(a) “Advisory Agency” means the Planning Commission; provided, that the Planning Commission may designate the Planning Director to act as the Advisory Agency. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)

(b) “Contiguous” means touching or adjoining at a point or along a boundary. Property shall be considered contiguous even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easements or railroad rights-of-way. As to new and continued merger of resource lands pursuant to Article II and Article III of Chapter 7.5, “contiguous” parcels shall only merger when they are touching or adjoining at more than one point. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986; Ord. 2574, § 1, 5/9/2017)

(c) “Merged by operation of law” means the merger of parcels by or through the law without any direct action by the County (other than adoption of applicable ordinances) or by the property owner. As used in this section, “merged by operation of law” refers to the merger of parcels pursuant to the provisions of the Humboldt County Code and/or the State Subdivision Map Act in effect prior to January 1, 1984. The term “merged by operation of law” does not include voluntary mergers by action of the owner, or merger pursuant to the provisions of Article II of this chapter. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)

(d) “Merger” means the joining of two or more contiguous parcels or units of improved or unimproved land, which are held by the same owner or owners, into one parcel or unit of land pursuant to this chapter. Parcels or units include, but are not limited to, lots created by the division or subdivision of land, lots created by deed or record of survey, and U.S. patent parcels. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)

(e) “Planning Director” means the Planning Director of the Planning Department of the County of Humboldt and his duly authorized deputies. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)

(f) “Same Owner or Owners”: For the purpose of Article II of this chapter, contiguous parcels or units are considered to be held by the same owner or owners if the same owner or owners own the same property interest in each of the parcels subject to merger on the date when the Notice of Intent to Determine Status is recorded pursuant to § 327.5-5. For the purpose of Article III of this chapter, contiguous parcels or units of land are considered to be held by the same owner or owners if the same owner or owner, or their predecessors in interest, owned the same property interest in each of the parcels subject to merger on the date when such parcels were merged by operation of law. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)

(g) “Resource Land” or “Resource Parcel” means a parcel or unit of land that meets the conditions described in subparagraphs (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of subsection (b) of § 327.5-3 of the County Code. (Ord. 1762, 12/9/1986)