width narrower than that of the lot, tract or parcel to be served thereby and designed for the purpose of providing access to a lot, tract or parcel being less in width than the minimum lot width allowed under the applicable zoning, if any.

(b) “Block” means a contiguous group of lots, tracts or parcels within well-defined and fixed boundaries.

(c) “Boundary line adjustment” means a change in the location of lot lines which does not change the number of lots or lot ownership.

(d) “Building site” means a parcel of land occupied or intended to be occupied by one main building and its accessory buildings, together with all of the required yards and open space and setbacks.

(e) “Comprehensive plan” means the current comprehensive plan of the town of Cathlamet as amended by the town council pursuant to state law.

(f) “Contiguous property” means land adjoining and touching other property, not previously platted, and having the same owner.

(g) “Town council” of the town of Cathlamet or “council” means the legislative authority of the town of Cathlamet as defined in Chapter 35.27 RCW, as it now exists or is hereafter amended.

(h) “Dedication” means the deliberate appropriation of land by an owner for any general or public uses reserving to himself no other rights than such as are compatible with the full exercise and enjoyment of the public uses to which the property has been devoted. The owner’s intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by presentation for filing of a short plat showing the dedication thereon; and the acceptance by the public shall be evidenced by the approval of such short plat for filing by the Wahkiakum County auditor.

(i) “Division of land,” for the purposes of this chapter, is any conveyance, not otherwise exempt or provided for in this chapter, which alters or affects the shape, size or legal description of any part of an owner’s original tract.

(j) “Easement” is a written grant by a property owner to specific individuals or to the public use land for specific purposes.

(k) “Final short plat” is the final drawing of the short subdivision including dedication prepared for filing for record with the Wahkiakum County auditor and containing all the elements and requirements that are set forth in this chapter.

(l) “Improvement” means any structure or works constructed, including, but not necessarily limited to, roads, storm drainage systems, ditches and dikes, sanitary sewerage facilities or mainline storm drainage containment facilities.

(m) “Land surveyor” is as defined by the Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors’ Registration Act as it now exists or is hereafter amended as defined in Chapter 18.43 RCW.

(n) “Lot” means a fractional part of subdivided lands, created from an original tract or contiguous property, having fixed boundaries being of sufficient area and dimension to meet current minimum zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts, parcels, or building sites.

(o) “Original tract” means a unit of land which the applicant holds under single or unified ownership, or in which the applicant holds controlling ownership on April 1, 1992.

(p) “Owner” means the person or group of persons having legal title to the land sought to be subdivided or the contract purchaser, mortgagee or person or group of persons who controls a deed of trust as beneficiary or grantor if such interest controls disposition of the property to be subdivided.

(q) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, unincorporated organization, trust or any other legal or commercial entity, including a joint venture affiliated ownership. The word “person” also means municipality, county or state agency.

(r) “Planning commission” means the town of Cathlamet planning commission.

(s) “Public works director” means the town of Cathlamet short plat administrator.

(t) “Plat” or “regular plat” means a map or representation of the subdivision showing thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into more than four lots if any one of the divisions is less than five acres in size with blocks, streets, alleys and other divisions and dedications.

(u) “Private road” means a particular access provided for by an access tract, dedicated right-of-way or easement which serves one or more lots but no more than four lots.

(v) “Right-of-way” means a general term denoting land, property or interest therein, usually in a strip acquired to or devoted for transportation purposes.

(w) “Road” means the improved and maintained portion of a right-of-way which provides vehicular circulation or principal means of access to abutting properties.

(x) “Short plat” means the map of the short subdivision.

(y) “Short plat administrator” means the town of Cathlamet public works director or his/her designee.

(z) “Short subdivision” means a division or redivision of land into four or fewer lots, parcels, tracts, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership.

(aa) “State Environmental Policy Act” is as defined by Chapter 43.21C RCW as it now exists or is hereafter amended.

(bb) “Subdivision” means a division of land into five or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions, is less than five acres in size, for the purpose of sale or lease and shall include all re-subdivision of land. Subdivisions are regulated by the urban subdivision code, Chapter 17.32 CMC. (Ord. 665 § 3, 2022)