Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 26.50 Definitions

For the purpose of this subdivision ordinance, certain words and terms are defined as follows unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Advisory agency” means the director of community development for the purpose of approving tentative parcel maps and the planning commission for the purpose of approving tentative subdivision maps, and is also referred to as the decision-making authority.

“Alley” means a public way, other than a street or highway, providing means of vehicular access to abutting property.

“Appeal board” means the city council, for the purpose of hearing and making determinations upon appeals from actions of, or the kind, nature and extent of improvements required in connection therewith:

1. The planning commission with respect to tentative subdivision maps; or

2. The director of community development with respect to tentative parcel maps.

“Building site” means any parcel of land which conforms to the definition of a lot as defined in this chapter, and for which a building permit may be issued.

“City” means the city of San Buenaventura.

“City engineer” means the city engineer of the city of San Buenaventura.

“Comprehensive plan” or “general plan” means the comprehensive plan update to the year 2010, adopted by the city council of the city on August 28, 1989, as it may be amended, revised, or replaced from time to time (the general plan of the city).

“Design” refers to:

1. Street alignment, grades and widths, alignments and widths of easements and rights-of-way for drainage, sanitary sewers and utilities, and minimum lot area and width, and the grading and the general layout of lots and streets within the area. “Design” shall also include land to be dedicated for park and recreational uses.

2. Such specific requirements in the plan and configuration of the entire subdivision as may be necessary or convenient to insure conformity to or implementation of applicable general or specific plans of the city.

“Director” means the community development director of the city of San Buenaventura, or the director’s designee.

“Engineer” means the registered civil engineer employed by the owner or by the subdivider to prepare the subdivision map or parcel map and improvement plan.

“Final map” means a map designed to be recorded in the office of the county recorder prepared in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision ordinance and with all applicable provisions of the Subdivision Map Act.

“Flood hazard” means a hazard to land or improvements due to either inundation or to overflow water having sufficient velocity to transport or deposit debris, scour the surface soil, dislodge or damage buildings, or erode the banks of water courses.

“Future street or alley” means any real property which the owner thereof has offered for dedication to the city for street or alley purposes, but which has been rejected by the city council, subject to the right of said council to rescind its action and accept by resolution at any later date and without further action by the owner all or part of said property as a public street or alley.

“Hillside areas” means such areas within the city or to be annexed to the city, located northerly of Foothill Road and Poli Street and easterly of Cedar Street and its future extensions for which the city’s general policy for development of hillside areas is applicable as determined by the city engineer.

“Interested person” means any person who, in person or through a representative, has appeared at a public hearing in connection with the decision or action appealed, or who, by other appropriate means at or prior to a hearing, has informed the decision-making authority of the nature of their concerns or who for good cause was unable to do either.

“Land division” means any division of real property pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision ordinance which is not a subdivision.

“Lot” means a parcel of land identified on a subdivision map, or parcel map recorded in the office of the county recorder, having a separate and distinct number or letter.

“Parcel map” means a map showing the division of land into two, three, or four parcels or showing a division of land as described in subsections (a) through (e), inclusive, of Section 66426 of the Subdivision Map Act.

“Planning commission” means the planning commission of the city of San Buenaventura.

“Roadway” means that portion of a street or alley used for or intended to be used for the movement of vehicles.

“Storm drain” means any conduit and appurtenances intended for the reception and transfer of stormwater.

“Street, arterial” means any street, existing or proposed, which is designated on the select system map and/or the general plan as an arterial street.

“Street, collector” means any street, existing or proposed, which is designated on the select system map and/or the general plan as a collector street.

“Street, local” means any public street other than an arterial or collector street or freeway which provides access to abutting property and serves local traffic as distinguished from through traffic.

“Subdivider” means any person, persons, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or entity who causes land to be divided in a subdivision for themselves or others.

“Subdivision” means subdivision as defined in the Subdivision Map Act.

“Subdivision Map Act” means the Subdivision Map Act of the state of California, Chapter 1 of Division 2 of the California Government Code, commencing with Section 66410 thereof as it, or any of its provisions, may be amended from time to time. Any references in this title to the Subdivision Map Act’s provisions that were previously codified at Chapter 2, Part 2 of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code, commencing with Section 11500 thereof, are intended to be, and shall be construed to be, references to such provision’s successor regulation in the Government Code.

“Surveyor” means a land surveyor licensed by the state of California.

“Tentative map” means a map made for the purpose of showing the design and improvement of a proposed subdivision and the existing conditions in and around it which map need not be based upon an accurate or detailed final survey of the property.

“Utility” means tracks, overhead or underground wires, pipelines, conduits, ducts, or structures, sewers or storm drains owned, operated, or maintained in or across a public right-of-way or private easement.

“Vehicular access rights” means the right or easement for vehicular access to a public right-of-way from abutting land. (Code 1971, § 8221; Ord. No. 2001-11, § 4, 6-18-01; Ord. No. 2008-005, § 3, 3-17-08; Ord. No. 2021-017, § 81, 12-13-21)