For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the same meaning as they have in common usage and so as to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE. A use or structure on the same lot with, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, the principal use or structure.
BASEMENT. Any area of a structure, including crawl spaces, having its floor or lowest grade (below ground level) on all four sides, regardless of the depth of excavation below ground level.
FEMA or FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. The agency responsible administering the federal flood insurance program and emergency relief activities.
FLOOD FRINGE. The portion of the floodplain, outside of the floodway.
FLOODPLAIN. The channel or beds proper and the areas adjoining a wetland, lake or watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood. FLOODPLAIN areas within the City of Lake Crystal shall encompass all areas designated as Zone A on the flood insurance rate map.
FLOODWAY. The bed of a wetland or lake and the channel of a watercourse and those portions of the adjoining floodplain which are reasonably required to carry or store the regional flood discharge.
OBSTRUCTION. Any dam, wall, wharf, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment, projection, excavation, dredged spoil, channel modification, culvert, building, wire, fence, stockpile, refuse, fill, structure, stockpile of sand or gravel or other material, or matter in, along, across or projecting into any channel, watercourse, lake bed or regulatory floodplain which may impede, retard or change the direction of flow, either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by floodwater.
REGIONAL FLOOD. A flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in the state and reasonably characteristics of what can be expected to occur on an average frequency in magnitude of the 100-year recurrence interval. REGIONAL FLOOD is synonymous with the term BASE FLOOD used in the flood insurance rate map.
RFPE or REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION. The regulatory flood protection elevation shall be an elevation no lower than one foot above the elevation of the regional flood, plus any increases in flood elevation caused by encroachments on the floodplain that result from designation of a floodway.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected on the ground or attached to the ground or on-site utilities, including, but not limited to, buildings, factories, sheds, detached garages, cabins, manufactured homes, travel trailers/vehicles not meeting the exemption criteria specified in § 153.013, and other similar items.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR. The City Administrator of the City of Lake Crystal is designated as the Zoning Administrator of this chapter.
(Ord. 197, passed 10-5-1992)