§ 17-22. Definitions.

In general, words and terms used in these regulations shall have their customary dictionary meaning. More specifically, any word or term defined in the Town of St. Francisville Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance shall have the definition contained in that ordinance, unless defined differently below. Words and terms used herein are defined as follows:

Alley: (see Street definition).

Application: The process by which an applicant submits a request and indicates a desire to be granted a subdivision under the provisions of these regulations. An application includes all written documentation, verbal statements, and representations in whatever form or forum made by an applicant to the town concerning a request.

Block: A parcel of land within a subdivision or development that is bounded by public streets, highways, railroad rights-of-way, public walks, cul-de-sac parks or open space, rural land or drainage channels, the exterior boundary of the subdivision, or a combination thereof. For this definition, an alley is not considered a street but part of the block.

Block length: The distance between intersections of through streets, such distance being measured parallel to the longest street bounding the block and from right-of-way line to right-of-way line of the two (2) intersecting streets.

Buffer area: A part of a property or an entire property, which is not built upon and is specifically intended to separate and thus minimize the effects of a land use activity (e.g. noise, dust, visibility, glare, etc.) on adjacent properties or on sensitive natural resources,

Building (or structure): Any structure designed or built or used for the support, enclosure, shelter, or protection of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind.

Construction plan: (see Engineering plan definition).

Culvert: A pipe or enclosed channel that conveys water by gravity under a road, railway, or embankment.

Developed area: Any area on which a site improvement or change is made, including buildings, landscaping, parking areas and streets.

Drainageway: Non-navigable: above ground watercourses, detention basins or depressions which collect and convey stormwater runoff.

Dwelling unit: A room or group of rooms located within a structure forming a single habitable unit with facilities that are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, eating and sanitation by one (1) family.

Easement (or servitude): The right, granted by the property owner, to use a parcel of land for the specified purposes, such as public utilities, drainage and other public purposes, the title of which shall remain with the property owner, subject to the right if use designated in the reservation of the easement. Easement and servitude are considered the same.

Engineering plan (or construction plan): The drawings accompanying a subdivision plan for major subdivisions and showing the specific location and design of improvements, which if approved, will be used for construction of the improvements.

Engineer, professional: A professional engineer in good standing registered by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Fill: Any material including, but not limited to, dirt and concrete that is placed above natural grade.

Grade: The elevation of the ground at a building or building site.

Green infrastructure: (see Stormwater management definition)

Lot (or parcel): A tract, plot or portion of a subdivision or other parcel of land intended as a unit for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or for building development.

Lot, corner: A lot situated at the intersection of two (2) streets, the interior angle of such intersection not exceeding one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees.

Lot, double frontage: A lot other than a corner lot that has frontage on more than one (1) street.

Lot, interior: A lot that is not a corner lot.

Lot depth: The distance between front and rear lot lines. If these lines are not parallel the mean dimension shall be deemed to be the lot depth.

Lot line, front: That line which separates the lot from the street or road. The front lot line of a corner lot shall be the line of least dimension.

Lot line, rear: That lot line which is opposite and generally parallel to the front lot line but to the rear of the lot. The rear lot line of an irregular shaped lot shall, for the purpose of these regulations, be a line not less than ten (10) feet long lying entirely within the lot, generally parallel to and the greatest distance from the front lot line.

Lot line, side: Any lot line not a front or rear lot line.

Lot of record: A recorded, platted lot or a parcel of land lot, the map of which has been recorded with the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court, or a lot described by metes and bounds, the description of which has been recorded with the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court.

Lot width: The width of a lot as measured along the minimum front building setback line.

Multifamily development: A subdivision which contains three (3) or more dwelling units on land in common ownership, such as apartment buildings, condominiums or mobile home parks.

One hundred-year flood: The highest level of flood that, on the average, has a one-percent chance of occurring in any given year.

Open space: Those areas of a lot open and unobstructed from grade level upward, unless otherwise permitted by these regulations or by the comprehensive zoning ordinance.

Parcel: (see Lot definition).

Person: Includes a firm, association, organization, partnership, trust, company, or corporation, as well as an individual.

Petitioner (or applicant): The person applying for subdivision approval under these regulations.

Planned unit development (PUD): A development planned under a unified site plan with the goals of: encouraging flexibility, innovation and variety in the development of land in order to promote its most appropriate use; improving the design, character and quality of development; facilitating the adequate and economic provision of streets, utilities and services; achieving beneficial land use relationships with the surrounding area; preserving the unique natural and scenic features of the landscape; and preserving open space as development occurs.

Plat: A survey of a tract of land showing the boundaries, dimensions and location of individual lots and streets, survey monuments, topographic data, easements, servitudes, rights-of-way, existing structures, and significant natural features. For purposes of these regulations the term plat is not to be construed as a site plan.

Plat, conceptual: A conceptual representation of a proposed subdivision survey prior to the preparation of the preliminary plat (or final plat in the case of minor subdivision) sufficient for a tentative subdivision application. The conceptual plat may be drawn to scale in architectural freehand style to enable the developer to save time and expense in reaching general agreement with the town regarding the objectives of these regulations but accurately representing the size and proposed dimensions of lots and the extent of any public facilities that are proposed for dedication and which is accompanied by a site features map and conceptual drainage study.

Plat, final: A subdivision survey in substantial conformance with any preceding preliminary plat in accordance with the provisions of these regulations submitted to and approved by the [planning commission] to be signed by the required town officials placed on file with the West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court.

Plat, preliminary: A subdivision survey plat preparatory to the preparation of a final plat, accompanied by engineering construction plans and specifications for the construction of any and all public and private improvements shown or required to be shown on the preliminary plat.

Public improvement plan: A detailed plan outlining the installation of all public improvements either in a subdivision or in conjunction with a subdivision.

Right-of-way: A grant by the property owner, usually in the form of a dedication to the public, of a strip or strips of land, title to which shall rest in the public for the purpose stated in the dedication.

Servitude: (see Easement).

Sewage system, individual: Individual sewage system means any system of piping (excluding plumbing within a building), treatment device or other facility that conveys, stores, treats, or disposes of sewage on the property where it originates, and which utilizes the individual sewage system technology.

Sewage system, private: Private sewage system means a collection and/or treatment facility which is owned, operated, maintained, and managed by a private individual or individuals or entity (partnership, corporation, etc.).

Side drain: Drainage pipe placed under residential or commercial driveways, commonly referred to as a culvert or driveway pipe.

Sidewalk: An improved pedestrian surface that is typically located adjacent to a roadway or street.

Sight distance: The length of an unobstructed view from a particular access point to the farthest visible point of reference on a roadway. Used in these regulations as a reference for unobstructed road visibility.

Site plan (also known as a development plan): An accurate, scaled map or rendering showing the location of buildings, the landscaping, parking, circulation and other such features, and supportive data describing the project proposed by the applicant.

Storm drain: Drainage pipe used for subsurface applications that does not include side drains or cross drains.

Street: Public and private ways such as alleys, avenues, highways, roads, and other rights-of-way, as well as areas on subdivision plans designated as rights-of-way, for vehicular access other than driveways. The following shall be used to classify all streets:

Alley: A public or private right-of-way primarily designed to serve as a secondary access to the side or rear of those properties, and not intended for general traffic.

Arterial street: Public thoroughfares that serve the major movements of traffic within and through the town and the parish.

Boulevard: A street that is divided by a median or neutral ground.

Collector street: Public thoroughfares that serve to collect and distribute traffic primarily from local residential streets to arterial streets.

Cul-de-sac: A local street with only one (1) outlet and having an appropriate termination based on adopted development standards for the safe reversal of traffic movement.

Local street: A street that is used primarily for direct access to abutting residential properties and leading into the collector street system.

Marginal access street: Minor streets that are parallel to or adjacent to arterial streets and highways that provide ingress and egress from abutting properties and protection from through traffic. The term is also, commonly referred to as a frontage road or service road.

Private street: A privately owned and maintained street, generally providing access to abutting properties for private users of such property.

Stormwater management (also see green infrastructure): Any technique, apparatus, or facility that controls and/or manages the path, storage, or rate of release of stormwater runoff including storm sewers, retention/detention basins, drainage swales and bioswales, rainwater reuse systems, drainage channels, inlet or outlet structures, and other similar techniques and facilities.

Structure: Anything constructed or erected that requires more or less permanent or semi-permanent location on the ground or the attachment to something having permanent location on the ground, including, but not limited to, retaining walls, gasoline pumps, signs, manufactured housing, and vending machines.

Subdivider (also known as a developer): Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity, acting as a unit, subdividing or proposing to subdivide land as herein defined.

Subdivision: The division of a parcel of land into two (2) or more lots, tracts, or parcels for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease or building development, or if a new street is involved, any division of a parcel of land. The term includes resubdivision and when appropriate to the context, shall relate to the process of subdivision or to the land subdivided.

Subdivision, major: Any subdivision not classified as a minor subdivision or specifically exempted by these regulations.

Subdivision, minor: An administratively approved subdivision that may be used to: adjust interior lot lines resulting in no new lots of record, combine two (2) or more lots on a single, contiguous piece of property, or to create no more than four (4) new lots of record. A minor subdivision cannot require the creation of any new public street or public improvement.

Substantial completion: The degree of completion of construction of required infrastructure improvements necessary for such improvements to operate and function appropriately as designed and to be utilized for the purpose for which it is intended and permitted. Substantial completion considers construction, installation, testing, inspection and approval or permitting when applicable. Whenever a subdivision is approved in phases, the substantial completion requirement shall apply to each phase independently.

Surveyor: A land surveyor in good standing registered by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.

Tract or parcel of land: All contiguous land in the same ownership, provided that lands located on opposite sides of a public or private road shall be considered each a separate tract or parcel of land unless such road was established by the owner of land on both sides thereof.

Waiver: A grant of relief to an applicant from a specific subdivision development requirement of these regulations. A waiver can only be granted by the planning commission.

(Ord. No. 2015-5, § 2.2, 11-10-15)