§ 24-3. Definitions.

For the purpose of this chapter, certain words, terms and phrases shall be defined as follows:

All terms as defined in this subdivision control act, Act 288, Public Acts of 1967, MSA 26.430(101) et seq., shall control in this chapter unless indicated to the contrary in this section.

Block: Property abutting one side of a street and lying between the two nearest intersecting streets, or between the nearest such street and unsubdivided acreage, river or live stream; or between any of the foregoing and any other barrier to the continuity of development.

Easement: A grant by the owner of the use of land by the public, or by persons, for specific uses and purposes, to be designated as "public" or "private" easement depending on the nature of the use.

Improvements: Grading, street surfacing, curb and gutter, sidewalks, crosswalks, water mains and lines, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, culverts, bridges, utilities and other additions to the natural state of land which increases its value, utility or habitability.

Lot: A measured portion of a parcel or tract of land, which is described or fixed in a proposed or recorded plat.

Lot split: The division of a parcel of land, whose boundaries are fixed in a recorded plat, into more than one but less than five lots or tracts.

Major streets or thoroughfare plan: That part of the master plan which sets forth the location, alignment and dimensions of existing and proposed streets and thoroughfares.

Master plan: The comprehensive city plan including graphic and written proposals indicating the general locations recommended for the streets, parks, schools, public buildings, zoning districts and all physical developments of the city and includes any unit or part of such plan separately adopted, and any amendments to such plan or parts thereof duly approved by the plan commission and certified to the city council.

Parcel or tract: A continuous area of land which can be described as provided for in the subdivision act.

Plan commission: The city plan commission.

Plat: A map or chart of a subdivision of land:

(1)

Preliminary sketch: A sketch map of a proposed subdivision of sufficient accuracy and scale to meet the requirements of section 24-22.

(2)

Preliminary plat—Stage 1: A map indicating the proposed layout of the subdivision in sufficient detail to provide adequate basis for review and to meet the requirements and procedures set forth in this chapter.

(3)

Preliminary plat—Stage 2: A map showing the salient features of a proposed subdivision submitted to an approving authority for purposes of preliminary consideration prepared in conformance with the subdivision act.

(4)

Final plat: A map of all or part of a subdivision providing substantial conformance to the preliminary plat of the subdivision prepared in conformance with the requirements of the subdivision act and this chapter, and suitable for recording by the county register of deeds.

Proprietor: A natural person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or combination of any of them which may hold any ownership interest in land, whether recorded or not.

Public utility: A firm, corporation or municipal authority providing gas, electricity, telephone, sewer, water or other services of a similar nature.

Street: Any dedicated avenue, boulevard, road, lane, parkway, viaduct, alley or other way which is an existing state, county or municipal roadway; or a street, as defined above, or way, shown in a plat heretofore approved pursuant to law; or a street, as defined above, or way, on a plat duly filed, and recorded in the office of the county register of deeds. A street, as defined above, includes the land between the right-of-way lines, whether improved or unimproved, and may comprise pavement, shoulders, gutters, sidewalks, parking areas and lawns:

(1)

Major thoroughfare: An arterial street of great continuity which is intended to serve as a large volume trafficway for both the immediate city area and region beyond, and may be designated in the city's major thoroughfare plan as a major thoroughfare, parkway, expressway or equivalent term to identify those streets comprising the basic structure of the street plan.

(2)

Secondary or collector street: A street intended to serve as a major means of access from minor streets to major thoroughfares which has considerable continuity within the framework of the major thoroughfare plan.

(3)

Minor street: A street of limited continuity used primarily for access to abutting residential properties.

(4)

Marginal access street: A minor street paralleling and adjacent to a major thoroughfare which provides access to abutting properties and protection from through traffic.

(5)

Boulevard street: A street developed in two two-lane, one-way pavements separated by a median.

(6)

Turnaround: A short boulevard street permanently terminated by a vehicular turnaround.

(7)

Cul-de-sac street: A short minor street having one end permanently terminated by a vehicular turnaround.

(8)

Half-street: A street with right-of-way width equal to one-half of that required for a full street and necessary to complete a street already platted or to provide for a future boundary street in the master plan.

(9)

Alley: A minor service street used primarily to provide secondary vehicular access to the rear or side of properties otherwise abutting upon a street.

Subdivider: Shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and may mean a person, firm, association, partnership, corporation or any legal combination of them or any other legal entity proceeding under these regulations to effect a subdivision of land.

Subdivision: The partitioning or dividing of a parcel or tract of land by the proprietor thereof or by his heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors or assigns for the purpose of sale, or lease of more than one year, or of building development, where the act of division, or of successive divisions within a period of ten years, creates five or more parcels of land, each of which is ten acres or less in area.

Subdivision act: The subdivision control act, Michigan Public Act No. 288 of 1967, MSA 26.430(101), as amended.

Zoning ordinance: The city's zoning ordinance in Appendix A.

(Code 1958, § 6-602; Ord. No. 86, § 4, 3-19-58; Ord. No. 219, § 1, 5-13-63)