Village of Germantown

A zones Those areas shown on the Official Floodplain Zoning Map which would be inundated by the regional flood. These areas may be numbered or unnumbered A Zones. The A Zones may or may not be reflective of flood profiles, depending on the availability of data for a given area.

Accessory building A separate building, the use of which is purely incidental to that of the principal building.

Accessory structure or use When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, a facility, structure, building or use which is accessory or incidental to the principal use of a property, structure or building.

Accessory use A use subordinate in nature, extent or purpose to the principal use of the building or lot.

Acre, gross The total area of land within the perimeter of a development tract or parcel of land.

Acre, net A measure of developable land area computed by subtracting from the gross acres of a site all of the unbuildable area found within the parcel. Unbuildable area shall include existing and dedicated rights-of-way required for streets and highways, navigable waterways, wetlands, and floodplains.

AH zone See "Area of shallow flooding".

Alley A way which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property and which is not more than 24 feet wide.

Alteration An enhancement, upgrading or substantial change or modifications other than an addition or repair to a dwelling or to electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other systems within a structure.

Alternative tower structure An existing man-made structure which is used as an alternative to a tower and to which an antenna and/or an antenna support structure is attached.

Antenna Any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building or structure and used in communications that radiate or capture electromagnetic magnetic waves, digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies (excluding radar signals), wireless telecommunications signals or other communications signals.

Antenna support structure A structure which is attached to a tower or an alternative tower structure and which is designed to support an antenna at a height sufficient to permit effective receipt or transmission of wireless communications.

AO zone See "Area of shallow flooding".

Apartment A portion of a residential or commercial building used as a separate housing unit. See also Dwelling Unit.

Apartment house See Dwelling, Multiple.

Aquifer A saturated, permeable geologic formation that contains and will yield significant quantities of water.

Area of shallow flooding A designated AO, AH, AR/AO, AR/AH, or VO Zone on a community's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) with a one percent or greater annual chance of flooding to an average depth of one to 3 feet where a clearly defined channel does not exist, where the path of flooding is unpredictable, and where velocity flood may be evident. Such flooding is characterized by ponding or sheet flow.

Attached A garage, dwelling or other building structure that shares a common wall with a principal building or structure where the length of the common wall shared between the two structures is at least fifteen (15) continuous feet or is connected to a principal building or structure by way of an enclosed structure, i.e. hallway, breezeway or room, constructed with a permanent foundation, roof, and walls where: (1) the length of such enclosed areas is not greater than twice the width of said enclosed area; and (2) the materials, method of construction and appearance are the same as that for the principal building to which the addition is attached.

Base flood The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, as published by FEMA as part of a FIS and depicted on a FIRM.

Basement When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any enclosed area of a building having its floor sub-grade, i.e., below ground level, on all sides.

Basement or cellar A story partly underground but having at least 1/2 of its height, but not more than 5 feet, above the mean level of the adjoining ground. Basements in and of themselves shall not be used for living purposes.

Berm A man-made landscape feature consisting of mounded soil. Rock or concrete rubble may be included in a berm if completely covered with topsoil.

Building See Structure.

Building A structure having a roof and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure for persons, animals or chattels.

Building frontage The horizontal linear dimension of a wall that contains the primary public entrance of a building. In buildings with multiple units, the building frontage for each unit shall be considered as the width of the unit from party wall to party wall; provided, however, that the building frontage for corner units shall be the width of the unit from party wall to exterior wall of the building.

Building, accessory See Accessory building

Building, alterations of Any change or rearrangement of the supporting members such as bearing walls, beams, columns or girders of a building, an addition to a building, or movement of a building from one location to another.

Building, area of The total living area bounded by the exterior walls of a building at the floor levels, but not including basement, garages, porches, breezeways and unfinished attics.

Building, front line of A line parallel to the street intersecting the foremost point of the building, excluding uncovered steps.

Building, height of The vertical distance from the mean elevation of a finished grade along the front of the building to the highest point of a building, excluding chimneys, wind vanes, cupolas, plumbing vents and the like.

Building, principal A building in which is conducted the main use of the lot on which said building is located. In all single-family residential zoning classifications only one principal building shall be permitted per lot. More than one principal building may be allowed per lot or parcel in the other residential and all nonresidential zoning districts subject to site development and building plan approval by the Plan Commission.

Bulkhead line A geographic line along a reach of navigable water that has been adopted by a municipal ordinance and approved by the Department pursuant to s. 30.11, Wis. Stats., and which allows limited filling between this bulkhead line and the original ordinary highwater mark, except where such filling is prohibited by the floodway provisions of this chapter.

Business Includes the commercial, limited industrial and general industrial uses and districts as herein defined.

Campground When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any parcel of land which is designed, maintained, intended or used for the purpose of providing sites for nonpermanent overnight use by 4 or more camping units, or which is advertised or represented as a camping area.

Camping unit When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any portable device, no more than 400 square feet in area, used as a temporary shelter, including but not limited to a camping trailer, motor home, bus, van, pick-up truck, or tent that is fully licensed, if required, and ready for highway use.

Carport See Garage

Certificate of compliance A certification that the construction and the use of land or a building, the elevation of fill or the lowest floor of a structure is in compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter.

Channel A natural or artificial watercourse with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct normal flow of water.

Co-location The provision of multiple antennas or more than one commercial wireless communication service provider or government entity on a single-tower or structure.

Conditional use Use of a special nature such as to make impractical its predetermination as a principal use in a district.

Cone of depression The area around a well, in which the water level has been lowered at least 1/10 of a foot by pumping of the well.

Conforming use Any lawful use of a building, structure or parcel of land which complies with the provisions of this chapter.

Court An open, unoccupied space other than a yard, on the same lot with a building, and which is bounded on 2 sides by the building.

Crawlways or Crawl space An enclosed area below the first usable floor of a building, generally less than five feet in height, used for access to plumbing and electrical utilities.

Curb break Any interruption or break in the line of a street curb in order to connect a driveway to a street or otherwise to provide vehicular access to abutting property.

Curb level The level of the established curb elevation in the front of the building measured at the center of such front.

Deck An unenclosed exterior structure that has no roof or sides, but has a permeable floor which allows the infiltration of precipitation.

Department The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Development When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any artificial change to improved or unimproved real estate, including, but not limited to, the construction of buildings, structures or accessory structures; the construction of additions or alterations to buildings, structures or accessory structures; the repair of any damaged structure or the improvement or renovation of any structure, regardless of percentage of damage or improvement; the placement of buildings or structures; subdivision layout and site preparation; mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations; the storage, deposition or extraction of materials or equipment; and the installation, repair or removal of public or private sewage disposal systems or water supply facilities.

Development Any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate including, but not limited to, construction of or additions or substantial improvements to buildings, other structures or accessory uses, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, or deposition of materials.

Dryland access A vehicular access route which is above the regional flood elevation and which connects land located in the floodplain to land outside the floodplain, such as a road with its surface above regional flood elevation and wide enough for wheeled rescue and relief vehicles.

Dwelling group A group of 2 or more multifamily dwellings occupying a lot in one ownership with any 2 or more dwellings having any yard or court in common.

Dwelling unit A building or portion thereof used exclusively for human habitation, including single-family, 2-family and multifamily dwellings, but not including hotels, motels or lodging houses.

Dwelling, 2-family A building designed, arranged or used for, or occupied exclusively, by 2 families living independently of each other.

Dwelling, attached single-family A portion of a building designed, intended and used for residential purposes by one family as a single housekeeping entity, with a separate direct entrance that shares at least one common wall with another dwelling unit, together with a private yard area and accessory private garage, either attached or detached.

Dwelling, multiple A building or portion thereof used or designated as a residence for 3 or more families as separate housekeeping units, including apartments, attached townhouses and condominiums.

Dwelling, single-family A detached building designed, arranged, used for and occupied by one family. A single-family dwelling may include a "mother-in-law suite" as provided for and defined herein subject to the granting of a conditional use permit by the Village Board.

Elderly housing Housing for older persons, as that term is defined in the Wisconsin Fair Housing Act, s. 101.22(lm)(m), Wis. Stats., to wit: (a) Housing provided under any State or Federal program that the Secretary determined is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons, as defined in the State or Federal program. (b) Housing solely intended for and solely occupied by persons 62 years of age or older. (c) Housing primarily intended and primarily operated for occupancy by at least one person aged 55 or older per dwelling unit.

Encroachment Any fill, structure, equipment, use or development in the floodway.

Equipment facility A building, cabinet, or other enclosure used to house and protect the electronic equipment necessary for processing wireless communications at a wireless communications facility.

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

Facilities A general term referring to land uses, business operations, activities, developed property, or material stored.

Family Any number of persons related by blood, adoption or marriage, or not to exceed 2 persons not so related, living together in one dwelling as a single housekeeping entity.

Farm Land consisting of 10 acres or more on which produce, crops, livestock or flowers are grown primarily for off-premises consumption, use or sale.

Farmland preservation agreement An agreement between the owner of eligible farmland and the State restricting development of such farmland for a term of years pursuant to Ch. 91, Wis. Stats.

FCC Federal Communications Commission

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) The federal agency that administers the National Flood Insurance Program.

Five-year time of travel The recharge area upgradient of the cone of depression, the outer boundary of which it is determined or estimated that groundwater will take 5 years to reach a pumping well.

Flood frequency The probability of a flood occurrence which is determined from statistical analyses. The frequency of a particular flood event is usually expressed as occurring, on the average once in a specified number of years or as a percent (%) chance of occurring in any given year.

Flood hazard boundary map A map designating approximate flood hazard areas. Flood hazard areas are designated as unnumbered A-Zones and do not contain floodway lines or regional flood elevations. This map forms the basis for both the regulatory and insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until superseded by a Flood Insurance Study and a Flood Insurance Rate Map.

Flood insurance rate map (FIRM) A map of a community on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both the floodplain and the risk premium zones applicable to the community. This map can only be amended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Flood insurance study A technical engineering examination, evaluation, and determination of the local flood hazard areas. It provides maps designating those areas affected by the regional flood and provides both flood insurance rate zones and base flood elevations and may provide floodway lines. The flood hazard areas are designated as numbered and unnumbered A-Zones. Flood Insurance Rate Maps, that accompany the Flood Insurance Study, form the basis for both the regulatory and the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program.

Flood or Flooding A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas caused by one of the following conditions: (a) The overflow or rise of inland waters; (b) The rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source; (c) The inundation caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels along the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior; or (d) The sudden increase caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a seiche, or by some similarly unusual event.

Flood profile A graph or a longitudinal profile line showing the relationship of the water surface elevation of a flood event to locations of land surface elevations along a stream or river.

Flood protection elevation An elevation of 2 feet of freeboard above the water surface profile elevation designated for the regional flood. (Also see: Freeboard.)

Flood storage Those floodplain areas where storage of floodwaters has been taken into account during analysis in reducing the regional flood discharge.

Floodfringe That portion of the floodplain outside of the floodway which is covered by flood waters during the regional flood and associated with standing water rather than flowing water.

Floodplain Land which has been or may be covered by flood water during the regional flood. It includes the floodway and the floodfringe, and may include other designated floodplain areas for regulatory purposes.

Floodplain island A natural geologic land formation within the floodplain that is surrounded, but not covered, by floodwater during the regional flood.

Floodplain management Policy and procedures to insure wise use of floodplains, including mapping and engineering, mitigation, education, and administration and enforcement of floodplain regulations.

Floodproofing Any combination of structural provisions, changes or adjustments to properties and structures, water and sanitary facilities and contents of buildings subject to flooding, for the purpose of reducing or eliminating flood damage.

Floodway The channel of a river or stream and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel required to carry the regional flood discharge.

Floor area The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a dwelling unit, exclusive of porches, balconies, garages, basements and cellars, measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the center lines of walls or portions separating dwelling units. For uses other than residential, the floor area shall be measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the center line of walls or partitions separating such uses, and shall include all floors, lofts, balconies, mezzanines, cellars, basements and similar areas devoted to such uses.

Floor area, primary The floor area of a building for purposes of determining required parking ratios which shall include only that portion of the total floor area devoted to customer service, sales and office space and shall not include warehouse, utility, hallway and other accessory space which does not generate parking demand.

Freeboard A safety factor expressed in terms of a specified number of feet above a calculated flood level. Freeboard compensates for any factors that cause flood heights greater than those calculated, including ice jams, debris accumulation, wave action, obstruction of bridge openings and floodways, the effects of watershed urbanization, loss of flood storage areas due to development and aggregation of the river or stream bed.

Frontage All of the property abutting on one side of a street measured along the street line.

Garage, private A building or portion thereof used exclusively for parking or temporary storage of self-propelled vehicles, typically not exceeding 3 vehicles.

Garage, public A building other than a private or storage garage used for the care, repair or storage of self-propelled vehicles or where such vehicles are left for remuneration, hire or sale. This includes premises commonly known as gasoline stations or service stations.

Habitable structure When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any structure or portion thereof used or designed for human habitation.

Hearing notice Publication or posting meeting the requirements of ch. 985, Wis. Stats. For appeals, a Class 1 notice, published once at least one week (7 days) before the hearing, is required. For all zoning ordinances and amendments, a Class 2 notice, published twice, once each week consecutively, the last at least a week (7 days) before the hearing. Local ordinances or bylaws may require additional notice, exceeding these minimums.

Height The distance from the ground at the base of the tower or alternative tower structure to the highest point on the tower or alternative tower structure or any fixture attached thereto, whichever is highest.

High flood damage potential Damage that could result from flooding that includes any danger to life or health or any significant economic loss to a structure or building and its contents.

Highest adjacent grade The highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.

Historic structure When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any structure that is either: (a) Listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; (b) Certified or preliminarily determined by the Secretary of the Interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the Secretary to qualify as a registered historic district; (c) Individually listed on a state inventory of historic places in states with historic preservation programs which have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; or (d) Individually listed on a local inventory of historic places in communities with historic preservation programs that have been certified either by an approved state program, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or by the Secretary of the Interior in states without approved programs.

Increase in regional flood height A calculated upward rise in the regional flood elevation greater than 0.00 foot, based on a comparison of existing conditions and proposed conditions which is directly attributable to development in the floodplain but not attributable to manipulation of mathematical variables such as roughness factors, expansion and contraction coefficients and discharge.

Junk yard An open space where waste and used or secondhand materials are bought, sold, exchanged, stored, baled, packed, disassembled or handled, including, but not limited to scrap iron and other metals, paper, rags, rubber, tires and bottles. A "junk yard" also includes an auto wrecking yard, but does not include uses established entirely within enclosed buildings.

Land use When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any nonstructural use made of unimproved or improved real estate. (Also see Development.)

Loading area A completely off-street space or berth on the same lot for the loading or unloading of freight carriers having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley.

Lot A parcel of land having frontage on a public street, occupied or intended to be occupied by a principal structure or use, and sufficient in size to meet the lot width, lot frontage, lot area, yard, parking area and other open space provisions of this chapter.

Lot coverage (residential) That area of a lot occupied by the principal building or buildings and accessory buildings.

Lot lines and area The peripheral boundaries of a parcel of land and the total area lying within such boundaries.

Lot width The width of a parcel of land measured at the setback line.

Lot, corner A lot abutting 2 or more streets at their intersection provided that the corner of such intersection shall have an angle of 135º or less, measured on the lot side. On a corner lot, both streets shall be deemed front lot lines with side opposite the front entrance considered the rear yard.

Lot, double frontage A lot having a pair of opposite lot lines along 2 more or less parallel public streets and which is not a corner lot. For the purpose of this ordinance, double frontage lots in residential districts shall be deemed to have one front yard on the street to which the dwelling faces and from which principal access to the dwelling is provided, and, one rear yard for purposes of determining the type, height, location and setback requirements for accessory buildings and fences to be installed on any double frontage lot.

Lowest adjacent grade Elevation of the lowest ground surface that touches any of the exterior walls of a building.

Lowest floor The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area (including basement). An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage in an area other than a basement area is not considered a building's lowest floor; provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable non-elevation design requirements of 44 CFR 60.3.

Maintenance When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, the act or process of restoring to original soundness, including redecorating, refinishing, non-structural repairs, or the replacement of existing fixtures, systems or equipment with equivalent fixtures, systems or structures.

Manufactured home A structure transportable in one or more sections, which is built on a permanent chassis and is designed to be used with or without a permanent foundation when connected to required utilities. The term "manufactured home" includes a mobile home but does not include a "mobile recreational vehicle.

Mobile 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, carried or permanently towable by a licensed, light-duty vehicle, is licensed for highway use if registration is required and is designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling, but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel or seasonal use. Manufactured homes that are towed or carried onto a parcel of land, but do not remain capable of being towed or carried, including park model homes, do not fall within the definition of "mobile recreational vehicles."

Mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision A parcel (or contiguous parcels) of land, divided into 2 or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale.

Mobile/manufactured home park or subdivision, existing A parcel of land, divided into 2 or more manufactured home lots for rent or sale, on which the construction of facilities for servicing the lots is completed before the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived. At a minimum, this would include the installation of utilities, the construction of streets and either final site grading or the pouring of concrete pads.

Mobile/manufactured home park, expansion to existing The preparation of additional sites by the construction of facilities for servicing the lots on which the manufactured homes are to be affixed. This includes installation of utilities, construction of streets and either final site grading, or the pouring if concrete pads.

Model, corrected effective A hydraulic engineering model that corrects any errors that occur in the Duplicate Effective Model, adds any additional cross sections to the Duplicate Effective Model, or incorporates more detailed topographic information than that used in the current effective model.

Model, duplicate effective A copy of the hydraulic analysis used in the effective FIS and referred to as the effective model.

Model, effective The hydraulic engineering model that was used to produce the current effective Flood Insurance Study.

Model, existing (pre-project) A modification of the Duplicate Effective Model or Corrected Effective Model to reflect any man made modifications that have occurred within the floodplain since the date of the effective model but prior to the construction of the project for which the revision is being requested. If no modification has occurred since the date of the effective model, then this model would be identical to the Corrected Effective Model or Duplicate Effective Model.

Model, revised (post-project) A modification of the Existing or Pre-Project Conditions Model, Duplicate Effective Model or Corrected Effective Model to reflect revised or post-project conditions.

Municipal water supply The municipal water supply of the Village of Germantown.

Municipality or Municipal The county, city or village governmental units enacting, administering and enforcing this zoning ordinance.

NAVD or North American Vertical Datum Elevations referenced to mean sea level datum, 1988 adjustment.

New construction For floodplain management purposes, "new construction" means structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after the effective date of floodplain zoning regulations adopted by this community and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures. For the purpose of determining flood insurance rates, it includes any structures for which the "start of construction" commenced on or after the effective date of an initial FIRM or after December 31, 1974, whichever is later, and includes any subsequent improvements to such structures.

NGVD or National Geodetic Vertical Datum Elevations referenced to mean sea level datum, 1929 adjustment.

Nonconforming building or structure Any building or structure which does not comply with all of the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment hereto regulating any building or structure for the zoning district in which such building or structure is located.

Nonconforming structure When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, an existing lawful structure or building which is not in conformity with the dimensional or structural requirements of this ordinance for the area of the floodplain which it occupies. (For example, an existing residential structure in the floodfringe district is a conforming use. However, if the lowest floor is lower than the flood protection elevation, the structure is nonconforming.)

Nonconforming use When used in the context of the floodplain regulation, an existing lawful use or accessory use of a structure or building which is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter for the area of the floodplain which it occupies. (Such as a residence in the floodway.)

Nonconforming use Any use of land, buildings or structures which does not comply with all of the regulations of this chapter or of any amendment hereto governing use for the zoning district in which such use is located.

Obstruction to flow Any development which blocks the conveyance of floodwaters such that this development alone or together with any future development will cause an increase in regional flood height.

Official floodplain zoning map That map, adopted and made part of this ordinance, as described in section 23.01(5)(b), which has been approved by the Department and FEMA.

Open space use When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, those uses having a relatively low flood damage potential and not involving structures.

Operator A person, corporation, partnership, association or other organization which: (a) Provides wireless communication services, either directly or through one or more agents, employees, subsidiaries or affiliates; or (b) Controls or is responsible for the management and operation of a wireless communications facility.

Ordinary highwater mark The point on the bank or shore up to which the presence and action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinctive mark such as by erosion, destruction or prevention of terrestrial vegetation, predominance of aquatic vegetation, or other easily recognized characteristic.

Parking lot A structure or premises containing 10 or more parking spaces. Such spaces may be for rent or a fee.

Parking space An off-street space available for the parking of a motor vehicle and which, in this chapter, is held to be an area 9 feet wide and 20 feet long, exclusive of passageways and driveways, appurtenant thereto and giving access thereto.

Parties of interest Includes all property owners in the area proposed to be rezoned, all abutting property owners within 100 feet, and all property owners of opposite frontages within 100 feet.

Person An individual, partnership, association, corporation, municipality or state agency, or other legal entity.

Person An individual, or group of individuals, corporation, partnership, association, municipality or state agency.

Personal property When used in the context of rummage sales, any property, other than real estate, which is acquired in the course of living in or maintaining a dwelling unit.

Points of visual interest Views of waterways, open spaces, historic buildings, architecturally significant structures or other scenic views.

Preexisting tower and antenna Any tower or antenna for which a building permit or conditional use permit has been properly issued prior to the effective date of this section (October 4, 1999).

Principal building See Building, principal

Principal use See Use, principal

Private sewage system A sewage treatment and disposal system serving one structure with a septic tank and soil absorption field located on the same parcel as the structure. It also means an alternative sewage system approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services, including a substitute for the septic tank or soil absorption field, a holding tank, a system serving more than one structure or a system located on a different parcel than the structure.

Public utilities Those utilities using underground or overhead transmission lines such as electric, telephone and telegraph, and distribution and collection systems such as water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer.

Reasonably safe from flooding Means base flood waters will not inundate the land or damage structures to be removed from the floodplain and that any subsurface waters related to the base flood will not damage existing or proposed buildings.

Recharge area The area which encompasses all areas or features that, by surface infiltration of water that reaches the zone of saturation of an aquifer, supplies groundwater to a well.

Regional flood A flood determined to be representative of large floods known to have occurred in Wisconsin. A regional flood is a flood with a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, and if depicted on the FIRM, the RFE is equivalent to the BFE.

Setback or front yard A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which shall be the minimum horizontal distance between the existing or proposed street or highway line and a line parallel thereto through the nearest point of the principal structure. Corner lots shall have 2 such yards.

Sign Any words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, trade names or trade marks by which anything is made known and which are used to advertise or promote an individual, firm, association, corporation, profession, business, commodity or product and which are visible from any public street or highway.

Sign, awning A nonilluminated identification sign painted on or affixed flat to the surface of a movable awning and which does not extend vertically or horizontally from the awning.

Sign, canopy A sign affixed to or forming part of a permanent canopy or marquee and which does not extend horizontally beyond the limits of such canopy or marquee.

Sign, directional A sign whose message is exclusively limited to guiding the circulation of motorists or pedestrians on the site.

Sign, ground A free-standing sign affixed to the ground and independent of any building.

Sign, outdoor advertising A structural poster, panel or painted sign, either free-standing or attached to the outside of a building, for the purpose of conveying information, knowledge or ideas to the public about a subject either related or unrelated to the premises upon which located.

Sign, projecting A sign extending more than 12 inches from the face of a building or structure.

Sign, roof A sign erected on or over the roof of a building.

Sign, temporary A banner, pennant or advertising display with or without text, graphic, logo or message constructed of wood, metal, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, vinyl, plastic or other material that is freestanding or mounted on a support structure where, either by type of construction, location of display or purpose, is intended to be displayed for a short period of time. Signs that are specifically prohibited for use as a temporary sign include search lights, inflatables, signs with internal electronic components, or any sign cabinet or other sign that is typically used as a permanent sign that is mounted, displayed or otherwise used on a temporary basis.

Sign, wall A sign which is attached to a wall of a building or structure and projects no more than 12 inches from such wall or structure.

Signable area The signable area of a building is the area of the facade of the building up to the roof line which is free of windows and doors or major architectural detail on which signs may be displayed. In computing signable area, any facade which faces and abuts upon a public street right-of-way may be utilized.

Significant facilities and services specifically etc etc Those services or facilities defined in the Wisconsin Fair Housing Act, §101.22(lm)(u), Wis. Stats., to wit, includes social and recreational programs; continuing education; information and counseling; recreational, homemaker, outside maintenance and referral services; an accessible physical environment; emergency and preventative health care programs; congregate dining facilities; transportation to facilitate access to social services; and services designed to encourage and assist residents to use the services and facilities available to them.

Start of construction When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, 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 on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns, or any work beyond initial excavation, or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling, nor does it include the installation of streets and/or walkways, nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundations or the erection of temporary forms, nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure. For an alteration, 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.

Street A public right-of-way not less than 60 feet wide providing primary or principal access to abutting properties.

Street, arterial A street used, or intended to be used, primarily for fast or heavy interneighborhood or intercommunity through traffic. Arterial street shall include freeways and expressways as well as standard arterial streets, highways and parkways.

Street, collector An urban street used, or intended to be used, to carry traffic from minor street to arterials street systems including the principal entrance street to urban residential subdivisions.

Street, minor A street used, or intended to be used, primarily for access to abutting properties.

Structural alterations Any change in the supporting members of a structure such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.

Structure An erection or construction such as buildings, towers, masts, poles, booms, signs, decorations, carports, machinery and equipment.

Structure Any manmade object with form, shape and utility, either permanently or temporarily attached to, placed upon or set into the ground, stream bed or lake bed, including, but not limited to, roofed and walled buildings, gas or liquid storage tanks, bridges, dams and culverts.

Structure, outdoor advertising Anything constructed or erected, either free-standing or attached to the outside of a building, for the purpose of conveying information, knowledge or ideas to the public about a subject either related to unrelated to the premises upon which located.

Subdivision Has the meaning given in s. 236.02(12), Wis. Stats.

Substantial damage When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, 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 percent of the equalized assessed value of the structure before the damage occurred.

Substantial improvement When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, any repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or improvement of a building or structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the equalized assessed value of the structure before the improvement or repair is started. If the structure has sustained substantial damage, any repairs are considered substantial improvement regardless of the work performed. The term does not, however, include either any project for the improvement of a building required to correct existing health, sanitary or safety code violations identified by the building official and that are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions; or any alteration of a historic structure provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a historic structure.

Substantial improvement Any repair, reconstruction or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50% of the present equalized value of the structure either before the improvement or repair is started, or if the structure has been damaged, and is being restored, before the damage occurred. The term does not, however, include either of the following. (a) Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing State or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to assure safe living conditions; or (b) Any alteration of a structure or site documented as deserving preservation by the Wisconsin State Historical Society or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ordinary maintenance repairs are not considered structural repairs, modifications or additions; such ordinary maintenance repairs include internal and external painting, decorating, paneling and the replacement of doors, windows and other nonstructural components.

Sustained yield forestry Management of forested lands to provide annual or periodic crops of forest products.

Thirty-day time of travel The recharge area upgradient of a well, or its cone of depression, the outer boundary of which it is determined or estimated that groundwater will take 30 days to reach a pumping well.

Tower Any structure that is designed and constructed for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for telephone, radio and similar communication purposes, including self-supporting lattice towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures and the like. The term includes the structure and any support thereto.

Tower site The parcel of land where a tower and associated wireless communication structures, fixtures and equipment are located.

Unnecessary hardship When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, where special conditions affecting a particular property, which were not self-created, have made strict conformity with restrictions governing areas, setbacks, frontage, height or density unnecessarily burdensome or unreasonable in light of the purposes of the chapter.

Use, accessory See Accessory use

Use, permitted A use which may be lawfully established in a particular district, provided it conforms with all requirements, regulations and standards of such district.

Use, principal The main use of land or a building as distinguished from a subordinate use.

Use, temporary Impermanent uses of an occasional nature not exceeding 6 months duration. Temporary uses shall not involve the use of permanent structures, permanent signs or portable signs.

Use, unclassified or unspecified A use not specifically enumerated as a permitted use or conditional use in a particular zoning district.

Variance When used in the context of the floodplain regulations, an authorization by the board of adjustment or appeals for the construction or maintenance of a building or structure in a manner which is inconsistent with dimensional standards (not uses) contained in the floodplain zoning ordinance.

Violation The failure of a structure or other development to be fully compliant with the floodplain zoning ordinance. A structure or other development without required permits, lowest floor elevation documentation, floodproofing certificates or required floodway encroachment calculations is presumed to be in violation until such time as that documentation is provided.

Water surface profile A graphical representation showing the elevation of the water surface of a watercourse for each position along a reach of river or stream at a certain flood flow. A water surface profile of the regional flood is used in regulating floodplain areas.

Watershed The entire region contributing runoff or surface water to a watercourse or body of water.

Well An excavation opening in the ground made by digging, boring, drilling, driving or other methods, to obtain groundwater regardless of its intended use.

Well A boring into the earth for the purpose of extracting groundwater for supply to the municipal water supply.

Well field A piece of land used primarily for the purpose of locating wells to supply a municipal water system.

Wireless communications service The provision of wireless communication services for a consideration. Wireless communication services include, but are not limited to, Cellular Communications Service (CCS), Personal Communication Service (PCS), Specialized Mobile Radio Service (SMR), Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR), paging services and other similar wireless communication services

Yard, front See Setback or Front yard

Yard, rear An open space on the same lot with a main building, unoccupied except as hereinafter permitted, extending the full width of the lot and situated between the rear line of the lot and the rear line of the building projected to the side lines of the lot. The depth of the rear yard shall be measured between the real line of the lot, or the center line of the alley if there be an alley, and the rear line of the building.

Yard, side An open unoccupied space on the same lot with a main building, situated between the side of the building and the adjacent side line of the lot and extending from the rear line of the front yard to the front line of the rear yard. If there be no front yard, the front boundary of the side yard shall be the front line of the lot, and if there be no rear yard, the rear boundary of the side yard shall be the rear line of the lot. The side yard on corner lots shall extend from the rear line of the front yard to the rear line of the lot in every case.

Zone of saturation The area of unconsolidated, fractured or porous material that is saturated with water and constitutes groundwater.

Zoning Code | Definitions