Certain terms and words used in these regulations shall be interpreted and defined as set forth in this section.
ABUTTER
The owner of record of any property adjacent to the subject property including properties across a street or other right-of-way.
ACTIVE RECREATION
Recreational activities that require either:
A. 
The use of a playing field or playground;
B. 
The installation of buildings or other structures; or
C. 
The substantial modification or grading of a tract of land.
AMENDED SUBDIVISION
Any change in a property line or improvement shown on a subdivision or resubdivision map which has been approved and filed with the Town Clerk pursuant to these regulations, other than a resubdivision.
APPLICANT
See "subdivider."
APPLICATION
A request for approval of a specific subdivision plan, including an application form as may be prescribed by the Commission, accompanied by all supporting information, documents, reports, and the like which may be required by these regulations.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen of the Town of Willington.
BUILDABLE AREA
No building shall be erected or expanded on any lot, nor shall any use be established or expanded on any lot, nor shall any subdivision or resubdivision lot be created, which does not comply with the following minimum buildable land criteria: every lot shall contain at least one contiguous area as nearly rectangular as possible of at least 40,000 square feet, such rectangle having no sides less than 150 feet, every part of which rectangle complies with the requirements of this definition (hereinafter, "minimum buildable land area"). Each lot submitted for review under this chapter, and any site plan submitted pursuant to Chapter 315, Zoning Regulations, shall bear the certification by a Connecticut licensed professional engineer and Connecticut licensed land surveyor that such minimum buildable land area complies with the requirements of this definition. Any principal building and its associated septic system, if any, shall be located entirely within the minimum buildable land area; the well, if any, serving such principal building need not be located within the minimum buildable land area. All land within the minimum buildable land area shall meet the following requirements:
[Amended 9-16-2025, eff. 10-1-2025]
A. 
No slope shall exceed 20% in the area of the designated proposed primary and reserve septic systems.
B. 
Soils shall have a percolation rate of no slower than 30 minutes per inch as indicated by representative percolation tests on the site located within the minimum buildable land area.
C. 
Groundwater shall be no higher than 18 inches below the existing, undisturbed ground surface as determined by mottling or seasonal high groundwater, whichever is higher. Groundwater observation test pit results shall only be acceptable when observed during the period between February 1 and April 30, unless the Health Official considers the test to have been performed during a period of unseasonably low groundwater.
Subsections A, B and C shall not apply to lots to be served by public sanitary sewers.
D. 
There shall be no inland wetland or watercourse as defined by Chapter 304, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Regulations, of the Code of the Town of Willington. The presence of such wetlands soil types shall be determined by a detailed field survey only, conducted by a soil scientist certified as meeting the basic qualification of the Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England.
E. 
There shall be no areas within special flood hazard areas as defined in § 315-4.17 of Chapter 315, Zoning Regulations, of the Code of the Town of Willington, Connecticut, and as indicated on the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
CLERK OF THE WORKS
The Commission's on-site inspector and representative for public improvements designated in accordance with Article 7, § 310-7.07, of these regulations.
COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Willington.
COMMON DRIVEWAY
A driveway providing vehicular access to more than one lot.
CONVENTIONAL SUBDIVISION
A subdivision design that is consistent with the provisions of Chapter 315, Zoning Regulations, and this chapter, without the use of Article 6 of these regulations. Compare to "open space subdivision."
DATE OF RECEIPT
The day of the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission immediately following the day of submission of the application to the Commission, or its agent, or 35 days after such submission, whichever is sooner.
DEVELOPER
See "subdivider."
DEVELOPMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
Development exclusively for use as agricultural land, as that term is defined in C.G.S. § 22-26bb.
DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTION
A restriction which perpetually prohibits further development or use inconsistent with or inimical to the enhancement, conservation, and protection of a defined area for the benefit of fish, wildlife, plants, or other similar ecosystems, or preserves such areas predominantly in their natural scenic or open condition, but which may, in the sole discretion of the Commission, permit active recreational and/or agricultural uses which do not involve significant alteration or development of the restricted area in a manner which is inconsistent or inimical to the conservation and protection of the restricted area.
DISTURBED AREA
An area where the natural vegetative ground cover is destroyed, moved or removed or earth is moved.
DRAINAGE EASEMENT
The right, at any time, to direct the flow of water, whether derived from surface or subsurface sources, across any property owned or proposed to be owned by another. Said right is defined to include direction of the flow of water by any method or means, including but not limited to unrestricted sheet flows, direction by open ditch or trench, or direction by enclosed conduits. Said right also includes the right to enter upon the property and to maintain said direction of the flow of water in perpetuity.
DRIVEWAY, COMMON
A driveway serving more than one lot.
DRIVEWAY, PRIVATE
A driveway serving one lot.
EASEMENT
A right, established by deed or other legal means, of one party to use a designated portion of a second party's land for a specific, limited purpose.
ENGINEER or TOWN ENGINEER
That Connecticut licensed professional engineer designated by the Commission, acting personally or through any assistants authorized for such acts by the Engineer.
[Amended 9-16-2025, eff. 10-1-2025]
EROSION
The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments by water, wind, ice or gravity.
FINAL SUBDIVISION PLAN
The final map, drawings, and all supporting data required by these regulations upon which the subdivider's plan of subdivision is presented to the Commission for action and which, if approved without modifications, would be submitted to the Town Clerk for recording, where such recording is required by these regulations or, where there are modifications, which reflects those modifications.
FLOOD or FLOODING
A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
A. 
The overflow of inland or tidal water;
B. 
The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
IMPROVEMENT
Any change or alteration to the existing conditions of the subdivision site for the purpose of complying with these regulations, or any approval granted hereunder, or rendering the site more suitable for development and/or habitation. As used in these regulations, improvements include but are not limited to earth filling or removal, seeding and grading, stormwater management control measures, erosion and sedimentation control measures, buildings, utilities, fire protection measures, construction and installation of streets and common driveways, street signs, monuments, and shade trees.
INLAND WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES COMMISSION
The Inland Wetlands And Watercourses Agency of the Town of Willington.
LOT
The unit or units into which land is divided or proposed to be divided with the intention, whether now or in the future, of building on such units or offering such units for sale either as developed or undeveloped sites.
OPEN SPACE
Land within a subdivision, resubdivision, or open space subdivision which is subject to a development restriction or conveyed to the Town of Willington.
OPEN SPACE SUBDIVISION
A development, as defined by C.G.S. § 8-18, and as described in Article 6 of these regulations.
PASSIVE RECREATION
Recreational activities that do not require either the use of a playing field or playground, the installation of buildings or other structures, or the substantial modification or grading of a tract of land. The installation of a building or structure in connection with a particular recreational activity shall not, in and of itself, cause the activity to be classified as "active" if the building or structure was not necessary to allow the activity to occur. For example, the installation of posts, signs, or water fountains along a hiking trail will not cause hiking to be deemed an active recreational use.
POCD
The Plan of Conservation and Development of the Town of Willington, as it may be adopted and amended from time to time, in accordance with C.G.S. Chapter 126, as amended.
PREAPPLICATION CONFERENCE
An optional but strongly encouraged preliminary step in the subdivision process. The preapplication conference is outlined in § 310-3.02.
PRELIMINARY LAYOUT
The preliminary map, drawing(s) and all required supporting data as required by § 310-4.01 of these regulations, indicating the proposed manner and layout of the subdivision to be submitted to the Commission for consideration.
PRINT
A blueprint, photostat, lithoprint, or other copy which reproduces exactly the data on the original drawing(s) from which it is made.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT
Any improvement as defined by these regulations that, once installed and approved, becomes a Town-owned and -maintained facility (e.g., a public street).
REAR LOT
A lot or parcel of land with less than the required frontage for a particular zone and having a permanent accessway to an accepted Town or state street. (See § 315-4.18 of Chapter 315, Zoning Regulations, and § 310-5.03G of these regulations.)
RESERVE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
Land to be set aside for dedication to the public upon future development. Reserve strips may include land to be used for streets, street connections, pedestrianways, parks, or other land dedicated to public use.
RESUBDIVISION
A change in a map of an approved or recorded subdivision or resubdivision if such change:
A. 
Affects any street layout shown on such map;
B. 
Affects any area reserved thereon for public use or open space; or
C. 
Diminishes the size of any lot shown thereon and creates an additional building lot if any of the lots shown thereon have been conveyed after the approval or recording of such map.
RIGHT-OF-WAY, STREET
The distance between property lines measured across and perpendicular to a street or, where no right-of-way has been established, 25 feet on either side of the center line of the street pavement.
ROAD
A term used interchangeably with "street."
ROAD PLAN AND PROFILE
The drawing(s) depicting, respectively, the horizontal and vertical design for street construction and drainage, and containing all information required by § 310-4.03 of these regulations.
SEDIMENT
Solid material, either mineral or organic, that is transported or has been moved from its site of origin.
STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS AND DETAILS
The Standard Specifications and Details for Construction and Materials, which are incorporated by reference into these regulations (available at the Willington Land Use Department).
STREET
A street, road, avenue, lane, or other right-of-way either:
A. 
Dedicated and legally accepted by the Town or the State of Connecticut for the purpose of public travel; or
B. 
Shown on a subdivision plan duly approved by the Commission, and filed or recorded in the office of the Town Clerk, and bonded in accordance with these regulations.
STREET LINE
That line separating the public right-of-way of a street from adjoining properties.
STREET PAVEMENT
The wearing or exposed surface of the roadway used by vehicular traffic.
STREET WIDTH
The distance between curb faces, (i.e., the width of the street pavement, measured in a direction perpendicular to the street).
STREET, COLLECTOR
A through street, or a cul-de-sac street with potential for future interconnection with other streets. Minor local streets are ones anticipated to carry substantial through traffic in the present or in the future. Design criteria are located in Appendix A.[1]
STREET, COMMERCIAL
A street built as part of a commercial subdivision in either a commercial or industrial zone as depicted on the Town of Willington Zoning Map. (For the purposes of this definition, Designed Neighborhood Commercial, Designed Commercial, Designed Industrial and Designed Recreation shall be considered commercial and/or industrial zones.) Design criteria are located in Appendix A.
STREET, CUL-DE-SAC
A dead-end street or any extension of an existing street, or any combination or pattern of streets or extensions thereof, having only one outlet to a through street.
STREET, HALF
A proposed street, or any extension of an existing street, along and roughly parallel to a property line such that less than the entire required right-of-way and street improvements, longitudinally, would be located on one property. (A street split longitudinally, down the middle of the street, by a property line.)
310 Street, Half.tiff
STREET, NEIGHBORHOOD
Streets that provide access only to homes within a single neighborhood. They may include cul-sac-streets without future interconnection potential and through streets that will carry only incidental through traffic. Design criteria are located in Appendix A.
SUBDIVIDER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other legally recognized entity who shall apply to the Commission for approval of a subdivision, either on the applicant's own behalf or as an agent for one or more others; and who, following subdivision approval, is responsible for endorsement and recording with the Town Clerk; and who is responsible for completion of the public improvements within the subdivision; or the successor in interest to any such person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other legally recognized entity.
SUBDIVISION
The division of a tract or parcel of land into three or more parts or lots for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development, expressly excluding development for municipal, conservation, or agricultural purposes. The term "subdivision" includes resubdivision.
SUBDIVISION PLAN
The map, drawings, and all supporting data required by these regulations upon which a plan of subdivision is presented to the Commission for action and which, if approved (including all modifications or revisions required by such approval), would be endorsed by the Commission and submitted to the Town Clerk for recording pursuant to C.G.S. § 8-25.
SUBDIVISION PLAN, ENDORSED
A subdivision map, drawings, and all supporting data required by these regulations that has been approved (including all modification or revisions required by such approval) by the Commission and submitted to the Town Clerk for recording.
TOTAL AREA
The total area of the proposed subdivision or resubdivision expressed in acres.
TOWN
The Town of Willington, County of Tolland, Connecticut.
TRAVELED WIDTH
See "street width."
UNBUILDABLE AREA
The area, expressed in square feet, within the proposed subdivision which is comprised of wetlands, watercourses, Flood Zone A per FEMA maps, exposed ledge, existing and proposed streets and highways, easements and rights-of-way for vehicular access and utilities, and slopes that exceed 20%. Easements and rights-of-way of an undefined width shall be deemed to be 25 feet in width.
WATERCOURSE(S)
Those areas defined as watercourses by the Willington Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, pursuant to its regulations, as the same may be amended from time to time.
WETLAND(S)
Those areas defined as wetlands by the Willington Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency, pursuant to its regulations, as the same may be amended from time to time.
YIELD PLAN
A conceptual subdivision plan depicting conventional subdivision lots that is used to determine the lot yield for an open space subdivision. A yield plan is not intended to involve significant engineering costs; however, it must be realistic and must not show potential house sites or streets in areas that would not ordinarily be legally permitted in a conventional subdivision layout. Consequently, yield plans must identify physical and other features that would limit or restrict the use of the parcel for development, including, but not limited to, topographic contours at an interval of no more than five feet, wetlands and watercourses, 100-year floodplains (Flood Zone A, as shown on FEMA maps), slopes exceeding 20%, exposed ledge, and easements and rights-of-way affecting the parcel.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.