Words and terms.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Adequate public facilities.The minimum level of service required for transportation, utilities, drainage, park, and other city services to serve the proposed development, taking into account surrounding development.
Alley.A minor public right-of-way or private access primarily designed to serve as secondary means of access to the side or rear of properties whose principal frontage is on some other street.
Arterial street.A major road serving as the primary route between key destinations within the city and adjacent cities. Arterial streets primary function of throughput rather than access.
Assessment.The determination of the amount of the maximum impact fee per service unit which can be imposed on new development pursuant to this article.
Block.A tract of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of streets, public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, shorelines of waterways, or boundary lines of municipalities and containing one or more building sites.
Bond.A form of security other than a cash deposit to be used as surety or as a guarantee.
Building.Any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or movable property of any kind.
Building line.A line established beyond which no part of a building shall project, except as otherwise provided in the zoning chapter of this Code.
Building official.The officer of the city charged with responsibility for issuing building permits and enforcing the building code.
Building permit.An official document or certificate issued by the building official that authorizes performance of a specified activity.
Capital improvement.Water supply, treatment and distribution facilities, and wastewater collection and treatment facilities that have a life expectancy of five or more years and are owned and operated by or on behalf of the city.
Capital improvements plan.A plan contemplated by this Chapter that identifies capital improvements or facility expansions for which impact fees may be assessed.
City.The City of North Richland Hills, Texas.
City council.The legislative governing body of the city having the power to adopt and amend these regulations.
City engineer.A registered professional engineer on the city staff or a consulting firm of registered professional engineers designated to represent the city.
Collector street.A major road intended to serve as a conduit between local roadways and the network of arterial streets Comprehensive land use plan. A written document adopted by the city council as the official guide for future development, and containing the development policies of the city and a map of the city showing a graphic representation of the proposed uses of the various land areas of the city.
Construction plans.The maps or engineering drawings accompanying a plat and showing the specific location and design of improvements to be installed in the subdivision in accordance with the requirements of the Public Works Design Manual.
Conveyance plat.A plat used solely for the purpose of transferring ownership of a parcel or portion of a parcel of land in order to record the transfer of ownership or property interests, but without requiring the design or construction of public improvements.
Credit.The amount of the reduction of an impact fee for fees, payments, or charges for or construction of the same type of facility.
Cul-de-sac.A street with an approved turnaround having only one common entry and exit.
Developer.The owner or agent representing the owner of any property being proposed for subdivision or development, regardless of the number of lots.
Development review committee.A committee composed of municipal department representatives charged with providing technical services in the administration of development-related ordinances of the city.
Easement.Authorization by a property owner for the use by another, and for a specified purpose, of a designated part of the property, such as a drainage easement, utility easement or a public access easement.
Exaction requirement.A requirement imposed as a condition for approval of a plat, preliminary plat, building permit, planned development district or other development application to:
(1) Dedicate an interest in land for a public infrastructure improvement;
Construct a public infrastructure improvement; or
Pay a fee in lieu of constructing a public infrastructure improvement.
Facility expansion.The expansion of the capacity of an existing facility that serves the same function as an otherwise necessary new capital improvement, in order that the existing facility may serve new development. The term does not include the repair, maintenance, modernization, or expansion of an existing facility to better serve existing development.
Final plat.The instrument that becomes the official, accurate permanent record of the division or configuration of land.
Flag lot.A lot configuration where the perimeter lot geometry reflects the shape of a flag or panhandle, where the narrow or elongated part of the lot abuts a public street and widens to accommodate a buildable development site.
Fort Worth Access Fee.The fee imposed upon the City of North Richland Hills by the City of Fort Worth for providing water and/or sanitary sewer service to new development contained within the incorporated city limits and to which service is provided either directly or indirectly by the City of Fort Worth Water and/or Sanitary Sewer System(s).
Frontage.The side or sides of a lot abutting a street right-of-way.
Impact fee.A charge or assessment imposed as set forth in this chapter against new development in order to generate revenue for funding or recouping the costs of capital improvements or facility expansions necessitated by and attributable to the new development. The term includes amortized charges, lump-sum charges, capital recovery fees, contributions in aid of construction, and any other fee that functions as described by this definition. The term does not include:
(1) Dedication of land for public parks or payment in lieu of the dedication to serve park needs;
Dedication of rights-of-way or easements or construction or dedication of on-site or off-site water distribution, wastewater collection or drainage facilities, or streets, sidewalks, or curbs if the dedication or construction is required by a valid ordinance and is necessitated by and attributable to the new development;
Lot or acreage fees to be placed in trust funds for the purpose of reimbursing developers for oversizing or constructing water or sewer mains or lines; or
Other pro rata fees for reimbursement of water or sewer mains or lines extended by the political subdivision.
However, an item included in the capital improvements plan may not be required to be constructed except in accordance with Section 395.019(2), Texas Local Government Code, and an owner may not be required to construct or dedicate facilities and to pay impact fees for those facilities. |
Land use assumptions.A description of the service area and projections of changes in land uses, densities, intensities, and population in the service area over at least a ten-year period which has been adopted by the city and upon which the capital improvements plan is based.
Local street.A road intended to provide direct access to individual properties and to provide right-of-way for sewer, water, and storm drainage systems.
Lot.A platted parcel of land intended to be separately owned or developed, and that is recorded in the property records of Tarrant County, Texas. The term lot includes the words building site, parcel, plot, or tract.
Meter equivalent.The flow capacity of a water meter compared to the base three-fourths-inch meter. The water meter equivalents shown on Conversion Table 2 and in the Impact Fees Capital Improvements Plan serve as the standardized measure of use or generation attributable to the new unit of development.
Minor plat.A subdivision resulting in four or fewer lots and that does not require the creation of any new public street or the extension of municipal facilities.
New development.The subdivision of land; the construction, reconstruction, redevelopment, conversion, structural alteration, relocation, or enlargement of a structure; or any use or extension of the use of land; any of which increases the number of service units.
Off-site (subdivisions).Any premises not located within the area of the property to be subdivided, whether or not in the same ownership of the applicant for subdivision approval.
Offsite (impact fees).Located entirely on property which is not included within the bounds of the plat being considered for impact fee assessment.
Onsite (impact fees).Located at least partially on the plat which is being considered for impact fee assessment.
Owner.Any person, group of persons, firm or firms, corporation or corporations, or any other legal entity having legal title to, or sufficient proprietary interest in, the land sought to be subdivided under these regulations.
Person.Any individual, association, firm, corporation, governmental agency, or political subdivision.
Planning division.The division designated with the responsibility of accepting plats for the city and preparing the necessary documentation for the planning and zoning commission.
Plat.A preliminary plat, final plat, replat, minor plat, amending plat, or other plat established and provided for in this chapter.
Preliminary plat.A preliminary plan or map indicating the proposed arrangement of streets, lots, easements, public facilities, and other spaces in the development.
Public facilities system.With respect to water, wastewater, roadway, drainage or parks, the facilities owned or operated by or on behalf of the city to provide services to the public, including existing and new developments and subdivisions.
Public improvement.Facilities such as streets, streetlights, street signs, signals, pavement markings, sidewalks, water lines, sewer lines, storm drain systems, parks, or other similar facilities constructed within public right-of-way, public easements, or city properties for use by the public.
Public Works Design Manual.The city Public Works Design Manual, as amended, that establishes minimum criteria for the design of public works/utilities.
Replat.A revision of existing platted lots, or existing platted lots in combination with other tracts, for the purpose of creating a new lot configuration.
Right-of-way.A legally established area or strip of land, either public or private, on which an irrevocable right of passage has been recorded, and which is occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, utility service, water main, sanitary or storm sewer main, or other similar use.
Right-of-way width.The distance between property lines measured at right angles to the centerline of the street.
Service area.The entire area within the corporate limits of the city to be served by the capital improvements and facilities expansions specified in the capital improvements plan.
Service unit.The three-fourths-inch water meter equivalent as shown on Conversion Table 2 in Appendix
A as Table 3.5 in the Impact Fees Capital Improvements Plan which serves as the standardized measure of use or generation attributable to the new unit of development based on historical data and trends applicable to the city during the previous ten years.
An improvement designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater, including, but not limited to streets, alleys, storm sewers, channels, culverts, bridges, swales, and any facility through which stormwater flows.
Subdivision.The division of a tract of land into parcels for the purpose of selling, conveying, transferring, leasing, or developing the property, and including the dedication of streets, alleys and easements.
Wastewater facility.An improvement for providing wastewater collection and treatment, including, but not limited to, land or easements, treatment facilities, lift stations, or interceptor mains. Wastewater facility excludes sanitary sewer lines or mains which are constructed by developers, the costs of which are reimbursed from pro rata charges paid by developers or owners of property in other subdivisions as a condition of connection to or use of such facility.
Water facility.An improvement for providing water supply, treatment, and distribution service, including, but not limited to, land or easements, water treatment facilities, water supply facilities or water distribution lines. Water facility excludes water lines or mains which are constructed by developers, the costs of which are reimbursed from pro rata charges paid by developers or owners of property in other subdivisions as a condition of connection to or use of such facility.