Whenever the words and phrases appear in this title they shall be given the meaning attributed to them by this chapter. When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense shall include the future; the singular shall include the plural, and the plural the singular; the word "shall" is always mandatory, and the word "may" indicates a use of discretion in making a decision.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005)
"Alley"
means a strip of land dedicated to public use providing vehicular and pedestrian access to the rear side of properties which abut and are served by a public road.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005)
"Agricultural activities"
has the same definition as RCW 90.58.065(2)(a), which is "agricultural uses and practices including, but not limited to: Producing, breeding, or increasing agricultural products; rotating and changing agricultural crops; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie fallow in which it is plowed and tilled but left unseeded; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie dormant as a result of adverse agricultural market conditions; allowing land used for agricultural activities to lie dormant because the land is enrolled in a local, state, or federal conservation program, or the land is subject to a conservation easement; conducting agricultural operations; maintaining, repairing, and replacing agricultural equipment; maintaining, repairing, and replacing agricultural facilities, provided that the replacement facility is no closer to the shoreline than the original facility; and maintaining agricultural lands under production or cultivation".
(Ord. 2014-015, 2014)
"Agricultural products"
has the same definition as RCW 90.58.065(2)(b), which "includes but is not limited to horticultural, viticultural, floricultural, vegetable, fruit, berry, grain, hops, hay, straw, turf, sod, seed, and apiary products; feed or forage for livestock; Christmas trees; hybrid cottonwood and similar hardwood trees grown as crops and harvested within twenty years of planting; and livestock including both the animals themselves and animal products including but not limited to meat, upland finfish, poultry and poultry products, and dairy products."
(Ord. 2014-015, 2014)
"Agricultural equipment" and "agricultural facilities"
have the same definition as RCW 90.58.065(2)(c), which "includes, but is not limited to: (i) The following used in agricultural operations: Equipment; machinery; constructed shelters, buildings, and ponds; fences; upland finfish rearing facilities; water diversion, withdrawal, conveyance, and use equipment and facilities including but not limited to pumps, pipes, tapes, canals, ditches, and drains; (ii) corridors and facilities for transporting personnel, livestock, and equipment to, from, and within agricultural lands; (iii) farm residences and associated equipment, lands, and facilities; and (iv) all other agricultural activities or allowed uses per Kittitas County Code 17.15."
(Ord. 2014-015, 2014)
"Block"
means a group of lots, tracts, or parcels within well-defined and fixed boundaries.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Cluster"
consists of a grouping of buildable contiguous lots or building envelopes within the cluster plat or conservation plat boundary. Individual clusters need not be contiguous but must be within the project boundary.
(Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Cluster plat"
means a land division where the applicable zoning requirements are modified to provide an alternative land division method for the development layout, configuration and design of lots, buildings and structures, roads, utility lines and other infrastructure in order to preserve natural, resource, and scenic qualities of open lands.
(Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Conservation easement"
is a specified land area with no domestic water consumption that is used for open space or agriculture only and shall be established during a platting process. The easement areas shall be created from an existing parcel and shall have a different legal description than the original parcel. The conservation easement shall be voluntarily agreed upon by the landowner and reviewed and authorized by the County. The signed document must be recorded with the County auditor’s office prior to submission for final approval. The landowner will continue to privately own and manage the land. Upon accepting the conservation easement agreement, the easement holder has a responsibility to ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement. The landowner may discontinue the conservation easement through a platting process subject to compliance with Kittitas County Code Title 13 and Title 16.
(Ord. 2015-010, 2015)
"Conservation plat"
means a land division where the applicable zoning requirements are modified to provide an alternative land division method characterized by compact lots and common open space or natural resource lands, where the natural features of the land, resource potential, and rural character are maintained to the greatest extent possible while accommodating development.
(Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Dedication"
means the deliberate conveyance of land by an owner or corporation 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 intention to dedicate shall be evidenced by the owner by the presentment for filing of a final plat or short plat showing the dedication thereon; and, the acceptance by the public shall be evidenced by the approval of such plat for filing by the Board.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Division"
means the creation of a lot through short or long subdivision, large lot subdivision, etc., but not including a boundary line adjustment.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2012-006, 2012; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Lot"
means a fractional part of subdivided lands having fixed boundaries, being of sufficient area and dimension to meet minimum zoning requirements for width and area. The term shall include tracts or parcels.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005)
"Open space"
means any land area. the preservation of which in its present use would conserve and enhance natural or scenic resources; or protect streams or water supplies; or promote conservation of soils, wetlands, rural and resource lands; or enhance the value to the public of abutting or neighboring parks, forests, wildlife preserves, nature reservations, sanctuaries or other open space; or enhance recreation opportunities; or preserve historic sites. Public open space is publicly owned land that has been or will be set aside for open space and recreational use. Private open space is privately owned land that has been or will be set aside as provided in Title 16 of this code, by voluntary conservation, or by land reserve easements. Open space does not include utility easements, road easements, or areas used for stormwater ponds or septic facilities.
(Ord. 2013-001, 2013;)
"Plat"
means a map or representation of a short or long subdivision, showing thereon the division of a tract or parcel of land into lots, blocks, roads and alleys or other divisions and dedications.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005)
"Final plat"
means the final drawing/map and dedication prepared for administrative or Board approval and filing for record with the county auditor, all in accordance with county subdivision procedures and minimum requirements.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
"Short subdivision"
means the division or re-division of land outside any urban growth area into four (4) or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions, for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership. Short subdivision means the division or re-division of land inside any urban growth area into nine (9) or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions, for the purpose of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2013-001, 2013; Ord. 2018-001, 2018)
"Subdivision"
means the division or re-division of land into five (5) or more lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership any one of which is less than twenty (20) acres.
(Ord. 2005-31, 2005; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)