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H.B. 236

             1     

LAND DEVELOPMENT REVISIONS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Melvin R. Brown

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to a municipality's or county's regulation of land use
             10      and development.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines terms;
             14          .    prohibits a municipality or county from adopting a land use ordinance that, in
             15      certain circumstances, requires a property owner to revegetate, landscape, or
             16      manage erosion control on the owner's property;
             17          .    enacts provisions governing the application of a site plan; and
             18          .    makes technical corrections.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          10-9a-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 231
             26          10-9a-505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 326
             27          17-27a-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 231


             28          17-27a-505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 326
             29      ENACTS:
             30          10-9a-523, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          17-27a-522, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 10-9a-103 is amended to read:
             35           10-9a-103. Definitions.
             36          As used in this chapter:
             37          (1) "Affected entity" means a county, municipality, local district, special service
             38      district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, school district, interlocal
             39      cooperation entity established under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, specified
             40      public utility, a property owner, a property owners association, or the Utah Department of
             41      Transportation, if:
             42          (a) the entity's services or facilities are likely to require expansion or significant
             43      modification because of an intended use of land;
             44          (b) the entity has filed with the municipality a copy of the entity's general or long-range
             45      plan; or
             46          (c) the entity has filed with the municipality a request for notice during the same
             47      calendar year and before the municipality provides notice to an affected entity in compliance
             48      with a requirement imposed under this chapter.
             49          (2) "Appeal authority" means the person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             50      designated by ordinance to decide an appeal of a decision of a land use application or a
             51      variance.
             52          (3) "Billboard" means a freestanding ground sign located on industrial, commercial, or
             53      residential property if the sign is designed or intended to direct attention to a business, product,
             54      or service that is not sold, offered, or existing on the property where the sign is located.
             55          (4) (a) "Charter school" means:
             56          (i) an operating charter school;
             57          (ii) a charter school applicant that has its application approved by a chartering entity in
             58      accordance with Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 5, The Utah Charter Schools Act; or


             59          (iii) an entity who is working on behalf of a charter school or approved charter
             60      applicant to develop or construct a charter school building.
             61          (b) "Charter school" does not include a therapeutic school.
             62          (5) "Conditional use" means a land use that, because of its unique characteristics or
             63      potential impact on the municipality, surrounding neighbors, or adjacent land uses, may not be
             64      compatible in some areas or may be compatible only if certain conditions are required that
             65      mitigate or eliminate the detrimental impacts.
             66          (6) "Constitutional taking" means a governmental action that results in a taking of
             67      private property so that compensation to the owner of the property is required by the:
             68          (a) Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; or
             69          (b) Utah Constitution Article I, Section 22.
             70          (7) "Culinary water authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             71      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of the culinary water system and sources for
             72      the subject property.
             73          (8) "Development activity" means:
             74          (a) any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use that creates additional
             75      demand and need for public facilities;
             76          (b) any change in use of a building or structure that creates additional demand and need
             77      for public facilities; or
             78          (c) any change in the use of land that creates additional demand and need for public
             79      facilities.
             80          (9) (a) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one
             81      or more of a person's major life activities, including a person having a record of such an
             82      impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
             83          (b) "Disability" does not include current illegal use of, or addiction to, any federally
             84      controlled substance, as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C.
             85      802.
             86          (10) "Educational facility":
             87          (a) means:
             88          (i) a school district's building at which pupils assemble to receive instruction in a
             89      program for any combination of grades from preschool through grade 12, including


             90      kindergarten and a program for children with disabilities;
             91          (ii) a structure or facility:
             92          (A) located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i); and
             93          (B) used in support of the use of that building; and
             94          (iii) a building to provide office and related space to a school district's administrative
             95      personnel; and
             96          (b) does not include:
             97          (i) land or a structure, including land or a structure for inventory storage, equipment
             98      storage, food processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar use that is:
             99          (A) not located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i);
             100      and
             101          (B) used in support of the purposes of a building described in Subsection (10)(a)(i); or
             102          (ii) a therapeutic school.
             103          (11) "Elderly person" means a person who is 60 years old or older, who desires or
             104      needs to live with other elderly persons in a group setting, but who is capable of living
             105      independently.
             106          (12) "Fire authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with responsibility
             107      to review and approve the feasibility of fire protection and suppression services for the subject
             108      property.
             109          (13) "Flood plain" means land that:
             110          (a) is within the 100-year flood plain designated by the Federal Emergency
             111      Management Agency; or
             112          (b) has not been studied or designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
             113      but presents a likelihood of experiencing chronic flooding or a catastrophic flood event because
             114      the land has characteristics that are similar to those of a 100-year flood plain designated by the
             115      Federal Emergency Management Agency.
             116          (14) "General plan" means a document that a municipality adopts that sets forth general
             117      guidelines for proposed future development of the land within the municipality.
             118          (15) "Geologic hazard" means:
             119          (a) a surface fault rupture;
             120          (b) shallow groundwater;


             121          (c) liquefaction;
             122          (d) a landslide;
             123          (e) a debris flow;
             124          (f) unstable soil;
             125          (g) a rock fall; or
             126          (h) any other geologic condition that presents a risk:
             127          (i) to life;
             128          (ii) of substantial loss of real property; or
             129          (iii) of substantial damage to real property.
             130          (16) "Hookup fee" means a fee for the installation and inspection of any pipe, line,
             131      meter, or appurtenance that connects to a municipal water, sewer, storm water, power, or other
             132      utility system.
             133          (17) "Identical plans" means building plans submitted to a municipality that:
             134          (a) are clearly marked as "identical plans";
             135          (b) are substantially identical to building plans that were previously submitted to and
             136      reviewed and approved by the municipality; and
             137          (c) describe a building that:
             138          (i) is located on land zoned the same as the land on which the building described in the
             139      previously approved plans is located;
             140          (ii) is subject to the same geological and meteorological conditions and the same law
             141      as the building described in the previously approved plans;
             142          (iii) has a floor plan identical to the building plan previously submitted to and reviewed
             143      and approved by the municipality; and
             144          (iv) does not require any additional engineering or analysis.
             145          (18) "Impact fee" means a payment of money imposed under Title 11, Chapter 36a,
             146      Impact Fees Act.
             147          (19) "Improvement assurance" means a surety bond, letter of credit, cash, or other
             148      security:
             149          (a) to guaranty the proper completion of an improvement;
             150          (b) that is required as a condition precedent to:
             151          (i) recording a subdivision plat; or


             152          (ii) beginning development activity; and
             153          (c) that is offered to a land use authority to induce the land use authority, before actual
             154      construction of required improvements, to:
             155          (i) consent to the recording of a subdivision plat; or
             156          (ii) issue a permit for development activity.
             157          (20) "Improvement assurance warranty" means a promise that the materials and
             158      workmanship of improvements:
             159          (a) comport with standards that the municipality has officially adopted; and
             160          (b) will not fail in any material respect within a warranty period.
             161          (21) "Internal lot restriction" means a platted note, platted demarcation, or platted
             162      designation that:
             163          (a) runs with the land; and
             164          (b) (i) creates a restriction that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot described on
             165      the plat; or
             166          (ii) designates a development condition that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot
             167      described on the plat.
             168          (22) "Land use application" means an application required by a municipality's land use
             169      ordinance.
             170          (23) "Land use authority" means a person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             171      designated by the local legislative body to act upon a land use application.
             172          (24) "Land use ordinance" means a planning, zoning, development, or subdivision
             173      ordinance of the municipality, but does not include the general plan.
             174          (25) "Land use permit" means a permit issued by a land use authority.
             175          (26) "Legislative body" means the municipal council.
             176          (27) "Local district" means an entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local
             177      Government Entities - Local Districts, and any other governmental or quasi-governmental
             178      entity that is not a county, municipality, school district, or the state.
             179          (28) "Lot line adjustment" means the relocation of the property boundary line in a
             180      subdivision between two adjoining lots with the consent of the owners of record.
             181          (29) "Moderate income housing" means housing occupied or reserved for occupancy
             182      by households with a gross household income equal to or less than 80% of the median gross


             183      income for households of the same size in the county in which the city is located.
             184          (30) "Nominal fee" means a fee that reasonably reimburses a municipality only for time
             185      spent and expenses incurred in:
             186          (a) verifying that building plans are identical plans; and
             187          (b) reviewing and approving those minor aspects of identical plans that differ from the
             188      previously reviewed and approved building plans.
             189          (31) "Noncomplying structure" means a structure that:
             190          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation; and
             191          (b) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             192      to the setback, height restrictions, or other regulations, excluding those regulations, which
             193      govern the use of land.
             194          (32) "Nonconforming use" means a use of land that:
             195          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation;
             196          (b) has been maintained continuously since the time the land use ordinance governing
             197      the land changed; and
             198          (c) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             199      to the regulations that now govern the use of the land.
             200          (33) "Official map" means a map drawn by municipal authorities and recorded in a
             201      county recorder's office that:
             202          (a) shows actual and proposed rights-of-way, centerline alignments, and setbacks for
             203      highways and other transportation facilities;
             204          (b) provides a basis for restricting development in designated rights-of-way or between
             205      designated setbacks to allow the government authorities time to purchase or otherwise reserve
             206      the land; and
             207          (c) has been adopted as an element of the municipality's general plan.
             208          (34) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association,
             209      trust, governmental agency, or any other legal entity.
             210          (35) "Plan for moderate income housing" means a written document adopted by a city
             211      legislative body that includes:
             212          (a) an estimate of the existing supply of moderate income housing located within the
             213      city;


             214          (b) an estimate of the need for moderate income housing in the city for the next five
             215      years as revised biennially;
             216          (c) a survey of total residential land use;
             217          (d) an evaluation of how existing land uses and zones affect opportunities for moderate
             218      income housing; and
             219          (e) a description of the city's program to encourage an adequate supply of moderate
             220      income housing.
             221          (36) "Plat" means a map or other graphical representation of lands being laid out and
             222      prepared in accordance with Section 10-9a-603 , 17-23-17 , or 57-8-13 .
             223          (37) "Potential geologic hazard area" means an area that:
             224          (a) is designated by a Utah Geological Survey map, county geologist map, or other
             225      relevant map or report as needing further study to determine the area's potential for geologic
             226      hazard; or
             227          (b) has not been studied by the Utah Geological Survey or a county geologist but
             228      presents the potential of geologic hazard because the area has characteristics similar to those of
             229      a designated geologic hazard area.
             230          (38) "Public agency" means:
             231          (a) the federal government;
             232          (b) the state;
             233          (c) a county, municipality, school district, local district, special service district, or other
             234      political subdivision of the state; or
             235          (d) a charter school.
             236          (39) "Public hearing" means a hearing at which members of the public are provided a
             237      reasonable opportunity to comment on the subject of the hearing.
             238          (40) "Public meeting" means a meeting that is required to be open to the public under
             239      Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
             240          (41) "Receiving zone" means an area of a municipality that the municipality
             241      designates, by ordinance, as an area in which an owner of land may receive a transferable
             242      development right.
             243          (42) "Record of survey map" means a map of a survey of land prepared in accordance
             244      with Section 17-23-17 .


             245          (43) "Residential facility for elderly persons" means a single-family or multiple-family
             246      dwelling unit that meets the requirements of Section 10-9a-516 , but does not include a health
             247      care facility as defined by Section 26-21-2 .
             248          (44) "Residential facility for persons with a disability" means a residence:
             249          (a) in which more than one person with a disability resides; and
             250          (b) (i) is licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services under Title 62A,
             251      Chapter 2, Licensure of Programs and Facilities; or
             252          (ii) is licensed or certified by the Department of Health under Title 26, Chapter 21,
             253      Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act.
             254          (45) "Rules of order and procedure" means a set of rules that govern and prescribe in a
             255      public meeting:
             256          (a) parliamentary order and procedure;
             257          (b) ethical behavior; and
             258          (c) civil discourse.
             259          (46) "Sanitary sewer authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             260      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of sanitary sewer services or onsite
             261      wastewater systems.
             262          (47) "Sending zone" means an area of a municipality that the municipality designates,
             263      by ordinance, as an area from which an owner of land may transfer a transferable development
             264      right.
             265          (48) "Site plan" means a document or map that may be required by a municipality
             266      during a preliminary review preceding the issuance of a building permit to demonstrate that an
             267      owner's or developer's proposed development activity meets a building permit requirement.
             268          [(48)] (49) "Specified public agency" means:
             269          (a) the state;
             270          (b) a school district; or
             271          (c) a charter school.
             272          [(49)] (50) "Specified public utility" means an electrical corporation, gas corporation,
             273      or telephone corporation, as those terms are defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             274          [(50)] (51) "State" includes any department, division, or agency of the state.
             275          [(51)] (52) "Street" means a public right-of-way, including a highway, avenue,


             276      boulevard, parkway, road, lane, walk, alley, viaduct, subway, tunnel, bridge, public easement,
             277      or other way.
             278          [(52)] (53) (a) "Subdivision" means any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed
             279      to be divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the
             280      purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either on the
             281      installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions.
             282          (b) "Subdivision" includes:
             283          (i) the division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description,
             284      devise and testacy, map, plat, or other recorded instrument; and
             285          (ii) except as provided in Subsection [(52)] (53)(c), divisions of land for residential and
             286      nonresidential uses, including land used or to be used for commercial, agricultural, and
             287      industrial purposes.
             288          (c) "Subdivision" does not include:
             289          (i) a bona fide division or partition of agricultural land for the purpose of joining one of
             290      the resulting separate parcels to a contiguous parcel of unsubdivided agricultural land, if
             291      neither the resulting combined parcel nor the parcel remaining from the division or partition
             292      violates an applicable land use ordinance;
             293          (ii) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining unsubdivided properties
             294      adjusting their mutual boundary if:
             295          (A) no new lot is created; and
             296          (B) the adjustment does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             297          (iii) a recorded document, executed by the owner of record:
             298          (A) revising the legal description of more than one contiguous unsubdivided parcel of
             299      property into one legal description encompassing all such parcels of property; or
             300          (B) joining a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has not
             301      been subdivided, if the joinder does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             302          (iv) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining subdivided properties adjusting
             303      their mutual boundary if:
             304          (A) no new dwelling lot or housing unit will result from the adjustment; and
             305          (B) the adjustment will not violate any applicable land use ordinance; or
             306          (v) a bona fide division or partition of land by deed or other instrument where the land


             307      use authority expressly approves in writing the division in anticipation of further land use
             308      approvals on the parcel or parcels.
             309          (d) The joining of a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has
             310      not been subdivided does not constitute a subdivision under this Subsection (52) as to the
             311      unsubdivided parcel of property or subject the unsubdivided parcel to the municipality's
             312      subdivision ordinance.
             313          [(53)] (54) "Therapeutic school" means a residential group living facility:
             314          (a) for four or more individuals who are not related to:
             315          (i) the owner of the facility; or
             316          (ii) the primary service provider of the facility;
             317          (b) that serves students who have a history of failing to function:
             318          (i) at home;
             319          (ii) in a public school; or
             320          (iii) in a nonresidential private school; and
             321          (c) that offers:
             322          (i) room and board; and
             323          (ii) an academic education integrated with:
             324          (A) specialized structure and supervision; or
             325          (B) services or treatment related to a disability, an emotional development, a
             326      behavioral development, a familial development, or a social development.
             327          [(54)] (55) "Transferable development right" means a right to develop and use land that
             328      originates by an ordinance that authorizes a land owner in a designated sending zone to transfer
             329      land use rights from a designated sending zone to a designated receiving zone.
             330          [(55)] (56) "Unincorporated" means the area outside of the incorporated area of a city
             331      or town.
             332          [(56)] (57) "Water interest" means any right to the beneficial use of water, including:
             333          (a) each of the rights listed in Section 73-1-11 ; and
             334          (b) an ownership interest in the right to the beneficial use of water represented by:
             335          (i) a contract; or
             336          (ii) a share in a water company, as defined in Section 73-3-3.5 .
             337          [(57)] (58) "Zoning map" means a map, adopted as part of a land use ordinance, that


             338      depicts land use zones, overlays, or districts.
             339          Section 2. Section 10-9a-505 is amended to read:
             340           10-9a-505. Zoning districts.
             341          (1) (a) The legislative body may divide the territory over which it has jurisdiction into
             342      zoning districts of a number, shape, and area that it considers appropriate to carry out the
             343      purposes of this chapter.
             344          (b) Within those zoning districts, the legislative body may regulate and restrict the
             345      erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or use of buildings and structures, and
             346      the use of land.
             347          (c) A municipality may enact an ordinance regulating land use and development in a
             348      flood plain or potential geologic hazard area to:
             349          (i) protect life; and
             350          (ii) prevent:
             351          (A) the substantial loss of real property; or
             352          (B) substantial damage to real property.
             353          (d) A municipality may not adopt a land use ordinance requiring a property owner to
             354      take an action to revegetate, landscape, or manage erosion control in any form if the property
             355      slope is less than 12% unless the location of the slope on the property includes a geologic
             356      hazard.
             357          (2) The legislative body shall ensure that the regulations are uniform for each class or
             358      kind of buildings throughout each zoning district, but the regulations in one zone may differ
             359      from those in other zones.
             360          (3) (a) There is no minimum area or diversity of ownership requirement for a zone
             361      designation.
             362          (b) Neither the size of a zoning district nor the number of landowners within the
             363      district may be used as evidence of the illegality of a zoning district or of the invalidity of a
             364      municipal decision.
             365          Section 3. Section 10-9a-523 is enacted to read:
             366          10-9a-523. Site plan.
             367          A site plan:
             368          (1) is not a legally binding document;


             369          (2) does not represent an agreement for a specific layout;
             370          (3) does not bind an owner from future development activity on the property; and
             371          (4) does not supercede a building permit requirement.
             372          Section 4. Section 17-27a-103 is amended to read:
             373           17-27a-103. Definitions.
             374          As used in this chapter:
             375          (1) "Affected entity" means a county, municipality, local district, special service
             376      district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, school district, interlocal
             377      cooperation entity established under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, specified
             378      property owner, property owners association, public utility, or the Utah Department of
             379      Transportation, if:
             380          (a) the entity's services or facilities are likely to require expansion or significant
             381      modification because of an intended use of land;
             382          (b) the entity has filed with the county a copy of the entity's general or long-range plan;
             383      or
             384          (c) the entity has filed with the county a request for notice during the same calendar
             385      year and before the county provides notice to an affected entity in compliance with a
             386      requirement imposed under this chapter.
             387          (2) "Appeal authority" means the person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             388      designated by ordinance to decide an appeal of a decision of a land use application or a
             389      variance.
             390          (3) "Billboard" means a freestanding ground sign located on industrial, commercial, or
             391      residential property if the sign is designed or intended to direct attention to a business, product,
             392      or service that is not sold, offered, or existing on the property where the sign is located.
             393          (4) (a) "Charter school" means:
             394          (i) an operating charter school;
             395          (ii) a charter school applicant that has its application approved by a chartering entity in
             396      accordance with Title 53A, Chapter 1a, Part 5, The Utah Charter Schools Act; or
             397          (iii) an entity who is working on behalf of a charter school or approved charter
             398      applicant to develop or construct a charter school building.
             399          (b) "Charter school" does not include a therapeutic school.


             400          (5) "Chief executive officer" means the person or body that exercises the executive
             401      powers of the county.
             402          (6) "Conditional use" means a land use that, because of its unique characteristics or
             403      potential impact on the county, surrounding neighbors, or adjacent land uses, may not be
             404      compatible in some areas or may be compatible only if certain conditions are required that
             405      mitigate or eliminate the detrimental impacts.
             406          (7) "Constitutional taking" means a governmental action that results in a taking of
             407      private property so that compensation to the owner of the property is required by the:
             408          (a) Fifth or Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States; or
             409          (b) Utah Constitution Article I, Section 22.
             410          (8) "Culinary water authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             411      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of the culinary water system and sources for
             412      the subject property.
             413          (9) "Development activity" means:
             414          (a) any construction or expansion of a building, structure, or use that creates additional
             415      demand and need for public facilities;
             416          (b) any change in use of a building or structure that creates additional demand and need
             417      for public facilities; or
             418          (c) any change in the use of land that creates additional demand and need for public
             419      facilities.
             420          (10) (a) "Disability" means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
             421      one or more of a person's major life activities, including a person having a record of such an
             422      impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.
             423          (b) "Disability" does not include current illegal use of, or addiction to, any federally
             424      controlled substance, as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C.
             425      802.
             426          (11) "Educational facility":
             427          (a) means:
             428          (i) a school district's building at which pupils assemble to receive instruction in a
             429      program for any combination of grades from preschool through grade 12, including
             430      kindergarten and a program for children with disabilities;


             431          (ii) a structure or facility:
             432          (A) located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i); and
             433          (B) used in support of the use of that building; and
             434          (iii) a building to provide office and related space to a school district's administrative
             435      personnel; and
             436          (b) does not include:
             437          (i) land or a structure, including land or a structure for inventory storage, equipment
             438      storage, food processing or preparing, vehicle storage or maintenance, or similar use that is:
             439          (A) not located on the same property as a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i);
             440      and
             441          (B) used in support of the purposes of a building described in Subsection (11)(a)(i); or
             442          (ii) a therapeutic school.
             443          (12) "Elderly person" means a person who is 60 years old or older, who desires or
             444      needs to live with other elderly persons in a group setting, but who is capable of living
             445      independently.
             446          (13) "Fire authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with responsibility
             447      to review and approve the feasibility of fire protection and suppression services for the subject
             448      property.
             449          (14) "Flood plain" means land that:
             450          (a) is within the 100-year flood plain designated by the Federal Emergency
             451      Management Agency; or
             452          (b) has not been studied or designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
             453      but presents a likelihood of experiencing chronic flooding or a catastrophic flood event because
             454      the land has characteristics that are similar to those of a 100-year flood plain designated by the
             455      Federal Emergency Management Agency.
             456          (15) "Gas corporation" has the same meaning as defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             457          (16) "General plan" means a document that a county adopts that sets forth general
             458      guidelines for proposed future development of the unincorporated land within the county.
             459          (17) "Geologic hazard" means:
             460          (a) a surface fault rupture;
             461          (b) shallow groundwater;


             462          (c) liquefaction;
             463          (d) a landslide;
             464          (e) a debris flow;
             465          (f) unstable soil;
             466          (g) a rock fall; or
             467          (h) any other geologic condition that presents a risk:
             468          (i) to life;
             469          (ii) of substantial loss of real property; or
             470          (iii) of substantial damage to real property.
             471          (18) "Internal lot restriction" means a platted note, platted demarcation, or platted
             472      designation that:
             473          (a) runs with the land; and
             474          (b) (i) creates a restriction that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot described on
             475      the plat; or
             476          (ii) designates a development condition that is enclosed within the perimeter of a lot
             477      described on the plat.
             478          (19) "Hookup fee" means a fee for the installation and inspection of any pipe, line,
             479      meter, or appurtenance to connect to a county water, sewer, storm water, power, or other utility
             480      system.
             481          (20) "Identical plans" means building plans submitted to a county that:
             482          (a) are clearly marked as "identical plans";
             483          (b) are substantially identical building plans that were previously submitted to and
             484      reviewed and approved by the county; and
             485          (c) describe a building that:
             486          (i) is located on land zoned the same as the land on which the building described in the
             487      previously approved plans is located;
             488          (ii) is subject to the same geological and meteorological conditions and the same law
             489      as the building described in the previously approved plans;
             490          (iii) has a floor plan identical to the building plan previously submitted to and reviewed
             491      and approved by the county; and
             492          (iv) does not require any additional engineering or analysis.


             493          (21) "Impact fee" means a payment of money imposed under Title 11, Chapter 36a,
             494      Impact Fees Act.
             495          (22) "Improvement assurance" means a surety bond, letter of credit, cash, or other
             496      security:
             497          (a) to guaranty the proper completion of an improvement;
             498          (b) that is required as a condition precedent to:
             499          (i) recording a subdivision plat; or
             500          (ii) beginning development activity; and
             501          (c) that is offered to a land use authority to induce the land use authority, before actual
             502      construction of required improvements, to:
             503          (i) consent to the recording of a subdivision plat; or
             504          (ii) issue a permit for development activity.
             505          (23) "Improvement assurance warranty" means a promise that the materials and
             506      workmanship of improvements:
             507          (a) comport with standards that the county has officially adopted; and
             508          (b) will not fail in any material respect within a warranty period.
             509          (24) "Interstate pipeline company" means a person or entity engaged in natural gas
             510      transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under
             511      the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 717 et seq.
             512          (25) "Intrastate pipeline company" means a person or entity engaged in natural gas
             513      transportation that is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory
             514      Commission under the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 717 et seq.
             515          (26) "Land use application" means an application required by a county's land use
             516      ordinance.
             517          (27) "Land use authority" means a person, board, commission, agency, or other body
             518      designated by the local legislative body to act upon a land use application.
             519          (28) "Land use ordinance" means a planning, zoning, development, or subdivision
             520      ordinance of the county, but does not include the general plan.
             521          (29) "Land use permit" means a permit issued by a land use authority.
             522          (30) "Legislative body" means the county legislative body, or for a county that has
             523      adopted an alternative form of government, the body exercising legislative powers.


             524          (31) "Local district" means any entity under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local
             525      Government Entities - Local Districts, and any other governmental or quasi-governmental
             526      entity that is not a county, municipality, school district, or the state.
             527          (32) "Lot line adjustment" means the relocation of the property boundary line in a
             528      subdivision between two adjoining lots with the consent of the owners of record.
             529          (33) "Moderate income housing" means housing occupied or reserved for occupancy
             530      by households with a gross household income equal to or less than 80% of the median gross
             531      income for households of the same size in the county in which the housing is located.
             532          (34) "Nominal fee" means a fee that reasonably reimburses a county only for time spent
             533      and expenses incurred in:
             534          (a) verifying that building plans are identical plans; and
             535          (b) reviewing and approving those minor aspects of identical plans that differ from the
             536      previously reviewed and approved building plans.
             537          (35) "Noncomplying structure" means a structure that:
             538          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation; and
             539          (b) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             540      to the setback, height restrictions, or other regulations, excluding those regulations that govern
             541      the use of land.
             542          (36) "Nonconforming use" means a use of land that:
             543          (a) legally existed before its current land use designation;
             544          (b) has been maintained continuously since the time the land use ordinance regulation
             545      governing the land changed; and
             546          (c) because of one or more subsequent land use ordinance changes, does not conform
             547      to the regulations that now govern the use of the land.
             548          (37) "Official map" means a map drawn by county authorities and recorded in the
             549      county recorder's office that:
             550          (a) shows actual and proposed rights-of-way, centerline alignments, and setbacks for
             551      highways and other transportation facilities;
             552          (b) provides a basis for restricting development in designated rights-of-way or between
             553      designated setbacks to allow the government authorities time to purchase or otherwise reserve
             554      the land; and


             555          (c) has been adopted as an element of the county's general plan.
             556          (38) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association,
             557      trust, governmental agency, or any other legal entity.
             558          (39) "Plan for moderate income housing" means a written document adopted by a
             559      county legislative body that includes:
             560          (a) an estimate of the existing supply of moderate income housing located within the
             561      county;
             562          (b) an estimate of the need for moderate income housing in the county for the next five
             563      years as revised biennially;
             564          (c) a survey of total residential land use;
             565          (d) an evaluation of how existing land uses and zones affect opportunities for moderate
             566      income housing; and
             567          (e) a description of the county's program to encourage an adequate supply of moderate
             568      income housing.
             569          (40) "Plat" means a map or other graphical representation of lands being laid out and
             570      prepared in accordance with Section 17-27a-603 , 17-23-17 , or 57-8-13 .
             571          (41) "Potential geologic hazard area" means an area that:
             572          (a) is designated by a Utah Geological Survey map, county geologist map, or other
             573      relevant map or report as needing further study to determine the area's potential for geologic
             574      hazard; or
             575          (b) has not been studied by the Utah Geological Survey or a county geologist but
             576      presents the potential of geologic hazard because the area has characteristics similar to those of
             577      a designated geologic hazard area.
             578          (42) "Public agency" means:
             579          (a) the federal government;
             580          (b) the state;
             581          (c) a county, municipality, school district, local district, special service district, or other
             582      political subdivision of the state; or
             583          (d) a charter school.
             584          (43) "Public hearing" means a hearing at which members of the public are provided a
             585      reasonable opportunity to comment on the subject of the hearing.


             586          (44) "Public meeting" means a meeting that is required to be open to the public under
             587      Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act.
             588          (45) "Receiving zone" means an unincorporated area of a county that the county
             589      designates, by ordinance, as an area in which an owner of land may receive a transferable
             590      development right.
             591          (46) "Record of survey map" means a map of a survey of land prepared in accordance
             592      with Section 17-23-17 .
             593          (47) "Residential facility for elderly persons" means a single-family or multiple-family
             594      dwelling unit that meets the requirements of Section 17-27a-515 , but does not include a health
             595      care facility as defined by Section 26-21-2 .
             596          (48) "Residential facility for persons with a disability" means a residence:
             597          (a) in which more than one person with a disability resides; and
             598          (b) (i) is licensed or certified by the Department of Human Services under Title 62A,
             599      Chapter 2, Licensure of Programs and Facilities; or
             600          (ii) is licensed or certified by the Department of Health under Title 26, Chapter 21,
             601      Health Care Facility Licensing and Inspection Act.
             602          (49) "Rules of order and procedure" means a set of rules that govern and prescribe in a
             603      public meeting:
             604          (a) parliamentary order and procedure;
             605          (b) ethical behavior; and
             606          (c) civil discourse.
             607          (50) "Sanitary sewer authority" means the department, agency, or public entity with
             608      responsibility to review and approve the feasibility of sanitary sewer services or onsite
             609      wastewater systems.
             610          (51) "Sending zone" means an unincorporated area of a county that the county
             611      designates, by ordinance, as an area from which an owner of land may transfer a transferable
             612      development right.
             613          (52) "Site plan" means a document or map that may be required by a county during a
             614      preliminary review preceding the issuance of a building permit to demonstrate that an owner's
             615      or developer's proposed development activity meets a building permit requirement.
             616          [(52)] (53) "Specified public agency" means:


             617          (a) the state;
             618          (b) a school district; or
             619          (c) a charter school.
             620          [(53)] (54) "Specified public utility" means an electrical corporation, gas corporation,
             621      or telephone corporation, as those terms are defined in Section 54-2-1 .
             622          [(54)] (55) "State" includes any department, division, or agency of the state.
             623          [(55)] (56) "Street" means a public right-of-way, including a highway, avenue,
             624      boulevard, parkway, road, lane, walk, alley, viaduct, subway, tunnel, bridge, public easement,
             625      or other way.
             626          [(56)] (57) (a) "Subdivision" means any land that is divided, resubdivided or proposed
             627      to be divided into two or more lots, parcels, sites, units, plots, or other division of land for the
             628      purpose, whether immediate or future, for offer, sale, lease, or development either on the
             629      installment plan or upon any and all other plans, terms, and conditions.
             630          (b) "Subdivision" includes:
             631          (i) the division or development of land whether by deed, metes and bounds description,
             632      devise and testacy, map, plat, or other recorded instrument; and
             633          (ii) except as provided in Subsection [(56)] (57)(c), divisions of land for residential and
             634      nonresidential uses, including land used or to be used for commercial, agricultural, and
             635      industrial purposes.
             636          (c) "Subdivision" does not include:
             637          (i) a bona fide division or partition of agricultural land for agricultural purposes;
             638          (ii) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining properties adjusting their
             639      mutual boundary if:
             640          (A) no new lot is created; and
             641          (B) the adjustment does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             642          (iii) a recorded document, executed by the owner of record:
             643          (A) revising the legal description of more than one contiguous unsubdivided parcel of
             644      property into one legal description encompassing all such parcels of property; or
             645          (B) joining a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has not
             646      been subdivided, if the joinder does not violate applicable land use ordinances;
             647          (iv) a bona fide division or partition of land in a county other than a first class county


             648      for the purpose of siting, on one or more of the resulting separate parcels:
             649          (A) an electrical transmission line or a substation;
             650          (B) a natural gas pipeline or a regulation station; or
             651          (C) an unmanned telecommunications, microwave, fiber optic, electrical, or other
             652      utility service regeneration, transformation, retransmission, or amplification facility;
             653          (v) a recorded agreement between owners of adjoining subdivided properties adjusting
             654      their mutual boundary if:
             655          (A) no new dwelling lot or housing unit will result from the adjustment; and
             656          (B) the adjustment will not violate any applicable land use ordinance; or
             657          (vi) a bona fide division or partition of land by deed or other instrument where the land
             658      use authority expressly approves in writing the division in anticipation of further land use
             659      approvals on the parcel or parcels.
             660          (d) The joining of a subdivided parcel of property to another parcel of property that has
             661      not been subdivided does not constitute a subdivision under this Subsection [(56)] (57) as to
             662      the unsubdivided parcel of property or subject the unsubdivided parcel to the county's
             663      subdivision ordinance.
             664          [(57)] (58) "Therapeutic school" means a residential group living facility:
             665          (a) for four or more individuals who are not related to:
             666          (i) the owner of the facility; or
             667          (ii) the primary service provider of the facility;
             668          (b) that serves students who have a history of failing to function:
             669          (i) at home;
             670          (ii) in a public school; or
             671          (iii) in a nonresidential private school; and
             672          (c) that offers:
             673          (i) room and board; and
             674          (ii) an academic education integrated with:
             675          (A) specialized structure and supervision; or
             676          (B) services or treatment related to a disability, an emotional development, a
             677      behavioral development, a familial development, or a social development.
             678          [(58)] (59) "Township" means a contiguous, geographically defined portion of the


             679      unincorporated area of a county, established under this part or reconstituted or reinstated under
             680      Section 17-27a-306 , with planning and zoning functions as exercised through the township
             681      planning commission, as provided in this chapter, but with no legal or political identity
             682      separate from the county and no taxing authority, except that "township" means a former
             683      township under Laws of Utah 1996, Chapter 308, where the context so indicates.
             684          [(59)] (60) "Transferable development right" means a right to develop and use land that
             685      originates by an ordinance that authorizes a land owner in a designated sending zone to transfer
             686      land use rights from a designated sending zone to a designated receiving zone.
             687          [(60)] (61) "Unincorporated" means the area outside of the incorporated area of a
             688      municipality.
             689          [(61)] (62) "Water interest" means any right to the beneficial use of water, including:
             690          (a) each of the rights listed in Section 73-1-11 ; and
             691          (b) an ownership interest in the right to the beneficial use of water represented by:
             692          (i) a contract; or
             693          (ii) a share in a water company, as defined in Section 73-3-3.5 .
             694          [(62)] (63) "Zoning map" means a map, adopted as part of a land use ordinance, that
             695      depicts land use zones, overlays, or districts.
             696          Section 5. Section 17-27a-505 is amended to read:
             697           17-27a-505. Zoning districts.
             698          (1) (a) The legislative body may divide the territory over which it has jurisdiction into
             699      zoning districts of a number, shape, and area that it considers appropriate to carry out the
             700      purposes of this chapter.
             701          (b) Within those zoning districts, the legislative body may regulate and restrict the
             702      erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, or use of buildings and structures, and
             703      the use of land.
             704          (c) A county may enact an ordinance regulating land use and development in a flood
             705      plain or potential geologic hazard area to:
             706          (i) protect life; and
             707          (ii) prevent:
             708          (A) the substantial loss of real property; or
             709          (B) substantial damage to real property.


             710          (d) A county may not adopt a land use ordinance requiring a property owner to take an
             711      action to revegetate, landscape, or manage erosion control in any form if the property slope is
             712      less than 12% unless the location of the slope on the property includes a geologic hazard.
             713          (2) The legislative body shall ensure that the regulations are uniform for each class or
             714      kind of buildings throughout each zone, but the regulations in one zone may differ from those
             715      in other zones.
             716          (3) (a) There is no minimum area or diversity of ownership requirement for a zone
             717      designation.
             718          (b) Neither the size of a zoning district nor the number of landowners within the
             719      district may be used as evidence of the illegality of a zoning district or of the invalidity of a
             720      county decision.
             721          Section 6. Section 17-27a-522 is enacted to read:
             722          17-27a-522. Site plan.
             723          A site plan:
             724          (1) is not a legally binding document;
             725          (2) does not represent an agreement for a specific layout;
             726          (3) does not bind an owner from future development activity on the property; and
             727          (4) does not supercede a building permit requirement.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-11-13 10:46 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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