Glossary of Terms

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.6.13.A. (Sexually Oriented Business: General), sexually oriented business: general is defined as any sexually oriented business use, other than a sexually oriented business: sexual encounter establishment. This use includes but is not limited to adult arcades, adult bookstores, adult cabaret theaters, adult motion picture theaters, or striptease venues.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.6.13.B. (Sexually Oriented Business: Sexual Encounter), sexually oriented business: sexual encounter is defined as any sexually oriented business use, other than lodging offering public accommodations, which, for any form of consideration, provides a place where two or more persons may congregate, associate or consort in connection with specified sexual activities or the exposure of specified anatomical parts. This use does not include a use where a medical practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar professional licensed by the State of California engages in sexual therapy, for such uses see Sec. 5D.6.8. (Medical Clinic).

Square Feet.

Shared equity project is defined as a project containing dwelling units that is located on land owned by a public agency, Community Land Trust, as defined in the California Revenue and Taxation Code Sec. 402.1(a)(11)(C)(ii), or a Limited-equity Housing Cooperative or Workforce Housing Cooperative Trust, as defined in California Civil Code Sec. 817, except that dwelling units, in addition to being sold or rented to income qualified persons, may also be held by the non-profit corporation for the purpose of making dwelling units for lower income households financially stable. The land must be owned by the public agency, Community Land Trust, Limited-equity Housing Cooperative, or Workforce Housing Cooperative Trust at the time of project filing through the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

A residential or mixed-use structure, with five or more shared housing units and one or more common kitchens and dining areas designed for permanent residence of more than 30 days by its tenants as defined in California Government Code Sec. 65915(o)(7)(A).

One or more habitable rooms, not within another dwelling unit, that includes a bathroom, sink, refrigerator, and microwave, and is used for permanent residence in a shared housing building, and is as further defined in Government Code Sec. 65915(o)(7)(B). A shared housing unit shall comply with the definition of “efficiency dwelling unit” for purposes of zoning and allowable density.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.2.A.3. (Sheltered) a space or structure is considered sheltered if no portion of its area is open to the sky.

Sheltering structure is defined as any structure, including entry features, canopies, or roofs, that creates a covered, unenclosed space.

Pursuant to Sec. 3D.6.5.C.3. (Shopfront Cornice), shopfront cornice is defined as a continuous molded projection located above a series of display windows on the ground story facade.

A shopping cart is defined as a basket of any size, mounted on wheels, rollers or a similar device, including parts, provided by a retail establishment for the purpose of transporting groceries or merchandise of any kind within a retail establishment or associated parking area.

Shopping cart containment plan is defined as a plan sheet that includes a specific written plan with a corresponding site plan that identifies areas of shopping cart containment to prevent customers from removing shopping carts from the premises. See Sec. 4C.12.8. (Shopping Cart Containment).

Shopping cart corral is defined as a stable structure that provides an enclosure for the collection of shopping carts on a lot.

Shoreline project is defined as any development in streams, wetlands, and other waters of the United States, and may include depositing of fill and dredged material, jetties, marinas, and piers.

For the purposes of the Home-Sharing Program (Sec. 5C.3.2.), short-term rental is defined as a rental unit, rented in whole or in part, to any person(s) for use of 30 consecutive days or less. Rental units within City-approved lodging uses shall not be considered a short-term rental.

Showroom area is defined as the interior floor area of a retail use devoted to the display of heavy/large goods, such as furniture, mattresses, major household appliances, carpet, cars, or wholesale fabric where the assistance of a sales associate, special order, or delivery of goods is required.

Shrub is defined as a small to medium sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height and for purposes of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) are less than 15 feet.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.12.C.5. (Side Lot Line), side lot line is defined as any lot line not determined to be a primary street lot line, side street lot line, rear lot line, alley lot line, or special lot line.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.12.C.2. (Side Street Lot Line), side street lot line is defined as a lot line separating a lot from a side street right-of-way. Any street lot line not determined to be a primary street lot line is considered a side street lot line.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.16.B.3. (Side Street Yard), side street yard is defined as the area between a side street lot line and an imaginary line running parallel to the side street lot line. The imaginary line shall be drawn 15 feet back from the portion of the side street lot line-facing facade nearest to the side street lot line, measured perpendicularly to the lot line.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.16.B.5. (Side Yard), side yard is defined as the portions of a lot between a side lot line and a principal structure. All portions of a lot that do not meet the yard designation criteria for any other yard shall be designated as a side yard.

Sidewalk grade is defined as the elevation of the sidewalk surface at any given point.

Sign is defined as any whole or part of a display board, wall, screen, or object, used to announce, declare, demonstrate, display, or otherwise present a message and attract the attention of the public.

Sign face is defined as the surface upon which the sign message is placed.

Significant tree is defined as any tree which measures 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet above the average natural grade at the base of the tree or is more than 35 feet in height.

Pursuant to Sec. 3D.9.2.C.4. (Sill), sill is defined as the bottommost horizontal exterior surface of a window opening including a ledge or other architectural detail that projects from the surrounding building facade.

Simulated divided-lite is defined as a way to create the look of authentic divided lites, simulated divided-lite bars are permanently adhered to both sides of glass. See Sec. 3D.9.1.C.5. (Symmetrical Lite Pattern).

See project site.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.15.B.4. (Site Modification), site modification is defined as work including modifications to existing, or the addition of, new horizontal site improvements and landscaping, including trees, fences or walls, street furniture, lighting fixtures, grading, flatwork, ground mounted signs, and parking lot resurfacing or the reconfiguration of existing parking stalls.

Skilled nursing home is defined as residential housing that is licensed by the California Department of Health, and provides acute, intermediate, or long-term skilled nursing care, and consists only of efficiency dwelling units for its residents. Full-time medical services may be provided on the premises. It may be a component of a senior care facility. See Sec. 5D.2.4.B. (Supportive Housing: Medical Care).

Slope is defined as the plane or incline of land, usually expressed as a percentage:

Small species tree is defined as a tree with a minimum 15-foot canopy spread at maturity.

Social service center is defined as any facility that provides services for the benefit of the community, on a voluntary basis, including the following: employment services, job training, business incubation, youth development, educational services, medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, food aid, or other similar services. See Sec. 9.3.4.C.6. (Social Service Incentive Area).

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.10. (Social Services), social services are defined as publicly accessible administrative services and governmental services that support public welfare through social programs. Social services may be operated by a government entity, a non-profit or a non-governmental organization, and includes welfare service, foster family services, day treatment, adult day care, special needs care, and all other non-residential community care facilities.

Pursuant to Sec. 4C.6.4.D.4. (Soil Depth), soil depth is defined as the shortest vertical dimension of growing medium provided, for all portions of a planting area.

Pursuant to Sec. 4C.6.4.D.5. (Soil Volume), soil volume is defined as the total volume of growing medium provided. Drainage layers and other elements located within a container or planter that are not growing medium are not included in the calculation of soil volume.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.4.A.4. (Solid Area), solid area is defined as the portions of the perimeter planes that have a permanent structure or component physically obstructing the space from its surroundings. For the purpose of measuring the enclosure of a space, portions of the perimeter plane are considered solid area where a permanent structure or component is located within five feet of the perimeter plane, measured perpendicular to the perimeter plane and away from the subject space.