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Qualified Professional. A person with experience and training in the pertinent scientific discipline, and who is a qualified scientific expert with expertise appropriate for the relevant critical area subject in accordance with WAC 365-195-905(4).

A. Urban Forestry. Qualified professionals in urban forestry must have academic and field experience that makes them competent in urban forestry. This may include arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or foresters certified by the Society of American Foresters. Qualified professionals in urban forestry must possess the ability to evaluate the health and hazard potential of existing trees, and the ability to prescribe appropriate measures necessary for the preservation of trees during land development.

B. Critical Areas. Qualified professionals in critical areas must have obtained a BS or BA or equivalent degree in biology, engineering, environmental studies, fisheries, geomorphology or a related field, and two years of related work experience. In addition:

1. A qualified professional for frequently flooded areas or a geologic hazard must be a registered professional engineer, geologist, engineering geologist or hydrogeologist licensed in the State of Washington with experience in the analyses required for the relevant hazard(s). For frequently flooded areas, a qualified professional may also be an architect where provided by state or federal law.

2. A qualified professional for wetlands must have a minimum of five years experience in wetland science including experience preparing wetland reports for review by regulatory agencies.

Reasonably Funded. A mitigation measure or other transportation system improvement scheduled for completion and designated as funded upon adoption of the most recent version of the Six-Year Street Plan.

Reasonably Safe from Flooding. Development that is designed and built to be safe from flooding based on consideration of current flood elevation studies, historical data, high water marks and other reliable data known to the community. In unnumbered A zones where flood elevation information is not available and cannot be obtained by practicable means, “reasonably safe from flooding” means that the lowest floor is at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade.

Recreational Vehicle. A vehicle which is built on a single chassis, 400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection, designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light-duty truck, and designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling, but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.

Regional Industry. An industrial or commercial land use which provides significant community-wide or regional economic benefit through the creation of new economic growth and employment opportunity.

Regional Public Facility. A land use which is designed to serve the needs of the community or region affected by the impact(s) of development. Regional Public Facilities include: airports, colleges, hospitals, regional parks or community centers.

Regulatory Flood. The flood used to define the outer boundary lines of the Flood Fringe. The 100-year flood will be the regulatory flood for the purposes of regulations contained in this title, but a lesser or greater flood limit may be set in any ordinance applying FF (Flood Fringe) or FW (Floodway) zoning to any land. The regulatory flood shall be based upon Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) provided by the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA).

Remodel. An internal or external modification to an existing building or structure that does not increase the site coverage.

Remove or Removal. The act of removing a tree by digging up, cutting down or any act which causes a tree to die, significantly impacts its natural growing condition and/or results in diminished environmental benefits or a hazard tree: including but not limited to, damage inflicted on the root system by machinery, storage of material or soil compaction, changing the ground level in the area of the tree’s root system, damage inflicted on the tree permitting infections or infestation, excessive pruning, paving with concrete, asphalt or other impervious material within the drip-line or any other action deemed harmful to the tree.

Residential Care Center. Any state or federally approved facility, other than a clinic, used as a residence for the care or rehabilitation of dependent children, the elderly, and the physically and/or mentally handicapped. Residential care centers shall provide care to seven or more residents.

Residential Care Home. Any state or federally approved dwelling used as a residence for the care or rehabilitation of dependent children, the elderly, and the physically and/or mentally handicapped. Residential care homes shall provide care for eight or fewer residents.

Restoration. Measures taken to restore an altered or damaged natural feature including:

A. Active steps taken to restore damaged critical areas or their buffers to the functioning condition that existed prior to an unauthorized alteration; and

B. Actions performed to reestablish structural and functional characteristics of the critical area that have been lost by alteration, past management activities, or catastrophic events. See also wetland creation, re-establishment, and rehabilitation.

Right-of-Way, Public. The property held by the city or other governmental jurisdiction for existing and/or future public access including land occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, pedestrian and bike paths, railroad, road, electric transmission line, oil or gas pipeline, water main, sanitary or storm sewer main, street trees or other special use. The usage of the term right-of-way for land division purposes shall mean that every right-of-way hereafter established and shown on a plat or map is to be separate and distinct from the lots or parcels adjoining such right-of-way and not included within the dimensions or areas of such lots or parcels.

Riparian area. The area adjacent to aquatic systems with flowing water (e.g., rivers, perennial or intermittent streams, seeps, springs) that contains elements of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems which mutually influence each other. Riparian areas are defined differently in and for the purposes of the Vancouver Shoreline Management Master Program.

Riparian Management Area and Riparian Buffer. The regulated areas that include the land from the ordinary high water mark to a specified distance as measured horizontally in each direction. The Riparian Management Area is adjacent to the lake, stream or river, and the Riparian Buffer is adjacent to the Riparian Management Area. See Figure 20.740-1 at VMC 20.740.110(A) or Figure 20.170.030-6 at VMC 20.170.030(I).

Road. Means the same as street.

Roof. The exterior surface and its supporting structure on the top of a building.

Roof Line. The uppermost line of the roof of a building or, in the case of an extended facade, the uppermost height of said facade.

Runway. A defined area at an airport designed and constructed to accommodate the landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length.

Satellite Earth Station. The facilities used for reception and processing of programming services from a satellite prior to transfer to terrestrial distribution systems or for processing of programming and services from a terrestrial source before transmission via satellite.

School. An institution primarily engaged in academic instruction for all or part of the K through 12 educational program, public, parochial or private, and recognized or approved as such by the state. A school may also include the following uses: common accessory uses such as associated meeting rooms, auditoriums, athletic facilities and support facilities related to school district operations (e.g., offices, kitchens, counseling centers, head start, childcare, adult education, and family support centers) except for transportation, warehouse/storage, and maintenance facilities.

School, Pre. An institution primarily in child training and academic instruction prior to the mandatory first grade.

School, Specialized Instructional. An institution providing instruction and training in a specific service, art, dance, driving, and music. Includes vocation or trade such as business, real estate, travel, auto machinery repair, welding, and skill center.

Search Ring. Regarding wireless communications facilities, a geographic area identified by the communications service provider as necessary within which to locate a wireless facility or to enhance or expand its service.

Secure Community Transition Facility. A residential facility for persons civilly committed and conditionally released from a total confinement facility, operated by the Secretary of Washington Social and Health Services or under contract with the secretary pursuant to RCW 71.09.020(10) as described in RCW 71.09.250 or as amended.

Senior Housing. Housing limited to persons aged 62 years or older.

Sensitive Areas. For the purposes of Chapter 20.770 VMC Tree, Vegetation, and Soil Conservation, this includes streams, geologically hazardous areas, fish and wildlife habitat areas, wetlands, and their associated buffers.

Sensitive Resources. Any of the following types of sensitive areas and resources or cultural resources, when properly identified, designated or recorded as such by the applicable local, state or federal regulations:

1. Known archaeological and historical sites (to be recorded with the state);

2. Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (as identified in VMC 20.740.110);

3. Frequently Flooded Areas (as identified in VMC 20.740.120);

4. Geological Hazard Areas (as identified in VMC 20.740.130);

5. Wetlands (as identified in VMC 20.740.140); and

6. Tree tracts, set aside for the preservation of tree groves, as defined in VMC 20.770 and approved by the city’s Urban Forester; and

7. Riparian areas, as identified in the Vancouver Shoreline Management Master Program.

8. Natural soils and native vegetation preserved as part of a low impact development.

SEPA. State Environmental Policy Act, as amended.

SEPA Rules. Chapter 197-11 WAC, as adopted, revised, and amended by Ecology.

Service Area. A geographic area described in the city capital facilities plan in which a defined set of public facilities provides service to development within the area, provided, that the service area for schools shall be the applicable school district. Service areas may be separately described for each type of public facility.

Serviceable. For the purposes of 20.775 VMC, Wetland and Water Bodies Protection, serviceable means presently usable.

Setback. The minimum allowable horizontal distance from a given point or line of reference, such as a property line, to the nearest vertical wall or other element of a building or structure or edge of vehicle parking area as defined herein. Where a sidewalk or private roadway is placed in an easement, the setback shall be measured from the back of sidewalk or edge of easement if there is no sidewalk.

Sexually-Oriented Adult Arcade and Sexually Oriented Adult Arcade Premises. Any premises on which any sexually-oriented adult arcade device is located and to which patrons, customers, and/or members of the public are admitted.

Sexually-Oriented Adult Arcade Device. Also known as panorama, preview, picture arcade, or peep show, any device which, for payment of a fee, membership fee or other charge, is used to exhibit or display a picture, view, film, videotape or videodisc, live show or other graphic display of specified anatomical areas. All such devices are denominated under this ordinance by the term sexually-oriented adult arcade device.

Sexually-Oriented Adult Entertainment. Any entertainment conducted in a public place of amusement where such entertainment involves a person appearing or performing in a state of nudity, as defined herein.

Sexually-Oriented Adult Entertainment Premises. Any premises to which the public, patrons or members are invited or admitted and wherein an entertainer provides sexually-oriented adult entertainment on a regular basis and as a substantial part of the business operation.

Shorelines of the State. Shorelines as defined in the Shoreline Management Master Program.

Short Plat. A map or representation of a short subdivision.

Sidewalk. A facility made of concrete or other approved material for the conveyance of pedestrians usually adjacent to a street or between streets.

Sign. Any structure, device, advertisement, advertising device or visual representation intended to advertise, identify or communicate information to attract the attention of the public for any reason.

Sign Area. Means the entire area of a sign on which graphics, letters, figures, symbols, trademarks and/or text is to be placed, excluding sign structure, architectural embellishments and framework. Sign area is calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the module or sign face containing the graphics, letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, and/or text; provided, however, the area of any sign using individual letters, numbers or symbols with a canopy, awning or wall as the background, without added decoration or change in the canopy, awning or wall, shall be the area within the shortest line drawn to include all letters, design and tubing which are a part of the sign or structure. For illuminated awnings the area shall be limited to the area within the shortest line drawn to include all copy and graphics, excluding illuminated areas outside of these lines.

Sign, Awning. A sign attached to or incorporated into an awning.

Sign, Billboard. An outdoor advertising structure, 12 foot by 25 foot or larger, designed and constructed to carry posters.

Sign, Business Complex. A sign which is typically free-standing and is designed to identify multiple businesses in a business complex.

Sign, Canopy. A sign attached to or incorporated into a canopy.

Sign, Commercial. Any sign that advertises a product, service, entertainment or commodity sold or offered on the premises where it is located.

Sign, Complex. (Auto Dealership Plan District). A sign with the purpose of identifying the area and/or containing more than one manufacturers brand.

Sign, Construction. A temporary sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects, lending institutions, or other persons or firms responsible for construction on the site where the sign is located, together with other related information.

Sign, Directional. A sign designed and erected solely for the purpose of traffic or pedestrian direction, and which is placed on the property to which or on which the public is directed.

Sign, Electronic Message Center (EMC). Electronic message center (EMC) means an electrically activated sign whose message content, either in whole or in part, may be changed by means of electronic programming.

Sign, Elevation. Regarding sign regulations, the portion of any building exterior enclosing the applicant’s place of business, measured horizontally by width of occupancy and vertically by height of occupancy on the street building frontage. In the case of a single-story building, vertical height of occupancy is measured to the eave or parapet line. For partial occupancy in a multi-story building, vertical height of occupancy is measured from floor line to floor line.

Sign Face. Means the portion of the sign on which the graphics, letters, figures, symbols, trademark or text is placed.

Sign, Fascia. A flat sign which projects less than one foot from the face or wall of the building, including parapet, upon which it is affixed, painted or attached, running parallel for its whole length to the face or wall of the building, and which does not extend beyond the horizontal width of such building.

Sign, Flashing. Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally-mounted intermittent light source. Time and temperature signs are excluded from this definition. For the purpose of this Title, EMC’s (consistent with the standards of VMC Section 20.960.060 I and Section 20.960.070 I) shall not be considered flashing signs.

Sign, Franchise. (Auto Dealership Plan District). A sign that identifies the manufacturers brand and/or name.

Sign, Free Standing. (Pole Signs and Monument Signs). A sign that is not attached to a building and is erected on a frame connected to the ground. Pole signs and monument signs are specific types of freestanding signs. A freestanding sign does not include a portable sign.

Sign Height. The vertical distance measured from grade at the point of support to the top of the sign or the sign’s structure.

Sign Maintenance. The repair or refurbishment of a sign, sign structure or any part of each.

Sign, Marquee. A sign attached to or incorporated into a marquee.

Sign, Messages Without a Cabinet, Area of. The area of any single geometric shape which encompasses all lettering and/or graphic message.

Sign, Monument. Means a sign and supporting structure which is attached to the ground and has similar top and bottom dimensions and is constructed as a solid structure or one which gives the appearance of a continuous and unbroken mass, with no separations between the sign and the base.

Sign, Multi-faced. A sign with more than one face. These types of signs shall be considered one (1) sign for the purpose of determining the number of signs allowed.

Sign, NIT. A measurement of brightness used to rate luminous displays. NIT is expressed in "candelas per square meter".

Sign, Official. Means the same as Public-Sector Sign.

Sign, Off-Premises. A third-party sign that advertises goods, products, services or facilities or directs persons to a location different from where the sign is installed.

Sign, On-Premises. A sign which carries only advertisement strictly incidental to a lawful use of the premises on which it is located, including signs or sign devices indicating the business transacted, services rendered, goods sold or produced on the premises, name of the business, and name of the person, firm or corporation occupying the premises.

Sign, Pole. A sign that is supported permanently upon the ground by poles or braces and not attached to any building.

Sign, Political Campaign. Any temporary sign which displays the name and/or picture of an individual seeking election or appointment to a public office or which pertains to a forthcoming public election or referendum or which advocates political views or policies.

Sign, Portable – Permanent. Permanent portable signs shall be defined as “onsite” signs placed in the right-of-way along the business frontage and on the same side of the street of the building or establishment which it advertises. Permanent portable signs shall be meant for continuous display during the hours the business is open and shall have the primary purpose of identifying the business.

Sign, Portable – Temporary. Temporary portable signs shall be defined as “off-site” signs placed in the right-of-way advertising an approved business or use. Temporary portable signs shall be displayed during the hours the business is open and shall have the sole purpose of identifying the business or providing directions.

Sign, Private Non-Commercial. Any sign under 6 square feet that does not advertise a product, service, entertainment, or commodity sold or offered on the premises where it is located.

Sign, Projecting. Shall mean any sign other than a wall sign, which is attached to or projects 12 inches or more from a structure or building face or wall.

Sign, Public-Sector. Any sign erected by any federal, state, county or city governmental agency or at the direction of any such governmental agency or court.

Sign, Public Service Information. A sign that provides general public service information to the public such as time, date, temperature, weather or directional information.

Sign, Reader Board. A sign constructed for the placing of advertising messages, which messages are changeable by use of manually removable or electrically changeable letters.

Sign, Rooftop. A sign erected upon the roof of a building, the entire face of which is situated above the roof line of the building to which it is attached, and which is wholly or partially supported by said building.

Sign, Rotating. A sign, any portion of which moves or is movable by any mechanical manner.

Sign, Secondary. A second free-standing sign on a given frontage in excess of 300 linear feet.

Sign, Sidewalk. A portable sign, typically in the shape of an inverted V, with two sign boards attached to each other at the top of the sign; also known as a sandwich board or A-frame sign. Each board shall be considered a separate sign face for purposes of determining allowable area of sign.

Sign, Temporary. Any sign that is not permanently installed or affixed to any sign structure or building, and not displayed for longer than 30 consecutive calendar days. In the case of construction project signs, they may be maintained for the duration of construction.

Sign, Time and Temperature. Means the same as Public Service Information Sign.

Sign, Vehicle. Any sign attached to or placed on a parked vehicle or trailer used principally for advertising purposes, rather than transportation, but excluding signs relating to the sale, lease, or rental of the vehicle or trailer and excluding signs which identify a firm or its product on a vehicle operated during the normal course of business.

Sign, Video. A sign providing information in both a horizontal and vertical format (as opposed to linear), through use of pixel and sub-pixel technology having the capacity to create continuously changing sign copy in a full spectrum of colors and light intensities.

Sign, Wall. Means the same as Painted Wall or Wall Graphic.

Sign, Window. Any sign affixed to (or painted on) the inside or outside of a window and intended to be viewed from the exterior of the structure.

Single Impact. An individual incidence of noise, actually measured in decibels, which may be heard on a property and which may be greater or lesser than the Ldn value, which is derived from the logarithmic averaging of single impacts within a period of time.

Significance. A quality of a property which helps one understand the history of the local area, state or nation by illuminating the local, statewide or nationwide impact of the events or persons associated with the property or its architectural type or style in information potential. The local area may be as large as Clark County or Southwest Washington or as small as a neighborhood. Local significance may apply to a property that illustrates a theme that is important to one or more localities; state significance to a theme important to the history of the state; and national significance to property of exceptional value in representing or illustrating an important theme in the history of the nation.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO). Occupancy by a single individual of a unit that contains no sanitary facilities or food preparation facilities or contains either but not both types of facilities.

Site. Any plot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land.

Six-Year Street Plan. That portion of the city’s Capital Facilities Plan which inventories planned street and road construction and improvement, and which designates such construction projects and improvements as funded or nonfunded.

Slope. The deviation of a surface from horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees.

SMA. The State Shoreline Management Act of 1971, as amended.

Soft Armoring Techniques. Techniques that apply the principles of the biological, ecological, and soils sciences and structural engineering to build structures which, using live plant materials as a main structural component, stabilize the soil against erosion, sedimentation, and flooding. Also referred to as “bioengineering techniques.”

Sound Transmission Reduction. Reduction of sound or noise from unit to unit utilizing the standards of the City Adopted Building Code(s).

Special Provisions. Street construction requirements peculiar to a special project that are not otherwise thoroughly or satisfactorily detailed and set forth in the standard specifications or standard plans.

Special Valuation Tax Incentive Program. The local option program that makes available to property owners a special tax valuation for rehabilitation of historic register properties under which the assessed value of an eligible historic property is determined at a rate that excludes, for up to ten years, the actual cost of the rehabilitation.

Specified Anatomical Areas. Regarding Adult Businesses, less than completely and opaquely covered: human genitals, pubic region, buttock and female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; and human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state even if completely and opaquely covered.

Specified Sexual Activities. Regarding Adult Businesses, human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy; and fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock or female breast.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). A classification pursuant to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual issued by the United States Office of Management and Budget. This system was replaced by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS).

Start of Construction. The start of permanent construction or substantial improvement activity on a site within 180 days of the issuance of a building permit. Permanent construction activities include the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of pilings, construction of columns or any work beyond site preparation, excavation, setting of temporary forms or the placement of accessory buildings; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor, or other structural part of the building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.

Stealth Design. A wireless communications facility’s support structure, antennae or accessory equipment structure that is designed to blend in with the existing physical environment, and reduce visual impacts to the extent possible.

Storage, Open. Storage of property outside of a fully enclosed building.

Storage Space. Sufficient space, either in individual dwelling units or common storage rooms, to provide adequate, secure, and convenient storage for items owned by building tenants.

Stormwater. Stormwater is that portion of precipitation that does not naturally percolate into the ground or evaporate, but flows via overland flow, interflow, pipes and other features of a stormwater drainage system into a defined surface waterbody or a constructed infiltration facility.

Stormwater Conveyance. Parts of a stormwater facility (such as pipes, culverts, swales, etc.) that are constructed specifically to transport water from one point to another. See Stormwater Facility.

Stormwater Facility. A constructed component of a stormwater drainage system, designed or constructed to perform a particular function or multiple functions. Stormwater facilities include, but are not limited to, pipes, swales, ditches, culverts, street gutters, detention ponds, retention ponds, constructed wetlands, infiltration devices, catch basins, oil/water separators, biofiltration swales, bioretention, permeable pavement, and vegetated roofs.

Stormwater Manual. Stormwater Manual means the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington, which is the 5-volume technical manual prepared by the Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Program, December 2014, Publication No. 14-10-055 (a revision of Publication No. 12-10-030), 5 volumes, and as hereafter amended.

Stormwater Permit. Stormwater Permit means the City of Vancouver’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit issued August 1, 2013, which was modified, Effective January 16, 2014, by the Washington State Department of Ecology, and as hereafter amended or reissued.

Story. That portion of a building between the surface of any floor and the surface of the next floor above it; or, if there is no floor above it, the space between such floor and ceiling.

Stream. Water contained within a channel, either perennial or intermittent, and classified according to WAC 222-16-030 or WAC 222-16-031. Streams also include natural watercourses modified by humans. Streams do not include drainage ditches which are not modifications of natural watercourses.

Street. A private or public way designed primarily for vehicular traffic. It includes the terms road, highway, avenue, boulevard, thoroughfare, or other traffic way, and usually includes improvements, including curbs, sidewalks, and street pavement within the right-of-way.

Street Frontage. The linear frontage of a parcel of property abutting a single public street.

Street Functional Classification System. The adopted hierarchy of street use as it relates to volume, speed, regional, area-wide, and local characteristics.

Street, Private. A thoroughfare that is privately owned providing a means of access to a property or properties.

Street, Public. A thoroughfare or right-of-way dedicated, deeded, condemned or otherwise acquired by the public for use as such, other than an alley, which affords the principal means of access to abutting property including avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard, highway, road, and any other thoroughfare.

Structure. Anything constructed or built, any edifice, building of any kind or any piece of work artificially built-up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner, which requires location on the ground or is attached to something having a location on the ground, including swimming pools, wading pools and covered patios, excepting outdoor areas such as paved areas, walks, tennis courts and similar recreation areas. For the purposes of VMC 20.740.120, Frequently Flooded Areas, a structure is a walled and roofed building , or a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.

Subdivision. The division or re-division of land into ten or more lots for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership. The term subdivision also applies to an area or tract of land that has been subdivided.

Subdivision, Short. The division, re-division or partition of land into nine or fewer lots, tracts, parcels, sites or divisions for the purpose of sale, lease or transfer of ownership.

Substantial Damage. Damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its pre-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred.

Substantial Disturbance. Disturbance such that little or no useful archaeological data could be obtained.

Substantial Improvement. Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure either:

1. Before the improvement or repair is started; or

2. If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred.

“Substantial improvement” is considered to occur at the start of construction. “Substantial improvement” does not include either:

1. Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or

2. Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.

Substantial Noise Impact. Exterior noise levels greater than Ldn 65, which impact necessitates special sound insulation to produce noise levels of 45 Ldn or less within the interior of a residential structure.

Survey, Archaeological. Regarding archaeological resource protection, a procedure by which an archaeologist makes a determination of the presence or absence of an archaeological site in a disturbance area, a preliminary assessment of the site’s potential significance, and a recommendation for further evaluation, avoidance, mitigation or recovery of resources in compliance with the provisions of 20.710 VMC.

System Development Charge (SDC). The connection fee charged so that the property upon which it is imposed will pay its equitable share of the costs of water-sewer system facilities which are system-wide in nature and are not site-specific needs, including such property’s equitable share of the amount required to upgrade such system to meet the demands imposed by the development.

System Improvements. Public facilities that are included in the capital facilities plan and are designed to provide service areas within the community at large, in contrast to project improvements.

Telecommuting. The use of telephones, computers or other similar technology to permit an affected employee to work at home or at a location closer to home than the affected employer’s principal worksite.

Temporary. A period not to exceed one year except as otherwise provided in this title.

Tenant Improvements. Construction improvements typically made to the interior of a nonresidential building to fit the building to a particular tenant’s needs, or to create separate tenant spaces. Typically it involves such things as adding or removing walls, ceilings and doors; re-wiring for electrical outlets and lighting; and providing plumbing, sprinklers, counters and walk-in coolers, often as part of a separate lease space in a building.

Through-Ventilation. The encouragement of natural cross-ventilation.

Total Developable Land (TDL). That portion of the subject property remaining once sensitive areas are subtracted from the total acreage of a property or collection of properties proposed for development.

Tract. A piece of land set aside in a separate area for dedication to the public, a homeowner’s association, or other entity, (e.g., open space, recreational facilities, and tree preservation) wetland or other sensitive lands.

Traffic Study. A study of traffic behavior by a licensed engineer.

Transit. A multiple-occupant vehicle operated on a for-hire, shared-ride basis, including bus, ferry, rail, shared-ride taxi, shuttle bus or vanpool.

Transit Facility. A development provided by a public transportation provider, which is designed to aid or encourage community use or multi-modal public transportation system, such as bus and van/carpools.

Transitional Surfaces. An area extending outward at 90 degree angles to an airport’s runway centerline at a slope of seven feet horizontally for each foot vertically.

Transitional Zone. The areas beneath the transitional surfaces.

Transplant. The relocation of a tree from one place to another on the same property.

Tree. Any self-supporting perennial woody plant that matures at a height greater than 26 feet and is generally referred to in the nursery and landscape industry as a tree.

Tree Farm. See Commercial Nursery.

Tree, Hazard. Any tree with a combination of structural defect and/or disease and a proximity to persons or property which makes it subject to a high probability of failure, as recommended by a qualified arborist.

Tree, Mitigation. A tree planted and retained to achieve the required tree density for a parcel or to replace a tree removed in violation of city ordinance.

Tree, Nuisance. A tree that is causing physical damage to property or has been damaged by past maintenance practices, and for which horticultural practices cannot correct the problem.

Tree Preservation. The retention of a tree or trees during and after construction.

Tree, Specimen. A tree that has been given greater than standard tree density value by the planning official through the evaluation process.

Tree, Street. A tree located within a street right-of-way or street tree easement, adjacent to public or private streets, including undeveloped areas.

Tree Tract. A separate deeded tract of land, specifically set aside for the preservation and/or planting of trees. Stormwater retention/detention facilities, sensitive areas, and other common areas may be considered tree tracts if they currently support the growth of trees.

Tree Unit. A unit of measurement based upon the size of the tree as set forth in Chapter 20.770 VMC, Tree, Vegetation, and Soil Conservation.

Tree, Vegetation and Soil Plan. A plan that contains specific information pertaining to the protection of healthy soil, and the preservation, and planting of trees and native vegetation pursuant to Chapter 20.770 VMC, Tree, Vegetation, and Soil Conservation.

Tree, Vegetation and Soil Protection Area (TVSPA). A separate tract of land, which may or may not be deeded as such, specifically set aside for the preservation of healthy soils and the preservation or planting of existing and/or native vegetation and trees. Stormwater retention/detention facilities, critical area buffers and other common areas may be considered TVSPA if they currently or are improved to an extent where they can support healthy soils and the growth of native vegetation and trees. The purpose of these areas for preserving healthy soils, preserving and/or planting native vegetation and trees is stated on the face of the plat when applicable.

Tribe or Tribes. Regarding Archaeological Preservation, any federally-recognized or other local Native American government organization which may consider the site to be of historic or cultural significance.

Truck, Heavy. Trucks, including truck tractors and similar vehicles, with two or more rear axles.

Truck, Light. Trucks and similar vehicles with single rear axles and single rear wheels.

Truck, Medium. Trucks and similar vehicles other than truck tractors with single rear axles and dual rear wheels. Truck tractors are in the Heavy Truck category. (Ord. M-4402 § 3(C), 2023; Ord. M-4325 § 3, 2020; Ord. M-4179 § 65, 2016; Ord. M-4034 § 2, 2012)