The definitions set forth in this section shall govern the application and interpretation of this chapter. Words and phrases not defined in this section shall be interpreted so as to give this chapter its most reasonable application.
A. “Building Permit” includes, in connection with a covered activity only, a full structural building permit as well as a partial permit, such as a foundation-only permit, grading permit, or any other permit or approval authorizing a ground-disturbing activity in furtherance of a covered activity.
B. “Conservancy” refers to the Yolo Habitat Conservancy, a joint powers agency consisting of the County of Yolo and the cities of Davis, Woodland, Winters, and West Sacramento (with the University of California, Davis, in an ex officio capacity). The formal, legal name of the joint powers agency is the Yolo County Habitat/Natural Community Conservation Plan Joint Powers Agency.
C. “Covered Activity” and “Covered Activities” mean the activities and projects described in Chapter 3 of the Yolo HCP/NCCP proposed for implementation within the plan area and not otherwise exempted from the requirements of the Yolo HCP/NCCP.
D. “Covered Species” means the species, listed and non-listed, which are identified in Chapter 1 of the Yolo HCP/NCCP and described in Appendix A to the Yolo HCP/NCCP. Covered species are those at-risk species that are covered by the take permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
E. “Implementing Agreement” means that agreement made and entered into by and between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Conservancy, the County of Yolo, and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland, that defines the parties’ respective roles and responsibilities and provides a common understanding of the actions that will be undertaken to implement the HCP/ NCCP.
F. “Mitigation Fees” means any fees adopted by the Conservancy, and any amendments thereto, that apply (unless exempted) to covered activities within the plan area in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Yolo HCP/NCCP and documents cited or relied on therein.
G. “Plan Area” means the geographic area covered by the Yolo HCP/NCCP, as described in Chapter 1 (Introduction) and depicted in Figure 1-1 thereof. The plan area includes the County of Yolo in its entirety, consisting of approximately six hundred fifty-three thousand five hundred forty-nine (653,549) acres and also includes one thousand one hundred seventy-four (1,174) acres along the south bank of Putah Creek in Solano County designated as the “Extended Plan Area for Riparian Restoration” in Figure 1-1. This area is included in the plan area only for the purpose of providing additional sites for riparian restoration to support the covered species.
H. “Planning Permit(s)” means any discretionary permit that authorizes a ground-disturbing activity for a covered activity, including but not limited to tentative map, parcel map, conditional use permit, development agreement, or any other discretionary permit, excluding actions of general application such as general plan amendments, zoning and rezoning, annexation, specific plans, and other area or regional land use actions.
I. “Project Applicant(s)” means a person or entity applying for a planning permit for a project authorizing a ground-disturbing activity for a covered activity, including any person or entity that is a “third party participant” within the meaning of Section 3.32 of the implementing agreement.
J. “Take” has the meaning set forth in the federal Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations, as well as impacts to plants identified as covered species. “Take” shall also have the meaning set forth in California Fish & Game Code Section 86 (i.e., to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill).
K. “Take Permits” means the federal incidental take permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Conservancy, the County, and each of the four (4) cities based on the Yolo HCP/NCCP pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the federal Endangered Species Act, and shall also include related state permits and approvals provided for in Section 86 of the California Fish & Game Code with regard to activities subject to the California Endangered Species Act (Fish & Game Code § 2050 et seq.) and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Fish & Game Code §§ 2800-2835).
L. “Yolo HCP/NCCP” shall mean the Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan. (§ 2, Ord. 1499, eff. July 5, 2018)