Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meaning herein indicated:
ADT (AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC)
The average number of cars per day that pass over a given point.
AGGRESSIVE SOILS
Soils that may be corrosive to cast-iron and ductile iron pipe. These soils represent approximately 5% of the soils found within the United States and include dump areas, swamps, marshes, alkaline soils, cinder beds, polluted river bottoms, etc., which are considered to be potentially corrosive.
AREA OF BENEFIT
An area of land which is designated by the Joint Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Commission as receiving benefits from or creating the need for the construction, acquisition, or improvement of a public facilities project.
[Amended 11-8-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
AREA-RELATED FACILITY
A capital improvement which is designated in the capital improvements program as serving new development and which is not a site-related facility. Area-related facility may include land dedication or construction of an oversized capital improvement, whether located off site, or within or on the perimeter of the development site.
BERM
A mound of soil, either natural or man-made, used to obstruct views.
BLOCK
A tract of land bounded by streets, or by a combination of streets and public parks, cemeteries, railroad rights-of-way, shorelines of waterways, or boundary lines of municipalities.
BLOWOFF
An outlet in a pipe through which water or sediment can be discharged from a lower sewer. See "cleanout."
BOND
Any form of a surety bond in an amount and form satisfactory to the Common Council. All bonds shall be approved by the governing body whenever a bond is required by these regulations.
BUFFER
An area within a property or site, generally adjacent to and parallel with the property line, either consisting of natural existing vegetation or created by the use of trees, shrubs, fences, and/or berms, designed to limit continuously the view of and/or sound from the site to adjacent sites or properties.
CALIPER
The diameter of a tree trunk measured in inches, six inches above ground level for trees up to four inches in diameter and 12 inches above ground level for trees over four inches in diameter.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
A public facility with a life expectancy of three or more years, to be owned and operated by or on behalf of the local government.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
A proposed schedule of all future projects listed in order of construction priority, together with cost estimates and the anticipated means of financing each project.
CAPPED SYSTEM
A completed water supply and/or sewerage system put in place for future use (contingent upon expansion), rather than to meet immediate development needs.
CARTWAY
The actual road surface area from curbline to curbline, which may include travel lanes, parking lanes, and deceleration and acceleration lanes. Where there are no curbs, the cartway is that portion between the edges of the paved, or hard surface, width.
CENTER-LINE OFFSET OF ADJACENT INTERSECTIONS
The gap between the center line of roads adjoining a common road from opposite or same sides.
CERTIFY
Whenever these regulations require that an agency or official certify the existence of some fact or circumstance, the City by administrative rule may require that such certification be made in any manner, oral or written, which provides reasonable assurance of the accuracy of the certification.
CHANNEL
The bed and banks of a natural stream which convey the constant or intermittent flow of the stream.
CHANNELIZATION
The straightening and deepening of channels and/or the surfacing thereof to permit water to move rapidly and/or directly.
CLEANOUT
An outlet in a pipe through which water or sediment can be discharged from a lower sewer.
COMMON LATERAL
A lateral serving more than one unit.
COMMON OWNERSHIP
Ownership by the same person, corporation, firm, entity, partnership, or unincorporated association; or ownership by different corporations, firm, partnerships, entities, or unincorporated associations, in which a stockbroker, partner, or associate, or a member of his family owns an interest in each corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or unincorporated association.
CONCEPT PLAN
A preliminary presentation and attendant documentation of a proposed site plan of sufficient accuracy to be used for the purpose of discussion and classification.
CUL-DE-SAC
A local street with only one outlet that terminates in a vehicular turnaround and having an appropriate terminal for the safe and convenient reversal of traffic movement.
CURB
A vertical or sloping edge of a roadway.
CUSHIONS
Supportive or protective bedding materials placed underneath piping.
DEDICATION
An act transmitting property or interest thereto.
DENSITY
The permitted number of dwelling units per gross acre of land to be developed.
DESIGN FLOOD
The relative size or magnitude of a major flood of reasonable expectancy, which reflects both flood experience and flood potential and is the basis of the delineation of the floodway, the flood hazard area, and the water surface elevations.
DETENTION BASIN
A man-made or natural water collector facility designed to correct surface and subsurface water in order to impede its flow and to release the same gradually at a rate not greater than that prior to the development of the property, into natural or man-made outlets.
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Agreement between the Common Council and developer through which the Common Council agrees to vest development use or intensity or refrain from interfering with subsequent phases of development through new legislation in exchange for the provision of public facilities or amenities by the developer in excess of those required under current community regulations.
DEVELOPMENT REGULATION
Zoning, subdivision, site plan, official map, floodplain regulation, or other governmental regulation of the use and development of land.
DIVIDED STREET
A street having an island or other barrier separating moving lanes.
DRAINAGE
The removal of surface water or groundwater from land by drains, grading, or other means.
DRAINAGE FACILITY
Any component of the drainage system.
DROP MANHOLE
A manhole provided for inspection and maintenance of sewers where an incoming sewer is considerably higher than the outgoing.
DROP PIPE
A vertical pipe used to convey sewage from a higher to a lower elevation.
DRY LINES
See "capped system."
EASEMENT
A right-of-way granted, but not dedicated, for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose and within which the owner of the property shall not erect any permanent structures.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS
Features, natural resources, or land characteristics that are sensitive to improvements and may require conservation measures or the application of creative development techniques to prevent degradation of the environment, or may require limited development, or in certain instances may preclude development.
EROSION
The detachment and movement of soil or rock fragments, or the wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
ESCROW
A deed, a bond, money, or a piece of property delivered to a third person to be delivered by him to the grantee only upon fulfillment of a condition.
EXPENDITURE
A sum of money paid out in return for some benefit or to fulfill some obligation. The term includes binding contractual commitments whether by development agreement or otherwise to make future expenditures as well as any other substantial change in position.
EXTERNAL BUFFER
A naturally vegetated area or vegetated area along the exterior boundaries of an entire development processed in accordance with a multiphase or phased site plan application which is landscaped and maintained, in order to eliminate or minimize conflicts between such development and adjacent land uses.
FARMLAND OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE
Land, designated as "farmland of statewide importance" in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)'s Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database on Web Soil Survey, that is of state wide importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops as determined by the appropriate state agency or agencies. Farmland of statewide importance may include tracts of land that have been designated for agriculture by state law.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
FRONTAGE
That side of a lot abutting on a street or way and ordinarily regarded as the front of the lot, but it shall not be considered as the ordinary side of a corner lot.
FRONTAGE STREET
Any street to be constructed by the developer or any existing street where development shall take place on both sides.
GLARE
The effect by reflections of light with intensity sufficient as determined in a commercially reasonable manner to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility in any material respects.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
GROUND COVER
A planting of low-growing plants or sod that in time forms a dense mat covering the area, preventing soil from being blown or washed away and the growth of unwanted plants.
GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A solar energy system that is affixed to the ground either directly or by mounting devices and which is not attached or affixed to a building or structure.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
GUTTER
A shallow channel usually set along a curb or the pavement edge of a road for purposes of catching and carrying off runoff water.
HARDY CROSS METHOD
Method of controlled trial and error by which a water distribution system can be analyzed, first introduced in 1936 by Hardy Cross, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Illinois.
HEALTH, SAFETY, OR GENERAL WELFARE
The purpose for which municipalities may adopt and enforce land use regulations for the prevention of harm or promotion of public benefit to the community; commonly referred to as police power.
HIGHWAY, LIMITED ACCESS
A freeway or expressway providing a trafficway for through traffic, in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting property on lands and other persons have no legal right to access to or from the same, except at such points and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the trafficway.
HISTORIC DISTRICT
An area related by historical events or themes, by visual continuity or character, or by some other special feature that helps give it a unique historical identity. May be designated a historic district by local, state, or federal government and given official status and protection.
HISTORIC SITE --. A structure or place of historical significance. May be designated as such by local, state, or federal government. HYDROLOGIC RESPONSE
The properties, distribution, and circulation of water.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that has been compacted or covered with a layer of material so that it is highly resistant to infiltration by water.
IMPOUNDMENT
A body of water, such as a pond, confined by a dam, dike floodgate, or other barrier.
IMPROVEMENT
Any man-made, immovable item which becomes part of, placed upon, or is affixed to, real estate.
INFILL DEVELOPMENT
Development designed to occupy scattered or vacant parcels of land which remain after the majority of development has occurred in an area.
LANDSCAPING
Acting with the purpose of meeting specific criteria regarding uses of outside space, including ground cover, buffers, and shade trees.
LARGE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
The components and subsystems required to convert solar energy into electric energy suitable for use. The term includes, but is not limited to, solar panels and solar energy equipment with a rated DC capacity of greater than 25kW. The area of a solar energy system includes all the land inside the perimeter of the solar energy system, which extends to any interconnection equipment.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
LATERAL SEWERS
Pipes conducting sewage from individual buildings to larger pipes called trunk or interceptor sewers that usually are located in street rights-of-way.
LINKAGE
A program that requires developers constructing nonresidential structures to either construct affordable housing units or pay money in lieu of construction into a designated fund to provide housing for the future employees of the site.
LOCAL ROAD
A road whose sole function is to provide access to abutting properties and to other roads from individual properties and to provide right-of-way beneath it for sewer, water, and storm drainage pipes.
LOT AREA
The size of a lot measured within the lot lines and expressed in terms of acres or square feet.
LOT, CORNER
A lot situated at the intersection of two streets, the interior angle of such intersection not exceeding 135º.
LOT FRONTAGE
That portion of a lot extending along a street line.
LOT IMPROVEMENT
Any building, structure, place, work of art, or other object situated on a lot.
MAIN
In any system of continuous piping, the principal artery of the system to which branches may be connected.
MAINTENANCE GUARANTY
Any security which may be required and accepted by a governmental agency to ensure that necessary improvements will function as required for a specific period of time.
MANNING EQUATION
A method for calculating the hydraulic capacity of a conduit to convey water.
MOVING LANE
Any traffic lane where traffic movement is the primary if not sole function. (Compare with "parking lane.")
MULCH
A layer of wood chips, dry leaves, straw, hay, plastic, or other materials placed on the surface of the soil around plants to retain moisture, prevent weeds from growing, hold the soil in place, or aid plant growth.
NATIVE PERENNIAL VEGETATION
Native wildflowers, forbs, and grasses that serve as habitat, forage, and migratory way stations for pollinators and shall not include any prohibited or regulated invasive species as determined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
NOTICE TO PROCEED
A notice issued by the Director of Planning to the Joint Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Commission informing the applicant for approval of a major subdivision that the sketch plat is in compliance with these regulations and that the applicant may proceed to apply for preliminary plat approval.
[Amended 11-8-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
OFFSET
The amount of the reduction of an impact fee designed to fairly reflect the value of area-related facilities or other oversized facilities, pursuant to rules herein established or administrative guidelines, provided by a developer pursuant to the local government's subdivision or zoning regulations or requirements.
OPEN SPACE
Any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved and set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for the public or private use or enjoyment or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring such open space.
PARKING LANE
A lane usually located on the sides of streets, designed to provide on-street parking for vehicular traffic.
PERC TEST (PERCOLATION TEST)
A test designed to determine the ability of ground to absorb water, and used to determine the suitability of a soil for drainage or for the use of a septic system.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Regulation of development based on open space ratio, impervious surface ratio, density, and floor area ratio.
PERFORMANCE GUARANTY
Any security that may be accepted by a municipality as a guaranty that the improvements required as part of an application for development are satisfactorily completed.
PERIMETER STREET
Any existing street to which the parcel of land to be subdivided abuts on only one side.
PERVIOUS SURFACE
A surface that permits full or partial absorption of stormwater.
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD)
An area of a minimum contiguous size, as specified by ordinance, to be planned, developed, operated, and maintained as a single entity containing one or more structures to accommodate commercial or office uses, or both, and appurtenant common areas and other uses incidental to the predominant uses.
POLLINATOR
Bees, birds, bats, and other insects or wildlife that pollinate flowering plants, and includes both wild and managed insects.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
PREAPPLICATION CONFERENCE
An initial meeting between developers and municipal representatives which affords developers the opportunity to present their proposals informally.
PRIME FARMLAND
Land, designated as "prime farmland" in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)'s Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database on Web Soil Survey, that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is also available for these land uses.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
PUBLIC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM
The adopted plan, as may be amended from time to time, which identifies the public facilities and their costs for each public facility benefit area or subarea, which serve new development for a period not to exceed 10 years, which are to be financed in whole or in part through the imposition of public facilities fees pursuant to this chapter.
PUD
See "planned unit development."
RATIONAL METHOD
A method of runoff calculation.
RESUBDIVISION
Any change in a map of an approved or recorded subdivision plat that affects any street layout on the map or area reserved thereon for public use or any lot line, or that affects any map or plan legally recorded prior to the adoption of any regulations controlling subdivisions.
RETAINING WALL
A structure erected between lands of different elevation to protect structures and/or to prevent the washing down or erosion of earth from the upper slope level.
RETENTION BASIN
A pond, pool, or basin used for the permanent storage of water runoff.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A strip of land occupied or intended to be occupied by a street, crosswalk, railroad, road, electric transmission line, oil or gas pipeline, water main, sanitary or storm sewer main, shade trees, or for any other special use. The usage of the term "right-of-way" for land platting purposes shall mean that every right-of-way hereafter established and shown on a final plat is to be separate and distinct from the lots or parcels adjoining such right-of-way and not included within the dimensions or areas of such lots or parcels. Rights-of-way intended for streets, crosswalks, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm drains, shade trees, or any other use involving maintenance by a public agency shall be dedicated to public use by the maker of the plat on which such right-of-way is established.
ROAD CLASSIFICATION
For the purpose of providing for the development of the streets, highways, roads and rights-of-way in the governmental unit, and for their future improvement, reconstruction, realignment, and necessary widening, including provision for curbs and sidewalks, each existing street, highway, road, and right-of-way, and those located on approved and filed plats, have been designated on the Official Map of the local government and classified therein. The classification of each street, highway, road, and right-of-way is based upon its location in the respective zoning districts of the local government and its present and estimated future traffic volume and its relative importance and function as specified in the Comprehensive Plan of the local government. The required improvements shall be measured as set forth for each street classification on the Official Map.
ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH
The distance between property lines measured at right angles to the center line of the street.
SALE or LEASE
Any immediate or future transfer of ownership, or any possessory interest in land, including contract of sale, lease, devise, intestate succession, or other transfer of an interest in a subdivision or part thereof, whether by metes and bounds or lot and block description.
SCREENING
Either:
A. 
A strip at least 10 feet wide of densely planted (or having equivalent natural growth) shrubs or trees at least four feet high at the time of planting, of a type that will form a year-round dense screen at least six feet high; or
B. 
An opaque wall or barrier or uniformly painted fence at least six feet high.
SECURITY
The letter of credit or cash escrow provided by the applicant to secure the promises in the subdivision improvement agreement.
SEDIMENTATION
A deposit of soil that has been transported from its site of origin by water, ice, wind, gravity, or other natural means as a product of erosion.
SETBACK
The distance between the street right-of-way line and the front line of a building or any projection thereof, excluding uncovered steps.
SIGHT TRIANGLE
A triangular-shaped portion of land established at street intersections in which nothing is erected, placed, planted, or allowed to grow in such a manner as to limit or obstruct the sight distance of motorists entering or leaving the intersection.
SITE PLAN
An accurately scaled development plan that illustrates the existing conditions on a land parcel as well as depicting details of a proposed development.
SOIL CEMENT
A mixture of portland cement and locally available soil. It serves as a soil stabilizer.
SOLAR ACCESS
Space open to the sun and clear of overhangs or shade so as to permit the use of active and/or passive solar energy systems on individual properties.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
SOLAR COLLECTOR
A solar photovoltaic cell, panel, or array, or solar hot air or water collector device, which relies upon solar radiation as an energy source for the generation of electricity or transfer of stored heat.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
SOLAR ENERGY EQUIPMENT
Electrical material, hardware, inverters, conduit, storage devices, or other electrical and photovoltaic equipment associated with the production of electricity.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM
The components and subsystems required to convert solar energy into electric energy suitable for use. The term includes, but is not limited to, solar panels and solar energy equipment. The area of a solar energy system includes all the land inside the perimeter of the solar energy system, which extends to any interconnection equipment.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
SOLAR PANEL
A photovoltaic device capable of collecting and converting solar energy into electricity.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
STABILIZED TURF OR EARTH
Turf, or earth (soil), strengthened usually by the mixing of cement or lime with the original material to achieve increased strength, thereby reducing shrinkage and movement.
STORAGE BATTERY
A device that stores energy and makes it available in an electrical form.
[Added 2-2-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
STORMWATER DETENTION
A provision for storage of stormwater runoff and the controlled release of such runoff during and after a flood or storm.
STORMWATER RETENTION
A provision for storage of stormwater runoff.
STREET HIERARCHY
The conceptual arrangement of streets based upon function. Hierarchal approach to street design classifies streets according to function, from high-traffic arterial roads down to streets whose function is residential access. Systematizing street design into a road hierarchy promotes safety, efficient land use, and residential quality.
STUB STREET
A portion of a street for which an extension has been proposed and approved. Stub streets be permitted when development is phased over a period of time, but only if the street in its entirety has been approved in the preliminary plan.
SUBGRADE
The natural ground lying beneath a road.
TEMPORARY IMPROVEMENT
Improvements built and maintained by a subdivider during construction of the subdivision and prior to release of the performance bond.
TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
The conveyance of development rights by deed, easement or other legal instrument, authorized by ordinance or regulation, to another parcel of land and the recording of that conveyance.
USE-TO-USE RELATIONSHIP
Focusing on the unique aspects of established, newly developed and redeveloping neighborhoods, and commercial/industrial areas in order to achieve improved compatibility and fit of infill development projects and at the same time assist in the preservation and conservation of stable existing neighborhoods and commercial areas.
VARIANCE
A waiver from compliance with a specific provision of Chapter 190, Zoning, granted to a particular property owner because of the practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship that would be imposed by the strict application of that provision of the chapter. The granting of variances traditionally is the responsibility of the Joint Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Commission.
[Amended 11-8-2017 by L.L. No. 5-2017]
VESTED RIGHTS
Right to initiate or continue the establishment of a use which will be contrary to a restriction or regulation coming into effect when the project associated with the use is completed.