§ 15-1-2 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS MANUAL. The City of Goodyear Administrative Process Manual as adopted and amended from time to time by the City Council.
ALLEY. A public or private way not more than 25 feet wide, which affords only secondary vehicular access to adjacent properties otherwise abutting upon a street.
APPROVED LENDING INSTITUTION. Any title insurance company, title insurance agent, bank, savings and loan association or mortgage lending company currently approved by the Federal Housing Administration to act as a mortgagee qualified to transact business in the State of Arizona and having a business office within the valley area and any other lending institution approved by the City Attorney.
BLOCK. A piece or parcel of land or a group of lots entirely surrounded by public streets, streams, railroads or parks or a combination thereof.
BOARD. The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Goodyear.
CITY ENGINEER. Director of the City of Goodyear Engineering Department.
CLASSIFICATION PLAN, STREET. A plan which provides for the development of a system of major streets and highways, including the location, width and alignment of existing and proposed thoroughfares as adopted as the Roadway Functional Classification Plan in the City of Goodyear General Plan.
COMMISSION. The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Goodyear.
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL. An affirmative action by the Board or the Council indicating that approval will be forthcoming upon satisfaction of certain specified stipulations.
CONDOMINIUM. The improvement of land with one or more separate buildings with one or more floors in accordance with City standards, in which an undivided interest in common, in all or a portion of the land, is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any unit of airspace thereon. A CONDOMINIUM may include an undivided interest in common in a portion of the building or buildings; a separate interest in a building or portion of a building with a separate interest in a portion of the land, together with an undivided interest in common in a portion of the land.
COUNCIL. The City Council of the City of Goodyear.
DECIBEL (dB). A unit used to measure the intensity of a sound by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
DECIBEL, A-WEIGHTED SCALE (dBA). The sound level, in decibels, measured using an electronic filter in a sound level meter which approximates the frequency response of the human ear.
DEPARTMENT. The City of Goodyear Development Services Department.
DEVELOPMENT. The utilization of land for public or private purposes.
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. An agreement between the City and the current or former owner or authorized agent of the owner related to the development of the property being platted.
DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN (DMP). A preliminary master plan for the development of a large or complicated land area, the platting of which is expected in progressive stages. A DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN may be designed by the subdivider or by the Department and shall be subject to Board and Council approval.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. Director of the Department.
EASEMENT. A grant by the owner of the use of land by the public, a corporation or persons for specific uses and purposes and so designated.
ENGINEERING DIRECTOR. Director of the City of Goodyear Engineering Department. Also means City Engineer.
ENGINEERING PLANS. Plans, profiles, cross sections and other required details for the construction of public improvements, prepared by a registered civil engineer in accordance with the approved Preliminary Plat, as applicable, and in compliance with standards of design and construction approved by the Council.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS. The City of Goodyear Engineering Design Standards and Policies Manual as adopted and amended from time to time by the City Council.
EXCEPTION. Any parcel of land which is within the boundaries of the subdivision which is not owned by the subdivider, to be designated on the Final Plat as not a part of this subdivision.
FINAL APPROVAL. Approval of the Final Plat by the Council as evidenced by certification on the plat by the City Engineer and signed by the Mayor and attested by the Clerk, which constitutes authorization to record a plat.
FLOOD PREVENTION REGULATIONS. Chapter 16 of the Goodyear City Code as adopted and amended from time to time by the City Council.
FREEWAY. The Papago Freeway (Interstate 10), the Loop 303 Freeway, the future Tres Rios Freeway (Arizona State Route 30), future Interstate 11, and any other future controlled-access highway or controlled-access highway modification located or to be located within the City.
GENERAL PLAN. A comprehensive plan, or parts thereof, providing for the future growth and improvement of the City and for the general location and coordination of streets and highways, schools and recreation areas, public building sites and other physical development. (Sometimes referred to as the MASTER PLAN.)
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS). A data base system incorporating spatial (map) data and tabular data.
IMPROVEMENT STANDARDS. A set of regulations setting forth the details, specifications and instructions to be followed in the planning, design and construction of certain required improvements to property formulated by the City Engineer, concerned state and county departments and other City departments.
IMPROVEMENTS. Installations that are required pursuant to the Subdivision Regulations; the Zoning Ordinance; the Engineering Standards; Flood Prevention Regulations; applicable Zoning Conditions; applicable Development Agreements; applicable Development Master Plans; and/or any other applicable federal, state and/or local law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, policy and/or guideline, including, but not limited to, grading, drainage, water, wastewater, reclaimed water, irrigation, streets, alleys, street lights, underground utilities, traffic control devices, landscaping, dry utilities, circuits and conduits.
IRRIGATION FACILITIES. Canals, laterals, ditches, conduits, gates, pumps and allied equipment necessary for the supply, delivery and drainage of irrigation water and the construction, operation and maintenance of such.
LAND SPLIT. The division of improved or unimproved land whose area is two and one half acres or less into two or three tracts or parcels of land or lots for the purpose of sale, lease or financing. See MINOR LAND DIVISION definition.
LEQ. The equivalent steady-state sound level which in a stated period of time contains the same acoustic energy as the time-varying sound level during the same time period.
LOT. A parcel of land within a single block, which, by reason of ownership, recording or use, is separate and distinct from other such parcels and which has frontage on a public street or an approved private access way.
(1) CORNER LOT. A lot at the junction of two or more intersecting streets where the interior angle of intersection does not exceed 135 degrees. A lot abutting a curved street shall be deemed a corner lot if the tangents to the curve at the points of intersection of the side lines with street lines intersect at an interior angle of less than 135 degrees. A corner lot shall be considered to be in that block in which the lot fronts.
(2) CORNER LOT, REVERSED. A corner lot, the side line of which is substantially a continuation of the front property line of the first lot to its rear.
(3) INTERIOR LOT. A lot having but one side abutting on a street.
(4) KEY LOT. An interior lot, one side of which is contiguous to the rear line of a corner lot.
(5) THROUGH LOT. A lot abutting two parallel or approximately parallel streets.
LOT AREA. The area, in square feet, lying within the lines of the lot, not including any part of any abutting public or private street or alley, and not including any part of certain easements on lots with less than 24,000 square feet of area.
LOT DEPTH.
(1) If the front and rear lines are parallel, the shortest distance between such lines.
(2) If the front and rear lines are not parallel, the distance between the midpoint of the front lot line and the midpoint of the rear lot line.
(3) If the lot is triangular, the shortest distance between the front lot line and a line parallel to the front lot line, not less than 10 feet long, lying wholly within the lot.
LOT LINE.
(1) FRONT. The front property line of a lot as follows:
(a) CORNER LOT. The front property line of a corner lot shall be the shorter of the two lines adjacent to the streets as platted, subdivided or laid out. Where the lines are equal, the front line shall be that line which is obviously the front by reason of the prevailing custom of the other buildings in the block. If such front is not evident, then either may be considered the front of the lot, but not both;
(b) INTERIOR LOT. The front property line of an interior lot shall be the line bounding the street frontage;
(c) THROUGH LOT. The front property line of a through lot shall be that line which is obviously the front by reason of the prevailing custom of the other buildings in the block. Where such front property line is not obviously evident, the Zoning Administrator shall determine the front property line. Such a lot over 200 feet deep shall be considered, for the purposes of this chapter, as two lots, each with its own frontage.
(2) REAR. The rear property line of a lot that is opposite to the front property line. Where the side property lines of a lot meet in a point, the rear property line shall be assumed to be a line not less than 10 feet long, lying within the lot and parallel to the front property line. In the event that the front property line is a curved line, then the rear property line shall be assumed to be a line not less than 10 feet long, lying within the lot and parallel to a line tangent to the front property line at its midpoint.
(3) SIDE. The side property lines of a lot which connect the front and rear property lines of a lot.
LOT SPLIT. See MINOR LAND DIVISION definition.
LOT WIDTH. The width of a lot measured as follows:
(1) If the side property lines are parallel, the shortest distance between these side lines;
(2) If the side property lines are not parallel, the length of a line at right angles to the axis of the lot at a distance equal to the front setback required for the zoning district in which the lot is located. The axis of a lot shall be a line joining the midpoints of the front and rear property lines.
MAP OF DEDICATION. A map used to separate land being dedicated to a public entity.
MINOR LAND DIVISION. Any division of improved or unimproved land or lands for the purpose of financing, sale or lease, whether immediate or future, for which a subdivision plat is not required. A land split, lot split, lot line adjustment, and a map of dedication shall be considered MINOR LAND DIVISIONS.
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. A plan designed to guide the platting of remaining vacant parcels in a partially built up neighborhood so as to make reasonable use of all land, correlate street patterns, provide adequate drainage and achieve the best possible land use relationships.
NOISE SENSITIVE USES. Schools, places of worship, childcare facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, and similar facilities determined pursuant to Zoning Ordinance Section 9-1-2.
OPEN SPACE LANDS or OPEN AREA. Any space of area characterized by great natural scenic beauty or whose existing openness, natural condition or present state of use, if retained, would maintain or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources or the production of food and fiber.
OWNER. The person or persons holding title by deed to land or holding title as vendees under land contract or holding any other title of record.
PEDESTRIAN WAY. A public walk dedicated entirely through a block from street to street or providing access to a school, park, recreation area or shopping center.
PLAT. A map of a subdivision.
(1) PRELIMINARY PLAT means a preliminary map, including supporting data, indicating a proposed subdivision development. A preliminary site plan for a condominium development shall be considered a Preliminary Plat.
(2) FINAL PLAT means a map of all or part of a subdivision that substantially conforms to an approved Preliminary Plat or, if the requirement for a Preliminary Plat has been waived as provided in Chapter 15 (Subdivision Regulations) of the Goodyear City Code, means a map of all or part of a subdivision that includes 10 or fewer lots, tracts or parcels that is consistent with the zoning applicable to the subdivision, including compliance with the minimum size of each lot, tract and parcel required in the zoning applicable to the subdivision.
(3) RECORDED PLAT means a Final Plat bearing all of the certificates of approval required by this chapter and the statutes of the State of Arizona and duly recorded in the Maricopa County Recorder’s office.
PRELIMINARY APPROVAL. Approval of the preliminary plat by the City Council, which constitutes authorization to proceed with final engineering plans and reports and with Final Plat preparation.
PRIVATE ACCESS WAY. Any private street or private way of access to one or more lots or airspaces which is owned and maintained by an individual or group of individuals and has been improved in accordance with City standards and plans approved by the City Engineer. A PRIVATE ACCESS WAY is intended to apply where its use is logically consistent with a desire for neighborhood identification and control of access and where special design concepts may be involved, such as within planned area developments, mobile home developments, sub lot developments, hillside areas and condominiums.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. Any public or private access way required for ingress or egress and includes any area required for public use pursuant to any general or specific plan as provided for in this chapter; RIGHT-OF-WAY may consist of fee title dedications or easements.
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD. The Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission or designee.
STREET. Any existing or proposed street, avenue, boulevard, road, lane, parkway, place, viaduct, easement for access or other way which is an existing state, county or municipal roadway; a street or way shown in a plat heretofore approved pursuant to law or approved by official action; or a street or way in a plat duly filed and recorded in the County Recorder’s office. A STREET includes the land between the right of way lines, whether improved or unimproved, and may comprise pavement, shoulders, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, parking areas, bridges, viaducts and lawns.
SUBDIVIDER. The individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, syndication, trust or other legal entity that files the application and initiates proceedings for the subdivision of land in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and statutes of the State of Arizona. An individual who is serving as agent of a legal entity that files the application and initiates proceedings for the subdivision of land is not a subdivider. Subdivider shall be the Owner or an agent of the Owner authorized to pursue the subdivision of the Owner’s property on behalf of the Owner.
SUBDIVISION. Improved or unimproved land or lands divided for the purpose of financing, sale or lease, whether immediate or future, into four or more lots, tracts or parcels of land, or, if a new street is involved, any such property which is divided into two or more lots, tracts or parcels of land, or, any such property, the boundaries of which have been fixed by a recorded plat, which is divided into more than two parts. SUBDIVISION also includes any condominium, cooperative, community apartment, townhouse or similar project containing four or more parcels in which an undivided interest in the land is coupled with the right of exclusive occupancy of any unit located thereon, but plats of such projects need not show the buildings or the manner in which the buildings or airspace above the property shown on the plat are to be divided. Subdivision does not include the following:
(1) The sale or exchange of parcels of land to or between adjoining property owners if such sale or exchange does not create additional lots;
(2) The partitioning of land in accordance with other statutes regulating the partitioning of land held in common ownership;
(3) The leasing of apartments, offices, stores or similar space within a building or trailer park, nor to mineral, oil or gas leases;
(4) Land splits;
(5) Minor land divisions.
SUBDIVISION DESIGN. Street alignment, grades and widths, alignment and widths of easements and right of way for drainage, sanitary sewers and public utilities, the arrangement and orientation of lots and locations of buildings, together with refuse collection and maintenance easements in condominium developments.
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS. Chapter 15 of the Goodyear City Code as adopted and amended from time to time by the City Council.
USABLE LOT AREA. That portion of a lot usable for or adaptable to the normal uses made of residential property, excluding any areas which may be covered by water, excessively steep or included in certain types of easements.
UTILITY. Installations or facilities, underground or overhead, furnished for the use of the public, electricity, gas, steam, communications, water, television, cable, sewage disposal, water or sewer treatment, effluent treatment or disposal, owned or operated by any person, firm, corporation, municipal department or board, duly authorized by state or municipal regulations. UTILITIES as used herein may also refer to such persons, firms, corporations, departments or boards as applicable herein. Installations or facilities includes, but is not limited to, treatment facilities, transportation pipelines, distribution centers and storage facilities.
ZONING CONDITIONS. Conditions and/or stipulations imposed by the City Council as a condition of approval of a zoning amendment.
ZONING ORDINANCE. The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Goodyear as adopted and amended from time to time by the City Council. (Prior Code, § 15-1-2) (Am. Ord. 94-493, passed 4-12-1994; Am. Ord. 06-1024, passed 9-11-2006; Am. Ord. 12-1272, passed 12-10-2012; Am. Ord. 21-1521, passed 12-13-2021; Am. Ord. 23-1589, passed 9-25-2023)