For the purpose of this chapter only, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESS ROAD. A road within one mile of the grading/clearing site, designated on the approved grading/clearing plan, and used, during grading/clearing, for the transport of grading equipment, hauling of fill and other equivalent vehicular traffic to and from the grading/clearing site.
AFFECTED AREA. Area to be disturbed by grading/clearing activities.
APPLICANT. The person, company, or corporation responsible for the managing and conducting of grading/clearing operations.
APPROVAL. Written notice by the City Engineer or Building Official or designees approving the design, progress, or completion of work.
APPROVAL AUTHORITY. The Building Official for minor grading/clearing permits and the City Engineer for major grading/clearing permits.
APPROVED PLAN. The most current grading/clearing sketch or grading/clearing plan, which bears the authorized signature of approval of the City Engineer or Building Official.
BERM. A mound or wall of earth used for landscaping purposes.
BLASTING. Any activity entailing the use of explosives for the purpose of producing an explosion to demolish structures or to fragment rock for mining, quarrying, excavation and construction.
BLASTING OPERATIONS. Blasting operations are herein defined to mean drilling and site preparation for blasting and detonation itself.
BORROW. Earth material acquired from an off-site location for use in grading/clearing a site.
BRUSHING. The selective removal of vegetation.
CITY. City of Riverbank, including its duly authorized representatives.
CLEARING. The substantial removal of vegetation.
DEVELOPMENT. Any man made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations.
DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT (dbh). A measurement of tree diameter taken between four and five feet from ground level.
DRAINAGE CONTROL SYSTEM. A method of containing or channeling storm water.
EARTH MATERIAL. Any rock, natural soil or fill or any combination thereof.
EMERGENCY. An unforeseen combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action to preserve life or property.
ENVELOPE, BUILDING. The building footprint for all structures including all attached roof structures such as carports, covered patios and ramadas but excluding typical eave overhangs.
EROSION. The wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water or ice.
EXCAVATION. The removal of earth material by manual labor, mechanical equipment, blasting, or other such means.
EXPLOSIVES. Any substance, chemical compound, or mechanical mixture that is commonly used for the purpose of producing an explosion to fragment rock for mining, quarrying, excavation, and construction. Initiating devices (detonators, detonating cords, etc.) are also included under this definition.
FILL. The addition of earth material by manual labor, mechanical equipment, blasting, or other such means.
FINAL INSPECTION. Field inspection conducted by the city prior to project acceptance or release of assurances if required.
GRADE. The vertical location of the ground surface.
GRADE, EXISTING. The actual current ground surface as naturally occurring formations or as altered prior to the date of adoption of this chapter.
GRADE, FINISHED. The final ground elevation, after all grading/clearing has been completed conforming to the approved grading/clearing sketch or plan.
GRADE, ROUGH. The stage at which grading substantially conforms to the approved grading sketch or plan in an unfinished state.
GRADING. The excavating or filling of a site.
GRADING/CLEARING PERMIT. An official document issued by the city authorizing the grading/clearing activity specified by the grading/clearing permit conditions.
GRADING/CLEARING PERMIT CONDITIONS. The specifications and requirements of the approved grading/clearing sketch or grading/clearing plan, grading/clearing statement, soils report or other documents necessary for grading/clearing permit approval.
GRUBBING. The removal of trees and other large plants by their roots.
INSPECTOR. A person authorized by the City Engineer or Building Official to perform inspection on grading/clearing work.
LAND USE ACTION. Includes any consideration for approval of a quasi-judicial plan amendment or zone change, any consideration for approval of a land use permit and any consideration of a request for a declaratory ruling (including resolution of any procedural questions raised in any of these actions).
MITIGATION. The general conditions of approval on an approved grading/clearing permit that rectify the impact by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment.
NOXIOUS WEEDS. Those species of plants that are considered harmful as listed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
PAVEMENT. Any impermeable surface.
RETAINING WALL. A wall designed to resist the lateral displacement of soil or other material, as defined in the current Uniform Building Code (UBC) code.
RE-VEGETATION. Placement of living plant material on sites or excavation and fill slopes where the natural vegetation has been removed.
RIGHTS-OF-WAY. That portion of land acquired for construction of a roadway and supporting utilities falling under the jurisdiction of public entities.
SETBACKS. The minimum required horizontal distance from a given point or line of reference.
SITE. Any lot or parcel of land, or contiguous combination of lots, parcels, and or easements under the same ownership or unified control.
SLOPE. An inclined ground surface, the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance or expressed as a percent of the change in elevation over a given distance.
SLOPE, EXPOSED. Any graded slope that is 3:1 or steeper.
SOIL. Unconsolidated sediments and deposits of solid mineral particles that have resulted from the disintegration of rock and can be excavated manually.
STABILIZATION. Treatment that reduces the potential for erosion or increases the structural strength of a graded area.
STOCKPILING. Temporary storage of earth materials.
STREAM. A year round flowing watercourse.
TERRACE. A relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope surface for drainage and maintenance purposes.
VEGETATION. Any plant material including trees, brush, shrubs, grasses, etc.
(Ord. 2004-006, passed 8-23-04)