For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
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 base subgrade (below ground level) on all four sides, regardless of the depth of excavation below ground level.
CONDITIONAL USE. A specific type of structure or land use listed in the official control that may be allowed, but only after an in-depth review procedure and with appropriate conditions or restrictions as provided in the appropriate conditions or restrictions as provided in the official zoning controls or building codes and upon a finding that:
(1) Certain conditions as detailed in the zoning ordinance exist; and
(2) The structure and/or land use conform to the comprehensive land use plan if one exists and are compatible with the existing neighborhood.
EQUAL DEGREE OF ENCROACHMENT. A method of determining the location of floodway boundaries so that floodplain lands on both sides of a stream are capable of conveying a proportionate share of flood flows.
FLOOD. A temporary increase in the flow or stage of a stream or in the stage of a wetland or lake that results in the inundation of normally dry areas.
FLOOD FREQUENCY. The frequency for which it is expected that a specific flood stage or discharge may be equaled or exceeded.
FLOOD FRINGE. The portion of the floodplain outside of the floodway.
FLOODPLAIN. The beds proper and the areas adjoining a wetland, lake or watercourse which have been or hereafter may be covered by the regional flood.
FLOOD-PROOFING. A combination of structural provisions, changes or adjustments to properties and structures subject to flooding, primarily for the reduction or elimination of flood damages.
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, channel modification, culvert, building, wire, fence, stockpile, refuse, fill, structure or matter in, along, across or projecting into any channel, watercourse or regulatory floodplain, which may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by the water.
PRINCIPAL USE OR STRUCTURE. All uses or structures that are not accessory uses or structures.
REACH. A hydraulic engineering term to describe a longitudinal segment of a stream or river influenced by a natural or human-made obstruction. In an urban area, the segment of a stream or river between two consecutive bridge crossings would most typically constitute a REACH.
REGIONAL FLOOD. A flood which is representative of large floods known to have occurred generally in the state and reasonably characteristic of what can be expected to occur on an average frequency in the magnitude of the 100-year recurrence interval. REGIONAL FLOOD is synonymous with the term “base flood” used in the Flood Insurance Study.
REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION. 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. Any thing 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 § 160.42(C) of this chapter and other similar items.
VARIANCE. A modification of a specific permitted development standard required in an official development standard not stated as acceptable in the official control, but only as applied to a particular property for the purpose of alleviating a hardship, practical difficulty or unique circumstance as defined and elaborated upon in a community’s respective planning and zoning enabling legislation.
(Prior Code, § 0325(2.8))