The purpose of this chapter is to establish the criteria and process for effecting the adjustment of boundaries between two or more parcels. This regulation will provide for the proper management of all requests to change the boundaries of existing parcels, and to ensure that the reconfigured properties meet the requirements of Columbia County Code.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))
If an alteration results in any of the following it is not a valid boundary line adjustment, and the application will not be accepted:
A. 
Creates any additional lot, tract, parcel, site or division;
B. 
Results in a lot, tract, parcel, site or division, which contains increased density or insufficient area or dimension to meet the minimum requirements for area and dimensions as set forth in the land use and health codes and regulations;
C. 
Diminishes or impairs drainage, water supply, existing sanitary sewage disposal, and access or easement for vehicles, utilities, and fire protection for any lot, tract, parcel, site, or division;
D. 
Creates or diminishes any easement or deprives any parcel of access or utilities;
E. 
Increases the nonconforming aspects of an existing nonconforming lot;
F. 
Vacates a final plat or final short plat;
G. 
Amends a condition of approval for previously platted property;
H. 
Requires the establishment of a new easement and/or construction of a new public or private road to provide access to any of the subject parcels.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))
A. 
A complete boundary line adjustment (BLA) application shall be filed with the department on forms prescribed by the director, shall be signed by the owner(s), or the owners' representative, of the property, and shall be accompanied by the following:
1. 
Sheet size 18 inches by 24 inches BLA map/plot plan depicting both existing boundary lines and proposed boundary line changes drawn at a scale agreed upon by the applicant and the director. The map/plot plan shall be signed and stamped by a professional land surveyor and shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 58.09 RCW and Chapter 332-130 WAC governing minimum standards for land boundary surveys;
2. 
The map/plot plan shall be titled on the top of the page, in large capital letters, as follows:
BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT #(File number)
3. 
The map/plot plan shall contain a signature block for the Columbia County planning director's signature of approval;
4. 
The map/plot plan shall contain a signature block for the auditor's certificate, as follows:
Auditor's Certificate
Filed for Recording this _____ day of ____________, 20____________, at the request of ____________ in Book;______ at Page ____________ of Record of Survey, together with deed of conveyance recorded under Auditor's fee No.____________
____________________________
Auditor
5. 
A note shall be placed on the map/plot plan that reads as follows:
THIS BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT IS NOT A PLAT, REPLAT, OR SUBDIVISION. APPROVAL OF A BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT FUTURE PERMITS WILL BE GRANTED FOR ANY STRUCTURE OR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A LOT AFFECTED BY A BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT, AND THAT THE RESULTING LOTS ARE BUILDABLE.
6. 
A free consent statement as shown below shall be inked on the map/plot plan. This shall be signed and notarized, prior to submittal, in permanent black ink (paper press seals will not be accepted), by all parties having interest in the property.
The undersigned agree that the boundary line adjustment set forth herein is made with the free consent and in accordance with the desires of the owners
Black Ink Seal _____ _____
Notary Seal
I hereby certify that the above individual(s) signed as a free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes herein mentioned.
Given under my hand and seal this _____ day of ____________, 20____.
_____________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC, in and for the State of Washington, residing at ____________
7. 
A vicinity map that depicts the location of the property;
8. 
Legal descriptions of the revised lots, tracts, or parcels, certified by a licensed surveyor;
9. 
For sites one acre or less in size, the location of all structures/improvements existing upon the affected lots and the distance between structure/improvements and the proposed lot/boundary lines shall be shown;
10. 
The position of rebar and caps set at each new property corner;
11. 
All parcel numbers of affected lots;
12. 
The location of the property to quarter/quarter section;
13. 
The general location of any drain field;
14. 
The location and dimension of any easement or right-of-way existing within or adjacent to any affected lots;
15. 
The area and dimensions of each lot following the proposed adjustment;
16. 
Certification by the applicant that each resulting lot affected by the BLA has an accessible building area;
17. 
Acknowledgement signed by the applicant that county approval of a BLA proposal does not guarantee or imply that the subject property may be developed or subdivided, and that BLA approval may not be grounds for approval of subsequent modification or variance requests.
B. 
The director may establish more specific submittal standards (such as detailed plot plan specifications and number of copies required) provided such standards only constitute refinement of the items required by this section.
C. 
If the BLA proposes lots that result in reduced county road frontage and/or changes in access, a review by the department of public works to verify that all lots have safe access points may be required. In such cases, the applicant shall stake approximate proposed access points and property lines along the road frontage within five days of BLA application.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))
Once an application has been deemed complete by the department of planning and building, the following administrative steps shall be taken to process the application:
A. 
Date application was received.
B. 
Date application was deemed complete.
C. 
Request for comments from the following departments, depending on the specific application:
1. 
Auditor;
2. 
Treasurer;
3. 
Assessor;
4. 
County engineer;
5. 
Department of health;
6. 
County sheriff;
7. 
Other departments or agencies as deemed necessary.
D. 
Process administrative approval and submit to auditor.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))
The following criteria for approval shall govern consideration of BLAs:
A. 
The proposed BLA is consistent with applicable development restrictions or code requirements including but not limited to restrictions and requirements of the Columbia County development regulations;
B. 
The proposed BLA will not detrimentally affect access, design or other public safety and welfare concerns. The evaluation of detrimental effect may include review by the health district, the department of public works, or any other agency or department with expertise;
C. 
The proposed BLA will not cause boundary lines to bisect on-site sewage disposal systems, prevent adequate access to water supplies or obstruct fire lanes;
D. 
The proposed BLA will not create new access which is unsafe or detrimental to the existing road system because of sight distance, grade, road geometry or other safety concerns, as determined by the department of public works;
E. 
If within an approved subdivision or short subdivision, the proposed BLA will not violate conditions of approval of that subdivision or short subdivision;
F. 
The proposed BLA meets the consistency requirements of all Columbia County development regulations;
G. 
The proposed BLA will not cause any lot that conforms to lot area or lot width requirements to become substandard;
H. 
The proposed BLA will not result in lots without building areas when building areas existed before the adjustment.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))
A. 
To finalize an approved BLA, the applicant must record with the county auditor the BLA map within six months of approval or the approval shall be void.
B. 
If the BLA affects more than one property owner, a conveyance document(s) shall be recorded at the same time as the BLA survey. The conveyance document(s) shall establish ownership consistent with the approved, adjusted boundaries. When a BLA is recorded subsequent to a record of survey for the same property, the recording number of the record of survey shall be noted on the BLA map. Immediately after recording, copies of the recorded BLA documents shall be provided to the director by the applicant.
(Ord. 2017-03 (Exh. A))