For the purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions shall be used:
- ABUTTING
- Having a common property line or district line.
- ACCESSORY USE OR BUILDING
- A subordinate use or building or portion of the main building, customarily incident to and located on the same lot with the main use or building. An automobile trailer or other vehicle or part thereof or building on wheels used as a temporary or permanent dwelling shall not be considered as an accessory building or use.
- ADVERTISING VEHICLE SIGN
- A vehicle or truck trailer parked so as to be seen from a
public right-of-way, attached to or located on which is any sign or
advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement
of products or directing people to a business activity or event. Not
considered advertising vehicle signs are mobile signs or business
vehicles that contain typical business signage, are actively used
for business purposes, and are parked in an approved parking space
that either serves the advertised business or another property where
actively receiving or providing goods or services.[Added 6-9-2015]
- ALLEY
- A special public right-of-way affording only secondary access to abutting properties. An alley is not considered a street.
- AUXILLIARY AND DIRECTIONAL SIGN
- A sign that provides special information, such as price,
hours of operation, parking rules, or warnings, or that indicates
entrances or provides directions to or within a particular lot or
building. Examples of such signs include directories of tenants in
buildings, "no trespassing" signs, menu boards, and development entrance
signs. It does not include any sandwich-board signs.[Added 6-9-2015]
- AWNING SIGN
- A sign that is directly affixed via sewing, painting, or
similar method to a nonrigid, removable awning or canopy that is legally
mounted to the facade of a building.[Added 6-9-2015]
- BASEMENT
- A story partly underground but having at least 1/2 of its height above the mean level of the adjoining ground. A basement shall be counted as a story for the purpose of height measurement if the vertical distance between the ceiling and the mean level of the adjoining ground is more than five feet, or if used for business purposes or if used for dwelling purposes by other than a janitor or servant or his family.
- BILLBOARD
- An off-premises advertising sign, either freestanding or
attached to a building, and usually in a large format, which is used
to display information not related to the use or ownership of the
establishment or property upon which it is located.[Amended 6-9-2015]
- BLOCK
- A tract of land bounded by streets or by a combination of streets and public parks or other recognized lines of demarcation.
- BUILDING
- Any structure having a roof supported by posts, columns or walls used or intended to be used for the shelter or enclosure of people, animals, equipment, machinery or materials.
- BUILDING AREA
- The maximum horizontal projected area of a building and its accessory buildings, excluding only open steps, uncovered terraces and cornices projecting not more than 30 inches.
- BUILDING INSPECTOR
- The Village Administrator or his/her designee.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- BUILDING LINE, FRONT
- A line parallel to the street, intersecting the foremost point of the building, excluding uncovered steps.
- BUILDING, PRINCIPAL
- The main structure on a lot of record which houses the principal use of the premises.
- BUSINESS
- A commercial establishment engaged in the purchase and sale of goods and services (not including manufacturing or industrial establishments).
- CELLAR
- A story having more than 1/2 of its height below the mean level of the adjoining ground.
- CERTIFIED SURVEY MAP
- A map or plan of record of a land division, not a subdivision, meeting all the requirements of § 236.34, Wis. Stats., and of this chapter.
- CHANGEABLE-MESSAGE SIGN
- A sign that displays words, lines, logos, graphic images,
or symbols that can manually, automatically, or by computer program
change to provide different information, including computer signs,
reader boards with changeable letters, LCD and other video display
signs, and time-and-temperature signs.[Added 6-9-2015]
- CLINIC (MEDICAL)
- A building used by a group of doctors, dentists or other licensed professionals for the examination or treatment of persons on an outpatient or nonboarding basis only.
- CLUB
- A building owned, leased or hired by a nonprofit association of persons who are bona fide members paying dues, the use of which is restricted to said members and their guests.
- COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
- The master plan for guiding and shaping the growth and development of the Village, including all of the component parts, as prepared by the Plan Commission and adopted by the Village Board.
- CONDITIONAL USES
- Uses of a special nature as to make impractical their predetermination as a permitted use in a district.
- CONFORMING USE
- Any lawful use of a building or lot which complies with the provisions of this chapter.
- DEVELOPER
- Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, estate, trust or other legal entity requesting review or action on a development.
- DEVELOPMENT
- A land division, subdivision or planned development.
- DEVELOPMENT PLAN
- A total site plan for an area under the control of a developer at the time of submission for review. Such plan specifies and illustrates the location, relationship and nature of all uses, easements, streets, pedestrian paths, common open space and other public ways.
- DOG RUN
- An enclosed outdoor area intended for the exercising and/or containment of dogs and similar animals.
- DWELLING
- A detached building designed or used exclusively as a residence or sleeping place, but does not include boarding or lodging houses, motels, hotels, tents, cabins, or mobile homes.
- DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY
- A detached building designed or intended to be used by two or more families living independently of each other.
- DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY
- A detached building designed, arranged or used for and occupied exclusively by one family.
- DWELLING UNIT
- A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively as the living quarters for one or more persons living, sleeping, cooking and eating on the same premises as a housekeeping unit.
- ESSENTIAL SERVICES
- Services provided by public and private utilities, necessary for the exercise of the principal use or service of the principal structure. These services include underground, surface, or overhead gas, electrical, steam, water, sanitary sewerage, stormwater drainage, and communication systems and accessories thereto, such as poles, towers, wires, mains, drains, vaults, culverts, laterals, sewers, pipes, catch basins, water storage tanks, conduits, cables, fire alarm boxes, police call boxes, traffic signals, lift stations, and hydrants, including buildings accessory to the essential use.
- FAMILY
- One or more persons occupying a dwelling unit as a single,
nonprofit housekeeping unit, who are living together as a bona fide
stable and committed living unit, being a traditional family or the
functional equivalent thereof, exhibiting the generic character of
a traditional family.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- FENCE
- Any construction of wood, metal, wire mesh, masonry, or other material erected for the purpose of assuring privacy or protection.
- A. For residential uses, the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a dwelling unit, including attached and detached garages, walkout basements (50% of floor area), sheds and other accessory buildings on the lot (exclusive of porches and balconies), measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls or from the center lines of walls or partitions separating dwelling units.
- B. For uses other than residential, the area measured from the exterior faces of the exterior walls, or from the center lines of walls or partitions separating such uses, including all floors, lofts, balconies, mezzanines, cellars, basements, and similar areas devoted to such uses.
- C. Except for single-family dwellings, no fully enclosed underbuilding parking area shall be included in the calculation of floor area, provided that the ceiling of such parking area is no higher than five feet above the predevelopment grade of the directly adjoining land.[Added 4-11-2017]
- FLOOR AREA RATIO
- The numerical value obtained by dividing the floor area within a building or buildings on a lot by the area of such lot. The floor area ratio as designated for each district, when multiplied by the lot area in square feet, shall determine the maximum permissible floor area for the building or buildings on the lot.
- FREESTANDING SIGN
- A self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of
poles, standards, or any other type of base on the ground.[Added 6-9-2015]
- GARAGE
- An accessory structure intended for storage of motor vehicles.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- HEIGHT
- The vertical distance from the mean elevation of the undisturbed
natural grade along the front of the building, sign, or other structure
to the highest point of the structure, exclusive of chimneys. On lots
with a change in grade elevation of greater than 10%, as measured
from the front property line to the rear property line, height for
structures shall be calculated as follows: maximum height of a structure
shall be determined by locating the mean distance of the natural grade
between the front building line and the rear building line (i.e.,
the building envelope).[Amended 3-8-2015;6-9-2015]
- HOME OCCUPATION
- Use of a portion of a dwelling within a residential district for an accessory use, of a business or commercial nature, of a dwelling unit which is carried on by the person or persons residing in that unit.
- IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
- A surface which does not allow water to be absorbed so it may percolate into deeper ground. Such surfaces include those constructed of stone, brick, asphalt, concrete, tile, terrazzo, gravel composite, or any other paving material, used for parking, driveways, patios, terraces, walkways, and the like, as well as areas covered by buildings, decks, porches, swimming pools, and tennis courts.
- INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED (SIGN)
- A sign designed to give any artificial light directly through
any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating
within such sign, including "backlit plastic" signs, illuminated awnings
with or without messages, and neon and related illumination systems.[Added 6-9-2015]
- LOADING AREA
- A complete 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 occupied or to be occupied by one main building or use with its accessories and including the open spaces accessory to it. No area shall be counted as accessory to more than one main building or use and no area necessary for compliance with the yard or open space requirements for one main building or use shall be included or counted in the calculation of the open space accessory to any other main building or use.
- LOT AREA
- The area of a horizontal plane bounded by the front, side, and rear lot lines, but not including any area occupied by the waters of a duly recorded lake or river.
- LOT, CORNER
- A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for their full lengths upon a street, provided that the interior angle at the intersection of such two sides is less than 135°. A lot abutting upon a curved street or streets shall be considered a corner lot if the tangents to the curve at its point of beginning within the lot or at the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the street line intersect at an interior angle less than 135°.
- LOT DEPTH
- The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear line of a lot, measured within the lot boundary.
- LOT, INTERIOR
- A lot other than a corner lot.
- LOT LINE, FRONT
- In the case of any lot having frontage upon Lake Mendota, the front line of the lot shall be that boundary of the lot along a public street, and if such lot is a corner lot, the front line of the lot shall be the shorter lot boundary along a public street. In all other cases, the Building Inspector shall determine which is the front of the lot.
- LOT LINE, REAR
- That lot line which is opposite and most distant from the
front lot line. In the case of an irregular or triangular-shaped lot,
a line 10 feet in length entirely with the lot, parallel to and most
distant from the front lot line, shall be considered to be the rear
lot line for the purposes of determining depth of rear yard. In cases
where none of these definitions is applicable, the rear lot line shall
be designated by the Building Inspector.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- LOT LINE, SIDE
- The boundary of a lot which extends from the front lot line to the rear lot line.
- LOT LINES
- The property lines bounding the lot.
- LOT OF RECORD
- A lot which is recorded in the office of the County Register of Deeds.
- LOT, THROUGH
- A lot having a pair of opposite lot lines along two more or less parallel public streets and which is not a corner lot. On a through lot, both street lines shall be deemed front lot lines.
- LOT WIDTH
- The horizontal distance between the side lot lines of a lot, measured at right angles to the lot depth, said measurement to be made at the rear line of the required front yard or, when approved by the Plan Commission, at the required setback line where noted on the plat or land division map and such setback is greater than the required front yard.
- LOT, ZONING
- A parcel of land composed of one or more lots of record, occupied or to be occupied by a principal building(s) or principal use(s) along with permitted accessory buildings or uses, meeting all the zoning requirements of the district in which it is located.
- MONUMENT SIGN
- A type of freestanding sign where the bottom edge of the
sign area is located within one foot of a ground-mounted base or pedestal
or within one foot of the ground surface.[Added 6-9-2015]
- NONCONFORMING USE, BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
- A use, building or structure existing at the time of adoption
of this chapter, or any amendment thereof, and which does not conform
to the provisions of this chapter.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- OFFICIAL MAP
- The map indicating the location, width and/or extent of existing and proposed streets, highways, parkways, parks and playgrounds as adopted by the Village pursuant to § 62.23(6), Wis. Stats.
- OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN
- A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered on a premises other than the premises where the sign is displayed. Off-premises advertising signs include off-premises "billboards" but do not include signs advertising public or nonprofit events within the Village where approved under § 225-92A(3).[Added 6-9-2015]
- ON-BUILDING SIGN
- A type of sign permanently affixed to an outside wall of
a building. This type of sign includes awning signs, projecting signs,
and wall signs but does not include window signs.[Added 6-9-2015]
- PARCEL
- Contiguous lands under the control of a subdivider not separated by streets, highways or rights-of-way.
- PARKING FACILITY/LOT
- A structure or an open space other than a street or alley used for temporary parking of more than four self-propelled vehicles and available for public uses, whether free, for compensation, or as an accommodation for clients or customers.
- PARKING SPACE
- A graded and surfaced area of not less than 180 square feet in area, either enclosed or open, for the parking of a motor vehicle, having adequate ingress and egress to a public street or alley other than a driveway.
- PLAT
- A map of a subdivision.
- PRINCIPAL USE
- The main or primary use of a property or building as specified or permitted by the regulations of the district in which it is located.
- PROJECTING SIGN
- A type of on-building sign that is mounted at any angle other
than parallel to the wall on which it is mounted and/or extends beyond
18 inches from the wall.[Added 6-9-2015]
- PUBLIC WAY
- Any public street, highway, walkway, drainageway, greenway, parkway or part thereof.
- RESIDENCE
- A building designed or used exclusively as a permanent living
quarters, excluding mobile homes.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- SETBACK
- The minimum distance from a particular lot line that a building
or other structure may be constructed, erected or maintained. Setback
requirements shall be as herein set forth for specific zoning districts,
except that for corner lots in residence districts, both street yards
shall meet the minimum front yard requirements and the remaining two
yards shall meet the minimum side yard requirements of that particular
zoning district.[Amended 4-11-2017]
- SHED
- A detached accessory structure used for the storage of garden equipment and materials whose use is incidental and subordinate to that of the primary or dominant use of the principal building or structure.
- SIGN
- Any words, letters, figures, numerals, phrases, sentences, emblems, devices, designs, logos, trade names, trademarks, or illustrations affixed to or appearing directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, or piece of land and that directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business. It does not include murals, except where they serve an advertising purpose for an existing business, activity, or product. Regulations for various types and configurations of signs are found in Article XVIII.[Amended 6-9-2015]
- SIGN AREA
- In the case of a sign placed within a frame, sign area consists
of the entire surface area of the sign on which sign copy could feasibly
be placed. In the case of an on-building sign on which the message
is fabricated together with the background that borders or frames
that message, sign area shall be the total area of the entire background.
In the case of an on-building sign on which a message is applied to
a background that provides no border or frame (such as individual
letters applied to a building face or awning), sign area shall be
the combined areas of the smallest rectangles that can encompass the
complete message (e.g., business name, business logo) of the sign.[Added 6-9-2015]
- STORY
- That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it or, if there is no floor above it, then the space between such floor and the ceiling next above it. A cellar shall not be counted as a story for purposes of height measurements.
- STORY, HALF
- A story under a gable, hip or gambrel roof, the wall plates of which on at least two opposite exterior walls are not more than two feet above the floor of such story.
- STREET
- A public or private thoroughfare which may either provide the principal means of pedestrian and/or vehicular access to abutting property or may provide for the movement of pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic, or both.
- STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
- Any change in the supporting members of a structure, such as foundations, bearing walls, columns, beams, or girders.
- STRUCTURE
- Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires
more or less permanent location on the ground, including but not limited
to buildings, fences, or permanent signs.[Amended 6-9-2015]
- STRUCTURE, MISCELLANEOUS
- Any structure exceeding two feet in height, other than a building or fence.
- TEMPORARY ADVERTISING SIGN OR BANNER
- A sign designed and intended to be displayed for a certain
limited period of time, such retailers' signs temporarily displayed
for the purpose of informing the public of a "sale" or special offer,
commercial real estate and construction signs, and people dressed
and/or carrying signs to advertise a commercial activity outdoors.
Not included among temporary advertising signs are sandwich-board/pedestal
signs, window signs, changeable-message signs, political signs, or
any sign in a residential zoning district.[Added 6-9-2015]
- USE
- The use of a property is the purpose or activity for which
the land or building thereon is designed, arranged or intended or
for which it is occupied or maintained.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- UTILITIES
- Public and private facilities such as water wells, water and sewage pumping stations, water storage tanks, power and communication transmission lines, electrical power substations, static transformer stations, telephone and telegraph exchanges, microwave radio relays, and gas regulation stations, but not including sewage treatment plants, municipal incinerators, warehouses, shops, and storage yards.
- WALL SIGN
- A type of on-building sign mounted parallel to and directly
on a building facade or other vertical building surface and not projecting
more than 18 inches beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to
which it is mounted.[Added 6-9-2015]
- WINDOW
- An opening in the wall or roof of a building that is fitted
with glass or other transparent material in a frame to admit light
or air and allow people to see out. For purposes of this chapter,
each window unit that can be separately installed from another window
unit is considered a separate window.[Added 6-9-2015]
- WINDOW SIGN
- A type of sign mounted on or within an exterior window, visible
from the outdoors, and with a primary intent either to advertise a
business or a product within the premises or to serve as an auxiliary
or directional sign.[Added 6-9-2015]
- YARD
- The open space between a lot line and a building line in which no structure may be located, except as provided in this chapter.
- YARD, FRONT
- A yard extending along the full width of the front lot line between a street right-of-way line and the front yard building setback line as established by a zoning district.
- YARD, REAR
- A yard extending along the full width of a rear lot line
between a rear lot line and the required rear yard building setback
line, inclusive of all yards that do not qualify as front and side
yards.[Amended 3-8-2005]
- YARD, SIDE
- A yard extending from the front lot line between the front yard building setback line and the rear yard building setback line.
- YARD, STREET
- 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 two such yards.
- ZONING DISTRICT
- An area or areas within the corporate limits for which the regulations and requirements governing use, lot and bulk of buildings and premises are uniform.
[1]
Editor's Note: The following definitions which
appeared in this section were deleted 3-8-2005: "apartment"; "arterial
street"; "canopy or marquee"; "child day-care center"; "collector
highway"; "community facility"; "day-care center"; "day-care provider";
"government building"; "minor structure"; "railroad right-of-way";
"shopping center"; and "smoke unit."
