Administrative officers.
Every officer referred to by title, i.e., town attorney,
town secretary, town engineer, building official, etc., and shall
be the person so retained in this position by the town's duly
authorized representative.
Alley.
A minor right-of-way used primarily for vehicular service
to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street.
Building line.
A line beyond which buildings must be set back from the street
or road right-of-way line or property line.
Checklist.
A written list of all documentation and other information
required to be submitted with a plat application and related to requirements
in this chapter in accordance with section 212.0081 of the Texas Local
Government Code.
Collector street.
A street which is continuous through several residential
or other districts and is intended as a connecting street between
such districts and thoroughfares, highways, or business districts.
Commercial street.
Denote any street situated so that fifty (50) percent or
more of the property abutting it is zoned for other than low-density
residential development.
Commercial tract.
Any tract containing any type of land use except for single-family
detached residential. (Requirements and standards for religious and
educational land uses shall be the same as the character of the predominant
surrounding land uses.) Nothing contained in the definitions set forth
shall be considered as limitations to or repeal of the definitions
set forth in the building and fire codes adopted by the town.
Commission or planning and zoning commission.
The official planning and zoning commission of the town as
appointed by the town council. The commission is charged with the
responsibility of reviewing for approval all subdivisions, preliminary
plats, and final plats in the town. The commission shall also perform
such other duties or functions as the town council may delegate to
it from time-to-time.
Comprehensive plan.
The general plan for the growth and development of the town
and its environs; and including any elements of such plan, such as
a land use plan, thoroughfare plan, utilities plan, schools and parks
plan, and others.
Construction drawings.
Those drawings, schematics, plans and other documents that
graphically illustrate or depict a proposed building or structure
that includes a graphic depiction to scale of the elevation, exterior
features, interior lay-out, and other architectural elements.
Cul-de-sac.
A short residential street having but one vehicular access
to another street, and terminated by a vehicular turnaround.
Easement.
An area for restricted use on private property upon which
any public utility or public entity shall have the right of access
and use, as determined by the nature of the easement and the documents
which create the easement and shall include the right to remove and
keep removed all or part of any buildings, fences, trees, shrubs,
or other improvements or growth which in any way endanger or interfere
with the construction, maintenance, or efficiency of its respective
systems within said area or its proper use of the easement. Any public
utility shall at all times have the right of ingress and egress to
and from and upon the said easements for the purpose of constructing,
reconstructing, inspecting, patrolling, maintaining, and adding to
or removing all or part of its respective systems without the necessity,
at any time, of procuring the permission of anyone. All utilities
must notify the town and the property owners one-week prior to the
initiation of any construction or reconstruction project which will
exceed $5,000.00 in projected cost.
Emergency access easement.
A private street, alley or paved place dedicated to the public
for the purpose of providing access to adjacent structures by emergency
vehicles such as fire equipment, police or ambulances, the boundaries
of which are continuously and permanently marked.
Engineer.
Whenever used with a prefix, shall refer to a registered
professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of Texas and
retained by a subdivider.
Final plat.
A map or drawing prepared according to the provisions of
this chapter and containing all surveying and legal data, dedications
and certificates necessary to the recording of same in the plat records
of the county.
Fully developed conditions.
For watershed hydrology, fully developed conditions include
all existing developed areas which shall reflect current land use
or current zoning, whichever yields the greatest runoff, and all existing
undeveloped areas which shall reflect anticipated future land use
designated by zoning classification, by a comprehensive plan, or by
an accepted concept plan, or in the ETJ, NCTCOG future land use maps.
Lot.
Land occupied or to be occupied by a building and/or accessory
building and including such open spaces as are required by ordinances
of the town and having its principal frontage on a public street or
officially approved place.
Lot of record.
A lot which is part of a subdivision, the plat of which has
been recorded with the county clerk; or a parcel of land, the deed
for which was recorded with the county clerk.
Mayor.
The duly elected presiding officer of the town council.
Minor plat.
A plat or replat involving four or fewer lots fronting on
an existing street and not requiring the creation of any new street
or the extension of municipal facilities in accordance with prerequisites
defined in this document.
Natural Creek.
Those drainageways that are generally unimproved, that often
exhibit a meandering course, and which are not proposed to be improved
to town standards for earthen channels. Natural creeks are generally
not dredged, mowed or otherwise maintained by the town and should
be contained within floodplain easements rather than drainage easements.
Floodplain easements must encompass the fully developed 100-year floodplain
plus ten (10) foot buffer on both sides. Floodplain easements are
not routinely maintained by the town or county.
Open space.
That part of any lot or tract that is used for recreational
purposes, both passive and active, but not including areas used for
parking or maneuvering of vehicles, or drives or approaches to and
from parking areas.
Owner.
One holding fee simple title to real property or one who,
by virtue of a power of attorney or other recordable instrument has
the authority to sell, convey or encumber the real estate on behalf
of those who hold fee simple title.
Preliminary plat.
A map or drawing on which is shown the subdivider's
proposed arrangement of streets, lots, easements, and other public
spaces and facilities in the subdivision, and which is intended for
review and study by the town and not for recording.
Private driveway.
Any area, parcel or strip of land which provides vehicular
access to adjacent property or land whether designated as a street,
highway, freeway, thoroughfare, avenue, lane, boulevard, road, place,
drive or however otherwise designated, which is not designated as
a public right-of-way, is not maintained by the town and is used by
and serves not more than three residences. Property owners of private
driveways are responsible for ensuring the driveway is maintained
in a manner that ensures emergency vehicle access.
Replatting.
The resubdivision or redesigning of any part or all of any
lot(s) or block(s) of a previously platted subdivision, addition,
or tract of land.
Residential street.
A street which is intended primarily to serve a neighborhood
or limited residential district and which is geometrically designed
to discourage high speed and through traffic.
Residential tract.
Any tract of land developed for the primary use by single-family
detached residential structures.
Resubdivision.
The division of any existing subdivision or lot or tract
within an existing subdivision, whether platted or unplatted, or any
change in lot size therein, or the relocating of any easements or
rights-of-way.
Sanitary sewer.
A pipe or conduit for water carried wastes from residences,
business building, institutions and industrial establishments, and
to which storm, surface and ground water are not normally admitted,
and which is a part of the public sewage collection system.
Service line.
A water or sewer pipe running from the water or sewer main
to the property to which water or sewer service is provided.
Site plan.
A scale drawing of any site for which a building permit is
sought. The plan shall include but is not limited to the following
locations of all existing and proposed structures, utilities, parking
area, fences, barriers, roads, driveways, and landscaping. The site
plan also includes data to demonstrate compliance with all setback
requirements, area coverage ratios, and site development regulations.
Storm sewer or storm drain.
A pipe, conduit, or channel which carries storm and surface
water and drainage, but excludes domestic sewage and industrial wastes.
Street.
An area for vehicular traffic whether designated as a street,
highway, thoroughfare, parkway, throughway, road, avenue, boulevard,
lane, place, or otherwise.
Subdivider or developer.
An individual, firm, corporation, or other legal entity that
owns any interest in land and that directly or indirectly subdivides
land into lots as part of a common promotional plan in the course
of business or who divides or proposes to divide land or makes improvements
to land so as to affect a subdivision of land hereunder for itself
or for another.
Subdivision.
The division or alteration of any tract of land situated
within the corporate limits in two (2) or more parts for the purpose
of laying out any subdivision of any tract of land or any addition
to the Town of Cross Roads, or for laying out or altering an existing
building site or any building sites, streets, alleys or part or other
portions intended for public use or for the use of purchasers or owners
of lots fronting thereon or adjacent thereto for the purpose, whether
immediate or future, of creating building sites. Subdivision includes
resubdivision or the alteration of established building sites composed
of all or portions of previously established lots or tracts.
Surveyor.
A licensed land surveyor or a registered public surveyor,
as authorized by the state to practice the profession of surveying.
Thoroughfare.
A principal traffic thoroughfare more or less continuous
across the town which is intended to connect remote parts of the town,
or areas adjacent thereto, and act as a principal connecting street
with state and interstate highways.
Utility easement.
An interest in land granted to the public generally, in order
that the town or private utility corporation, may install or maintain
utilities across, over, or under such easement together with the right
to enter thereon the easement with machinery, vehicles and personnel
necessary for the maintenance of said utilities.
(Ordinance 2023-09 adopted 7/10/2023)