The purpose of this chapter is to clearly delineate the criteria used by the city of West Richland to review lot/boundary line adjustments and parcel merger. Parcel merger allows for two or more lots/parcels to be combined into one lot/parcel. Lot/boundary line adjustments provide a procedure for changes in property lines. A lot/boundary line adjustment is intended to apply to minor boundary changes, to correct a controversy regarding the location of a lot line, and to remedy property use constraints caused by adverse topographical features. A lot/boundary line adjustment does not apply to boundary changes that would otherwise be regulated by applicable city of West Richland land use codes and regulations, or to actions requiring the replat, amendment, alteration, or vacation of a plat or short subdivision. The adjustment must be consistent with all applicable zoning, health, building, or similar regulations and cannot result in nonconformance or increase an existing nonconformance. This chapter is also intended to ensure compliance with the Survey Recording Act, Chapter 58.09 RCW, and Chapter 332-130 WAC.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004)
The lot lines separating two lots of record may only be adjusted/removed under the provisions of this chapter, except as provided under RCW 58.17.040, as now adopted or hereafter amended. Actions which change or impair conditions or requirements imposed by previous platting decisions must be accomplished pursuant to the subdivision requirements set forth in this title; provided, that all requirements set forth in this chapter are met, lot/boundary line adjustments proposing lot reorientations shall be deemed to be minor in nature.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004)
To be considered complete, a lot/boundary line adjustment and parcel merger application shall include the following:
A. 
Applications for lot/boundary line adjustments or parcel merger shall be made on forms provided by the city of West Richland community development department and shall be submitted to the community development department, along with the appropriate fees as established by the city council in the master fee schedule;
B. 
A completed boundary line adjustment and parcel merger request form, including all materials required pursuant to the West Richland Municipal Code, to include a site plan with the following: the location and dimensions of all structures/improvements existing upon the affected lots and the distance between each structure/improvement and the proposed lot/boundary lines, with structures proposed to be removed from the site depicted with broken lines and structures to remain on the site depicted with solid lines;
C. 
A certificate from a title insurance company, issued no more than 30 days prior to application, showing ownership of the property involved;
D. 
One PDF file of a record of survey (an applicant can petition the community development director for a waiver from this requirement) at a legible scale suitable for recording showing the following:
1. 
The proposed lines for all affected lots, indicated by bold solid lines;
2. 
The existing lot lines proposed to be changed, indicated by light broken lines;
3. 
The original legal description of the entire property together with new separate legal descriptions for each parcel, labeling them specifically as parcel A, parcel B, etc.;
4. 
A north arrow and scale;
5. 
All parcel numbers of affected lots;
6. 
The location of the property as to quarter/quarter section;
7. 
The location and dimensions of any easements within or adjacent to any affected lots;
8. 
The location, right-of-way widths, pavement widths and names of all existing or platted streets, whether public or private, and other public ways within or adjacent to the affected lots;
9. 
The area and dimensions of each lot following the proposed adjustment;
10. 
The existing and, if applicable, proposed future method of sewage disposal for each affected lot, including the location and dimensions of the proposed drain field and reserve area;
11. 
The location of all existing and proposed water, sewer and storm drainage facilities;
E. 
For proposals including complex drawings or property descriptions, including but not limited to proposed lot reorientations, the director may require the drawing be done by a licensed surveyor;
F. 
The drawing shall be attached to or include on the face a formal legal declaration of the lot/boundary line adjustment, signed and notarized by all legal owners of the subject properties;
G. 
If on-site wastewater (septic tanks) disposal is proposed under the limited circumstances where the municipal code does not require connection to the city's municipal sewer system, the applicant shall provide written verification from the Benton-Franklin health department that the site is adequate to accommodate an on-site sewage disposal system and reserve area.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004; Ord. 16-15 § 3 (Att. C), 2015; Ord. 2-24 § 4, 2024)
All public improvements installed for any lot/boundary line adjustment and parcel merger shall be in accordance with the city's engineering design standards. Lot/boundary line adjustments and parcel mergers shall not:
A. 
Create any additional lot, tract, parcel, or division;
B. 
Result in a lot, tract, parcel, site, or division which contains increased density or insufficient area or dimension to meet the minimum requirements for area and dimension as set forth in the city's zoning and land use and state and local health codes and regulations. This provision shall not be construed to require correction or remedy of preexisting nonconformities or substandard conditions; however, existing nonconformity shall not be increased or create any new nonconformity;
C. 
Diminish or impair drainage, water supply, existing sanitary sewage disposal, and access or easement for vehicles or pedestrians, utilities, and fire protection for any lot, tract, parcel, site, or division;
D. 
Diminish or impair any public or private utility easement or deprive any parcel of access or utilities;
E. 
Create unreasonably restrictive or hazardous access to the property;
F. 
Increase the nonconforming aspects of an existing nonconforming lot relative to the city's zoning and land use regulations;
G. 
Replat or vacate a plat or short subdivision, or revise or amend the conditions of approval of any full or short subdivision; or
H. 
Amend the conditions of approval for previously platted property.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004)
Based on comments from the public works director, public health official, and other applicable agencies and departments, the director shall approve the proposed lot line adjustment or lot merger only upon finding that the standards of the West Richland Municipal Code have been satisfied.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004)
A. 
Upon approval of the application, the director shall notify the applicant. The applicant shall then record with the Benton County auditor the certificate or document issued by the director indicating approval of the lot/boundary line adjustment or parcel merger, together with the legal document(s) transferring title, any applicable restrictive covenants, and the survey, if one was required and has not yet been recorded.
B. 
A lot/boundary line adjustment or parcel merger does not become effective until the applicant has recorded the documents required by the Benton County auditor. The applicant shall return one copy of each recorded document to community development department, which copy must bear the county auditor's stamp to verify recording. No building or other site development permits shall be granted until the applicant returns the copy of the recorded document to the community development department.
(Ord. 13-04 § 3, 2004)