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Section 20-72 Definitions.

The following words, term and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Architectural planter means a container within which plantings may be placed to meet the requirements of this article.

Committee means the Tree and Landscaping Committee

Caliper means the diameter or thickness of the main stem of a young tree of sapling as measured at six (6) inches above ground level. This measurement is used for nursery-grown trees.

Crown means the main point of branching or foliage of a tree or plant, or the upper portion of a tree or plant.

Crown spread means the distance measured across the greatest diameter of a plant.

Developed area means the portion of a plot or parcel of land, excluding public rights-of-way, upon which a building, structure, pavement, landscape material, or other improvements have been placed.

Development means all new improvements to an undeveloped property, including structures and parking areas; the division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels; any excavation, landfill, or land disturbance;and any new use of the land or extension of use of the land.

Drip-line means the outer perimeter of the crown of a plant.

Encroachment means the protrusion of a vehicle outside of a parking space, display area, storage area, accessway, or access aisle into a landscaped area.

Ground cover means natural mulch or low growing plants other than deciduous varieties installed to form a continuous cover over the ground.

Interior area means the entire parcel to be developed exclusive of the front, rear and side perimeter landscape areas.

Landscape means the placement of landscape material in the planting area in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

Landscape material means living material including, but not limited to, trees, shrubs, vines, lawn grass, ground cover, landscape water features, and nonliving durable material commonly used in landscaping, including but not limited to rocks, pebbles, sand, prairie film, brick pavers, earthen mounds, but excluding impervious surfaces for vehicular use.Fifty (50) percent of area of such material shall be living..

New construction means any development for which an application for a building permit must be made prior to the initiation of any improvements. Also, in the case of vehicular use paving, any preparation or pavement (asphalt or concrete) of a site intended for any type of vehicular use begun after October 22, 1984.

Planting area means any area designed for landscape material installation, which area shall have a minimum of one hundred (100) square feet, a minimum depth of five (5) feet, and shall consist of suitable growing medium with proper drainage.

Redevelopment means the demolition or removal of the principal structure of more than fifty percent (50%) of the impervious surface of a site; any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the market value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered redevelopment regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however include either:

(a) any project for improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary, or safety code violations identified by the Chief Building Official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions.

(b) any alteration of a historic structure, provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure

Shade tree means any self-supporting woody plant of a species that is well shaped, well branched and well foliated which normally grows to an overall height of at least thirty-five (35) feet and normally develops an average mature spread of crown greater than thirty (30) feet in the City. A listing of suggested shade trees shall be maintained by the Chief Building Official and Zoning Administrator of the City.

Shrub means a woody perennial plant differing from a perennial herb by its persistent and woody stems and from a tree by its low stature and habit of branching from the base.

Sight triangle means the areas of property on both sides of an accessway formed by the intersection of each side of the accessway and public right-of-way with the two (2) sides of each triangle being not less than ten (10) feet in length from the point of intersection and the third side being a straight line connecting the end of the two (2) other sides.

Tree means any self-supporting, woody plant of a species which normally grows to an overall height of at least twenty (20) feet and normally develops an average mature spread of crown greater than twenty (20) feet in the City. A listing of suggested trees shall be maintained by the Chief Building Official and Zoning Administrator of the City.

Vehicular use area means any ground surface area, excepting public rights-of-way, used by any type of vehicle whether moving or at rest for the purpose of, including but not limited to, driving, parking, loading, unloading, storage, or display, such as, but not limited to, new and used car lots; activities of a drive-in nature in connection with banks, restaurants, filling stations, grocery and dairy stores; and other vehicular uses under, on, or within buildings.

Vine means any of a group of woody or herbaceous plants which may climb by twining, or which normally require support to reach mature form. A suggested list will be maintained by the Chief Building Official and Zoning Administrator.

Visual screen means a barrier of living or nonliving landscape material put in place for the purpose of separating and obscuring from view those areas so screened.

(Code 1958, 13A-2; Ord. of 11-28-94, I;Ord of 6-29-05)

Cross reference--Definitions and rules of construction generally, 1-2.

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(2005 (Sec.20-72), Amended, 06/29/2005, Prior Text)