As used in this title, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
ALLEY: A minor right of way dedicated to public use, which gives a secondary means of vehicular access to the back or side of properties otherwise abutting a street. Its primary use will be for public utility purposes.
APPEAL: A request for a review of the code enforcement officer's interpretation of any provision of this title or a request for a variance.
AREA OF SHALLOW FLOODING: A designated AO zone on a community's flood insurance rate map (FIRM) with base flood depths from one foot (1') to three feet (3'). This condition occurs where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable and indeterminate, and where velocity flow may be evident.
AREA OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD: The land in the floodplain within a community subject to a one percent (1%) or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
BASE FLOOD: The flood having a one percent (1%) chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.
BLOCK: A parcel of land, intended to be used for urban purposes, which is entirely surrounded by public streets, highways, railroad rights of way, public walks, parks or greenstrips, rural land or drainage channels or a combination thereof.
BUILDING LINE OR SETBACK LINE: A line or lines designating the area outside of which buildings may be erected.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The comprehensive development plan for the city which has been officially adopted to provide long range development policies for the area subject to urbanization in the foreseeable future and which includes, among other things, the plan for land use, land subdivision, housing, traffic circulation, and community facilities, utilities and drainage facilities.
DEVELOPER: The owner of property or his agent engaged in the subdivision or improvement of, or the construction of, structures upon land within the city of Chandler.
DEVELOPMENT: The improvement of, or the subdividing of, a tract of land, including the erection or construction of any additions to existing buildings where outer walls are added or altered as to location, but not including alterations or remodeling of buildings where said outer walls are not added or altered as to location. In flood prone areas, development shall mean any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavations, or drilling operations.
EASEMENT: A grant by the property owner to the public, a corporation, or persons of the use of a strip of land for specific purposes.
EXISTING MOBILE HOME PARK OR MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION: A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two (2) or more mobile home lots for rent or sale for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lot on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and the construction of streets) is completed before the effective date of this title.
EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING MOBILE HOME PARK OR MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION: The preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the mobile homes are to be affixed (including the installation of utilities, either final site grading or pouring of concrete pads, or the construction of streets).
FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP (FHBM): An official map of a community issued by the federal insurance administration, where the areas within the boundaries of special flood hazard have been designated as zone A.
FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM): An official map of a community, on which the federal insurance administration has delineated both the areas of special flood hazard and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.
FLOOD INSURANCE STUDY: The official report provided by the federal insurance administration which contains flood profiles, the water surface elevation of the base flood, as well as the flood hazard boundary-floodway map.
FLOOD OR FLOODING: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:
A. The overflow of inland or tidal waters.
B. The unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
FLOODWAY: The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot (1').
HABITABLE FLOOR: Any floor usable for living purposes, which includes working, sleeping, eating, cooking or recreation, or a combination thereof. A floor used for storage purposes only is not a "habitable floor".
LOT: A subdivision of a block or other parcel intended as a unit for the transfer of ownership or for development.
LOT, CORNER: A lot located at the intersection of, and abutting on, two (2) or more streets.
LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE: A lot which runs through a block from street to street and which has two (2) nonintersecting sides abutting on two (2) or more streets.
LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT: A relocation of the lot lines of two (2) or more lots included in a plat which is filed of record, for the purpose of making necessary adjustments to building sites.
MEAN SEA LEVEL: The average height of the sea for all stages of the tide.
MOBILE HOME: A structure, transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to the required utilities. It does not include recreational vehicles or travel trailers.
NEW MOBILE HOME PARK OR MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION: A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land divided into two (2) or more mobile home lots for rent or sale for which the construction of facilities for servicing the lot on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the installation of utilities, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and the construction of streets) is completed on or after the effective date of this title.
PLANNING COMMISSION: The city planning commission of the city of Chandler.
PLAT, FINAL: A map of a land subdivision prepared in a form suitable for filing of record with necessary affidavits, dedications and acceptances, and with complete bearings and dimensions of all lines defining lots and blocks, streets and alleys, public areas and other dimensions of land.
PLAT, PRELIMINARY: A map of a proposed land subdivision showing the character and proposed layout of the tract in sufficient detail to indicate the suitability of the proposed subdivision of land.
RESERVE STRIP: A strip of land located adjacent to a public easement or right of way which has the effect of denying access by adjacent property owners to said public easement or right of way.
SETBACK LINE: A line or lines designating the outer limits of street and highway right of way requirements.
SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN: A plan drawn at a scale of not less than one inch equals fifty feet (1" = 50') which shows the topographic characteristics of the site at a contour interval of not less than one foot (1'); the location and dimensions of buildings, yards, courts, landscape, pedestrian and vehicular circulation and parking, fences and screening; service areas and service courts, and other features; the use of each building and area; the height of buildings, adjacent streets, alleys, utility, drainage and other easements and the relationship of the development to adjacent areas which it may affect.
START OF CONSTRUCTION: The first placement of permanent construction of a structure (other than a mobile home) on a site, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading, and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footing, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not as part of the main structure. For a structure (other than a mobile home) without a basement or poured footings, the "start of construction" includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its piling or foundation. For mobile homes not within a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision, "start of construction" means the affixing of the mobile home to its permanent site. For mobile homes within mobile home parks or mobile home subdivisions, "start of construction" is the date on which the construction of facilities for servicing the site on which the mobile home is to be affixed (including, at a minimum, the construction of streets, either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads, and installation of utilities) is completed.
STREET: Any public or private right of way which affords the primary means of access to abutting property.
STREET, COLLECTOR: A street which collects traffic from other minor streets and serves as the most direct route to a major street or a community facility.
STREET, CUL-DE-SAC: A minor street having one end open to vehicular traffic and having one closed end, terminated by a turnaround.
STREET, FRONTAGE OR SERVICE: A minor street auxiliary to and located on the side of a major street for service to abutting properties and adjacent areas and for control of access.
STREET, MAJOR: An arterial street which is designated on the major street plan or expressway plan.
STREET, MINOR: Any street not classified as a major street or collector street on the major street plan or expressway plan.
STRUCTURE: A walled and roofed building that is principally above ground, as well as a mobile home.
SUBDIVIDER (DEVELOPER): Any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity, acting as a unit, subdividing or proposing to subdivide land as herein defined.
SUBDIVISION: The division or redivision of land into two (2) or more lots, tracts, sites or parcels for the purpose of transfer of ownership or for development, or the dedication or vacation of a public or private right of way or easement.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT: Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure either: a) before the improvement or repair is started; or b) if the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, "substantial improvement" is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either: a) any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or b) any alteration of a structure listed on the national register of historic places or a state inventory of historic places.
URBAN AREA: All that part of the incorporated area of the city which is designated on the Chandler comprehensive plan for urbanization.
VARIANCE: A grant of relief to a person from the requirements of this title when specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship. A variance, therefore, permits construction or development in a manner otherwise prohibited by this title. (Ord. 1978-10, 10-3-1978; amd. 2003 Code)