Section 233.015. Definitions.

  Words and phrases used in this chapter have the meanings given in s. 340.01 , Stats., unless a different definition is specifically provided. In this chapter:

(1)  "Certified survey map" or "CSM" means a map that complies with the requirements of s. 236.34 , Stats.

(1m)  "Desirable traffic access pattern" means traffic access that is consistent with the technical and professional guidance provided in the department's facilities development manual.

(1r)  "District office" means an office of the division of transportation districts of the department.

(2)  "Improvement" means any permanent addition to or betterment of real property that involves the expenditure of labor or money to make the property more useful or valuable. "Improvement" includes parking lots, driveways, loading docks, in-ground swimming pools, wells, septic systems, retaining walls, signs, buildings, building appendages such as porches, and drainage facilities. "Improvement" does not include sidewalks, terraces, patios, landscaping and open fences.

(2m)  "In-ground swimming pool" includes a swimming pool that is designed or used as part of a business or open to use by the general public or members of a group or association. "In-ground swimming pool" does not include any above-ground swimming pools without decks.

(3)  "Land divider" means the owner of land that is the subject of a land division or the land owner's agent for purposes of creating a land division.

(4)  "Land division" means a division under s. 236.12 , 236.34 , 236.45 or 703.11 , Stats., or other means not provided by statute, of a lot, parcel or tract of land by the owner or the owner's agent for the purposes of sale or of building development.

(5)  "Land division map" means an official map of a land division, including all certificates required as a condition of recording the map.

(5m)  "Major intersection" means the area within one-half mile of the intersection or interchange of any state trunk highway or connecting highway with a designated expressway, or freeway, under s. 84.295 , Stats., or a designated interstate highway under s. 84.29 , Stats.

(6)  "Public utility" means any corporation, company, individual or association that furnishes products or services to the public, and that is regulated under ch. 195 or 196 , Stats., including railroads, telecommunications or telegraph companies, and any company furnishing or producing heat, light, power, cable television service or water, or a rural electrical cooperative, as described in s. 32.02 (10) , Stats.

(6m)  "Reviewing municipality" means a city or village to which the department has delegated authority to review and object to land divisions under s. Trans 233.03 (7) .

(6r)  "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of transportation.

(7)  "Structure" includes a temporary or non-permanent addition to or betterment of real property that is portable in nature, but that adversely affects the safety of entrance upon or departure from state trunk or connecting highways or the preservation of public interest and investment in those highways, as determined by the department. "Structure" does not include portable swing sets, movable lawn sheds without pads or footings, and above ground swimming pools without decks.

(7m)  "Technical land division" means a land division involving a structure or improvement that has been situated on the real property for at least 5 years, does not result in any change to the use of existing structures and improvements and does not negatively affect traffic. "Technical land division" includes the conversion of an apartment building that has been in existence for at least 5 years to condominium ownership, the conversion of leased commercial spaces in a shopping mall that has been in existence for at least 5 years to owned spaces, and the exchange of deeds by adjacent owners to resolve mutual encroachments.

(8)  "Unplatted" means not legally described by a plat, land division map, certified survey map or condominium plat.

(8m)  "User" means a person entitled to use a majority of the property to the exclusion of others.

(9)  "Utility facility" means any pipe, pipeline, duct, wire line, conduit, pole, tower, equipment or other structure used for transmission or distribution of electrical power or light or for the transmission, distribution or delivery of heat, water, gas, sewer, telegraph or telecommunication service, cable television service or broadcast service, as defined in s. 196.01 (1m) , Stats.

Cr. Register, January, 1999, No. 517 , eff. 2-1-99; cr. (1m), (1r), (2m), (5m), (6m), (6r), (7m) and (8m), Register, January, 2001, No. 541 , eff. 2-1-01.

Note

Guidelines established in the Department's Facilities Development Manual are not considered "rules," as defined in s. 227.01 (13) , Stats., and so are not subject to the requirements under s. 227.10 , Stats. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1