For the purposes of this chapter, certain words
and terms used herein shall be interpreted or defined as follows:
Words used in the present tense include the future tense, the singular
includes the plural and the plural the singular, unless the natural
construction of the word indicates otherwise; the word "lot" includes
the word "parcel"; the word "shall" is mandatory and not advisory;
the word "approve" shall be considered to be followed by the words
"or disapproved"; any reference to this chapter includes all ordinances
amending or supplementing the same; and all distances and areas refer
to measurement in a horizontal plane. The word "current" as applied
herein to standards, regulations, etc., shall mean current at the
time the final plat is submitted for approval to the governing body
or the designated agent.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AGENT
The representative of the Board of Supervisors of Rappahannock
County who has been appointed to serve as the agent of the Board in
approving subdivision plats.
ALLEY
A permanent serviceway providing a secondary means of access
to abutting properties and not intended for general traffic circulation.
ARCHITECT
A person licensed to practice as such in the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
BOARD
The Board of Supervisors of Rappahannock County.
BOND, MAINTENANCE
A bond with surety and/or cash deposit, approved by the governing
body, in an amount required for a one-year period after completion
thereof, for the maintenance of all required improvements in a workmanlike
manner.
BOND, PERFORMANCE
A bond with surety and/or cash deposit, approved by the governing
body, in an amount equal to the full cost of improvements required
by these regulations and providing for the completion of said improvements
within a definite period.
BUILDING SETBACK LINE
A line showing the minimum distance by which any structure
(exclusive of steps) must be separated from the front line of a lot.
COMMISSION
The Planning Commission of Rappahannock County, Virginia.
CUL-DE-SAC
A street with one outlet and having an appropriate turnaround
for a safe and convenient reverse traffic movement.
DEVELOPER
An owner of property being subdivided, whether or not represented
by an agent.
EASEMENT
A grant, running with the land, by a property owner of the
use of land for a specific purpose or purposes other than a license
revocable by the unilateral act of the grantor.
ENGINEER
A person licensed to practice as such by the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
FLOODPLAIN
Floodplain boundaries as delineated in accordance with the
United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) Soil Conservation
Service, Rappahannock County Soils Survey, issued October 11, 1961
(outlined in the Rappahannock County Zoning Book No. 1), or the boundaries
of the one-hundred-year floodplain as indicated on the Flood Insurance
Rate Map, dated August 24, 1984, as prepared by the Federal Insurance
Administration, whichever is greater.
FRONTAGE
The shortest distance between the side lines of any lot measured
along a line coinciding with the required setback distance for the
zoning district involved.
GOVERNING BODY
The Board of Supervisors of Rappahannock County, Virginia.
HEALTH OFFICIAL
The Health Director of Rappahannock County, Virginia, or
his designated agent.
HIGHWAY ENGINEER
The resident highway engineer for Rappahannock County, employed
by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
IMPROVEMENTS
All public utilities and facilities, including but not limited to streets, culs-de-sac, storm and sanitary sewers, waterlines, curbs and gutters, required pursuant to the terms of this chapter or Chapter
170, Zoning, of the Code of Rappahannock County.
JURISDICTION
The area or territory subject to the legislative control
of the governing body.
LOT
A subdivided parcel of land of less than 50 acres intended
for transfer of ownership or for building development. Prior to December
1, 1986, any parcel of less than 25 acres.
LOT, CORNER
A lot abutting upon two or more streets at their intersection;
the shortest side fronting upon a street shall be considered the front
of the lot, and the longest side fronting upon a street shall be considered
the side of the lot. The required front lot line setback on both streets
is to be applied to the principal structure.
LOT, DEPTH OF
The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear lot
lines.
LOT OF RECORD
A lot which has been recorded in the office of the Clerk
of the Circuit Court of Rappahannock County, Virginia.
LOT, WIDTH OF
The horizontal distance between the side lot lines, as measured
at the front of the parcel. (See definition of "frontage" above.)
PERSON
An individual, a partnership or a corporation or any other
legal entity by whatever term customarily known.
PLAT
Includes the terms map, plan, plot, replat or replot; a map
or plan of a tract or parcel of land which is to be or which has been
subdivided. When used as a verb, "plat" is synonymous with "subdivide."
PROFILES AND SPECIFICATIONS
Construction plans and specifications showing all necessary
data for public and private improvements to be installed under the
terms of this chapter.
PROPERTY
For subdivision purposes, any tract, lot, parcel or several
of the same collected together.
REMNANTS or OUTLOTS
Any tract, parcel, lot or several of the same which is below the minimum lot size as required by this chapter and Chapter
170, Zoning, of the Code of Rappahannock County.
SEWER, SANITARY
A system for sanitary disposal of sewage as required by the
State Health Department's regulations.
SEWER, STORM
A system for disposal of surface water as required by the
State Department of Transportation's regulations.
STREET
A strip of public land, subject to vehicular and/or pedestrian
traffic, providing means of access to abutting property. The term
"street" shall include road, lane, drive, avenue, highway, boulevard,
trail, court, place, terrace etc., or any other thoroughfare used
for a similar purpose.
A.
LOCAL STREETA street that carries or is expected to carry a volume of traffic less than 400 vehicles per day, the right-of-way of which shall not be less than 50 feet.
B.
COLLECTOR STREETA street that carries or is anticipated to carry a volume of through traffic exceeding 400 vehicles per day, the right-of-way of which shall not be less than 50 feet nor more than 80 feet, depending upon existing or anticipated traffic volume.
C.
MAJOR COLLECTOR STREET/HIGHWAYA highway that carries or is anticipated to carry a volume of traffic exceeding 3,000 vehicles per day, the right-of-way of which shall not be less than 80 feet nor more than 110 feet.
D.
ARTERIAL STREET/HIGHWAYA highway utilized primarily as a supplement to and as an extension of the interstate highway system, defined in the Virginia State Highway Commission standards as an arterial highway. A minimum right-of-way of 100 feet is required.
E.
INTERSTATEA highway utilized to carry interstate traffic with a minimum right-of-way of 300 feet in rural areas and carrying capacity in excess of 1,500 vehicles per lane per hour.
F.
SERVICE DRIVEA public right-of-way generally parallel and contiguous to a major highway, primarily designed to promote safety by providing safe and orderly access to the highway.
STREET WIDTH
The total width of the strip of land dedicated or reserved
for public travel, including roadways, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and
planting strips and, where necessary, utility easements.
SUBDIVIDE
The process of dealing with land so as to establish a subdivision.
SUBDIVIDER
An individual, corporation, proprietor, true trustee, joint
venture, partnership or other entity owning any tract, lot or parcel
of land to be subdivided or a group of two or more persons or entities
owning any tract, lot or parcel of land to be subdivided who have
given the power of attorney to one of their group or to another individual
to act on their behalf in planning, negotiating for, in representing
or executing the legal requirements of the subdivision process.
SUBDIVISION
The division of a lot, parcel or tract of land into two or
more subdivided lots or parcels for the purpose of transfer of ownership,
lease or construction, whether immediate or future, if any such parcel
of land is less than 50 acres. For the purpose of residential lot
development, all contiguous holdings under single ownership shall
be considered as part of the lot, parcel, or tract of land proposed
for "subdivision."
A.
Subdivision exceptions permitted. An exception
is made to the definition of "subdivision" to the following, to the
extent described:
(1)
The bona fide division of land for the adjustment
of boundaries;
(2)
The bona fide exchange or transfer of land between
adjoining landowners, provided that:
(a)
The land exchanged or transferred by one such
landowner is attached to the land of the transferee, resulting in
no new building lot(s); and
(b)
The remainder of any such lot, parcel or tract of land is not below the minimum size required by Chapter
170, Zoning, of the Code of Rappahannock County, unless already below such size, under which circumstances the remainder of such lot or parcel may not fall below the smallest lot size allowed, by the special exception process, for the applicable zoning district; or
(3)
The division of any lot, parcel or tract of
land occasioned by an exercise of eminent domain by any public agency.
B.
SUBDIVISION, SUBSTANDARDAny subdivision, existing or proposed, which in whole or in part fails to meet the standards as delineated in this chapter and in Chapter
170, Zoning, of the Code of Rappahannock County.
SURVEYOR
A certified land surveyor as licensed by the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
TRACT
A collection of two or more adjoining lots, parcels or tracts
of land under the same ownership or control.