For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Words used in the present tense include the future; the singular number includes the plural number; and the plural number includes the singular number. The word “shall” is mandatory and not optional.
ACCESSORY USE OR STRUCTURE. A use of a detached structure subordinate to the principal use of a structure, land, or water and located on the same lot or parcel serving a purpose customarily incidental to the principal structure.
ALLEY. A special public right-of-way affording only secondary access to abutting properties.
BASEMENT. The portion of any structure located partly below the average adjoining lot grade.
BASEMENT DWELLING. A basement used for dwelling purposes shall be constructed sufficiently large to support a dwelling above ground with at least three rooms on the first floor. The dwelling above ground is to be completed three years from the date the basement was started.
BOARDING HOUSE. A building other than a hotel or restaurant where meals or lodging are regularly furnished by prearrangement for compensation for four or more persons not members of a family, but not exceeding 12 persons and not open to transient customers.
BUFFER ZONE. Extra side yard required between multi-family dwelling. Twenty feet plus regular allowance to a single-family residence property line to be only green space, not driveways or for parking.
BUILDING. Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, equipment, machinery, or materials.
BUILDING HEIGHT. The vertical distance from the average grade level at front property line of the lot to the highest point of the building’s roof.
CORNER LOT. A lot abutting two or more streets at their intersection, provided that the corner of such intersection shall have an angle of 135 degrees or less, measured on the lot side.
DWELLING. A detached building designed for use exclusively as a residence or sleeping place, having a full basement or poured concrete slab under the main dwelling structure at or near lot grade level. Only dwellings of permanent construction shall be constructed, which shall, when completed, be suitable for habitation. The following change applies to any or all new dwellings constructed after February 1, 2016. A single story dwelling shall have a foundation footprint of not less than 800 square feet. A DWELLING does not include boarding or lodging houses, motels, hotels, tents, cabins, or mobile homes or travel trailers or motor homes or campers.
DWELLING FLOOR AREA. One or more floors devoted to living space, including enclosed porches and basement but excluding garages and unfinished attics.
DWELLING UNIT. One or more rooms designed as a unit for occupancy by not more than one family for living purposes.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES. Services provided by public and private utilities necessary for the exercise of the principal use or service of the principal structure. These services include underground, surface, or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, sanitary sewerage, storm sewer drainage, and television cables to serve individual lots, communication systems, and accessories thereto, such as poles, towers, wires, mains, drains, vaults, culverts, laterals, sewers, pipes, catch basins, water storage tanks, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, pumps, lift stations, and hydrants, but not including buildings.
FAMILY. Any number of persons related by blood, adoption, or marriage, not to exceed four persons not related, living together in one dwelling as a single housekeeping entity.
FLOODPLAIN. Land adjacent to a body of water which has been or may be hereafter covered by floods including, but not limited to, the regional flood.
FRONT YARD. A yard extending the full width of the lot between the front lot line and the nearest part of the main building, excluding uncovered steps.
FRONTAGE. The smallest dimension of a lot abutting a public street measured along the street line.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. Any accessory building or space for the storage of private property.
GARAGE, PUBLIC. Any building or premises, other than a private or storage garage, where motor vehicles are equipped, repaired, serviced, hired, sold, or stored. It is the intent to exclude vehicles for dismantling for use of parts.
HOME OCCUPATION. A gainful occupation conducted in a place of residence only by members of the family living in the residence. Not more than 25% of the dwelling floor area shall be devoted to the business.
JUNK YARD. An area consisting of buildings, structures, or premises where junk, waste, and discarded or salvage materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, packed, disassembled, or handled, including automobile wrecking yards, house wrecking and structural steel materials, and equipment yards, but not including the purchase or storage of used furniture and household equipment.
LUCR. Land use-construction-remodel permit.
LIVING ROOMS. All rooms within a dwelling except closets, foyers, storage areas, utility rooms, and bathrooms.
LOADING AREA. A complete off-street space or berth on the same lot for the loading and unloading of freight carriers, having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley.
LOT. A parcel of land having frontage on a public street, occupied by a principle structure or use and sufficient in size to meet the lot width, lot frontage, lot area, yard, parking area, and other open space provisions of this chapter.
LOT LINES AND AREA. The peripheral boundaries of a parcel of land and the total area lying within such boundaries.
LOT WIDTH. The width of a parcel of land measured at the rear of the specified street yard.
MANUFACTURED (MODULAR) HOMES. Identified with a red plastic sticker, called a “Wisconsin Insignia” imprinted with the outline of the state. It will usually be affixed to the electrical panel, vanity base cabinet, or kitchen cabinet.
MOBILE HOME. Identified with a metal rectangular label affixed to the rear of each full or half unit.
MOTEL. A series of attached, semi-attached, or detached sleeping units for the accommodation of transient guests.
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING. Four or more dwelling units.
NONCONFORMING USES OR STRUCTURES. Any structure, land, or water lawfully used, occupied, or erected at the time of the effective date of this chapter or amendments thereto, which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter or amendments thereto. Any such structure conforming in respect to use but not in respect to frontage width, height, area, yard, parking, loading, or distance requirements shall be considered a nonconforming structure and not a nonconforming use.
PARKING SPACE. An area of not less than 180 square feet in area either enclosed or open for the parking of a motor vehicle, having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley.
PARTIES IN INTEREST. Includes all abutting property owners, all property owners 100 feet in all directions, and all property owners of opposite frontage.
REAR YARD. A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the rear of the main building and the rear lot line, the depth of which is the least distance between the rear lot line and the rear of such main building.
SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance between the lot line and the nearest point of a building or any projection thereof, excluding uncovered steps.
SIDE YARD. A yard between the main building and side lot line, extending from the front yard or front lot line were no front yard is required, to the rear yard. The width of the required SIDE YARD is measured horizontally from the nearest point of the side lot line to the nearest point of the main building.
STRUCTURE. Any erection or construction, such as buildings, towers, masts, poles, booms, signs, decorations, carports, machinery, and equipment.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS. Any change in the supporting members of a structure, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.
TRAILERS. A portable vehicle designed and used for temporary sleeping purposes while its occupants are engaged in the pastime of camping.
UTILITIES. Public and private facilities, such as water wells, water and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, power and communication transmission lines, electrical power stations, telephone and telegraph exchanges, microwave radio relays, and gas regulation stations, but not including sewage disposal plants, municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops, and storage yards.
VARIANCE. In a situation where strict application of this chapter would result in a practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, modification may be granted by the Planning Commission following a public hearing with a Class I notice.
YARD. An open space on the same lot with a structure, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward except for vegetation. The street and rear yards extend the full width of the lot.
(1999 Code, § 151.07) (Ord. 123, passed 12-10-1984)