La Verne Municipal Code Ch. 16.14 Parcel Mergers

The city council has established this procedure to allow the simplified merger of two or more contiguous parcels of land which have been legally created under the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act, or any prior law governing the division of land, or any city ordinance enacted pursuant thereto, or which were not subject to these provisions at the time of their creation.

(Ord. 858 § 3, 1994)

A. Notwithstanding exceptions otherwise provided for in the Subdivision Map Act, two or more contiguous parcels or units of land may be merged provided the merger conforms to the requirements and procedures of Chapter 3, Article 1.5, "Merger of Parcels" of the Subdivision Map Act. (Government Code Section 6654.10, et seq.)

B. For the purpose of this section the advisory agency (Government Code Section 66451.15) for a hearing shall be the development review committee and all filings of applications and request for hearings shall be with the community development director.

(Ord. 858 § 3, 1994)

Upon submission of an application for the merger of parcels, the applicant shall pay a processing fee to the city of La Verne. This fee shall be established by the city council from time to time by resolution.

(Ord. 858 § 3, 1994)

A. Procedure. Upon submission of a complete application for a lot merger, the development review committee shall determine whether the merger complies with the general plan and all applicable requirements of the zoning code. If the lot merger applied for does not comply with the general plan or all of the requirements of the zoning code, the applicant shall be so informed and the application shall be deemed denied. Where the lot merger complies with the general plan and zoning code, the community development director shall refer such application to the development review committee, who shall determine whether all improvements necessary to serve the property are constructed, and whether the installation, dedication or development of any public improvement or facility is required. Where the application complies with the general plan and all code requirements, and the development review committee either determines that no public improvements or facilities or dedications are necessary, or provides conditions for such work or dedications to be made, the application shall be approved within thirty days after such determinations have been made by the community development director and the city engineer. The granting of a lot merger may be subject to conditions by the development review committee as necessary to ensure compliance with the general plan and all code requirements.

B. Referral to Commission. An application shall be referred to the planning commission for review and decision whenever the development review committee determines that the merger impacts the public health, safety or welfare, and should therefore be referred. The planning commission, upon duly noticed public hearing may deny, approve or conditionally approve the application, or may continue the application for further deliberation.

C. Appeal. The applicant may appeal to the planning commission any decision of the development review committee within ten days of its decision. Any decision of the planning commission may be appealed by the applicant to the city council within twenty days after its decision. The decision of the city council shall be final. A decision of the planning commission may be reviewed by the city council, upon its own motion, in which case the twenty-day appeal period shall be extended for such limited purposes to the next regular meeting held by the city council following the decision of the planning commission.

D. Fees. Each application and any appeal thereof shall be accompanied by a filing and processing fee in the amount set by resolution of the city council.

E. Dedications. Dedications or offers of dedication of real property may be required as a condition for a merger. If such dedications or offers of dedication are required, they shall be made by a separate instrument which shall be recorded, concurrently with or prior to, the instrument being filed for recordation pursuant to city ordinance. The final approving body, which may include the city engineer, is authorized on behalf of the city to accept or reject dedications and offers of dedication that are made by the applicant.

F. Recordation. An instrument evidencing the merger, with all information as required by the community development director and city engineer, shall be recorded in the county recorder's office as prescribed by Section 66451 of the Subdivision Map Act.

(Ord. 858 § 3, 1994)