As used in this chapter, unless otherwise expressly provided or the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Building" means any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls for the housing or enclosure of persons, animals or chattels. When any portion thereof is completely separated from every other portion thereof by a division wall without openings, then each such portion shall be deemed to be a separate building.
(b) "Building permit" means a permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer of the City stating that the proposed erection, construction, enlargement or moving of a building or structure referred to therein complies with the provisions of the Zoning Code of the City.
(c) "City Engineer" means the officer designated and authorized by the City Manager to carry out various functions as specified in this chapter.
(d) "Clearing" means the clearing, grubbing, scalping, removal of trees and stumps and removal and disposal of all vegetation and debris within the site, and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.
(e) "Construction" means the erection, alteration, repair, renovation, demolition or removal of any building or structure and the clearing, stripping, excavating, filling, grading and regulating of sites in connection therewith.
(f) "Debris" means loose refuse or earth material not suitable for use as presently situated or constituted, as determined by the City Engineer.
(g) "Developer" means any individual, subdivider, firm, association, syndicate, partnership, corporation, trust or other legal entity commencing proceedings under this chapter to effect the development of land for himself or herself or for another.
(h) "Filling" means to deposit, place, push, pull or transport soil, earth, sand, gravel, rock or any similar material by any act, and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.
(i) "Finished grade" means the final grade or elevation of the ground surface conforming to the approved grading plan.
(j) "Grading permit" means a permit issued by the City Engineer to authorize work to be performed in compliance with this chapter.
(k) "Hazard" means any danger to public health, welfare and safety, including exposure to risk of damage to property or liability for personal injury, or risk of harm to land, air or water resulting in environmental degradation. Hazards can include flooding and ponding, compaction and settling, landslides, earthquakes, toxic chemicals, radiation, fire and disease.
(1) "Nuisance" means a public nuisance as known at common law or in equity jurisprudence.
(m) "Permittee" means any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter, or who is subject to inspection under this chapter.
(n) "Plans" means the profiles, typical cross-sections, working drawings and supplemental drawings, site, grading, drainage and erosion and sedimentation control plans, the vicinity map, the soil map and other plans as approved by the City Engineer, or exact reproductions thereof, which show the location, character, dimensions and details of the work.
(o) "Professional engineer" means a professional engineer, duly registered or otherwise authorized by the State, whose specialty is the field of civil engineering.
(p) "Site" means any lot or parcel of land or a series of lots or parcels of land adjoining or contiguous or joined together under one ownership where clearing, stripping, grading, excavating or filling is performed.
(q) "Soil" means all earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock and may include the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be readily excavated by mechanical equipment.
(r) "Specifications" means all the directions, provisions and requirements, together with such as may be added or adopted as supplemental specifications or special provisions approved by the City Engineer.
(s) "Steep slope" means a slope over fifteen percent grade, which is characterized by increased runoff, erosion and sediment hazards.
(t) "Stripping" means any activity which removes or significantly disturbs the vegetative surface cover.
(u) "Timing schedule" means a construction progress schedule showing the proposed dates of commencement and completion of each of the various subdivisions of work as shown and called for in the approved plans and specifications.
(v) "Variance" means a modification of the strict terms of this chapter where such modification will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the action of the applicant, a literal enforcement of the regulations would result in unnecessary and undue hardship.
(w) "Watercourse" means any natural or artificial watercourse, including, but not limited to, streams, rivers, creeks, ditches, channels, canals, conduits, culverts, drains, drainageways, waterways, gullies, ravines and washes, in which waters flow in a definite direction or course, either continuously or intermittently, and including any area adjacent thereto which is subject to inundation by reason of overflow or flood water.
(Ord. 72-41. Passed 12-12-72. )