All terms used in this chapter shall be as defined in the General Plan and Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan and as follows:
"Area of biotic concern"means any area in which development may affect a sensitive habitat, as identified on the Local Coastal Program sensitive habitats maps, the General Plan resources and constraints maps and other biotic resources maps on file in the Planning Department, or as identified during inspection of a site by Planning Department staff.
"Biotic assessment"means a brief review of the biotic resources present at a project site prepared by the County biologist.
"Biotic permit"means a permit for development in an area of biotic concern issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
"Biotic report"means a complete biotic investigation conducted by an approved biologist from a list maintained by the County, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Identification of the rare, endangered, threatened and unique species on the site;
(2) Identification of the essential habitats of such species;
(3) Recommendations to protect species and sensitive habitats. When a project is found to have a significant effect on the environment under the provisions of Section 602 of the environmental impact guidelines, the biotic report shall be made a part of the environmental impact report.
"Building envelope"means a designation on a site plan or parcel map indicating where structures and paving are to be located.
"Decision-Making Body"means the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission, or Board of Supervisors, whichever body is considering the development permit, when biotic review is concurrent with review of a development permit. When a biotic permit is required, the Decision-Making Body shall be the Planning Director.
"Development/development activity"means, on land, in or under water, the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any gaseous, liquid, solid, or thermal waste; grading, removing, dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including but not limited to subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with Section
66410 of the Government Code), and any other division of land, including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a public agency for public recreational use; change in the intensity of use of water, or of access thereto; reconstruction, demolition, alteration or improvement of any structure in excess of 50 percent of the existing structure's fair market value, including any facility of any private, public or municipal utility; the removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes, kelp harvesting, and timber operations which are in accordance with a timber harvesting plan submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973; the disturbance of any rare, endangered, or locally unique plant or animal or its habitat.
"Disturbance"means any activity which may adversely affect the long-term viability of a rare, endangered, threatened, or locally unique species or any part of a sensitive habitat.
"Environmental Coordinator"means the Planning Department staff person assigned to review applications and make determinations based upon the County environmental review guidelines adopted pursuant to Chapter 16.01 SCCC.
"Feasible"means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social and technological factors, as determined by the County.
"Impervious surface"means any nonpermeable surface, including roofs and nonporous paving materials such as asphalt or concrete, but not including directly permeable surfaces such as decks that allow the passage of water or gravel driveways less than five inches thick.
"Person"means any individual, firm, association, corporation, partnership, business, trust company, a public agency as specified in Section
53090 of the California Government Code, or the State or a State agency.
"Rare and endangered species"means a plant or animal species designated as rare, endangered or threatened by the State Fish and Game Commission, the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, or the California Native Plant Society.
"Resource dependent use"means any development or use which requires utilization of a natural resource and must be sited within a sensitive habitat in order to be able to function at all, such as a fish hatchery.
"Restoration"means restoring native vegetation, natural drainage, and water quality, including but not limited to replanting native vegetation, removing garbage, and protecting the habitat from the inflow of polluted water or excessive sedimentation.
Sensitive Habitat.An area is defined as a "sensitive habitat" if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) Areas of special biological significance as identified by the State Water Resources Control Board.
(2) Areas which provide habitat for locally unique biotic species/communities including but not limited to: oak woodlands, coastal scrub, maritime chaparral, native rhododendrons and associated Elkgrass, indigenous Ponderosa Pine, indigenous Monterey Pine, mapped grassland in the Coastal Zone and sand parkland; and special forests including San Andreas Oak Woodlands, indigenous Ponderosa Pine, indigenous Monterey Pine and ancient forests.
(3) Areas adjacent to essential habitats of rare, endangered or threatened species as defined in subsections
(5) and
(6) of this definition.
(4) Areas which provide habitat for species of special concern as listed by the California Department of Fish and Game in the special animals list, natural diversity database.
(5) Areas which provide habitat for rare or endangered species which meet the definition of Section 15380 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines.
(6) Areas which provide habitat for rare, endangered or threatened species as designated by the State Fish and Game Commission, United States Fish and Wildlife Service or California Native Plant Society.
(7) Nearshore reefs, rocky intertidal areas, seacaves, islets, offshore rocks, kelp beds, marine mammal hauling grounds, sandy beaches, shorebird roosting, resting and nesting areas, cliff nesting areas and marine, wildlife or educational/research reserves.
(9) All lakes, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, streams and rivers.
"Structure"means anything constructed or erected which requires a location on the ground or in the water, including but not limited to any building, retaining wall, driveway, telephone line, electrical power transmission or distribution line, water line, road or wharf.
"Toxic chemical substance"means:
(1) Any chemical used for killing insects, fungi, rodents, etc., including insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, and nematocides.
(2) Any chemical which would be deleterious to a sensitive habitat.
"Water purveyor"means any agency or entity supplying water to five or more connections.
(Ord. 3342 § 1, 1982; Ord. 3442 § 1, 1983; Ord. 4346 § 71, 1994)