ORD-2025-01 Development Code Effective January 25, 2025

8

CHAPTER

Definitions

225. Space: with respect to a Manufactured Home Park, a plot of ground within such Manufactured Home Park designed for the accommodation of one Manufactured Home, together with required Open Space. This term also includes the terms “Lot”, “stand” and “Site”. Space may also mean any plot or parcel of ground upon which there is Erected any accommodation for any Recreational Vehicle or Structures of a temporary nature for living and sleeping purposes. 226. Special Flood Hazard Area: a designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that may include the V (Velocity) Zones and Coastal A Zones where Building Construction is forbidden, restricted, or contingent upon raising to the Base Flood Elevation. 227. Special Requirements: requirements made applicable to Development pursuant to Section 2.5.7.1 of this Development Code and/or the associated designations on a Regulating Plan or other map for those provisions. 228. Start of Construction: includes substantial Improvement, and means the date the Building Permit was issued, provided the actual Start of Construction, Repair, Reconstruction, rehabilitation, Addition, placement or other Improvement was within 180 days of the permit date. The actual start means either the first placement of permanent Construction of a Structure on a Site, including the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the Construction of columns or any work beyond the state of Excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent Construction does not include land preparation, including clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation of Streets and/or walkways; nor does it include Excavation for basement, footings, piers or foundations or the Erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of Accessory Buildings including Garages or sheds not occupied as Dwelling Units or not a part of the main Structure. For a substantial Improvement, the actual Start of Construction means the first Alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of a Building, whether or not that Alteration affects the external dimensions of the Building. 229. Steep Slope: areas that contain slopes 15 percent or greater grade and that are characterized by increased runoff, erosion and sediment hazards.

230. Storm Sewer: any sewer or open Drainage channel designed to carry stormwater and surface water, Thoroughfare wash and Drainage water. 231. Story: a habitable level of a Building above grade, other than an Attic or a basement, that is included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the next floor above it or, if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling above it. The definition of a Story does not include parapets, gables and other normal roof Structures. In cases where the Site has a significant slope, the number of Stories of a Building shall be measured from the point representing the average slope from front to back, or side to side, of the Building. Figure 8.2 Diagram of a two-story structure

232. Streetscreen: a freestanding wall or a hedge along the Frontage Line, or coplanar with the Facade. It may mask parking from the Thoroughfare, provide privacy to a side yard, and/or strengthen the spatial definition of the public realm. (Syn: Streetwall.) 233. Street Wall: A Street Wall is a vertical plane along the edge of properties abutting the public realm which is created by building facades, landscaping, site walls and other design elements. A Street Wall helps define the public street by providing enclosure and creating a human scale space. Maintaining a strong Street Wall contributes to a positive pedestrian experience. 234. Structural Alteration: for purposes of Sign regulation, any relocation, Replacement or enlargement of the structure of a Sign or change in the overall height, width, size or orientation of a Sign. Routine maintenance of nonstructural parts

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San Marcos Development Code Amended: January 21, 2025