§ 170.07 Definitions

For purposes of this chapter the following terms are defined.

1. Words beginning with “A”

A. “Acquisition plat” means the graphical representation of the division of land or rights in land, created as the result of a conveyance or condemnation for right-of-way purposes by an agency of the government or other persons having the power of eminent domain.

B. “Aliquot part” means a fractional part of a section within the United States public land survey system. Only the fractional parts one-half, one-quarter, one-half of one-quarter, or one-quarter of one quarter shall be considered an aliquot part of a section.

C. “Alley” means public property dedicated to public use primarily for vehicular access to the back or side of properties otherwise abutting on a street.

D. “Auditor’s plat” means a subdivision plat required by either the auditor or the assessor, prepared by a surveyor under the direction of the auditor.

2. Words beginning with “B”

A. “Block” means an area of land within a subdivision that is entirely bounded by streets, railroad rights-of-way, rivers, tracts of public land, or the boundary of the subdivision.

3. Words beginning with “C”

A. “City engineer” means the professional engineer registered in the State designated as City Engineer by the Council or other hiring authority.

B. “Community development plan” means the general plan for the development of the community, that may be titled master plan, land use plan, or some other title, which plan has been adopted by the Council. Such community development plan shall include any part of such plan separately adopted, and any amendment to such plan or parts thereof.

C. “Conveyance” means an instrument filed with a recorder as evidence of the transfer of title to land, including any form of deed or contract.

D. “Cul-de-sac” means a street having one end connecting to another street, and the other end terminated by a vehicular turn around.

4. Words beginning with “D”

A. “Design standards” means the Iowa Design Standards adopted in Chapter 166 of this Code and SUDAS, as adopted in Chapter 158 of this Code.

B. “Division” means dividing a tract or parcel of land into two parcels of land by conveyance or for tax purposes. The conveyance of an easement, other than public highway easement, shall not be considered a division for the purpose of this chapter.

5. Words beginning with “E”

A. “Easement” means an authorization by a property owner for another to use a designated part of their property for a specified purpose.

6. Words beginning with “F”

A. “Flood hazard area” means the land within the City subject to the base flood. This land is identified on the City’s Flood Insurance Rate Map as Zone A, A1-30, AE, AH, AO, AR, or A99.

B. “Floodplain management regulations” means regulations regulating the development of all property located within a floodplain as shown on the FEMA floodplain map for the City. No provision of this chapter shall vary the terms and conditions of the floodplain management regulations and as determined in Chapter 160 of this Code.

C. “Floodway” means the channel of a river or stream and those portions of the floodplains adjoining the channel, which are reasonably required to carry and discharge flood waters or flood flows so that confinement of flood flows to the floodway area will not cumulatively increase the water surface elevation of the base flood by more than one foot.

D. “Forty-acre aliquot part” means one-quarter of one-quarter of a section.

E. “Fringe Area Agreement” refers to the Fringe Area Agreement entered into between the City and Johnson in 1997 regarding zoning and subdivision issues in the area around the City or as defined in that agreement. All applications referring the applicant to the City shall follow the terms and provisions of this chapter and of the Zoning Code unless the Fringe Area Agreement specifically provides otherwise.

7. Words beginning with “G”

A. “Government lot” means a tract, within a section, that is normally described by a lot number as represented and identified on the township plat of the United States public land survey system.

8. Words beginning with “H”

9. Words beginning with “I”

A. “Improvements” mean changes to land necessary to prepare it for building sites including but not limited to, grading, filling, street paving, curb paving, sidewalks, walkways, water mains, sewers, drainageways, and other public works and appurtenances.

10. Words beginning with “J”

11. Words beginning with “K”

12. Words beginning with “L”

A. “Lot” means a tract of land represented and identified by number or letter designation on an official plat.

B. “Lot, corner” means a lot situated at the intersection of two streets.

C. “Lot, double frontage” means any lot that is not a corner lot that abuts two streets.

13. Words beginning with “M”

A. “Metes and bounds description” means a description of land that uses distances and angles, uses distances and bearings, or describes the boundaries of the parcel by reference to physical features of the land.

14. Words beginning with “N”

15. Words beginning with “O”

A. “Official plat” means either an auditor's or a subdivision plat that meets requirements of this chapter and has filed for record in the offices of Recorder, Auditor, and Assessor.

B. “Owner” means the legal entity holding title to the property being subdivided, or such representative or agent as is fully empowered to act on its behalf.

16. Words beginning with “P”

A. “Parcel” means a part of a tract of land.

B. “Permanent real estate index number” means a unique number or combination of numbers assigned to a parcel of land pursuant to section 441.29 of the Code of Iowa.

C. “Planning and Zoning Commission” means appointed by the Council to review and recommend proposed applications for zoning and proposed changes to the ordinance, as well as to review subdivisions. The Commission is also known as the “P and Z” or “Commission”. (See Chapter 23)

D. “Plat” means a map drawing, or chart on which a subdivider's plan for the subdivision of land is presented, that they submit for approval and intends, in final form, to record.

E. “Plats officer” means the individual assigned the duty to administer this chapter by the Council or other appointing authority.

F. “Plat of survey” means the graphical representation of survey of one or more parcels of land, including a complete and accurate description of each parcel within the plat, prepared by a licensed professional land surveyor.

G. “Proprietor” means a person who has a recorded interest in land, including a person selling or buying land pursuant to a contract, but excluding persons holding mortgage, easement, or lien interest.

17. Words beginning with “Q”

18. Words beginning with “R”

19. Words beginning with “S”

A. “Street” means public property, not an alley, intended for vehicular circulation. In appropriate context the term “street” may refer to the right-of-way bounded by the property lines of such public property, or may refer to the paving installed within such right-of-way.

B. “Street, arterial” means a street primarily intended to carry traffic from one part of the City to another, and not intended to provide access to abutting property.

C. “Street, collector” means a street primarily designed to connect smaller areas of the community, and to carry traffic from local streets to arterial streets.

D. “Subdivider” means the owner of the property being subdivided, or such other person or entity empowered to act on the owner’s behalf.

E. “Subdivision” means the division of land into two or more parts for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of transfer of ownership or building development. The term, when appropriate to the context, may refer to the process of subdividing or to land subdivided.

F. “Subdivision plat” means the graphical representation of the subdivision of land, prepared by a registered land surveyor, having a number or letter designation for each lot within the plat and a succinct name or title that is unique for the county where the land is located.

G. “Surveyor” means a registered land surveyor who engages in the practice of land surveying pursuant to Chapter 114 of the Code of Iowa.

20. Words beginning with “T”

A. “Tract” means an aliquot part of a section, a lot within an official plat, or a government lot.

21. Words beginning with “U”

A. “Utilities” means the systems for the distribution or collection of water, gas, electricity, wastewater, and stormwater.

22. Words beginning with “V”

23. Words beginning with “W”

24. Words beginning with “X”

25. Words beginning with “Y”

26. Words beginning with “Z”