AS GRADED: The surface configuration upon completion of grading.
BENCH: A relatively level step excavated into earth on which fill material is to be placed for an intermediate drainage area.
BERM: A low mound of earth graded in a linear or undulating form; often used as a noise or visual barrier.
BUILDING HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the ground level grade to the top of the building.
CLUSTERING: A land planning technique appropriate for large subdivisions in which some areas are reserved as open space. This allows the permitted units in an area to be grouped more densely in the most developable parts of a site.
CONTOUR: A line drawn on a plan that connects all points of equal elevation.
CONTOUR GRADING: A grading concept designed to result in earth forms that resemble natural terrain characteristics. Horizontal and vertical curve variations are often used for slope banks. Contour grading is not necessarily minimal grading.
CUESTA: A landform that has a steep ascent in one direction and a gentle descent in the opposite direction. The steep slope is the cuesta face and erosion escarpment, and the gentle descent is the back slope of the cuesta. The crest of the cuesta forms a ridgeline.
CUT: The mechanical removal of soil, rock or other earth material.
CUT AND FILL: The excavating of earth material in one place as cut and depositing of it as fill in an adjacent place.
DEVELOPMENT: The carrying out of any building activity or clearing of land as an adjunct of construction. "Major development" shall be considered to be subdivision platting, including various land uses and/or housing types.
DEVELOPMENT PARCEL: Any quantity of land capable of being described with such definiteness that its location and boundaries may be established, which is designated by its owner or developer as land to be used or developed as a unit or which has been used or developed as a unit.
EROSION: The process by which the soil and rock components of the earth's crust are worn away and moved from one place to another by natural forces such as weathering, solution and transportation.
ESCARPMENT: A long cliff or steep slope resulting from erosion or faulting, separating two (2) comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces.
EXCAVATION, MAJOR/MINOR: Any disturbance to the ground, including, but not limited to, clearing, grubbing, rock removal, cutting, tunneling, drilling or any other activity which alters the natural ground. "Minor excavation" shall mean a vertical cut of four feet (4') or less, or a disturbance of less than one acre of surface area. "Major excavation" shall mean a vertical cut of more than four feet (4'), or a disturbance of more than one acre of surface area.
EXISTING GRADE: The grade of land prior to grading.
EXPORT: Excess cut material that is removed from a grading project and deposited off site.
FILL: A deposit of rock, soil or other earth material placed by artificial means.
FINISH GRADE: The final elevation of the ground surface after development that conforms to the development's approved plan.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER: A person with a four (4) year degree in civil engineering or engineering geology from an accredited university who, through training and experience, is able to assure that geological factors affecting engineering works are recognized, adequately interpreted and presented for use in engineering practice and for the protection of the public.
GRADING: To bring an existing surface to a designed form by excavating, filling or smoothing operations.
HILL: A small area of land that is higher than the larger area of land around it.
HILLSIDE: The sloping side of a hill. Also used, in the collective sense, to apply to ridgelines, ledges, cliffs, hillsides, and slopes, and similar topographic conditions.
HILLSIDE ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE: Various techniques such as split foundations, walk out basements, roof slopes parallel to ground slope, and subdivision of building mass used to enhance the visual harmony of the building and the existing slope.
HILLSIDE CONDITIONS: Used, in the collective sense, to apply to ridgelines, ledges, cliffs, hillsides, and slopes, and similar topographic conditions.
HILLTOP: The area on the top of a hill where the hillside transitions from ascension to the highest portion of the hill, and then to descending the hill on the opposite side.
IMPORT: Fill material obtained off site to complete a grading project.
IMPROVEMENT: An object, facility or structure generally constructed as part of development.
KNOLL: A small, round hill or mound.
MASS GRADING: The movement of large quantities of earth over large areas. Disruption of surface terrain in this manner often results in a successive pad/terrace configuration. Modification or elimination of natural landforms may result.
MESA: A typically flat topped landform with generally steep sides.
MINIMAL GRADING: A grading technique designed to minimize excavation and fill. Allows the movement of earth for projects such as individual building foundations, driveways, local roads, and utility excavation. It is often associated with roads conforming closely to natural contours and structures being integrated into the natural terrain.
NATIVE VEGETATION: The natural vegetation commonly found in the area.
NATURAL OPEN SPACE: Landforms created by nature or subsequently modified to meet fuel modification fire standards, including existing trees, riparian vegetation and native plant communities. Manmade water bodies and trails through natural open spaces may be considered as natural open space.
NATURAL SLOPE (Also NATURAL GRADE): The existing natural condition of the land; a slope that is not manmade.
OPEN SPACE: Land not covered by buildings, roads or vehicular accessways, and including areas that are open to view such as landscaped areas, slopes, natural areas, agricultural areas and orchards, common areas, greenbelts, parks, etc.
OUTCROPPING: The part of a rock formation that appears above the surface of the surrounding land.
PAD: A generally flat or stepped area created by grading to accommodate development.
PLATEAU: A flat or predominantly flat area of land that is raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side.
PROMINENT RIDGE: A ridge or hilltop that is highly visible from a significant portion of the community, or that forms an important part of the skyline.
RIDGE: A long, narrow, or sharply defined conspicuous elevation of land.
RIDGELINE: The junction of a rising steep slope on one side and descending slope that may either be gentle or steep on the other side.
SCAR: A highly visible cut in a hillside or ridge in which topsoil has been removed such that vegetation will be unable to establish itself within a reasonable period of time. A deposit of earth or manmade materials not removed upon finish grade completion is also considered a scar.
SITE: Any lot or parcel of land or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership.
SLOPE: An inclined ground surface, the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of the vertical distance (rise), or change in elevation, divided by the horizontal distance (run), and expressed as a percentage.
SLOPE TRANSITION: The area where a slope bank meets the natural terrain or a level graded area either vertically or horizontally.
TOE OF SLOPE: The lowest elevation of a slope that transitions to a flatter area or pad.
TOP OF SLOPE: The highest elevation of a slope that transitions to a flatter area or pad.
TOPOGRAPHY: A general term to include the characteristics of the ground surface, such as plains, hills, mountains, degree of relief, steepness of slope, and other physiographic features.
UTAH LICENSED PROFESSIONAL: A Utah registered or licensed civil engineer, geologist, land surveyor, architect, or landscape architect.
VEGETATION: Growing native or nonnative plants.
VIEWSHED: Views to prominent visual features such as ridgelines. (Ord. 2013-03, 4-3-2013)