EASEMENT. The legal right for a person, government, agency or public utility company to use public or private land owned by another for a specific purpose.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by public utilities or municipal or other government agencies, of underground gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, or collection, communication, supply or disposal systems or sites, including poles, wires, mains, drains, sewers, pipes, traffic signals, hydrants or other similar equipment and accessories in connection therewith which are necessary for the furnishing of adequate service by such public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies or for the public health or safety or general welfare, but not including buildings or personal wireless service facilities.
FAMILY. One or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit, in a dwelling, as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding house, lodging house, short-term rental, dormitory, fraternity, sorority, motel or hotel.
FARM. Any parcel of land containing at least three acres which is used for gain in the raising of agricultural products, livestock, poultry or dairy products, including farm structures within the prescribed limits and the storage of farm equipment. Riding stables, dog kennels, establishments for the raising of fur-bearing animals and retail sales buildings offering products not produced on the premises shall not be considered a farm.
FARM ANIMAL. Any domestic species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, or horses, which are normally and have historically, been kept and raised on farms and used or intended for use as food or fiber, or for improving animal nutrition, breeding, management, or production efficiency, or for improving the quality of food or fiber. This term also includes animals such as rabbits, mink, and chinchilla, when they are used solely for purposes of meat or fur, and animals such as horses and llamas when used solely as work and pack animals.
FARMING, SUSTAINABLE. A farm operation that employs practices to preserve or enhance water, soil and air quality during production, including no use of synthetic fertilizers, use of only pesticides and herbicides approved by the USDA organic standards and animal access to pasture most of the year.
FENCE. An enclosure or barrier, typically made of wood, masonry, stone, metal or combination of those materials, the purpose of which is to physically and/or visually contain certain uses or activities, prevent or control entrance, mark a boundary or act as a screen.
FLOOD (OR FLOODING). A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas resulting from the overflow of inland or tidal waters; and/or the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.
(1) FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA). The agency with overall responsibility for administering the National Flood Insurance Program.
(2) FLOOD, BASE. A flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year (also be referred to as the 100-year flood).
(3) FLOOD HAZARD AREA. The area possibly threatened by periodic flooding consisting of the floodplain, inclusive of the floodway and the floodway fringe area.
(4) FLOOD HAZARD BOUNDARY MAP. The official map issued by FEMA where the areas of special flood hazard have been designated as Zone A.
(5) FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP (FIRM). An official map on which FEMA has delineated the areas of special flood hazard.
(6) FLOODPLAIN. The area adjoining a river, stream, watercourse or lake subject to 100-year occurrence interval flood, as delineated by FEMA. The floodplain includes the stream tributaries, the floodway and the floodway fringe.
(7) FLOODWAY. The channel of a river, stream or other watercourse and the land areas of the floodplain adjoining the channel that are reasonably required to efficiently carry and discharge the flood water or flood flow of a river or stream and must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than a designated height.
(8) FLOODWAY FRINGE. The portions of the floodplain lying outside the floodway.
FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The sum of the horizontal area of the several floors of a building, measured from the interior faces of the exterior walls.
FLOOR AREA, RESIDENTIAL. For purposes of computing compliance with the minimum floor area requirement s of a dwelling in a residential district, floor area shall include the total area of all floors whose height is more than half above finished grade, having a minimum floor to ceiling height of seven and a half feet, located on a permanent foundation, wired for electrical service and heated for year-round use.
FLOOR AREA, USABLE. That area to be used for the sale of merchandise or services, or for use to serve patrons, clients or customers, measured from the interior faces of the exterior walls. Areas used principally for the storage or processing of merchandise, for hallways, stairways and elevator shafts or for utilities or sanitary facilities shall be excluded from this computation.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. A detached accessory building or portion of a principal building for the parking or temporary storage of automobiles, recreational vehicles and/or incidental personal property of the occupants of the premises.
GARAGE, PUBLIC. A principal or accessory building, other than a private garage, used for parking or temporary storage of passenger automobiles, recreational vehicles and/or incidental personal property, and in which service is provided for remuneration or barter.
GRADE, AVERAGE. The mean or midway point between the highest and lowest elevation of the ground abutting the existing or proposed location of each face of a building, wall or other area being measured. The measurement of average grade may include the following:
(1) GRADE, FINISHED. The final grade of a site after grading, filling or excavating.
(2) GRADE, NATURAL. The grade of a site that exists or existed prior to manmade alterations, such as grading, filling or excavating.
GREEN BURIAL. This refers to the interment of the body of a dead person in the soil in a manner that does not inhibit decomposition but allows the body to recycle naturally without the use of embalming fluid or formaldehyde. It is also referred to as natural burial.
GREENBELT. A preserved linear landscaped area along one or more property lines, providing a defined edge and/or screening.
GROUP HOME, ADULT. A residential care facility licensed or authorized by the State of Ohio, or under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof, which provides room and board, personal care and supervision for not more than eight elderly or mentally or physically handicapped persons over 17 years of age.
GROUP HOME, JUVENILE. A residential care facility licensed or authorized by the State of Ohio, or under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof, which provides room and board, personal care and supervision for not more than eight mentally or physically handicapped or delinquent juvenile persons under 18 years of age.
(Res. 21-1165, passed 7-20-21)