Under authority of Article 1.5 of Chapter 3 of Division 2 of
Title 7 of the
Government Code, commencing with Section 66451.10,
the Planning Commission may determine pursuant to the provisions of
this chapter that contiguous parcels of land under common ownership
shall be merged. If the Planning Commission makes a determination
that contiguous parcels shall be merged under this chapter, such parcels
shall thenceforth be treated as a single lot under the provisions
of this code. This chapter shall apply only to those mergers of privately
owned property when initiated by the city.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Common ownership"
means at least one-half ownership in the interest (including interests as joint tenants or tenants-in-common) in all contiguous parcels by the same individual, partnership, corporation, firm, association, or other person or business entity. Common ownership shall be determined as of the time of the Director's preliminary determination, as provided for in Section
17.28.050.
"Component parcel"
means one of the two or more parcels which constitute contiguous
parcels.
"Contiguous parcels"
means two or more adjoining parcels or units of land, sharing
some common boundary line or point. Parcels shall not be deemed contiguous
parcels if their common boundary line or point lies within a public
road, street or alley, or railroad rights-of-way, or other feature
deemed to be similar by the Director.
"Mineral resource extraction"
means gas, oil, hydrocarbon, gravel or sand extraction, geothermal
wells or other similar commercial mining activity.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)
Contiguous parcels shall be eligible for merger if they meet
all of the following conditions:
A. One
of the component parcels does not conform to standards for minimum
parcel size, under the applicable zoning ordinance;
B. At
least one of the affected parcels is undeveloped by any structure
for which a building permit was issued or for which a building permit
was not required at the time of construction, or is developed only
with an accessory structure or accessory structures, or is developed
with a single structure, other than an accessory structure, that is
also partially sited on a contiguous parcel or unit;
C. One
or more of the following conditions exists as to any of the component
parcels:
1. Any
component parcel comprises less than five thousand square feet at
time of the determination of merger, or
2. Any
component parcel was not created in compliance with applicable laws
and ordinances in effect at the time of its creation, or
3. Any
component parcel does not meet standards for sewage disposal and domestic
water supply, or
4. Any
component parcel does not meet slope stability standards, or
5. Any
component parcel has no legal access which is adequate for vehicular
and safety equipment access and maneuverability, or
6. Development
of any of the component parcels would create health or safety hazards,
or
7. Any
component parcel is inconsistent with the applicable general plan
or any applicable specific plan, for reasons other than minimum lot
size or density standards.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)
Notwithstanding Section
17.28.030, contiguous parcels shall not be eligible for merger if any one of the following conditions also exists with respect to any of the component parcels:
A. On
or before July 1, 1981, the component parcel was enforceably restricted
open-space land pursuant to a contract, agreement, scenic restriction,
or open-space easement, as defined and set forth in Section 421 of
the
Revenue and Taxation Code.
B. On July 1, 1981, the component parcel was timberland as defined in subdivision (f) of Section 51104 of the
Government Code, or is land devoted to an agricultural use as defined in subsection
(b) of
Government Code Section 51201.
C. On
July 1, 1981, the component parcel was located within two thousand
feet of the site on which an existing commercial mineral resource
extraction use was being made, whether or not the extraction is being
made pursuant to a use permit issued by the local agency.
D. On
July 1, 1981, the component parcel was located within two thousand
feet of a future commercial mineral extraction site as shown on a
plan for which a use permit or other permit authorizing commercial
mineral resource extraction has been issued.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)
Upon receiving a written request for a hearing from the owner
of the parcel or parcels, the Director shall fix a date, time, and
place for a hearing on the matter to be conducted by the Planning
Commission. The hearing shall be conducted not more than sixty days
following the Director's receipt of the owner's request for hearing,
but may be postponed or continued with the mutual consent of the Director
and the property owner. Written notice of the hearing shall be given
to the owner by certified mail. At the hearing, the owner or his or
her representative shall be given the opportunity to present any evidence
that the parcels involved do not meet the standards for merger, or
reasons why the parcels should otherwise not be merged.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)
The property owner may appeal a determination of merger in the
manner prescribed for appeal by a subdivider in Section 17.04.110.
(Ord. 95-764, 1995)