HomeMy Public PortalAboutChapter 66
TITLEGLOSSARY
The following glossary defines terms and phrases that are used in the
Innovate Gateway Strategy document which are technical and may not
reflect common usage.
* All definitions in this glossary are from the Town of Truckee
Development Code unless noted with an asterisk.
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Abbreviations/Acronyms
BMP: Best Management Practices
CALTRANS
California Department of Transportation
CEQA
California Environmental Quality Act
EIR
Environmental Impact Report
FAR
Floor Area Ratio
GHG
Greenhouse Gas
ROW
Right-of-Way
Terms
Accessory
A structure that is physically detached
from, secondary and incidental to, and
commonly associated with the primary
structure. Accessory structures and uses
include: detached garages, greenhouses,
artist’s studios, and workshops; hot tubs,
Jacuzzis, spas, and swimming pools,
together with any enclosures; and any
other open air enclosures, including
gazebos and detached patio covers.
Allowed Use
A use of land identified by Article II of
the Town Development Code (Zoning
Districts and Allowable Land uses) as a
permitted or conditional use that may
be established with land use permit and,
where applicable, Design Review and/
or Building Permit approval, subject to
compliance with all applicable provisions
of this Development Code.
Bedroom
An enclosed habitable room planned
and intended for sleeping, separated
from other rooms by a door and
accessible without crossing another
bedroom, closet space, or bathroom. A
bedroom will have a closet, emergency
escape and rescue opening(s), and a
minimum floor area of 70 square feet,
exclusive of a closet. Additionally, it
shall meet the requirements or be in
accordance with the current codes
adopted by the Town as listed in
Title 15 of the Municipal Code.
Best Management Practices (BMP)
Any program, technology, process,
or engineered system that controls,
removes, or reduces pollution.
Bicycle Facilities
These include Class I, Class I, and Class III
Bike Facilities. A Class I Facility, typically
called a “bike pathway” or “shared use
path,” provides bicycle travel on a paved
right-of-way completely separated
from any street. A Class II Facility, often
referred to as a “bike lane,” provides
TOWN OF TRUCKEE / INNOVATE GATEWAY STRATEGY138
a striped and stenciled lane for one-
way travel on either side of a street or
highway. A Class III Facility, generally
referred to as a “bike route,” provides
routes through areas not served by
Class I or II facilities or to connect
discontinuous segments of a bikeway.
Class III facilities can be shared with
motorists on roadways and are identified
only by signing.
Building Pad
The smallest rectangle that can be
drawn that encompasses the primary
structure.
Building/Structure Frontage
The building elevation which fronts
on a public street, public parking lot,
private parking lot available to the
general public, or pedestrian walk
where customer access to a structure is
available.
Business Frontage
That portion of a building frontage
occupied by one or more business
tenant(s) that have or share a public
entrance.
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA)
State law (California Public Resources
Code Sections 21000 et seq.) requiring
public agencies to document and
consider the environmental effects of a
proposed action, prior to allowing the
action to occur.
Commercial Parking and
Vehicle Storage
Service establishments in the business of
storing operative cars, buses, recreational
vehicles, and other motor vehicles for
clients. Includes both day use and long-
term public and commercial garages,
parking lots and structures, except when
accessory to a principal use. Includes
sites where vehicles are stored for
rental or leasing. All principal uses are
considered to include any customer or
public use off-street parking required by
the Town Development Code.
Commercial Properties
Any structure, premises or portion
thereof used for wholesale or retail
purposes on which the property user
or employees are engaged in work for
which it is intended that compensation
be received for goods or services.
Complete Streets*
Complete Streets are streets that are
designed and operated to enable safe
access for all users, including pedestrians,
bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of
all ages and abilities. They can include
a unique design identity, areas for
pedestrian gathering, and systems to
capture and filter stormwater. In addition
to helping create more attractive,
accessible, and safer environments.
Complete Streets are required by the
State as a means for providing access
to multimodal transportation options
(Assembly Bill 1358).
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Density
The number of housing units per
net acre, unless otherwise stated, for
residential uses.
Development
Any construction activity or alteration of
the landscape, its terrain contour or
vegetation, including the erection
or alteration of structures. New
development is any construction, or
alteration of an existing structure or land
use, or establishment of a land use, after
the effective date of the Development
Code.
Development Agreement
A contract between the Town and an
applicant for a development project,
in compliance with Chapter 18.150
(Development Agreements) of the
Development Code and Government
Code Sections 65864 et seq. A
development agreement is intended to
provide assurance to the applicant
that an approved project may proceed
subject to the policies, rules, regulations,
and conditions of approval applicable
to the project at the time of approval,
regardless of any changes to Town
policies, rules, and regulations after
project approval. In return, the Town may
be assured that the approved project
will contain elements and components
that are in the best interests of the Town
and will promote the public interest and
welfare of the Town.
Development Code
The Town of Truckee Development Code,
Title 18 of the Truckee Municipal Code.
Development Envelope
The designated development area
on a parcel within which disturbance
may occur (also known as a “building
envelope”). The purpose of the
development envelope is to preserve
open space and ensure clustered
development. All areas outside the
development envelope are required to
be maintained in a natural, vegetated
state. The development envelope shall
encompass all disturbance on a parcel,
including structures (walls, foundations,
footings, supports, retaining walls,
etc.), architectural features (eaves,
decks, balconies, all other projecting or
cantilevered features, etc.), accessory
structures (including sheds and other
structures less than 120 square feet),
agricultural accessory structures
(including horse corrals, barns and
unenclosed structures) and all other site
features (fences, walkways, patios,
swimming pools, hot tubs, septic
disposal areas, etc.). One driveway to
access the building envelope is allowed
outside the building envelope; all
portions of the driveway outside the
building envelope shall be a maximum
of 24 feet wide. No other disturbance
is allowed outside the development
envelope, including grading,
landscaping or tree removal (except
as required for the purpose of fuel
clearance for wildfire prevention),
unless specifically allowed through the
conditions of approval for an approved
subdivision.
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Dwelling
One or more habitable rooms, that are
used, intended or designed to be used,
rented, leased, let or hired out as an
independent living space with cooking,
sleeping, and sanitary facilities provided
within the dwelling unit for the exclusive
use of one or more people maintaining
a household. A dwelling shall have no
more than one kitchen, room, or other
area with cooking facilities unless a
second kitchen is approved by the
Director due to special circumstances
(e.g., a request for a kosher kitchen). All
habitable areas for the dwelling unit shall
have interior access to and from each
other from within the building except
for detached living areas. A dwelling
includes other types of dwelling units
in which sleeping accommodations
are provided but sanitary facilities
and/or cooking facilities are shared by
occupants of two or more dwellings
including dwellings in a co-housing
building or development and single
room occupancy units.
Dwelling, Multiple-Family
One or more buildings or a portion of a
building or buildings used, intended or
designed to be used, rented, leased, let
or hired out to be occupied as residences
for two or more families living
independently of each other or one
or more facilities living independently
within a mixed-use project. Specifically:
Two or more detached dwelling units on
one parcel.
»Two or more attached dwelling units
on one parcel. Attached dwelling
units share a common wall or a
common ceiling/floor.
»Two or more attached dwelling units
on separate parcels under individual
ownership.
»Two or more attached dwelling units
with individual ownership units
(condominiums).
»Independent senior citizen multi-
family housing, that have two or more
dwellings for occupancy to people 55
years or older, which may include, but
is not required to include, common
recreation areas and community
dining centers. For assisted senior
living facilities or facilities that
require additional medical facilities,
see “Senior Citizen Congregate
Care/Congregate Care Housing” or
“Residential Care Facility.”
»One or more dwelling units
that are attached or detached
to a nonresidential project in a
commercial or manufacturing zoning
district. Where the dwelling unit(s)
are detached, the dwelling unit(s) are
located on the same parcel as the
nonresidential project.
Multi-family dwellings may be factory-
built, modular housing units constructed
in compliance with the California
Building Code and mobile homes/
tiny homes/manufactured housing on
permanent foundations. This definition
does not include Single-Family Dwellings
with Accessory Dwelling Units and/or
Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
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Dwelling, Single-Family
A building used, intended or designed
to be used, rented, leased, let or hired
out to be occupied by one family on
one parcel. Also includes factory-built,
modular housing units, constructed in
compliance with the California Building
Code and mobile homes/tiny homes/
manufactured housing on permanent
foundations. May include the rental of
rooms within a dwelling also occupied by
the property owner or a primary tenant.
This definition includes Single-Family
Dwellings with Accessory Dwelling Units
and/or Junior Accessory Dwelling Units.
Dwelling, Two-Family
A building containing no more than two
dwelling units designed or arranged
for occupancy by two households living
independently.
Easement
A right given by the owner of land to
another party for specific limited use of
that land. An easement may be acquired
by a government through dedication
when the purchase of an entire interest
in the property may be too expensive or
unnecessary; usually needed for utilities
or shared parking.
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
An informational document used to
assess the physical characteristics of an
area and to determine what effects will
result if the area is altered by a proposed
action, prepared in compliance with the
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
Farmer’s Markets
Temporary and/or occasional outdoor
retail sales of farm produce from
vehicles or temporary stands, located
within a parking lot, or a public right-of-
way (where authorized by encroachment
permit).
Fitness Studio
Fitness centers, gymnasiums, health
and athletic clubs including indoor
sauna, spa or hot tub facilities; indoor
tennis, handball, racquetball, archery and
shooting ranges and other indoor sports
activities.
Floor Area (Gross)
The floor area within the inside perimeter
of the exterior walls of the building or
area under consideration, exclusive
of vent shafts and courts, without
deduction for corridors, closets, the
thickness of interior walls, columns
or other features. For stairways and
elevators that connect multiple levels,
floor area shall be counted on all levels
as if it were a solid floor except that the
area of the stairway or elevator shall
not be counted as floor area on the
top-most interior level served by the
element. Where a room in a building has
a sloped ceiling, no portion of the room
measuring less than five (5) feet from the
finished floor to the ceiling shall be
counted as floor area. For crawl spaces
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and basement areas, any area with a
structural floor that has a ceiling height
of 7’0” or greater and is enclosed with
walls shall be counted as floor area. Gross
floor area shall include carports, but not
porches, patios, porte cocheres, decks, or
walkways, whether covered with a roof or
not. The gross floor area shall be
calculated or computed in accordance
with the intent of Title 15 (Building &
Construction) of the Municipal Code.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is the
ratio of floor area to total lot area.
FAR restrictions are used to limit the
maximum floor area allowed on a site
(including all structures on the site). The
maximum floor area of all structures
(measured from exterior wall to exterior
wall) permitted on a site (including
carports and covered storage) shall be
determined by multiplying the Floor
Area Ratio (FAR) by the total gross
area of the site (FAR x Gross Site Area =
Maximum Allowable Floor Area). For the
purposes of determining the floor area
ratio for parcels adjacent to Donner Lake,
gross area of the site is exclusive of any
area at or below the high water mark of
Donner Lake (5935.7, NGVD 1929).
Food Truck
A mobile food vending and food
preparation unit that is not located in
any single area for a period exceeding
six hours. Includes motorized vehicles, as
well as trailers and portable units that are
connected to and drawn by motorized
vehicles. Food trucks used during the
catering of private events or as part of an
approved Special Event Permit are
exempt from the time limits.
General Plan
The Town of Truckee General Plan,
including all elements thereof and all
amendments thereto, as adopted by
the Town Council under the provisions
of Government Code Sections 65300 et
seq., and referred to in this Development
Code as the “General Plan.”
Green Building
A Green Building generally refers to
one that is environmentally friendly in
terms of energy consumption or the
waste it produces during its entire life-
cycle. Green buildings are scored by
rating systems, such as the Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system developed by
the U.S. Green Building Council, Green
Globes from GBI, and other locally-
developed rating systems.
Green Streets*
A Green Street is a street that has been
designed to include innovative natural
stormwater systems to help reduce
runoff and associated pollutants, bring
natural elements into streets, and
improve access for pedestrians and
bicyclists. These features are often used
to help improve both water quality and
the aesthetics of the public realm.
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Groundwater
Water that is contained in the vast
underground aquifer system located
beneath the surface. It is different from
surface water, which includes water in
rivers, streams, and lakes.
Hard Construction Costs*
Costs associated with vertical
construction, otherwise known as hard
construction costs or simply hard costs,
vary based on the anticipated use (e.g.,
residential versus commercial) and
residential unit type (e.g., townhome,
apartment, etc.).
Heat Island Effect*
Urbanized areas that experience higher
temperatures than outlying or natural
areas. Structures such as buildings, roads
and other infrastructure absorb heat
during the day and re-emit heat more
than natural landscapes such as forests
and water bodies.
Impervious Surface
Any material which prevents absorption
of water into land.
Infill
Development or redevelopment of
land that has remained vacant and/or is
underused as a result of the continuing
development on adjacent property.
Infrastructure
Permanent utility installations, including
roads, water supply lines, sewage
collection pipes, drainage pipes, and
power and communications lines.
Land Use Permit
Authority granted by the Town to
use a specified site for a particular
purpose, including Conditional Use
Permits and Minor Conditional Use
Permits, Development Plans and
Minor Development Plans, Planned
Development Permits, Temporary Use
Permits, Variances and minor Variances,
and Zoning Clearances, as established by
Article IV (Land Use and Development
Permit Procedures) of this Development
Code.
Mixed-Use Development*
A development form in which a mix
of uses is located in close proximity
to each other, sometimes within the
same building. The land uses may
be stacked on top of each other (e.g.,
a retail land use on the ground floor
with multi-family residential units or
offices above). Alternately, the mix could
be “horizontal” in nature where, for
example, commercial or institutional
(school or civic) uses are placed directly
next to multi-family residential uses. In
all instances the intent of a mixed-use
designation is to allow a higher density
and intensity of uses that encourage
pedestrian activity by placing residents
within walking distance of daily needs,
reducing automobile dependence.
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Mobile Home
A trailer, transportable in one or more
sections, that is certified under the
National Manufactured Housing
Construction and Safety Standards Act
of 1974, which is over eight feet in width
and 40 feet in length, with or without a
permanent foundation and not including
recreational vehicle, commercial coach
or factory-built housing. A mobile home
on a permanent foundation is included
under the definition of “Single-Family
Dwellings.”
Mobile Home Park
Any site that is planned and improved
to accommodate two or more mobile
homes used for residential purposes,
or on which two or more mobile home
lots are rented, leased, or held out for
rent or lease, or were formerly held out
for rent or lease and later converted to a
subdivision, cooperative, condominium,
or other form of resident ownership, to
accommodate mobile homes used for
residential purposes.
Monument Sign
An independent, freestanding structure
supported on the ground having a solid
base as opposed to being supported by
poles or open braces.
Outdoor Storage
A storage or work area in which an
outdoor area is used for retention of
materials, machinery and/or equipment.
Includes the sale, repair, recycling or
discarding of materials, machinery, or
equipment. Outdoor storage areas are
not accessible to the public unless an
agent of the business is present.
Open Space, Public or Quasi-public
Land that is maintained in a primarily
natural state, and/or primarily without
structures other than facilities in support
of outdoor recreation.
Parking - Shared Parking
The concept of using the same parking
spaces for two or more different land
uses at different times. For example,
many businesses experience their peak
business during daytime business hours
on weekdays, while restaurants and
bars peak in the evening hours and on
weekends. This presents an opportunity
for shared parking arrangements
and can improve the economics of
constructing new parking by providing
greater turnover in the facility. Residents
in a mixed-use building generally need
parking at night, while retail users need
parking during the day. Mixed-use
developments that share parking result
in greater density, better pedestrian
connections, and reduced reliance on
private vehicles because multiple uses
can be accessed by walking.
Parklet*
A sidewalk extension that provides more
space and amenities for people using
the street. Usually parklets are installed
on parking lanes and use several parking
spaces. Parklets typically extend out from
the sidewalk at the level of the sidewalk
to the width of the adjacent parking
space.
TOWN OF TRUCKEE / INNOVATE GATEWAY STRATEGY 145
Placemaking*
Multi-faceted approach to the planning,
design and management of public
spaces. Placemaking capitalizes on a
local community’s assets, inspiration, and
potential, with the intention of creating
public spaces that promote people’s
health, happiness, and well-being.
Private Realm *
The private realm includes all privately-
owned land and improvements,
including buildings, private parking lots,
and landscaping.
Public Facilities
A building or structure owned, operated
or occupied by a governmental agency.
Public facilities include: municipal,
county, state or federal governmental
facilities.
Public Realm*
The public realm includes all publicly-
owned land and improvements,
including roads, side-walks, public
parking lots, open space, etc.
Public Utilities
Facilities, equipment, and associated
features related to the mechanical
functions of a building and services such
as water, electrical, telecommunications,
and waste. Includes facilities for flood
control and the generation of electricity.
Excludes wireless communications
facilities.
Retail
Sales, of physical objects and/
or prepackaged food items to the
consumer. Retail sales transactions
typically require collection of sales and
use tax.
Right-of-Way (ROW)
A continuous strip of land reserved for
or actually occupied by a road, sidewalk,
parkway, crosswalk, railroad, electric
transmission lines, oil or gas pipeline,
water line, sanitary sewer, storm drain,
traffic equipment, or other similar use.
Setbacks
The distance by which a structure,
parking area or other development
feature must be separated from a lot line,
other structure or development feature,
or street centerline. Setbacks from
private streets are measured from the
edge of the easement.
Site
A parcel or lot or adjoining parcels or lots
under single ownership or single control,
considered a unit for the purposes of
development or other use.
Site Area
Gross site area is the total area included
within the site, exclusive of adjacent
dedicated street rights of way. Net site
area is exclusive of vehicular access
easements which limit the use of the lot,
including private streets and driveway
easements, and any area at or below the
high water mark of Donner Lake (5942
AMSL, NAVD 88).
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Site Coverage
The percentage of total net site area
occupied by structures, paving for
vehicle use, and all other surfaces less
than 10 feet above average natural grade
where the surface is located, including
decks, other projecting or cantilevered
features, and covered areas such as
breezeways, porches, and carports; does
not include eaves and roof overhangs.
An access/driveway easement area may
be included in or excluded from the total
site area calculation. If the easement area
is included and a driveway is constructed
within the easement, the impervious
surface of the driveway shall be counted
towards the site coverage, even if the
driveway provides access to off-site
parcels. If a driveway is not constructed
within the easement, the impervious
surface for a future driveway with a
width of 12 feet (16 feet if the easement
serves five or more parcels), extending
along the entire length of the easement
within the parcel, shall be calculated and
shall be counted towards the total site
coverage.
Stepback*
Refers to the space between the
property lines and the front, side, and
back of buildings. While a consistent
rhythm of building facades along
the sidewalk edge is important, front
setbacks allow privacy for the residential
uses and encourage space for outdoor
dining activities for retail uses.
Temporary Uses and Events
Short term commercial activities,
events, and uses that may not meet the
normal development or use standards
of the Development Code but may be
otherwise acceptable because of their
temporary nature (e.g., construction
yards in conjunction with an active
building permit, seasonal sales lots,
special events, etc.); limited to a
maximum of 90 days in any calendar
year.
Transit Stop Shelter
A small-scale covered waiting area for
busses, taxis, and rail/mass transit stops.
Viewshed
The geographical area that is visible from
a location. It includes all surrounding
points that are in line-of-sight with that
location and excludes points that are
beyond the horizon or obstructed by
terrain and other features. Conversely,
it can also refer to area from which an
object can be seen.
Wayfinding
The ways in which people orient
themselves in physical space and
navigate from place to place.
Zoning district
Any of the residential, commercial,
industrial, special-purpose, or combining
districts established by Article II of this
Development Code (Zoning Districts and
Allowable Land Uses), within which
certain land uses are allowed or
prohibited, and certain site planning and
development standards are established
(e.g., setbacks, height limits, site
coverage requirements, etc.).
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