§ 84-74.404. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

(a)

"Attic" means the space between the ceiling of the top story or top half-story, and the roof, of a building.

(b)

"Basement" means any area in a building or structure where the finished floor directly above the area is less than four feet above preconstruction grade or finished grade, whichever is lower.

(c)

"Bulk" means the volume of the building or structure, including interior courtyard, if any, with height of said courtyard measured to the top plate of the adjoining top story.

(d)

"Crawl space" means an area at, just above, or just below grade and enclosed within the building or structure, which is unconditioned, unfinished and not habitable as a result of insufficient ceiling height to meet applicable building code standards.

(e)

"Design" means the physical characteristics of the building or structure, such as bulk, fenestration, hipped roof and eaves.

(f)

"Development," for the purposes of this chapter, means any building or structure that requires a building permit, unless exempted under Section 84-74.604.

(g)

"Envelope" means a building's or structure's three-dimensional solid figure as defined by the exterior faces of the enclosing walls and roofs and including vertical extensions to the ceiling of the top story of eaves, balconies, decks, fenestration and interior courtyards.

(h)

"Gross floor area" means the total horizontal area in square feet of each floor inclusive of the exterior walls of all buildings on a parcel, as measured at the exterior face of the enclosing wall. Gross floor area includes attached and detached primary and accessory buildings, accessory dwelling units, interior courtyards, garages and carports with roof covering. Gross floor area does not include the area in attics, crawl spaces, basements, and uncovered balconies, decks, and patios.

(i)

"Interior courtyard" means an unroofed area contained within a building that is bounded on at least three sides by roofed interior space, provided the two opposing walls are each at least ten feet in depth.

(j)

"Light" means a living area's access to open sky unobstructed by buildings or structures.

(k)

"Living areas" mean rooms in the residential buildings on a parcel that have at least one exterior window or door. Living areas do not include attics, crawl spaces, basements, accessory buildings, garages and carports.

(1)

"Neighborhood" and "neighboring" mean real properties within three hundred feet of the subject property. "Sounding neighbors" and "neighbors" mean owners of real properties within three hundred feet of the subject property.

(m)

"Obstruction" means any substantial blockage or diminution by the proposed development on surrounding neighbors' light, solar access, view, or preexisting solar energy systems. An obstruction may be caused by a building, a structure, or by attached appendages, such as fire escapes, open stairways, chimneys, sills, belt-courses, cornices, eaves, trellises or other nonvegetative ornamental features.

(n)

"Parcel area" means the total horizontal area included within the property lines of a parcel.

(o)

"Scale" means the relative size of a building as compared to other buildings in the neighborhood.

(p)

"Siting" means the location of the envelope of a building or structure on a parcel.

(q)

"Solar access" means a living area's direct sunlight unobstructed by buildings or structures.

(r)

"View" means a scene from a window in habitable space of a neighboring residence. The term "view" includes both up-slope and down-slope scenes, but is distant or panoramic range in nature, as opposed to short range. Views include but are not limited to scenes of skylines, bridges, distant cities, distinctive geologic features, hillside terrain, wooded canyons, ridges and bodies of water.

(Ord. No. 2017-11, § V, 5-23-17; Ord. 2004-46 § 2).

Article 84-74.6. Exemptions