Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17G Administration and Procedures

Chapter 17G.080 Subdivisions

Section 17G.080.040 Short Subdivisions

1. Predevelopment Meeting

A predevelopment meeting is required if the proposal is located in the central business district, unless waived by the director, and is recommended for all other proposals prior to submittal of the application. The purpose of a predevelopment meeting is to acquaint the applicant with the applicable provisions of this chapter, minimum submission requirements and other plans or regulations, which may impact the proposal.

2. Preliminary Short Plat Application and Map Requirements

1. Applications for approval of a preliminary short subdivision shall be filed with the director. All applications shall be submitted on forms provided for such purpose by the department. The director may waive specific submittal requirements determined to be unnecessary for review of the application. The application shall include the following:

1. The general application.

2. The supplemental application.

3. The environmental checklist, if required under chapter 17E.050 SMC.

4. Title report no older than thirty days from issuance from the title company.

5. The filing fees as required under chapter 8.02 SMC.

6. The required number of documents, plans or maps drawn to a minimum scale of one-inch equals one hundred feet, on a sheet twenty-four by thirty-six inches, as set forth in the application checklist.

7. A written narrative identifying consistency with the applicable policies, regulations and criteria for approval of the permit requested; and

8. Additional application information which may be requested by the permitting department and may include, but is not limited to, the following: geotechnical studies, hydrologic studies, critical area studies, noise studies, air quality studies, visual analysis and transportation impact studies.

1. One copy of the predevelopment conference notes (if applicable); and

10. One copy of the notification district map.

2. Contents of Preliminary Short Plat Map

The preliminary short plat shall be prepared by a land surveyor and shall show the following:

1. Plat name and the name of any subdivision to be replatted.

2. The name, mailing address and phone number of the owner and the person with whom official contact should be made regarding the application.

3. Surveyor’s name, mailing address, and phone number.

4. Legal description.

5. Section, township, and rang

6. Vicinity map.

7. North arrow, scale and date.

8. Datum plane.

1. Acreage.

10. Number of lots, proposed density, and number of housing units.

11. Zoning designation.

12. The boundary lines of the proposed subdivision.

13. City limits and section lines.

14. Park or open space (if proposed).

15. Existing topography at two-foot maximum interval.

16. The boundaries and approximate dimensions of all blocks and lots, along with the following information:

1. 1. 1. the numbers proposed to be assigned each lot and block;

1. 1. 2. the dimensions, square footage, and acreage of all proposed lots and tracts; and

1. 1. 3. for residential lots zoned R1 or R2, the proposed Middle Housing types, included single-unit detached houses, and total number of proposed units on all proposed lots.

17. Proposed names of streets.

18. The location and widths of streets, alleys, rights-of-way, easements (both public and private), turn around and emergency access, parks and open spaces.

19. Conditions of adjacent property, platted or unplatted, and if platted, giving the name of the subdivision. If the proposed short plat is the subdivision of a portion of an existing plat, the approximate lines of the existing plat are to be shown along with any and all recorded covenants and easement

20. The names and address of the record owners and taxpayers of each parcel adjoining the subdivision.

21. Indicate any street grades in excess of eight percent.

5. The location and, where ascertainable, sizes of all permanent buildings, wells, wellhead protection areas, sewage disposal systems, water courses, bodies of water, flood zones, culverts, bridges, structures, overhead and underground utilities, railroad lines, and other features existing upon, over or under the land proposed to be subdivided, and identifying any which are to be retained or removed.

23. Proposed one-foot strips for right-of-way conveyed to the City, in cases where a proposed public street or alley abuts unplatted land.

10. If a body of water forms the boundary of the plat, the ordinary high water mark as defined in chapter 90.58 RCW.

25. Critical areas as defined in chapters 17E.020, 17E.030, 17E.070 and 17G.030 SMC.

26. Significant historic, cultural or archaeological resources; and

27. If the proposal is located in an irrigation district, the irrigation district name.

3. Review of Preliminary Short Plat

1. The application shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures set forth in chapter 17G.061 SMC for a Type II application, except an application that meets the requirements for minor engineering review as provided in subsection (2) of this section shall be excluded from the public notice requirements contained in SMC 17G.06210 and public comment period under SMC 17G.061.220.

2. Minor Engineering Review.

1. A preliminary short plat application may qualify for a Minor Engineering Review if it meets all of the following conditions:

1. 1. 1. The application is categorically exempt from chapter 43.21C RCW (SEPA);

1. 1. 2. There is direct water and sewer main lot frontage on an existing and improved public right-of-way;

1. 1. 3. No extensions of public water, sewer, or other utility services will be needed;

1. 1. 4. No public easements for water, sewer, or other utility service exists on the lot;

1. 1. 5. The lot is not situated in a Special Drainage District as defined in SMC 17D.060.130; and

1. 1. 6. Public utility mains do not exist on the lot.

2. The City Engineer is authorized to waiver conditions ii through vi of the subjection (a) if the application substantially meets the intent of the Minor Engineering Review.

4. Public Notice And Public Comment.

All public notice of the application and opportunities for public comment shall be given in accordance with the procedures set forth in chapter 17G.061 SMC for a Type II application.

1. 1. Exceptions.

1. 1. 1. A short plat that meets the requirements of Minor Engineering Review as provided in subsection (C)(2) of this section shall not require a notice of application.

1. 1. 2. A short plat that is categorically exempt from SEPA and results in four or fewer lots shall not require a posted or signed notice of application.

5. Preliminary Short Plat Approval Criteria.

Prior to approval of a short plat application, the director shall find the application to be in the public use and interest, conform to applicable land use controls and the comprehensive plan of the City, and the approval criteria set forth in chapter 17G.061 SMC. The director has the authority to approve or disapprove a proposed preliminary short plat under the provisions of this chapter, subject to appeal as provided in chapters 17F.050 and 17G.061 SMC.

6. Final Short Plat Review Procedure

1. The subdivider shall submit to the director for review the following:

1. 1. A final short plat, prepared by a registered land surveyor licensed in the state of Washington, consistent with the approved preliminary short plat.

1. 2. A title report less than thirty days old confirming that the title of the lands as described and shown on said plat is in the name of the owners signing the certificate or instrument of dedication.

1. 3. Covenants, conditions and restrictions, if applicable; and

1. 4. Fees pursuant to chapter 8.02 SMC.

2. Within thirty days, unless the applicant has consented to a longer period of time, of receipt of a proposed final short plat, the director shall review the plat for conformance with all conditions of the preliminary short plat approval, the requirements of this chapter and that arrangements have been made to insure the construction of required improvements. If all such conditions are met, the director shall approve the final short plat and authorize the recording of the plat. If all conditions are not met, the director shall provide the applicant in writing a statement of the necessary changes to bring the final short plat into conformance with the conditions.

1. 1. If the final short plat is required to be resubmitted, the subdivider is required to provide the following:

1. 2. A cover letter addressing the corrections, additions or modifications required.

1. 3. Title report no older than thirty days from issuance of a title company conforming that the title of the lands as described and shown on said plat is in the name of the owners signing the certificate or instrument of dedication; and

1. 4. The required number of copies of the corrected finals short plat map.

3. If the final short plat is approved, the surveyor causes the plat to be signed by the Spokane county treasurer and file of record with the Spokane county auditor. The surveyor is required to file the appropriate number of mylar and bond copies of the recorded short plat with the director.

7. Final Short Plat Map Requirements

The subdivider shall submit to the director a final short plat in the same form and with the same content as the preliminary short plat, as provided in subsections (B)(1) and (2) of this section, with the following exceptions or additional requirements:

1. A final short plat shall contain all the information required of the preliminary plat, except the following:

1. 1. Show existing buildings.

1. 2. Show existing utility lines and underground structures.

1. 3. Show the topographical elevations; or

1. 4. Contain the names and addresses of adjoining landowners.

2. The final short plat shall include the following:

1. Surveyor’s certificate, stamp, date and signature, as follows:

The following land surveyor’s certificate to be shown on each sheet of the plat: "I, ______________ registered land surveyor, hereby certify the plat of__________, as shown hereon, is based upon actual field survey of the land described and that all angles, distances, and courses are correctly shown and that all non fronting lot corners are set as shown on the plat. Monuments and fronting lot corners shall be set upon completion of the utility and street improvements.

Signed ______________________(Seal)"

2. A certification by the city treasurer, as applicable:

1. “I hereby certify that the land described by this plat, as of the date of this certification, is not subject to any local improvement assessments. Examined and approved, this ______ day of ______, 20__.

____________________

City of Spokane Treasurer”

2. “I hereby certify that the land described by this plat, as of the date of this certificate, is not subject to any delinquent local improvement assessment. Future installments, if any, shall remain due and payable and it shall be the responsibility of the owners to initiate the segregation of the LID assessment. Examined and approved, this ____ day of ______, 20__.

____________________

City of Spokane Treasurer”

3. “A preliminary local improvement assessment exists against this property. It shall be the responsibility of the owner’s to initiate the segregation of the LID assessment. After this assessment is finalized, it shall be due and payable. Examined and approved this _____ day of ______, 20__.

____________________

City of Spokane Treasurer”

3. The certification by the planning director, as follows:

“This plat has been reviewed on this _____ day of ______, 20__ and is found to be in full compliance with all the conditions of approval stipulated in the Hearing Examiner’s/Planning Director’s approval of the preliminary plat # - -PP/SP.

____________________

City of Spokane Planning Director”

4. The certification by the city engineer, as follows:

“Approved as to compliance with the survey data, the design of public works and provisions made for constructing the improvements and permanent control monuments this _____ day of ______, 20__.

____________________

City of Spokane Engineer”

5. The certification by the Spokane county treasurer, as follows:

“I hereby certify that the land described in this plat, as of the date of this certification, is not subject to any outstanding fees or assessments. Examined and approved _____ day of ______, 20__.

____________________

Spokane County Treasurer”

6. The certification by the Spokane county auditor on each page of the final short plat including the time, date, book and page number of the recording of the final mylar.

7. Signature of every owner certifying that:

1. the plat is made with the free consent and in accordance with the desires of the owners of the land;

2. the owners are the owners of the property and the only parties having interest in the land and is not encumbered by any delinquent taxes or assessments;

3. the owners adopt the plan of lots, blocks and streets shown;

4. owner dedicates to the City and the City’s permittees the easements shown for utilities and cable television purposes;

5. owner dedicates to the City the streets, alleys and other public places, including slope and construction easements and waives all claims for damages against any governmental authority including, without limitation, the City which may be occasioned to the adjacent land by the establishment, construction, drainage and maintenance of any public way so dedicated; and

6. owner conveys to the City as general City property the buffer strips adjoining unplatted property.

8. The drawing shall:

1. be a legibly drawn, printed or reproduced permanent map;

2. if more than one sheet is required, each sheet shall show sheet numbers for the total sheets;

3. have margins that comply with the standards of the Spokane county auditor;

4. show in dashed lines the existing plat being replatted, if applicable;

5. show monuments in accordance with SMC 17G.080.020(H)(1);

6. include any other information required by the conditions of approval; and

7. include any special statements of approval required from governmental agencies, including those pertaining to flood hazard areas, shorelines, critical areas and connections to adjacent state highways.

8. Filing.

Once the final plat has been reviewed, approved and signed by the applicable departments, the applicant shall file the final short plat with the county auditor within ten days of approval. No permits shall be issued for a proposed lot until the required conformed copies of the short plat have been submitted to the planning services department.

1. Redivision.

No land within the boundaries of a short subdivision may be further divided in any manner which will create additional lots within a period of five years except by subdivision in accordance with SMC 17G.080.050.

Date Passed: Monday, November 20, 2023

Effective Date: Monday, January 1, 2024

ORD C36459 Section 42