Article 2 Terms

§12-201      Falls City Code       §12-202

Article 2.  Terms

§12-201   TERMS; INTERPRETATION.  For the purpose of interpreting this Chapter, certain terms are herein defined.  Except as defined herein, all other words used in this Chapter shall have their customary dictionary meanings.

Words used in the present tense include the future tense.

Words used in the singular include the plural, and words used in the plural include the singular.

The word "shall" is always mandatory.

The word "lot" includes the word "plot" or "parcel".

The word "building" includes the word "structure".

The "used" or "occupied", as applied to any land or buildings, shall be construed to include the words, "intended, arranged, or designed to be used or occupied".

§12-202   TERMS; DEFINITIONS.

ADDITION.  Land contiguous to the corporate limits that have been laid out in lots, streets, and alleys and conforms to these Regulations.

ALLEY.  Any right-of-way dedicated to vehicular travel, being twenty feet (20') or more, but less than fifty feet (50') in width.

BUILDING INSPECTOR.  The person duly designated by the Governing Body of said City to enforce this Article.  Also may be referred to as Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission in absence of such a person. 

BLOCK.  An area bounded by streets.

BOARD.  Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Falls City, Nebraska.

CITY ENGINEER.  One person or firm, licensed by the State of Nebraska, designated by the governing body to act for the City.

CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE.  An area of unobstructed vision at street intersections defined by lines of sight between points at a given distance from the intersection of the street right-of-way lines.

COMMISSION.  The Planning & Zoning Commission of Falls City.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  The long range development plan adopted by the City Council.

EASEMENT.  A grant by property owner to the public, a corporation or persons of the use of a tract of land for a specific municipal public purpose.

IMPROVEMENTS.  Street pavement or resurfacing, curbs, gutter, sidewalks, water lines, sewer lines, storm drains, street lights, flood control and drainage facilities, utility lines, landscaping, and other related matters normally associated with the development of raw land into building sites.

LOT, CORNER.  A lot located at the intersection of two (2) or more streets.  A lot abutting on a curved street or streets shall be considered a corner lot if straight lines drawn from the foremost points of the side lot lines and the foremost point of the lot meet at an interior angle of less than one hundred thirty-five (135°) degrees.

LOT.  A parcel of land defined by metes and bounds or boundary lines in a recorded deed.

MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.  Means a comprehensive plan, prepared by the Planning Commission which indicates the general locations recommended for various functional classes of public works, place, and structures and for general physical development of the Municipality and includes any unit or part of such plan separately prepared and any amendment to such plan or parts therein.

MONUMENTS.  Permanent concrete or iron markers used to establish definitely all lines of the plat of a subdivision, including all lot corners, boundary line corners and points of change in street alignment.

PLANNING AREA.  The statutory zoning jurisdiction of the City.

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION.  The appointed planning body designated by the City Council.

PLAT.  A map, drawing, or chart on which the subdivider's plan of the subdivision of land is presented and which the developer, he or she, submits for approval and intends, in final form, to record.

PLAT, FINAL.  A finished drawing showing completely and accurately all legal and engineering information and certification necessary for recording.

PLAT, PRELIMINARY.  A drawing which shows the proposed layout of a subdivision in sufficient detail to indicate unquestionably its workability in all aspects (but not drafted in final form for recording) and the details of which are not completely computed.

PLAT, SKETCH.  An informal plan, not necessarily to scale, indicating salient existing features of a tract and its surroundings and the general layout of the proposed subdivision.

PLOT.  A parcel of ground.

PUBLIC WAY.  An alley, avenue, boulevard, bridge, channel, ditch, easement, expressway, freeway, highway, land, parkway, right-of-way, road, sidewalk, street, subway, tunnel, viaduct, walk, or other ways in which the general public or a public entity have a right, or which are dedicated, whether improved or not.

REVERSE FRONTAGE LOT.  A lot extending between and having frontage on a major traffic street and a minor street, and with vehicular access solely from the latter.

RIGHT-OF-WAY.  A strip of land taken or dedicated for use as a public way.  In addition to the roadway, it normally incorporates the curbs, lawn strips, sidewalks, lighting, and drainage facilities, and may include special features such as grade separation, landscaped areas, viaducts and bridges.

SIDEWALK.  A dedicated public way, four (4') feet or more in width, whether along the side of a road or not.

SIGHT DISTANCE.  The maximum extent of unobstructed vision along a street from a vehicle located at any given point on the street.

STREET.  A public thoroughfare which affords a principal means of access to abutting property, having a right-of-way of fifty (50') feet or more.

SUBDIVIDER.  Any person, firm, or corporation undertaking the subdivision or resubdivision of a tract or parcel of land for the purpose of laying out a platted addition or subdivision of land.

SUBDIVISION.  The division of any parcel of land shown as a unit or as contiguous units on the last preceding tax roll into two (2) or more parcels, sites, or lots, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership.  The improvement of on (1) or more parcels of land for residential, commercial or industrial structures, or groups of structures, involving the division or allocation of land for the opening, widening, or extension of any street or streets, except private streets; or, the division or allocation of land as open spaces for common use by owners, occupants, or lease holders, or as easements for the extension and maintenance of public sewer, water, storm drainage, or other public facilities.  This definition shall be held to include resubdivision and, when appropriate to the context, relate to the process of subdividing or to the land or territory subdivided.

SUBDIVISION, MAJOR.  Any subdivision other than a minor subdivision.

SUBDIVISION, MINOR.  A subdivision in which no land is dedicated for street purposes other than street widening and which is divided into not more than four (4) lots fronting on an existing street.

SURVEYOR.  Any person registered in Nebraska to practice surveying.

THOROUGHFARE, STREET OR ROAD.  The full width between property lines bounding every public way of whatever nature, with a part thereof to be used for vehicular traffic and designated as follows:

Alley:  A dedicated public right-of-way, other than a street, which provides only a secondary means of access to abutting property.

Arterial Street:  A street which provides for through traffic movement between and around streets with direct access to abutting property, subject to necessary control of entrances, exits, and curb use.

Collector Street:  A street which provides for traffic movement between arterials and local streets, with direct access to abutting property.

Cul-de-sac:  A local street of relatively short length with one (1) end open to traffic and the other end terminating in a vehicular turnaround.

Dead-end Street:  A street having only one (1) outlet for vehicular traffic and intended to be extended or continued in the future.

Local Street:  A street which provides direct access to abutting land and local traffic movement, whether in business, industrial or residential land.

VICINITY MAP.  A drawing located on the plat which sets forth by dimensions or other means, the relationship of the proposed subdivision or use to other nearby developments or landmarks in order to better locate and orient the area in question.