A.

General. The director has final authority to determine the interpretation or usage of terms used in this title, pursuant to this section. Any person may request an interpretation of any term by submitting a written request to the director, who shall respond in writing within 30 days. The director's interpretation shall be binding on all officers and departments of the municipality.

B.

Record of interpretations. The director shall maintain a file of all interpretations made pursuant to this subsection.

C.

Appeal. Any person may appeal an interpretation by the director regarding a term used in this title to the zoning board of examiners and appeals in accordance with subsection 21.03.050B.

(AO 2012-124(S), 2-26-13; AO No. 2020-38, § 11, 5-28-20)

The following rules shall apply for construing or interpreting the terms and provisions of this title.

A.

Meanings and intent. All provisions, terms, phrases, and expressions contained in this title shall be construed according to the general purposes set forth in Section 21.01.030 and the specific purpose statements set forth throughout this title. When, in a specific section of this title, a different meaning is given for a term defined for general purposes in this Chapter 21.15, the specific section's meaning and application of the term shall control.

B.

Purpose statements. Statements of purpose or intent in this title are provided to guide interpretation and understanding of the legislative intent behind the substantive regulations of this title. Purpose and intent statements are not substantive requirements, but rather provide a context whereby the provisions of this title are understood.

C.

Headings, text, and illustrations.

1.

Headings and text. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the text of this title and any heading, caption, figure, illustration, table, or map, the text shall control.

2.

Illustrations. Unless otherwise indicated, illustrations in this title are provided for purposes of describing, clarifying, or providing examples. Such illustrations are not to scale and do not replace, limit, or expand the meaning of the text.

D.

Lists and examples. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, lists of items or examples that use terms such as "for example," "including," and "such as," or similar language are intended to provide examples and are not exhaustive lists of all possibilities. Unless stated otherwise, a list does not imply a priority or chronological order.

E.

Computation of time. The time in which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day. If a deadline or required date of action falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday observed by the municipality, the deadline or required date of action shall be the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday observed by the municipality. References to days are calendar days unless otherwise stated.

F.

References to other regulations/publications Whenever reference is made to a resolution, ordinance, statute, regulation, or document, it shall be construed as a reference to the most recent edition of such regulation, resolution, ordinance, statute, regulation, or document, unless otherwise specifically stated.

G.

Delegation of authority. Any act authorized by this chapter to be carried out by a specific official of the municipality may be carried out by a designee of such official.

H.

Technical and non-technical terms. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases that have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law or practice shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.

I.

Public officials and agencies. All public officials, bodies, and agencies to which references are made are those of the municipality, unless otherwise indicated.

J.

Mandatory and permissive terms. The word "shall" is mandatory in nature, establishing an obligation or duty to comply with the particular provision. The word "may" is permissive, indicating compliance is optional. The word "should" indicates that compliance is highly recommended and encouraged, but not mandatory.

K.

Conjunctions. Unless the context clearly suggests the contrary, conjunctions shall be interpreted as follows:

1.

"And" indicates that all connected items, conditions, provisions or events apply; and

2.

"Or" indicates that one or more of the connected items, conditions, provisions or events apply.

L.

Tenses, plurals, and gender. Words used in the present tense include the future tense. Words used in the singular number include the plural number and the plural number includes the singular number, unless the context of the particular usage clearly indicates otherwise. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine gender, and vice versa.

M.

Measurement of distances for separation of land uses. Except where stated otherwise, whenever this title requires measurement of distance between use types, development sites, or lots, such measurement shall be made from the nearest property line of the first reference point to the nearest property line of the second reference point.

N.

Fractions.

1.

Generally. Except where stated otherwise, when any calculation for determining a number of items (such as parking spaces, trees, etc.) results in a fraction, any fraction less than one-half (0.5) shall be rounded down to the preceding whole number, and any fraction of one-half (0.5) or greater shall be rounded up to the next consecutive whole number. Where the calculation results in a fraction less than one, the fraction shall be rounded up to one.

2.

Dimensions. When any calculation for determining required minimum or allowed maximum dimensions (such as height, lot coverage, open space, etc.) results in a fraction, the dimension shall be measured to the nearest inch. Any fraction of an inch shall be rounded as provided in O.1. above.

3.

Floor area ratio. Any calculation for determining required minimum or allowed maximum floor area ratio shall be rounded to two numbers past the decimal point. For example, 2.4287 is rounded to 2.43, and 4.5324 is rounded to 4.53.

O.

Measurement of windows and entrances as a percentage of building wall area. The percentage of building elevation wall area that is window and entrance openings is determined by dividing the total square footage of the windows and primary entrances on the building elevation by the gross square footage of the building elevation wall area (except for parts of the building exempted in subsection 3., and then multiplying the resulting quotient by 100.

1.

Illustrated example. In the illustration, the building elevation wall area is 20 feet of height × 24 feet of length = 480 square feet. The window and primary entrance area is the area of the two windows (5 × 5 feet × 2) plus the area of the primary entrance and its sidelight (4 × 7 feet) = 78 square feet. The percentage of the building elevation wall area is found by dividing 78 by 480 then multiplying by 100, to yield 16%.

2.

Measuring window and primary entrance area. "Window area" is defined in Section 21.15.040, definitions. Primary entrance area includes the entrance opening and door frame but excludes trim, molding, and other features beyond the door frame. "Primary entrance" is defined in Section 21.15.040.

3.

Exempt parts of the building elevation wall area. The building elevation wall area is measured as the exterior wall plane surface area from finished grade to the top of the wall on the building except that, for the purposes of measuring windows and entrances as a percentage of building wall area, the following parts of the building are not included in the wall area calculation:

a.

Wall area above the topmost story's top plate, such as gable ends of a roof enclosing a cold attic, or parapet walls.

b.

Roof surfaces, eaves, fascia, vent stacks, mechanical equipment and rooms, rooftop access enclosures, and other roof appurtenances.

c.

Wall area of stories below grade plane, such as below grade parking, up to the finished floor of the story above grade plane.

d.

Parts of a street-facing building elevation below the grade plane of the abutting sidewalk (or edge of street pavement where there is no sidewalk).

(AO 2012-124(S), 2-26-13; AO 2013-117, 12-3-13; AO No. 2020-38, § 11, 5-28-20; AO No. 2021-89(S), § 21, 2-15-22; AO No. 2023-50, § 4, 7-11-23, eff. 1-1-24)

(AO 2012-124(S), 2-26-13; AO 2013-117, 12-3-13; AO No. 2020-38, §§ 11, 14, 5-28-20)

When used in this title, the following words and terms shall have the meaning set forth in this section, unless other provisions of this title specifically indicate otherwise.

Abutting

Touching or bordering. (See illustration under "adjacent")

Abutting lots

Two lots abut when they share a common lot line.

Access

A way or means of approach to provide vehicular or pedestrian physical entrance to a property.

Accessory Equipment

Any equipment serving or being used in conjunction with a telecommunications facility or support structure. This equipment includes utility or transmission equipment, power supplies, generators, batteries, cables, equipment buildings, cabinets and storage sheds, shelters or other structures.

Adjacent

Abutting or across an alley, a street (public or private, local and collector classification on the Official Streets and Highways Plan), or pedestrian right-of-way.

Adjacent lots

Two lots are adjacent where they have a common lot line (abutting) or where they are separated only by an alley or a local or private street or pedestrian right-of-way.

Affordable housing

See Housing, Affordable.

Airport elevation

The highest point of an airport's usable landing area, measured in feet above mean sea level.

Aisle, circulation

A private travel way within a parking facility, providing motor vehicle access to parking bays.

Aisle, parking

A circulation aisle that abuts parking spaces, providing automobile access and permitting maneuvering of automobiles entering and leaving such spaces.

Alley

A permanent service right-of-way providing a secondary means of access to abutting properties.

AMC

Anchorage Municipal Code.

Amortization

A process where a nonconformity is required to be brought into compliance with the requirements of this title after a specified period of time. Amortization allows the owner of a legal nonconformity to recoup the value of the nonconformity within the particular time period. After that time, the municipality may require the owner to come into compliance without the payment of compensation.

Antenna or antenna array

Any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building, or structure and used in communications that radiate or capture electromagnetic waves, digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies (excluding radar signals), amplitude modulation arrays, wireless telecommunications signals, or other communications signals.

Approach, transitional, horizontal, and conical

Surfaces or zones that are airspace zones defined as set forth in FAR part 77, subpart C, paragraph 77.25.

Appurtenance

The visible, functional, or ornamental objects accessory to, and part of, building or structures.

Architectural feature (as used in Chapter 21.12, Signs)

Any construction attendant to the sign that is separate and separated from the sign face and frame, contains no text, has no depiction or representation of the product or service being offered, and is generally intended to provide artistic enhancement to the sign.

Architectural feature

A part, portion, or projection that contributes to the aesthetic quality of a building or structure, exclusive of signs, that is not necessary for the structural integrity of the building structure or to make the building or structure habitable.

Architectural bay

A spatial division of a wall, roof, or other part of a building. It is usually repeated at intervals as part of a series, and is defined as the zone or wall plane between the outside edges of engaged columns, pilasters, posts, or projecting vertical wall areas. In an exterior building façade, a bay is often simply an opening in a wall, usually occupied by windows or a doorway.

Area, building

The total of areas taken on a horizontal plane in plan view of the principal building and all accessory buildings or structures exclusive of exterior steps.

Area lighting

Lighting located on public or private property that is designed to light outdoor spaces. Area lighting does not include façade or landscape lighting.

Assembly

The assembly of the municipality.

Athletic Field (as used in Section 21.05.055, Marijuana Establishments)

A distinctly marked area of natural turf, artificial turf, sand, hardened surface, or the like; developed and maintained to be used for a sport or game, including associated spectator facilities. Examples include soccer, football, softball and baseball fields; tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts; hockey rinks; and golf and disc golf courses; but do not include open areas occasionally or informally used for athletic purposes; lake areas that are hot-mopped in the winter; ski or dogsled trails, bowling alleys or pool halls.

Attendant parking (also valet parking)

A parking facility that relies on attendants (or valets) to park and retrieve vehicles rather than on drivers to park and retrieve their own vehicles.

Average

The arithmetic mean.

Average slope

Average slope is calculated by the following formula:

S = (I × L × 0.0023)/A

Where:

S = Average slope of lot or tract in percent.

I = Contour interval (20 feet or less).

L = Sum of the length of all contours on lot or tract in feet.

A = Area of the lot or tract in acres.

Backlight

For an exterior luminaire, flux radiated in the quarter-sphere below horizontal and in the opposite direction of the intended orientation of the luminaire. For luminaries with symmetric distribution, backlight will be the same as frontlight.

Balcony

An elevated platform projecting from the wall of a building, enclosed by a railing or parapet, and supported entirely by the building without support on the ground by posts, columns, or similar structural members. For the purposes of this title, common access passageways are not balconies.

Base flood (100-year)

The flood having a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year.

Basement

See story below grade plane

Bay window

A window or series of windows projecting outward from the wall plane of a building and forming a habitable space such as a bay or alcove in a room within.

Billboard

A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, event, service or entertainment that is not sold, produced, manufactured or furnished at the property on which the sign is located. Any other outdoor advertising prohibited by the provisions of AS 19.25.075—19.25.180 shall also be considered billboards.

Blank wall

A section of the ground-floor building wall, as measured horizontally across the building elevation, without windows or primary entrances.

Block

A block is defined by an area of land bounded by streets, or a combination of streets, railroad utility corridor, shorelines of waterways, or municipal boundary lines.

Block length

The distance between intersections of through streets, such distance being measured along the longest street bounding the block and from right-of-way line to right-of-way line of the two intersecting streets.

Brightness

The human perception of luminance. See Luminance and Candela

Buffer, perimeter

A unit of land and any plants and structures (i.e., walls, fences) thereon that is used to separate land uses from each other.

BUG

A luminaire classification system that evaluates backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G).

Building

Any structure built for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels, or property of any kind.

Building, accessory

A building that is on the same lot as, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to, a principal building or structure, and the use of which is clearly incidental and subordinate to that of the principal building or structure.

Building code

The building code which is adopted in the AMC Title 23.

Building envelope

The three-dimensional space within which a structure is permitted to be built on a lot and which is defined by regulations governing setbacks, maximum height and bulk; by other regulations; or any combination thereof.

Building interface zone

The space located between the pedestrian movement zone of an enhanced sidewalk and the street-facing building façade. The building interface zone protects pedestrians walking on the sidewalk from opening doors and objects protruding from buildings. It can accommodate window shopping and building egress and ingress. It may also provide space for features along the building wall such as seating, foundation landscaping, or residential front stoops.

Building, principal

A structure in which is conducted the main use of the lot on which the structure is situated.

Building permit

See permit, building

Building wall (as used in Chapter 21.12, Signs)

Any vertical surface of a building or structure (other than a pitched roof) that is integral to and could reasonably be constructed as part of the architecture of the building when a sign(s) is not being contemplated. Examples of building walls include but are not limited to: awnings, canopies, marquees, the vertical portion of gable roofs, parapets, mechanical penthouses, etc.

Business

An enterprise that for consideration will provide for the sale or the rental of any article, substance, or commodity, including but not limited to business services and personal services.

Caliper

The diameter of a tree trunk measured at six inches above the ground, unless this dimension exceeds four inches; then the diameter is measured at four and one-half feet above the ground.

Camper

A portable structure mounted on a truck or truck chassis or a converted hearse, bus, station wagon or panel truck designed for use as a temporary travel dwelling.

Candela

A unit measuring luminous intensity of a lighting source. An ordinary candle has a luminous intensity of one candela. See luminance

Canopy

A fixed and permanent roof-like structure; either an architectural element projecting out from the wall of a building or a freestanding cover that shelters an outdoor area from precipitation or wind.

Car share program

A membership program that offers an alternative to car ownership under which persons or entities that become members are permitted to use vehicles from a fleet on an hourly basis, or in smaller intervals. Vehicles are available for pick-up by eligible members 24 hours per day. Automobile insurance and maintenance are covered by the car share program and individual members pay for usage and mileage fees.

CATV

A utility that operates non-broadcast facilities that distribute to subscribers the signals of one or more television broadcast stations.

Certificate to plat

A certificate prepared by a title company authorized by the laws of the state to write the title, showing the names of all persons having any record title interest in the land to be platted, together with the nature of their respective interests therein.

Certificate of occupancy

A certificate of zoning compliance issued by the municipality allowing the occupancy or use of a building in the building safety service area, and certifying that the structure or use has been constructed and will be used in compliance with all applicable municipal codes and ordinances.

Certificate of on-site systems approval

A written confirmation signed by an engineer and the development services department certifying that the on-site sewer and water system serving a single-family dwelling is functional and complies with all state and local regulations and codes.

Certificate of zoning compliance

A document issued by the municipality indicating that a structure or use meets the applicable zoning requirements at the time of issuance. A certificate of occupancy is considered a certificate of zoning compliance.

Certificate of zoning compliance, conditional

A temporary certificate of zoning compliance, issued before the completion of the entire work covered by the land use permit, providing that the building or portions of the building may be occupied safely.

Certified lighting professional

A professional who is Lighting Certified (LC) by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions.

Change of use

A change of use occurs when the type of use is not the same as the immediate prior use type, as determined by Table 21.05-1, Table of Allowed Uses, Table 21.05-3, Table of Accessory Uses, Table 21.09-1, Table of Allowed Uses (Girdwood), Table 21.09-2, Table of Accessory Uses (Girdwood), Table 21.10-4, Table of Allowed Uses (Chugiak-Eagle River), or Table 21.10-5, Table of Accessory Uses (Chugiak-Eagle River).

Characteristic of use

Improvements or amenities required by this title in relation to specified uses of land, water areas, structures, or premises such as parking, lighting, landscaping, or other such features.

Civil penalty

A fine levied by the municipality for a violation of this title.

Class A districts

A group of zoning districts where more dense population and/or intensive development exists or is allowed, requiring a more urbanized level of improvements. See subsection 21.08.050B.

Class B districts

A group of zoning districts that are less densely populated and/or intensively developed, requiring a less urbanized level of improvements. See subsection 21.08.050B.

Clear width, walkway

See walkway clear width

Clearing

The removal of woody plants over six inches above the ground using any method that does not disturb the vegetative mat.

Collocation

The location of antennae on existing structures, including but not limited to towers occupied by another provider, buildings, water towers, utility substations, utility poles, and church steeples.

Color rendering index (of a light source) (CRI)

A measure of the degree of color shift that objects undergo when illuminated by the light source as compared with those same objects when illuminated by a reference source of comparable color temperature.

Commercial

An enterprise involved in the production, processing, or merchandising of a commodity for, usually but not necessarily, a profit. Generally, wholesale, retail trade, and services are considered commercial.

Community council

Established as part of Anchorage municipal government in Anchorage Charter Article VIII to "afford citizens the opportunity for maximum community involvement and self determination", community councils are nonprofit, voluntary, self-governing associations composed of residents, property owners, business owners, and representatives from nonprofit associations and other entities located within geographical areas designated as districts by the assembly.

Compatible (or compatibility)

The characteristics of different uses, activities, or designs which allow them to be located near or next to each other in harmony. Some elements affecting compatibility include the height, scale, mass, bulk, and setbacks of structures. Other characteristics include traffic, parking, access and circulation, landscaping and buffering, drainage and storm water runoff, exterior lighting, dust, noise, hours of operation, and demand on public facilities and services. Compatible does not necessarily mean "the same as." Rather, compatibility refers to the sensitivity of development proposals in maintaining the character of the surrounding context and avoiding adverse impacts on neighboring uses.

Complete Street

See Street, Complete.

Comprehensive plan

The adopted official statement(s) of the municipal assembly that sets forth (in words, maps, illustrations, and/or tables) a collection of goals, objectives, policies, and strategies to guide the physical, social, and economic development of the municipality, including the provision of its public infrastructure and services. The comprehensive plan is comprised of a series of distinct plans adopted by the assembly as comprehensive plan elements, each of which address specific geographic management areas or specific functional aspects of community planning. When practically applied to decision-making, the term is intended to mean those comprehensive plan elements that are applicable and pertinent to the decision at hand, in terms of specific geographic area and/or functional topic.

Comprehensive plan amendment, cosmetic

An amendment that affects the appearance, style, wording, or presentation of the comprehensive plan, but does not alter its meaning, interpretation, or recommendations. Examples of cosmetic amendments include, but are not limited to: revising map or document style, format, or layout to enhance clarity; revising map or text content to accurately reflect additions to municipal facilities or revisions to adjoining jurisdictions' adopted plans; adding explanatory text or labels; and correcting spelling or grammar.

Comprehensive plan amendment, substantive

An amendment that affects the intent of the comprehensive plan. Examples of substantive amendments include, but are not limited to: revising text to address a new policy direction or the addition of a new zoning district.

Comprehensive plan map

An element of the Anchorage Comprehensive Plan, comprised of one or more land use plan maps, residential intensity maps, and other maps, as well as supporting text and tables. The comprehensive plan map provides a geographically explicit statement of the adopted plan's policies for future land use and growth. It designates the ultimate future location, density, and general character of land uses in the community. It also serves as a guide for the official zoning map.

Construction

On-site fabrication, installation, alteration, erection, or placement of materials in a permanent fashion for an improvement.

CRI

See color rendering index

Cupola

A small roof tower, usually rising from the roof ridge.

DAS or Distributed Antenna System

A system that distributes RF signals from transceivers at a central hub to a specific service area with otherwise poor coverage or inadequate capacity. As typically configured, a DAS network consists of: (1) a number of remote communications nodes deployed throughout the desired coverage area, each including at least one antenna for transmission and reception; (2) a high capacity signal transport medium (typically fiber optic cable) connecting each node to a central communications hub site; and (3) radio transceivers located at the hub site (rather than at each individual node as is the case for small cells) to process or control the communications signals transmitted and received through the antennas. Whereas small cells are usually operator-managed and support only a single wireless service provider, DAS networks can often accommodate multiple providers using different frequencies and/or wireless air interfaces.

Date of service

The date that the secretary mails or otherwise distributes the summary of action or approved resolution to the applicant.

Daylight plane

A virtual sloping plane that begins at a specified height and rises inward over a site at a specified ratio of vertical distance to horizontal distance. It is designed to provide light, air and openness to the sky at ground floor level.

Decision-making body

The person, board, or commission with the authority to approve, modify, or deny an entitlement application, as stated in section 21.02.020 and elsewhere in this title.

Deck

A platform, either freestanding or attached to a building, and supported on the ground by pillars, posts, columns, or similar structural members.

Dedication

The devotion of land or an interest in land by the owner to a public use, which is accepted and used presently or in the future for such public purpose.

Density, Gross

The total number of dwelling units per acre within any defined geographic area.

Density, net

The total number of dwelling units per acre on a particular tract or parcel of land, not taking into account portions of the tract or parcel that contain rights-of-way for streets, water bodies, wetlands, or other areas restricted from development.

Department

Unless otherwise indicated in the text of this code, the community development department (or successor organization) of the municipality.

Developer

That person or entity improving or developing land, who may or may not be the owner of the property.

Development

The initiation, construction, change, or enlargement of any use or structure, the disturbance of land, or the division of land into two or more parcels. "Development" shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Construction or enlargement of a building or structure;

• Change in the type of use of a building, structure, or land;

• Material increase in the intensity of use of land, such as an increase in the number of businesses, offices, manufacturing establishments, or dwelling units located in a building or structure or on the land;

• Commencement or expansion of resource extraction, agricultural, horticultural, or forestry activities on a parcel of land;

• Demolition of a structure or the clearing of vegetation from a parcel of land;

• Deposition of refuse, solid or liquid waste, or fill on a parcel of land;

• Alteration of the shore, bank, or channel of any stream, lake, or other body of water or alteration of any wetland; and

• Any land-disturbing activity that adds to or changes the amount of impervious or partially impervious cover on a land area or which otherwise decreases the infiltration of precipitation into the soil.

Director

Unless otherwise indicated in the text of this code, the director of the community development department or designee.

Double-frontage lot

See lot, double-frontage

Drainageway

A watercourse that does, or under developed conditions is likely to, convey storm water flows for short durations. Drainageways include constructed channels and conduits (including storm drain pipes), ephemeral channels, and non-channelized drainage paths along topographic flow lines whether constructed or natural, vegetated, or non vegetated.

Driveway

The paved connection meeting municipal driveway standards located between the garage of a dwelling unit and the adjacent street (public or private) or between a parking facility and the adjacent street (public or private). A driveway is not a street. It does not provide primary frontage or address for buildings, nor is it primarily designed for non-motorized pedestrian access.

Driveway approach

The portion of a driveway providing direct vehicle ingress and egress over public right-of-way to a property. The driveway approach extends from the street edge to the front property line.

Driveway throat width

The width of a driveway at the property line or street curb, measured from face of curb to face of curb (or, where there are no curbs, between the edges of the driveway travel way surface), at the point of tangency. The measurement does not include any medians contained in the driveway. For driveways with a curb return design at the opening of the street curb, the measurement does not include additional width at the driveway opening created by the curb return radii.

Dwelling or dwelling unit

A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively as the separate residence for one household and providing independent and complete living facilities, generally including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.

Easement

A non-possessory interest in land owned by another that entitles the easement holder to a specified limited use or enjoyment.

Efficiency dwelling

A dwelling unit that has only one combined living and sleeping room. The dwelling may have a separate room containing only kitchen facilities, and a separate room containing only sanitary facilities.

Elevation, building

A scale drawing of one side or view angle of a building, such as the front, rear, or side.

Encroachment

The projection or intrusion of a building, structure, or other land-disturbing activity into an area where such projections or intrusions are typically prohibited.

Entitlement

Any permit or approval granted under this title, including, but not limited to zoning map amendments, conditional use permits, preliminary or final plat approval, site plan approval, and variances. For purposes of administering and enforcing this title, the term also includes building and land use permits.

Entrance, Primary

A principal entry through which people, including customers, residents, or members of the public enter a building. For any commercial or community establishment which serves the visiting public, a primary entrance is open to the public during all regular business hours and directly accesses lobby, reception, retail, or other interior areas designed to receive the public. Fire exits, service doors, vehicle entrances, doors leading directly into a garage or storage space accessory to the use, and employee entrances are not primary entrances. A building or establishment may have more than one primary entrance. For residential dwelling units, the main front entry serving the dwelling(s) is the "primary front entrance."

Ephemeral channel

A natural watercourse that is channelized over part or all of its length and conveys surface water flows from single storm or snow melt events for short durations only. They are transitional to streams but lack the overall geomorphic, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics commonly associated with stream features. Prolonged flow may occur along very short and isolated segments of an ephemeral channel.

Erosion

The wearing away of land surface by the action of wind, water, gravity, or any combination thereof.

Erosion control

A measure, structure, or device that controls the soil material within the land area under responsible control of the person conducting a land-disturbing activity.

Existing vegetation

Vegetation that predates a development application by at least two years.

Extent reasonably feasible

Feasible in light of overall project purposes after considering cost, existing technology, and logistics of compliance with the standard. Under the circumstances, reasonable efforts have been undertaken to comply with the regulation; the costs of full compliance clearly outweigh the potential benefits to the public and would unreasonably burden the proposed project based on the percentage of total project costs; and reasonable steps have been undertaken to minimize any potential harm or adverse impacts resulting from noncompliance with the regulation.

Family

Any number of persons related by blood, adoption, or marriage, or no more than five unrelated persons occupying premises and living as a single housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a roominghouse, club, fraternity house, or hotel.

FAR

See floor area ratio

Feature, architectural

See architectural feature

Fence

A constructed barrier which is erected to enclose, screen, buffer, enhance, or separate areas.

Fence, open

A fence constructed with openings between materials used in its construction, such that 75 percent or more of a visual image or light source may be seen through the fence.

Fence, ornamental

A fence that utilizes wood, metal, or other permanent materials and is primarily designed for its beauty, or for decorative purposes, although it may also serve other purposes, such as a screening structure. Ornamental fences do not include chain link fences.

Fence, screening (opaque)

A fence, including any gates, constructed of solid material, typically consisting of wood, through which no visual images or light sources may be seen.

Fence, semi-open

A fence constructed with openings between materials used in its construction, such that less than 75 percent of a visual image or light source may be seen through the fence.

Fence, sight obscuring

A fence constructed such that less than 25 percent of a visual image or light source may be seen through the fence. Openings in such fence shall not exceed 25 percent in any one square foot of vertical surface area that is more than eight inches above grade.

Final acceptance

Acceptance by the municipality, at the successful completion of the warranty period, of a public improvement, constructed under terms of a subdivision agreement or development agreement.

Flag

Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, corporate or commercial entity, or institution. A corporate or commercial, or institutional flag may only display the name, trademark, or logo of the business or institution on the parcel and such flag may not be used for other business or advertising purposes.

Flag Lot

See lot, flag

Fleet vehicle

A group of vehicles owned or operated as a unit, used for operation of an establishment, and often parked and/or maintained on the premises. Examples include tow trucks, taxis, buses, limousines, commercial trucks or vans, and police and fire vehicles.

Flood and flooding

A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

• The overflow of inland or tidal waters.

• The unusual or rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source.

• Mudslides that are proximately caused or precipitated by accumulations of water on or under the ground.

• The collapse or subsidence of land along the shore of a lake or other body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves or currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels or suddenly caused by an unusually high water level in a natural body of water, accompanied by a severe storm, or by an unanticipated force of nature, such as a flash flood or an abnormal tide surge, or by some similarly unusual or unforeseeable event which results in flooding as defined in this subsection.

Flood insurance rate map (FIRM)

The official map on which the Federal Insurance Administration has delineated both areas of special flood hazards and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

Flood insurance study

The official report provided by the Federal Insurance Administration that includes flood profiles, the flood boundary/floodway map, and the water surface elevation of the base flood.

Flood hazard area

Land adjacent to a watercourse that includes the streambed, floodway, flood fringe, and the floodplain.

Floodplain

That area of land adjoining the channel of a river, stream or other similar body of water which may be inundated by a flood that can reasonably be expected to occur. The floodplain includes all the land within the limits of the 100-year flood and the floodway within it if such floodway is delineated.

Floodproofing

Any combination of structural and nonstructural additions, changes or adjustments to structures which reduce or eliminate flood damage to real estate or improved real property, water and sanitary facilities, structures and their contents.

Floodway, regulatory

The channel of a river or other watercourse and the adjacent land areas that must be reserved in order to discharge the base flood without cumulatively increasing the water surface elevation more than one foot. The boundaries of this area shall be established on the basis of the maps and reports adopted by subsection 21.07.020E., flood hazard area regulations.

Floodway fringe

That area of land lying between the outer limit of the regulatory floodway and the outer limit of the base flood elevation. The boundaries of this area shall be established on the basis of the maps and reports adopted by subsection 21.07.020E., flood hazard area regulations.

Floor area ratio (FAR)

The ratio of the total gross floor area of all building(s) on a lot, to the area of the lot. Floor area ratio is calculated by dividing the total gross floor area of all buildings on a lot by the area of the lot. For example, a floor area ratio of 1.0 yields 12,000 square feet of building gross floor area on a lot with an area of 12,000 square feet. A floor area ratio of 2.0 on the same lot would yield 24,000 square feet of building gross floor area.

Floor plate

The total indoor and outdoor horizontal floor area of any given story of a building, measured to the exterior of the wall, terrace, or balcony, and including the horizontal area of any open air interior space such as a multistory atrium that is open to the floor(s) below.

Footcandle

A unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface, equal to one lumen per square foot and originally defined with reference to a standardized candle burning at one foot from a given surface.

Fragment lot

A division of a commercial tract for purposes of facilitating construction or financing of a commercial development requiring multiple phases of construction. The term "fragment lot" does not include properties outside of the boundaries of an approved commercial tract. Fragment lots may be described in metes and bounds descriptions.

Frame (as used in Chapter 21.12, Signs)

An enclosing border that surrounds the display area of a sign. This includes the sign cabinet or other visible construction intended to provide support for the sign display.

Front parking area

The portion of a site's parking lot that is between the façade of the principal building and an abutting street. The front parking area shall be determined by drawing a line from the front corners of the building to the nearest property corners. If any such line, when connected to the plane of the front façade of the building, creates an angle that is greater than 180 degrees, then the line shall be adjusted to create an angle of 180 degrees. If any such line, when connected to the plane of the front façade of the building, creates an angle that is less than 90 degrees, then the line shall be adjusted to create an angle of 90 degrees when connected to the plane of the front façade of the building. The front parking area includes all parking spaces that fall at least halfway into the boundaries of the front parking area, and all parking spaces associated with any pad sites located within the front parking lot boundaries.

Frontage

The edge of something, usually a lot, building, or parking lot, that abuts a street. Also see frontage, lot.

Frontage, lot

All property abutting a street or road easement, measured as the uninterrupted length of the lot line along the right-of-way between the side lot lines of a lot. The measurement of lot frontage in the case of a corner lot shall extend to the point of intersection of the front lot lines abutting the rights-of-way. In no case shall the line along an alley be considered as frontage.

Frontage road

A street adjacent to an arterial or higher order street that is intended to serve lots adjacent to the arterial.

Frontage, street

See frontage, lot

Full cutoff

See luminaire, full cutoff

Full membership

The total number of seats on a board or commission.

Glare

Lighting that causes visual discomfort or reduced visibility.

Grade

The elevation of the surface of the ground, paving, or sidewalk around a building or structure.

Grade, existing

The elevation of the surface of the ground or paving around a building or structure, prior to land-disturbing activity or grading.

Grade, finished

The final elevation of the surface of the ground or paving around a building or structure, after grading or completion of a development.

Grade plane

The reference plane representing the average grade around a structure, as measured in subsection 21.06.030D., which is used to determine the height of the structure.

Grading

Any stripping, cutting, excavation, filling, or stockpiling of earth or land, including the land in its cut or filled conditions, to create a new grade.

Greenhouse

A structure with walls and roof made predominantly of transparent material, such as glass, polycarbonate, or similar materials, used primarily for growing plants in regulated climatic conditions.

Grid

The 100-scale grid designation as established by the municipality.

Gross floor area

The total horizontal area of all of the floors of a building, measured to the exterior of the wall, including mezzanines, stairwells, hallways, elevator shafts, and ventilation shafts, etc.

Ground cover

Grasses or other low-growing plants and landscaping.

Ground floor

That portion of a building that is the first story above grade plane.

Ground floor wall area

Exterior wall areas up to the ceiling height of the first floor, or ten feet above finished grade, whichever is less.

Grubbing

Removal, by any method. of stumps, roots, and vegetative matter from the ground surface, exposing bare soil.

Guest

Any person hiring or occupying a room for living or sleeping purposes.

Guest parking space

See parking space, guest

Guestroom

A room intended or designed to be used for sleeping purposes.

Habitable floor area

In the case of residential uses, habitable floor area means floor area designed and used for living, sleeping, eating or cooking, or combinations thereof. Bathrooms, closets, storage rooms, unfinished attics, utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable floor area. In the case of non-residential uses, habitable floor area means building space, such as office, industrial or retail floor space, which use involves human presence, excluding parking garages, storage facilities, utility rooms, bathrooms, or display windows separated from retail activity.

Hard surfaced

Covered with a material that provides a flat and stable surface. Concrete, asphalt, brick pavers, large stone pavers, and wood pavers are examples of hard surfacing. Gravel, river rock, mulch, and bare dirt are not hard surfacing.

Hardscape

For the purposes of the exterior lighting section in Section 21.07.100, paved areas of a site, including but not limited to parking lots, driveways, plazas, sidewalks, steps, and similar construction.

Hardscape area

For the purposes of the exterior lighting section in Section 21.07.100, area in square feet of all hardscape including any medians, walkways, and landscape areas ten feet or less in width within the hardscape area, which is used to calculate allowed lumens for the complete site method.

Hardscape perimeter

For the purposes of the exterior lighting section in Section 21.07.100, perimeter in linear feet of all site hardscape plus perimeter of landscape areas, buildings, and structures that are greater than ten feet in width, which is used to calculate allowed lumens for the complete site method.

Height (as used in subsection 21.06.030D.9., airport height regulations)

For the purpose of the airport height map, the distance above mean sea level, unless otherwise specified.

Height

When viewed from the front of an object or a three-dimensional space, the measurement of the vertical distance from a horizontal plane to another horizontal plane.

Height, building

The height of a building as measured in subsection 21.06.030D.

High rise

A building or portion of a building that exceeds 75 feet in building height.

Hillside Watershed Protection Area

The Hillside Watershed Protection Area contains a high number of headwater streams. Larger stream setbacks in this area are important for protecting the quality of water flowing to downstream receiving waters, including Potter Marsh. The boundary is defined as: starting at the southeast intersection of Lake Otis Boulevard and Abbott Road, continuing east to the boundary of Chugach State Park, following the Chugach State Park Boundary south and west to the Seward Highway, north along the Seward Highway to O'Malley Road, east to Lake Otis Boulevard, and north to the starting point.

Household

A domestic unit consisting of any number of persons related by blood, adoption, or marriage, or no more than five unrelated persons who share living arrangements. Members of a household have common access to, and common use of, all living areas and all facilities within the dwelling unit. A household occupies a single dwelling unit, so that its members live and eat separately from any other persons in the building, and have access to the outside of the building either directly or through a common hall.

Housing, affordable

Housing that has a sales price or rental amount that is within the means of a household with a low or moderate income as defined by federal code. In the case of dwelling units for rent, affordable housing means housing for which the rent and utilities constitute no more than 30 percent of the gross annual income of households earning less than 80 percent of the median annual income adjusted for household size, as determined by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the case of dwelling units for sale, affordable housing means housing for which principal, interest, taxes, insurance, homeowners association fees, and assessments are no more than 30 percent of the gross annual income of households earning less than 80 percent of the median annual income, adjusted for household size, as determined by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Housing, senior

Senior housing is defined as follows, or according to successor portions of the federal code of definitions as adopted by the community development department. Housing that is (a) provided under any state or federal program that the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons (as defined in the state or federal programs); or (b) intended for and solely occupied by persons 62 years of age or older; or (c) intended and operated for occupancy by persons 55 years of age or older and at least 80 percent of the occupied units are occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of age or older. A housing facility or community meets the definition of category (c) only if it publishes and adheres to policies and procedures that demonstrate the intent of category (c), and complies with rules issued by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for verification of occupancy (which shall provide for verification by reliable surveys and affidavits) and includes examples of the types of policies and procedures relevant to a determination of compliance with such rules issued by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

IESNA

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

Illuminance

The measure of light intensity striking a surface, measured in footcandles.

Impervious (or impermeable) surface

A surface that permits insignificant or no infiltration of runoff water over the duration of a single rainfall or water runoff event; any surface with little or no capacity to transmit water.

Improvement areas

Portions of the municipality divided up into geographic areas for the purposes of determining public improvement requirements and providing public services.

Improvements

Any construction incident to servicing or furnishing facilities for a subdivision, such as grading, street surfacing, curb and gutter, driveway approaches, sidewalks, crosswalks, water mains and lines, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, culverts, bridges, utilities, waterways, lakes, bays and other appropriate items with an appurtenant construction.

Industrial

An activity which may involve manufacturing, processing, warehousing, storage, distribution, shipping, and/or other related or similar uses.

Initial lamp lumens

Lumen rating of a lamp when the lamp is new and has not depreciated in light output (rated lamp lumens). Light loss factor equals 1.0.

Inside dimension

The minimum dimensions of an area or space such as a private open space or parking space, not including the width of walls, fences, railings, or other physical boundaries defining the perimeter of the area. For example, a private open space with a minimum inside dimension of 15 feet is such that a 15 by 15 foot square will fit entirely within it.

Joint trench

A trench excavated for the underground placement of utility distribution lines owned or operated by two or more utilities.

Junk

Any worn-out, wrecked, scrapped, partially or fully dismantled, discarded tangible material, or combination of materials or items, including junk vehicles as defined in AMC 15.20.010. Also included are machinery, metal, rags, rubber, paper, plastics, chemicals, and building materials which cannot, without further alteration and reconditioning, be used for their original purpose.

Kiosk, Informational

A free-standing structure upon which temporary information and/or posters, notices, and announcements are posted.

LED

See light emitting diode

Land-disturbing activity

Any use of the land by any person for any activity that results in a change in the natural cover or topography and that may cause or contribute to sedimentation or other forms of environmental degradation.

Landowner

Any owner of a legal or equitable interest in real property, including the heirs, devisees, successors, assigns, and agent or personal representative of the owner. The person shown on the records at the Anchorage recording district shall be presumed to be the person in control of the property.

Landscaping

Trees, shrubs, ground covers, and related improvements, including furniture and other facilities intended to enhance public activity spaces both within and outside the affected development. This definition shall include spaces of varying degrees of enclosure from interior spaces to transitional spaces and outdoor spaces.

Large domestic animal

Domestic or semi-domestic animals such as horses, ponies, miniature ponies, cows, pigs, llamas, musk oxen, and other similar animals of similar size, but not dogs (canis familiaris).

Legal access

Having legal access means abutting a vehicular right-of-way.

Legal nonconforming status

A state or condition where a documented nonconforming use, structure, lot, or sign, is allowed to remain and be maintained pursuant to Chapter 21.13, Nonconformities.

Light emitting diode (LED)

A semiconductor device that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it.

Light trespass

Unwanted light that falls on neighboring properties or produces glare or distraction for observers away from the area for which the light is intended (also called "nuisance glare").

Loading Space, Off-Street

A space located on premises for pickup and delivery at the premises.

Lot

A unit of land within a subdivision, bounded by streets and/or other lots, that is described and fixed on the most recent plat of record.

Lot Area

The amount of horizontal land area contained inside the lot lines of a lot or site.

Lot coverage

That percentage of the total lot area covered by buildings, except as provided in subsection 21.06.030B.2., structures not considered in measuring lot coverage.

Lot, Corner

A lot located at the intersection of two or more streets. A lot abutting on a curved street shall be considered a corner lot if straight lines drawn from the foremost points of the side lot lines to the foremost point of the lot meet at an interior angle of less than 135 degrees.

Lot, depth of

The mean horizontal distance between the front and rear property lines of a lot, measured in the general direction of its side property lines between the midpoint of such lines, except that such measurement shall not extend outside the lot lines of the lot being measured.

Lot, double-frontage

A lot other than a corner lot with frontage on more than one street.

Lot, Flag

An irregularly shaped lot in which the buildable section typically has no street frontage, but has an arm that provides street access, called the "flag pole." The width of the arm does not meet the minimum lot width standards in the zoning district in which it is located.

Lot Frontage

See frontage, lot

Lot, Interior

A lot other than a corner lot, with frontage only on one street.

Lot line

The fixed boundaries or property lines of a lot described by survey located on a plat filed for record.

Lot line, front

Any boundary line of a lot along the edge of a right-of-way of a dedicated street, private street or road easement that abuts that line.

Lot Line, Rear

That boundary of a lot that is most parallel to the front lot line and does not intersect the front lot line.

Lot Line, Side

That boundary of a lot that is neither a front or rear lot line.

Lot Line, Street

A lot line abutting a street.

Lot, Nonconforming

A lot that met all legal requirements when it was platted or otherwise recorded but that does not comply with the minimum lot area or minimum lot dimensions of this title, or a subsequent amendment hereto, for the zoning district in which it is located.

Lot of Record

A lot that is recorded by the district recorder's office.

Lot, Townhouse

A lot subdivided for a townhouse use.

Lot Width

The distance between straight lines connecting the front and rear lot lines at each side of the lot, measured between the midpoints of such lines, provided that such measurement shall extend to the side property lines and shall not extend beyond the lot lines of the lot being measured. Flag-shaped lot width shall be measured at the midpoint of the lot excluding the flagpole area of the lot.

Lowest Floor

The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including basement or crawl space. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, usable solely for parking of vehicles, building access or storage, in any area other than a basement area, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of the applicable nonelevation design requirements of subsection 21.04.070E.

Lumen

The unit of luminous flux (radiant energy): a measure of the amount of light emitted by a lamp. See also illuminance

Luminaire

A complete lighting unit consisting of one or more electric lamps, the lamp holder, reflector, lens, ballast, and/or other components and accessories.

Luminaire, full cutoff

A luminaire emitting a light distribution where zero candela intensity occurs at or above an angle of 90 degrees above nadir. Additionally, the candela per 1,000 lamp lumens does not numerically exceed 100 (ten percent) at a vertical angle of 80 degrees above nadir. This applies to all lateral angles around the luminaire.

Luminance

The luminous intensity (photometric brightness) of a light source or reflecting surface, measured in candelas per square meter.

M.A.S.S.

An abbreviation for the "Municipality of Anchorage Standard Specifications," which is a manual that identifies the approved common construction practices associated with subdivision development and public works projects.

Maintenance easement

An easement on a lot or parcel permitting entry to that lot or parcel for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, or reconstructing a structure or other feature on the lot or parcel, or an abutting lot or parcel.

Major Drainageway

That portion of any drainageway, constructed or natural, that either does, or will under full development, carry a significant peak flow; all constructed or natural drainageways with total contributing areas larger than 40 acres are major drainageways.

Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The most current manual or successor document(s) addressing the design and use of traffic control devices, as published, amended and/or interpreted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Manufactured home

A transportable, factory-built dwelling unit constructed after June 15, 1976, in conformance with the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, as evidenced by an affixed certification label in accordance with 24 CFR 3280.11.

Manufactured home community

A parcel, or contiguous parcels, of land which is used for occupancy by more than two mobile homes or manufactured homes.

Marijuana

Has the same meaning as set forth in AS 17.38.900.

Marijuana product

Has the same meaning as set forth in AS 17.38.900.

Maximum extent feasible

That no feasible and prudent alternative exists, and all possible efforts to comply with the regulation or minimize potential harm or adverse impacts have been undertaken. "Feasible and prudent" means consistent with sound engineering practice and not causing environmental, social, or economic problems that outweigh the public benefit to be derived from compliance with the standard which is modified by the term "feasible and prudent."

Mean sea level

The average height of the sea for all states of the tide. Datum is Greater Anchorage Area Borough, Post Quake, U.S. Geodetic Survey of 1972.

Mechanical penthouse

An enclosed structure above the roof of a building used exclusively for the shelter of mechanical equipment or shelter of vertical shaft openings in the roof.

Menu Board (as used in Chapter 21.12, Signs)

A freestanding or building sign orientated to and designed to be read only from the drive-through lane for a restaurant that advertises the menu items available from the drive-through window; or a building sign on a food and beverage kiosk advertising the menu items available.

Minor amendment

An amendment to an approved permit or other form of approval granted under this title that involves a relatively small amount of change from the original approval. Specific rules for granting minor amendments are set forth in Chapter 21.03, Review and Approval Procedures.

Minor modification

A minor deviation from otherwise applicable standards of this title approved under Section 21.03.120.

Mixed-use development

A single building containing two or more residential units and another classification of land use (office, retail, community use, etc.) or a single development of more than one building which includes at least two residential units and another use (office, retail, community use, etc.), where the uses of different classifications (office, retail, community use, etc.) are in a compact urban form, planned as a unified complementary whole, and functionally integrated to facilitate the use of shared vehicular and pedestrian access and parking lots.

Modify fuels

Reduce the amount of non-fire-resistant vegetation or alter the type of vegetation to reduce the fire risk.

Monument

A permanent survey control point.

Mounting height

The height of a luminaire above grade.

Multimodal

Having or involving more than one mode of transportation.

Municipal attorney

The official legal representative for the municipality.

Municipal engineer

The chief engineer of the municipality; often the director of the public works department.

Municipality

The municipality of Anchorage.

National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)

The most current national electrical safety code or successor code, as published, amended, and/or interpreted by the federal government.

New structures (as used in subsection 21.07.020E., flood hazard area regulations)

Structures for which the start of construction commenced on or after September 25, 1979. The start of construction means the first placement of a permanent foundation and appropriate structural framing.

Nonconforming Lot

A lot, the area and/or dimensions of which were lawful prior to the adoption, revision, or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fail by reason of such adoption, revision, or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Nonconforming structure

A structure or building, the size, dimensions, and/or location of which were lawful prior to the adoption, revision, or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fail by reason of such adoption, revision, or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning ordinance.

Nonconforming use

A use or activity that was lawful prior to the adoption, revision, or amendment of the zoning ordinance but that fails by reason of such adoption, revision, or amendment to conform to the present requirements of the zoning district.

Nonconformity

Any legally approved structure, lot, sign, or use of land that no longer conforms with the requirements of this title.

Nursing facility

Has the same meaning as set forth in Alaska Statutes Chapter 18.20.

OS&HP

Official Streets and Highways Plan.

Obstruction (as used in subsection 21.07.020E., flood hazard area regulations)

Any dam, wall, embankment, levee, dike, pile, abutment, projection, excavation, channel modification, bridge, conduit, culvert, building, wire, fence, rock, gravel, refuse, fill, structure or matter in, along, across or projecting into any channel, watercourse or regulatory flood hazard area which may impede, retard or change the direction of the flow of water, either in itself or by catching or collecting debris carried by such water, or that is placed where the flow of water might carry the material downstream to the damage of life or property.

Off-highway vehicle and O.H.V.

A.

The terms "off-highway vehicle" and "O.H.V." mean any self-propelled vehicle when used for the purpose of recreational off-highway travel on land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland and other natural terrain or a combination thereof, including but not limited to:

a.

Any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle which is designed for and generally and commonly used for off-road recreational travel or any motorcycle when being used for such purpose.

b.

Any snowmobile or other vehicle which is designed for travel over snow or ice.

c.

Any motor vehicle commonly referred to as a dune buggy, swamp buggy or all-terrain vehicle.

d.

Amphibious vehicles, ground effects or air cushion vehicles and any other means of land transportation deriving motive power from any source other than muscle or wind.

Off Season Vehicle (OSV)

The term off-season vehicle and OSV means any vehicle used for recreational purposes in a time of year other than the regular or busiest for the specific type of vehicle.

Off-street

Located outside the street or the right-of-way of a street.

On-site remediation

Removal of volatile and semi-volatile contaminants from soils, sediments, slurries and filter cakes within 300 feet of the location where the material was originally contaminated.

Open space, common

Open space for the common use and enjoyment of the owners and occupants of the subdivision, building, planned unit development or condominium. Common means shared by all tenants and is distinguished from space designated for private use.

Ordering Screen (as used in Chapter 21.12, Signs)

A freestanding or building sign oriented to and designed to be read/used only from the drive-through lane for a restaurant that includes the device for communication between the customer and the restaurant and shows the order placed by a customer.

Ordinary high water mark (OHWM)

The line on a shore or bank of a body of water established by the normal fluctuations of water and indicated by a relatively abrupt change in observable physical, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics above and below the line. For a stream or lake the OHWM is approximately equivalent to the "bank." For a marine shoreline, the OHWM is approximately equivalent to the "mean high water line." In all cases, an appropriate mix of indicators used to establish the OHWM at a particular location are selected using means and methods that consider the type of water body and the characteristics of the surrounding area.

Outdoor trash container

A container used for the temporary storage of rubbish, pending collection, that is stored outside of a walled structure for one or more nights per week.

Overlay district

A unique set of zoning regulations that are superimposed on one or more established zoning districts and shown on the zoning map, and subsequently impose additional or replacement regulations to those of the underlying district. The overlay district may be used to impose supplemental restrictions on uses in these districts, permit uses otherwise disallowed, or implement some form of site or architectural design program. Developments within an overlay district must conform to the requirements of the underlying district as modified by the overlay district and as set forth in the enacting ordinance.

Owner

Any person, agent, firm, corporation, or partnership that alone, jointly, or severally with others:

1)

Has legal or equitable title to any parcel, premises, dwelling, or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or

2)

Has charge, care, or control of any parcel, premises, dwelling, or dwelling unit, as agent of the owner or as executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the beneficial owner. The person shown on the records of the district recorders office of the state of Alaska to be the owner of a particular property shall be presumed to be the person in control of that property.

Parapet

A low, protective wall at the edge of a roof that is part of an exterior wall, fire wall, or party wall that rises above the roof.

Parcel

A generic descriptive term used to refer to a lot, a tract, a group of lots and/or tracts, or a contiguous quantity of land, under the same ownership.

Parent lot

A lot meeting the dimensional requirements of Chapter 21.06 for its zoning district, or a nonconforming lot of record per AMC Section 21.13.050, that may contain between two and eight unit lots.

Parking angle

The angle formed by a parking space and the wall or centerline of the facility, ranging from ninety degrees (perpendicular) to zero degrees (parallel).

Parking bay

A section or module of a parking facility that consists of a parking aisle and a row of parking spaces on one or both sides of the aisle. Parking bays are not loading berths.

Parking cash-out

A program offered by an employer that provides employees with a choice of foregoing any subsidized/free parking for a cash payment equivalent to the cost of the parking space to the employer.

Parking facility

An area for off-street parking of motor vehicles, either a surface parking lot or structured parking, and including associated driveways, circulation and parking aisles, parking spaces, queuing lanes, and passenger loading areas.

Parking lot

An at-grade, surface parking facility built directly on the ground.

Parking, on street

Parking spaces within the street or street right-of-way and abutting the curb of a street.

Parking, shared

A parking facility that serves multiple uses or destinations.

Parking space

A space for the parking of one vehicle.

Parking space, bicycle

An area and facility such as a rack or locker used for parking and securing one bicycle.

Parking space, guest

A parking space that is intended for use by guests in a residential development, and not exclusive to or physically associated with any individual dwelling.

Parking, stacked

Vehicles parked one above the other using a mechanical car stacker.

Parking structure, automated

A parking structure operated by automatic mechanical parking equipment such as automobile elevator or lift systems.

Parking, structured

A parking facility that is a multistory building or structure, under a building or structure, or a portion of a building, such as occupying a story within a multifamily building. Structured parking may be either on, above, or below grade.

Parking, tandem

One vehicle parked behind another.

Parking, unbundled

Parking spaces that are leased or sold separately from the rental or purchase fees for the dwelling units or building floor area rather than included in the rental or purchase fees, such that potential tenants or buyers have the option of renting or buying a dwelling unit or building floor area at a lower price with fewer or no parking spaces. The rental or purchase of a parking space is at the discretion and direct cost of the tenant or buyer.

Party of interest

Party of interest means:

A.

The entitlement applicant;

B.

Any person aggrieved by a final decision of a municipal board, commission, or official pursuant to Anchorage Municipal Code Title 21, or any person who would be aggrieved if such final decision being appealed were to be reversed on appeal;

C.

Any governmental agency;

D.

The person to whom an enforcement order is issued; or

E.

The municipality.

Pathway

A stable surface, usually paved, located along a roadway, for multiple pedestrian and non-motorized uses and purposes.

Pedestrian feature

A permanent object that provides pedestrians with increased convenience, comfort, and utility, and which is publicly accessible and not limited to a tenant or establishment such as seating for a restaurant. Pedestrian features include:

• Seating such as benches accommodating several people;

• Secondary/informal seating opportunities such as steps, pedestals, low walls, or edges of fountains, accommodating several people;

• A space for standing with objects to lean against, such as bollards, short fences, or irregular building facades, accommodating several people;

• A tree or raised planter;

• A work of art such as a water feature, sculpture, cultural exhibit, or clock feature;

• Pedestrian-scale area lighting designed to light outdoor walkways or pedestrian spaces;

• Ornamental lighting designed to illuminate architecture and/or landscaping for decorative and aesthetic effect;

• A cross-country ski rack that can accommodate a ski lock and is located at building entrances within 500 feet of a ski trailhead;

• A winter city urban design feature such as a wind screen, or outdoor stove or space heater; or

• Other object supporting pedestrian utility, such as a gazebo or kiosk.

Pedestrian movement zone

The middle portion of an enhanced street sidewalk (subsection 21.07.060G.20.), comprising its walkway clear width located between the sidewalk's street interface and building interface zones. The pedestrian movement zone provides for the primary function of sidewalks and is kept clear of any obstructions to pedestrian movement.

Pedestrian oriented

A characteristic of a development or district that emphasizes the street sidewalk and/or connecting pedestrian access to the site and building(s), such that a person can comfortably walk from one location to another, and optional pedestrian activities such as strolling, window shopping, or relaxing can take place. Pedestrian oriented characteristics include: buildings placed within a short setback distance from the sidewalk; primary entrances and windows on building facades which face the street; a mix of civic, commercial, and/or residential uses; shared open spaces and plazas; architectural details and visual interest at the pedestrian scale; pedestrian features such as wide walkways, seating, bicycle facilities, public art, landscaping, lighting, and wayfinding signs; and northern climate features such as atriums, canopies, transit shelters, wind protection, and orientation for sunlight access.

Permit, building

A land use permit issued by the municipality pursuant to the municipal code and the building code authorizing the erection, construction, reconstruction, restoration, alteration, enlargement, conversion, remodeling, demolition, moving, or repair of a building or structure within the building safety service area.

Permit, land use

An official document issued by the municipality pursuant to this title required for the erection, construction, establishment, moving, alteration, enlargement, repair, placement, or conversion of any building, structure, or land in any district established under this title.

Permit, sign

An official document issued by the municipality pursuant to this title required for the construction, installation, maintenance, and operation of signs within the municipality.

Permit, flood hazard

An official document issued by the municipality pursuant to this title for uses, structures, or activities listed in the floodplain regulations.

Person

Any individual, lessee, firm, partnership, association, joint venture, corporation, or agent of the aforementioned groups, or the state of Alaska or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Pharmacy

An establishment offering only to prepare, preserve, compound, and dispense prescribed and nonprescribed medication and drugs, medical supplies, and health care items.

Physical access

For the purposes of Chapter 21.08, having physical access means being adjacent to a street suitable for travel by passenger automobiles that is connected to the publicly dedicated and improved transportation network of the municipality.

Pillow

A sleeping accommodation for one person.

Plan Dimension (as used in Chapter 21.11, Downtown)

The total longest horizontal length between the opposite edges of the face of a building elevation.

Plan Dimension, Diagonal (as used in Chapter 21.11 Downtown)

The total longest horizontal length from the corner of a building elevation to the opposite corner of the opposite building elevation.

Plan, landscape

A plan, drawn to scale, showing dimensions and details of the portion of a site devoted to planting materials and their maintenance.

Plan, master

The maps, illustrations, and supporting text associated with a planned development which conveys the allowable uses, densities, non-residential intensities, and arrangement of uses within the boundaries of the planned development along with any associated conditions, phasing schedules, and other agreements.

Plan, site

A plan depicting the proposed development of a property, in terms of the location, scale, and configuration of buildings, uses, and other features containing all the information required by this title. A site plan may include but is not limited to lot lines, adjacent lots and streets, building sites, required open space, buildings, interior vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle access, parking lot design (calculations and layout), signage, lighting, screening devices, existing and proposed landscaping, topography, drainage, and, depending on requirements, floor plans, building elevations and locations of proposed utility services and lines, and any other information that reasonably may be required in order that an informed decision can be made by the approving authority.

Plan, subdivision

A proposed plan of development to establish a subdivision that contains all information such as lot lines, streets, easements, and other features required by this title.

Planning commission

The planning and zoning commission of the municipality.

Plat

A map and associated text prepared by a registered surveyor that delineates property lines and related information, prepared in compliance with the regulations of this title.

Plat, final

A map and associated text of a subdivision of land, meeting all the requirements of this code, and ready for approval and recording.

Plat, preliminary

A map and associated text prepared by a registered surveyor showing the required features of a proposed subdivision of land and submitted to the platting authority for purposes of preliminary consideration and approval.

Platting authority

The platting officer, municipal platting board, or any other board so designated by the assembly.

Playground (as used in Section 21.05.055, Marijuana Establishments)

An outdoor area developed and maintained for children's play; generally open to the public or to residents of a subdivision or housing complex; having a designed and/or engineered surface; and/or containing at least one piece of permanent play equipment, such as a seesaw, swing set, jungle gym, or the like.

Porch

A covered or partially enclosed exterior entrance space projecting from the façade of a building, having a floor and roof, and forming a covered approach or vestibule to an entrance doorway. The front of the porch is open, with only supporting posts, railings, and roof, or partially enclosed with solid walls or railings up to 36 inches high measured from the floor of the porch.

Pre-application conference

A meeting between an applicant and the municipal staff intended to familiarize both parties with conceptual plans or proposals presented by the applicant and applicable code provisions.

Primary entrance

See Entrance, Primary.

Principal building/structure

A building/structure in which is conducted the main use of the lot on which the building/structure is located.

Prisoner

The same meaning as defined in AS 33.30.901 as to state prisoners, and includes persons convicted of a felony described in AS 11.41, Offenses Against the person, in Alaska or of an offense with the same or substantially similar elements in another jurisdiction until they have successfully completed all conditions of parole and probation and are no longer under the supervision of the court, the Alaska Department of Corrections, another state or municipal agency, or contractor to those entities. The term "prisoner" also includes federal offenders in the custody, control or under the care of supervision of the United States attorney general or the bureau of prisons.

Private enforcement action

A process by which a private individual, homeowner's association, or community council can request that the administrative hearings officer hear and investigate charges that another person or owner of land has violated the requirements of this title.

Profession

An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, which requires considerable training and specialized study.

Projection, wall plane

A portion of a building wall—i.e., a wall plane or façade wall—that extends outward beyond the face of the adjacent wall plane or façade wall on the building, so as to create articulation of the building wall.

Property line

A demarcation limit of a lot dividing it from right-of-way, or other lots or parcels of land.

Public enforcement action

An action brought by the municipality against owners or users of land for violating the provisions of this title.

Public facility

Any buildings and structures (including streets and highways) owned or leased by a government agency not exempt by law from municipal land use regulation.

Public housing authority (as used in Section 21.05.055, Marijuana Establishments)

A HUD-identified public housing agency, which is any state, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body, or agency or instrumentality of these entities that is authorized to engage or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. As used in this title, public housing authority does not include a tribal or Indian housing authority.

Public rooftop recreation area (also public viewing deck)

Facilities located on a rooftop such as tennis courts, handball courts and health clubs; community facilities, such as public meeting rooms, lounges and libraries; commercial facilities, such as restaurants and art galleries; and/or open space areas available to the public, such as viewing decks and gardens.

Public utility

Any person or organization subject to regulation under AS 42.05.

Publicly accessible

Open to the general public during regular business hours.

Quonset hut

A prefabricated structure usually made of corrugated metal, in the shape of a longitudinal half cylinder.

Railing, open or transparent

Any railing that is comprised of clear glass, similar transparent materials, and/or openings (i.e., empty spaces) between materials used in its construction, for at least 65 percent of its vertical surface area per railing panel.

Recess, wall plane

A portion of a building wall—i.e., a wall plane or façade wall—which is set back from the adjacent wall plane or façade wall on the building, creating articulation of the building wall.

Record of survey map

A map prepared by a professional land surveyor that reestablishes survey controls, boundaries, locations of improvements, or the alignment of right-of-ways for recording.

Recreational vehicle

A vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for travel, camping, recreational, or vacation usage, which either has its own motive power or is mounted on or drawn by another vehicle. The basic entities are travel trailer, camping trailer, pickup truck camper, fifth-wheel, and motor home.

Recreational vehicle (RV)

Means any vehicle classed or would have been classed as a commercial or non-commercial trailer or any vehicle assigned or would have been assigned a motor home body style by the State of Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and includes campers and trailers designed for recreational dwelling purposes. If the motor vehicle is licensed by another state or country, the motor vehicle will be classed as a recreational vehicle if it meets the definition of recreational vehicle.

Redevelopment

The rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, or removal and replacement of an existing structure or structures, or of land from which previous improvements have been removed.

Reflectance

The fraction of solar radiation reflected by a material.

Regulatory floodway

See floodway, regulatory

Reinforcement

Repair, replacement, or addition of a crossarm, guy, pole, stub, or conductor for a utility distribution facility.

Relocation (as used in Section 21.07.050, Utility distribution facilities)

A change in alignment of more than six spans.

Reserve strips

Narrow strips of privately-owned land adjacent and parallel to a street.

Residential

Activity involving the occupation of buildings for living, cooking, sleeping, and recreation.

Residential subdivision

A subdivision, or that part of a subdivision, in a residential zoning district.

Restoration

Putting or bringing back into a former, normal, or unimpaired state or condition.

Rezonings (zoning map amendments)

An amendment to the official zoning map to effect a change in the boundaries of any zoning district or the zone classification of any parcel of land in the municipality.

Ride hailing services

A business that matches passengers with for-hire personal vehicles with drivers using software applications. Ride hailing services are different from other for-hire vehicles with drivers, such as taxicabs, in that they are not hailed from the street.

Right-of-way

A defined area of land, reserved or dedicated for a street, alley, walkway, trail, utility, or other public purpose.

Riparian Edge Zone

The outer portion of the stream setback, extending landward from the outer edge of the streamside zone to the boundary of the stream setback.

Roof

The cover of any building or structure, including the eaves and similar projections.

Runway

A defined area on land or water intended for use for landing and takeoff of aircraft.

Salvageable improvements

As used in Section 21.08.060, Subdivision Agreements, and describes those portions of street improvements constructed within a dedicated right-of-way that are usable as a part of the finally constructed street. Salvageable improvements include such items of work as clearing and grubbing, removal of unsuitable material and placement of classified backfill, but do not include temporary surfacing and other work that would not be usable or beneficial to final street construction. This definition applies only to those streets that are not, during their initial construction, improved to the final paved standard of the municipality.

Senior housing

See housing, senior

Setback

The horizontal distance between any structure and a lot line, or some other feature or object. A required setback establishes a minimum required separation distance with the exception that a required maximum setback establishes a maximum allowed separation distance.

Setback, front

A setback that extends across the frontage of a lot or tract on a right-of-way of a street.

Setback, rear

A setback that extends across the full rear of a lot or tract. The rear setback is defined by the rear lot line. Lots with two or more frontages do not have rear setbacks.

Setback, side

Any setback that is not a front or rear setback. Generally, side setbacks extend from the inner boundary of the front setback (or from the front property line of the lot or tract where no front setback is required) to the inner boundary of the rear setback (or to the rear property line of the lot or tract where no rear setback is required.) For lots with two or more frontages, setbacks remaining after front setbacks have been established shall be considered side setbacks.

Service connection

Conductors transmitting utility service from a utility distribution line to a customer's riser or service entrance.

Shortest practicable pedestrian route (as used in Section 21.05.055, Marijuana establishments)

The most direct walking route between two points, through the marijuana establishment property and public property which: avoids large permanent and semi-permanent obstructions; is on sidewalks where available or along the street edge; crosses streets in accordance with AMC title 9 except that major arterials and higher classification streets are crossed only at locations specifically marked for pedestrian crossing; and is not made longer by obstructions created for that purpose. More specific guidance is provided in planning department policy.

Sidewalk

A concrete surface within a vehicular right-of-way, aligned with a road and constructed either adjacent to the curb or separated from the curb, for multiple pedestrian and non-motorized uses and purposes. Sidewalks are generally found in class A zoning districts.

Sight distance triangle

The land area regulated to ensure unobstructed visibility for motorists entering or leaving an intersection or driveway.

Sight obscuring

As applied to landscaping, sight obscuring means that within three years of installation, the landscaping shall visually obscure the target to the extent that the majority of the field of view is plant material, rather than the target.

Sign

Any visual communication display, object, device, graphic, structure or part, situated indoors or outdoors, or attached to, painted on or displayed from a building or structure, in order to direct or attract attention to, or to announce or promote, an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business or the like, by means of letters, words, model, banner, flag, pennant, insignia, device, designs, colors, symbols, fixtures, images, illuminations or representation used as, or which is in the nature of an announcement, direction, or advertisement.

Sign, animated

A sign that contains animation or animated effects, changeable copy, flashing, or moving parts.

Sign, banner

A sign made of lightweight fabric or similar material with no enclosing framework that is mounted to a building or other structure at one or more edges.

Sign, building

Any sign attached to any part of a building including wall, awning, canopy, and projecting signs, and excluding window signs. A wall sign is a building sign that is parallel to and does not extend from the wall more than 12 inches.

Sign, changeable copy

A portion of a sign with letters, characters, or graphics that are not permanently affixed to the structure, framing, or background allowing the letters, characters or graphics to be modified from time to time manually or by electronic or mechanical devices, such as a bulletin board or electronic message board, and includes scrolling copy.

Sign, construction

A temporary sign identifying a project or facility during the time of construction. Such signs typically include the name of an architect, engineer, and/or contractor for a building or project located on the parcel.

Sign, entrance or exit

A sign located at the driveway entrance or exit and intended to provide for safe ingress and egress.

Sign, freestanding

A sign supported from the ground and not attached to any building. A freestanding sign is a sign supported by one or more poles or a solid base. Pole signs and monument style signs are considered freestanding signs.

Sign, historic

Any sign that has been designated as historic by the urban design commission.

Sign, ideological or political

Any temporary sign displaying or advocating an idea, opinion, or position on any social, cultural, religious, or political issue and containing no commercial message.

Sign, illuminated

Any sign which is partially or entirely illuminated internally or externally so as to make the sign more visible.

Sign, inflatable

Any inflatable shape or figure designed or used to attract attention to a business event or location. Inflatable promotional devices shall be considered to be temporary signs under the terms of this chapter and, where applicable, subject to the regulations thereof.

Sign, instructional

A sign that has a purpose secondary to the use on the lot and that is intended to instruct employees, customers, or users as to matters of public safety or necessity such as specific parking requirements, the location or regulations pertaining to specific activities on the site or in the building, and including a sign erected by a public authority, utility, public service organization, or private industry that is intended to control traffic; direct, identify or inform the public; or provide needed public service as determined by the rules and regulations of governmental agencies or through public policy.

Sign, nonconforming

A sign which was legally erected, but which is no longer in compliance with the requirements of this title.

Sign, off-premises

See billboard

Sign plate

A building sign which does not exceed two square feet indicating the street number, the name of the person, business, profession or activity occupying the lot, building, or part thereof; or other information pertaining to the use on the lot.

Sign, portable

Any sign that is not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported on wheels, skids, a bench, runners, brackets, or has a frame to which wheels, skids, runners, brackets, or similar mechanical devices can be attached to or support the sign. A portable sign also includes inflatable devices and mobile signs such as parked trailers or vehicles, which include signs which are visible from the public right-of-way unless such vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.

Sign, pole

A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or poles, or other support structure that is visible.

Sign, projecting

A sign that is attached to a building wall and extending perpendicular to (or approximately perpendicular to) the building wall and 12 inches or more beyond the face of the wall.

Sign, roof

A sign, or any portion thereof, erected, constructed, painted, or placed on the roof and includes any sign extending higher than the roof or parapet wall of any building if the principal support for the sign is on the roof, wall or any other structural element of the building.

Sign, rotating

A sign that revolves on a vertical axis.

Sign, temporary

A sign that is designed to be used only temporarily and is not intended to be permanently attached to a building, structure or permanently installed in the ground. These include, but are not limited to, political signs, special event signs, and for sale or leasing signs. Mobile and portable signs are temporary signs. Temporary signs may be displayed as window signs.

Sign, traffic

A sign indicating federal, state, or municipal regulations for automobile, truck, bicycle, and/or pedestrian movement.

Sign, window

A sign that is applied or attached to a window or door, or a sign located near a window within a building for the purpose of being visible to and read from the outside of the building except for signs that are not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the building in which such sign is located.

Single-family style structure

A residential building containing one dwelling unit for one household and not attached to any other dwelling by any means—i.e., a house.

Site

A lot or group of contiguous lots that is proposed for development and is in single ownership or has multiple owners, all of whom join in an application for development.

Site plan

See plan, site

Site plan review

The review of a site plan of a project, public or private, to ensure compliance with the development and design standards and provisions of this title, to ensure consistency with previous approvals, to minimize or mitigate negative impacts on adjacent properties, and to encourage quality development reflective of the goals, policies, and objectives of the comprehensive plan.

Site selection

The process by which the municipality shall review and decide the selection of a site for specified public facilities.

Skylight

An opening in a roof or ceiling, glazed with a transparent or translucent material, for admitting daylight.

Soil management

Maintenance of the soil to preserve and enhance the capacity of soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental health, and promote plant and animal health.

Slope

The change in vertical elevation of a land area between two points, divided by the horizontal distance between those points, and multiplied by 100 to be expressed as a percentage.

Small cell

A low-powered wireless base station that function like cells in a mobile network but provide significantly smaller coverage area than traditional macrocells. Small cells are low-powered wireless base stations that function like cells in a mobile wireless network, typically covering targeted indoor or localized outdoor areas ranging in size from homes and offices to stadiums, shopping malls, hospitals, and metropolitan outdoor spaces. It includes femtocells, picocells, metrocells, and microcells.

Solar access (sunlight access)

The availability of, or access to, unobstructed direct sunlight.

Solar orientation

A south facing orientation of a property line, street frontage, right-of-way, fence, building wall, or window surface where the line, frontage, wall, or window faces within 30 degrees of south. This orientation of a surface in relation to the path of the sun may be used to maximize the amount of sunlight and heat gained from solar radiation.

Solar reflector

An appurtenance designed to reflect the light and heat of the sun so that it augments the amount of solar radiation entering an interior habitable space, solar collector, or outdoor open space.

Space (as used in subsection 21.05.030A.8., manufactured home community)

A defined land area in a manufactured home community on which a mobile home or manufactured home may be placed and which is described by boundary lines measured in terms of:

• Its depth expressed as a mean distance between the front and rear of the space, measured in the general direction of the side space lines.

• Its width expressed as a mean distance between the side lines of the space, measured in the general direction of the front and rear space lines.

Space, reverse-frontage (as used in subsection 21.05.030A.8., manufactured home community)

A space which abuts a local street on one side and a street of class I or greater classification on the opposite side.

Special limitation

A provision of a rezoning ordinance which restricts some aspects of development to a greater degree than otherwise allowed by the applied zoning district.

Start of construction

Includes substantial improvement, and means either the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns or any work beyond the stage of excavation; or the placement of a manufactured home on a foundation. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, such as clearing, grading and filling; nor does it include the installation of streets or walkways; nor does it include excavation for a basement, footings, piers or foundation, or the erection of temporary forms; nor does it include the installation on the property of accessory buildings, such as garages or sheds not occupied as dwelling units or not part of the main structure.

Step-back

A terrace in the vertical rise of a building form such that the upper mass or wall plane of the building is set back or recessed from the lower building mass or wall plane.

Storage

Temporary or permanent containment, holding, leaving, stockpiling, or placement of products, goods, or materials, usually with the intention of retrieving them at a later time; overnight parking of commercial vehicles.

Storm water

Surface water runoff originating from surface water, rain, snowmelt, wash waters, street wash, subsurface drainage, or other drainage but excludes wastewater as defined in AMC Title 15.

Story

That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the next floor or roof above.

Story above grade plane

Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above finished grade plane, except that a basement shall be considered as a story above grade plane where the finished surface of the floor above the basement is:

a.

More than six feet above grade plane; or

b.

More than 12 feet above the finished grade at any point.

Story below grade plane

Any story having its finished floor surface below finished grade plane, unless it meets the definition of story above grade plane.

Story, half

A story that has the following characteristics:

• Habitable floor area under a gable, hip, gambrel, mansard, or curved (e.g., barrel) roof; and

• All roof rafters extend down to the top plate of walls five feet or less in height above the floor joists of such story, except at roof ends (e.g., gable ends) or where dormers are provided; and

• The gross floor area does not exceed 75 percent of the gross floor area of the story below. The calculation for the gross floor area for the half story excludes areas where the ceiling height is six feet eight inches (6'8") or less.

Stream

A watercourse conveying perennial or intermittent surface waters not solely the result of constructed subsurface drainage. When a stream does flow it conveys more water than that contributed from a single storm runoff event and includes natural ground water discharge as a component in its flow. A stream may be intermittent in time or space. However it must generally retain its identity as a hydraulically continuous drainage feature along its whole length, even though its surface flow may periodically break up or disappear along its alignment.

Overall a stream displays a distinctive combination of geomorphic, hydrologic, and biologic characteristics, though some of these features may be absent where flow is intermittent or where the stream has been piped or otherwise modified. Principal defining characteristics include:

• Unique geometric, sedimentary, and other physical characteristics, including bed and banks, along part or all of the stream's alignment;

• Prolonged flow from natural sources conveyed along continuous surface channels, or along a discontinuous but hydraulically connected series of surface channels; and

• Biologic characteristics representative of prolonged surface flows along the open channel segments of the stream.

Stream bed

That portion of a stream utilized for water flow during nonflood periods, normally extending from the thalweg (low point) to each bank.

Stream setback

A minimum setback from the edge of a stream, within which development is limited and the land adjacent to the stream is substantially protected in a natural state, in conformance with Section 21.07.020. The stream setback comprises the streamside zone and riparian edge zone.

Streamside zone

The inner portion of the stream setback, extending landward from the defined bank of the stream at ordinary high water, out to the riparian edge zone of the stream setback.

Street

A thoroughfare improved or intended to be improved for vehicular and pedestrian travel permanently open to general public use, that affords the principal means of access, frontage and address to individual buildings, lots and blocks. Streets include a road, avenue, place, drive, boulevard, highway or any other similar means of public thoroughfare, except an alley. A street is not a driveway. Unless otherwise indicated, the term street shall refer to both public and private streets. A street may be located on private property and not be publicly owned or maintained, if it performs the roles of a public street.

Street, access

A street constructed to provide physical access to a subdivision.

Street, arterial

Higher order streets with controlled access that are intended for through or regional traffic moving between urban centers and not intended for local or residential neighborhood traffic. These streets have multiple travel lanes, provide access to regional travelways, and carry high volumes of traffic. Arterials are either "major arterials" or "minor arterials," as designated in the Official Streets and Highways Plan.

Street, collector

Streets that penetrate various land use classifications to provide both land access and mobility within neighborhoods and commercial areas. Their primary function is traffic service, collecting traffic from intersecting streets and funneling it to major thoroughfares. A major collector roadway/street has limited direct access from individual lots/parcels. A minor collector roadway/street allows direct access of individual lots/parcels.

Street, complete

A street that is designed, used, and operated to enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities, and for all users to safely move through the transportation network. For example, Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) adopted a complete streets policy in 2018 for its urbanized planning area. The AMATS Complete Streets Policy is available on the municipal website.

Street, cul-de-sac

A street having only one outlet, with provision for a turnaround at its termination, and which is not intended to be extended or continued to serve future subdivisions or adjacent land.

Street, dead end

A right-of-way that terminates without a cul-de-sac or a temporary turnaround and the terminus of which has the same width as the width of the right-of-way.

Street facing building elevation

The building elevation facing upon the street, comprised of all façade walls that are:

• Oriented toward the street at an angle of less than 45 degrees;

• Not separated from the street by another principal structure or site; and

• Above the average grade plane of the abutting sidewalk (or street edge), if the average grade plane of the building elevation is eight feet or more below the average grade plane of the abutting sidewalk (or edge of street pavement where there is no sidewalk).

Street furniture

See pedestrian feature.

Street, half

A portion of a right of way, including the street pavement that is directly adjacent to a lot's frontage as measured from the ultimate street centerline.

Street interface zone

The portion of an enhanced sidewalk that lies between the street curb and the pedestrian movement zone, providing a buffer between vehicular traffic and pedestrians. The street interface zone accommodates streetscape objects to be kept out of the movement zone portion of the sidewalk, such as street trees, landscaping, street furniture, street signs, light poles, and/or utility boxes.

Street, interior

A street contained entirely within the boundaries of a subdivision.

Street lighting, decorative (as used in Chapter 21.11, Downtown)

Any pole-, wall-/soffit-, ground-, or bollard-mounted light fixture assembly directly illuminating sidewalk, plaza, or landscaped park areas that meets applicable decorative street illumination design standards.

Street, local

A street whose primary function and design is to provide access to abutting property. Local streets feed traffic into collector and arterial street systems.

Street, loop

A street that originates and terminates at intersections with the same street.

Street lot line

See lot line, street

Street, peripheral

A street parallel to the boundary of a subdivision and whose right-of-way abuts that boundary.

Street, private

A street located on privately owned real property, whether owned by an individual or subject to Horizontal Property Regimes and Common Ownership Acts, and absent dedication of an overlapping public use easement. A private street is often memorialized by plat note.

Street, stub

A dead-end interior street provided for eventual extension onto unplatted land.

Street typology

A street classification system that augments the functional classifications (arterials, collectors, local streets) with designations that relate the street design to the adjacent land use, development pattern, and its functions for users in addition to automobile traffic—pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders. Examples of street typology designations include residential street, main street, transit street, commercial street, and mixed-use street.

Structure

Anything that is constructed or erected and located on or under the ground, or attached to something fixed to the ground, including a walled and roofed building, and/or a gas or liquid storage tank that is principally above ground.

Structure, accessory

A structure that is on the same lot as, and of a nature customarily incidental and subordinate to a principal building or structure, and the use of which is clearly incidental and subordinate to that of the principal building or structure.

Subdivider

A person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, governmental unit, or combination of any of these that may hold any recorded or equitable ownership interest in land being subdivided. The terms shall also include all heirs, assigns, or successors in interest, or representatives of the subdivider, owner, proprietor, or developer.

Subdivision

The division of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, sites or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale, lease or building development, including any combining or resubdivision, and, when appropriate to the context, the process of subdividing or the land subdivided.

Subdivision agreement

A document which is approved by the department of public works which specifies the tentative location, construction schedule, and estimated costs of public improvements to be constructed as part of subdivision development.

Survey, as-built

A plan prepared by a professional land surveyor in such a manner as to accurately identify and depict the location of all on-site improvements.

Substantial improvement

Any repair, reconstruction, or improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure either:

• Before the improvement or repair is started; or

• If the structure has been damaged and is being restored, before the damage occurred. For the purposes of this definition, substantial improvement is considered to occur when the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of the building commences, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the structure. The term does not, however, include either:

1.

Any project for improvement of a structure to comply with existing state or local health, sanitary or safety code specifications which are solely necessary to ensure safe living conditions; or

2.

Any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a state inventory of historic places.

Surrounding development

Immediately adjacent development on the same block face or on facing blocks as the subject site, as well as prevalent patterns established in the existing neighborhood located within one-quarter mile of the subject development site.

Take action

To approve, approve with conditions, deny, refer to another body, or postpone a decision on an application for entitlement.

Taper transition

A point on a telecommunication tower where the angle of the structure form changes, or the top of the tower, whichever point is lower.

Target area

An area designated under Section 21.07.050 as a location in which overhead distribution lines are to be placed underground as provided in this chapter.

Telecommunication facility

A facility which transmits signals between or among points using electromagnetic waves. The facilities may include towers, antennas, buildings, transformers, transmitters, receivers, equipment cabinets, and parking lots.

Topographic flow line

A topographically-defined surface drainage path; a line of continuous fall in elevation across a land surface that will tend to accumulate and concentrate overland runoff from an area; the local flow path likely to be taken across a land surface by surface runoff as it integrates into a concentrated flow; any actual line of major surface flow conveyance. A topographic flow line is present solely as a result of the topography of the land surface itself and exists independent of the infiltration characteristics of the land surface or the presence or absence of vegetation along the flow line.

Topographic map

A map showing the landform by the use of contour lines.

Tower

Any structure principally designed to support an antenna(e). Specific tower types are defined in subsection 21.05.040K.

Tower, amateur radio

An antenna and structure of any type used exclusively by an amateur radio operator licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.

Tower, building (as used in Chapter 21.11, Downtown, subsection 21.11.070C., Tower mass reductions).

The portions of a building above the heights listed in subsection 21.11.070C.2.a.i.

Tower site

A lot, tract, or aggregate of abutting lots or tracts that has been planned and coordinated for development with separate community interest towers and/or local interest towers in any combination, including subordinate and related equipment and buildings in accordance with the applicable zoning district.

Townhouse style structure

A residential building with two or more dwelling units in a row attached primarily at the sidewall or rearwall, in which each dwelling unit has its own primary entrance to the outside, its own ground-floor and roof, and is separated from the other units by common fire-resistant walls.

Tract

A parcel of land which has been reserved for future development, future subdivision, or protection of open space or a specific natural feature(s).

Traffic control device

Includes all physical, mechanical and electrical equipment that directs, channelizes, commands or controls traffic movement. These devices include but are not limited to signs (including street name signs), channelization, signals, and striping.

Traffic engineer

The municipal official and practicing engineer responsible for the duties established in AMC Title 9.

Trail

A stable surface, often either paved or consisting of compacted granular fill, for the purposes of pedestrian and nonmotorized use (unless specifically designated for motorized use). A trail is not aligned with a road.

Trailer

Has the same meaning as set forth in AMC Title 9.

Travel trailer

A motor vehicle, or portable vehicular structure capable of being towed on the highways by a motor vehicle, designed and intended for casual or short-term human occupancy for travel, recreational and vacation uses, identified by a model number, serial number and vehicle registration number, equipped with limited water storage and other self-contained living facilities.

Tree, deciduous

A tree that loses its leaves annually.

Tree, evergreen

A tree that retains its foliage throughout the year.

Tree, landmark

A healthy tree with at least a 12 inch caliper; or a tree that has significant historical or cultural value.

Tree protection zone

The area around a tree or grouping of trees in which no grading or construction activity may occur, including the storage of materials. The minimum tree protection zone is measured as a radius around the tree or grouping of trees which is a minimum of 1.5 feet from the trunk of a tree for every one inch of tree caliper.

Tributary

Any branch, fork, or channel that flows into and connects to a stream and also meets the basic definition of a stream.

Unified sign plan

A comprehensive site plan where contiguous lots and or tracts are considered as a single site for the purposes of determining the size, number, and placement of freestanding signs.

Unit lot

A unit of land within a parent lot that has been subdivided in accordance with AMC section 21.03.200 and in conformance with AMC 21.08.070E. A unit lot is not a lot for the purposes of municipal code unless it is specifically identified as a unit lot.

Uplight

For an exterior luminaire, flux radiated in the hemisphere at or above a horizontal plane.

Use, accessory

As applied to a use, building, or structure, customarily subordinate or incidental to and located on the same lot with a principal use, building, or structure.

Use, conditional

A use or occupancy of a structure, or a use of land, permitted only upon issuance of a conditional use permit and subject to the limitations and conditions specified therein.

Use, principal

Any main activity permitted by this title.

Use, temporary

Those land uses and structures that are needed or are in place for only short periods of time.

Use district

See zoning district

Utility

A public utility as defined in AS Title 42.

Utility distribution line

All or any part of a conductor and supports owned or operated by a utility and used:

• To transmit electrical power from a main source substation to consumers, at a voltage of 34.5 kV or less; or

• To transmit messages, impressions, pictures, or signals by means of electricity or electromagnetic waves; between a distribution substation or central office and the lot line of a customer's premises, excluding auxiliary equipment such as aboveground transformers, switching devices, pad-mounted distribution facilities, and CATV power supplies.

Utility pole

One of a series of poles usually located at the side of a street or road, or within a utility easement, and used to support wires and other equipment used by utilities, generally transmitting or distributing electricity or serving primarily as a light pole. A structure used solely or primarily for antennas or their associated facilities is not a utility pole.

Utility transmission line

A line used for electrical power transmission between utility substations and switching yards, usually at a voltage of 34.5 kV or greater.

Vacation

The act of making legally void any right-of-way, easement, public area, or other public interest.

Variance

A grant of relief from the requirements, or a relaxation of the strict application of the terms of this chapter that permits construction in a manner that would otherwise be prohibited by this title. This definition shall not be construed to permit a use in any district which use is prohibited therein.

Vehicle

Has the same meaning as set forth in Title 9 of this Code.

Verification of nonconforming status

A document issued by the municipality confirming the legal nonconforming status of a use, structure, or characteristic of use.

Violator

A violator of this title is a person who:

• Occupies, maintains, alters, constructs, or establishes a structure, or use of land or a structure, in violation of this title;

• Owns, controls, or has the right to control land or a structure where a structure, or use of land or a structure, is occupied, maintained, altered, constructed, or established in violation of this title; or

• As principal or agent, violates this title under Section 21.14.030, Violations.

Walkway

A stable surface, usually either paved or consisting of compacted granular fill, for the purpose of pedestrian and other non-motorized use. A walkway connects two points and is not aligned along a vehicular public right-of-way. A walkway may be in a dedicated pedestrian easement. Examples include pedestrian linkages within one site, mid-block, between subdivisions, and leading from roads to public amenities such as schools or parks.

Walkway clear width

That portion of the total width of a walkway, trail, pathway, or sidewalk cross-section which is unobstructed, continuous (i.e., without interruption or being split by obstructions), and kept clear for pedestrian movement.

Wall

The vertical exterior surface of a building or structure, or a constructed barrier typically consisting of masonry or stone, which is also used to enclose, screen, buffer, enhance, or separate areas.

Wall, ornamental

A freestanding wall that is primarily designed for its beauty or decorative purposes, although it may also serve other purposes such as a screening structure. Ornamental walls do not include smooth-faced concrete masonry units.

Wall plane

A flat wall surface that is within a single two-dimensional plane.

Wall plane projection

See projection, wall plane

Wall plane recess

See recess, wall plane

Warranty acceptance

Agreement by the municipality, at the completion of construction of a public improvement, constructed under terms of a subdivision agreement or development agreement, that the project is ready to be placed on warranty.

Warranty period

The period for which a subdivider's warranty remains in effect under Section 21.08.060, Subdivision Agreements.

Water body

Any area of water with a permanent minimum surface area measured at ordinary high water of 2,500 square feet, that is not actively maintained for, or constrained to, a single specific human use (e.g., wastewater treatment pond or flood detention pond).

Watercourse

A natural channel or other surface pathway produced wholly or in part by the flow of surface water or that is likely to carry flows of surface water, or any artificial channel or surface pathway constructed for the conveyance of surface water. Also any topographic flow line that either does, or under developed conditions is likely to, accumulate and convey storm water runoff as a concentrated flow. Also any conveyance, whether an open channel or closed conduit, constructed wholly or in part for the transport of storm water runoff. Watercourses include all surface water conveyance features and are further classified as either "streams" or "drainageways".

Water-dependent

Any use or activity which can be carried out only on, in, or adjacent to water areas because the use requires direct access to a water body.

Water-related

Any use or activity which is not directly dependent upon access to a water body, but which provides goods or services that are directly associated with water dependence and which, if not located adjacent to water, would result in a public loss of quality in goods or services offered.

Window

An opening in the wall of a building for admitting light to the interior, usually fitted with a frame containing panes of transparent or translucent material. A display case on an exterior wall is not a window.

Window area

The exterior area of a window on a building elevation, including the window pane, muntins, sash and frame, but excluding shutters, trim (including sill, molding, and dressing), flower boxes, or other architectural features beyond the window frame and trim itself. This definition is used in provisions such as those requiring a certain percentage of the building wall area to consist of windows, or requiring a maximum portion of the window area that may be covered by a sign.

Window, providing visual access (or visual access window)

Windows that allow views between the outdoors and interior habitable space such as working areas, lobbies, entrances, sales areas, or other public areas. The window is transparent enough to permit views between activities within a building and public space such as nearby streets and sidewalks, and so that objects beyond or behind the window can be distinctly seen.

WMN or Wireless Mesh Networking Facility

Low-powered telecommunication devices including nodes, wireless access points (WAPs) and repeaters which are part of a decentralized internet backbone system or wireless local area network (LAN) intended to deliver telecommunications and internet services to small areas within a larger network coverage area. These facilities operate on the 802.11 family of protocols and range in frequencies from 2.4 GHz to five GHz.

Zoning district

A specifically delineated area or district within which uniform standards govern the use, placement, spacing, size, and form of land and buildings.

Zoning map

The map or maps that are a part of this title and that delineate the boundaries of all mapped zoning districts within the physical boundaries of the municipality.

(AO 2012-124(S), 2-26-13; AO 2013-117, 12-3-13; AO No. 2015-82, § 7, 7-28-15; AO No. 2015-100, § 9, 10-13-15; AO No. 2015-133(S), § 6, 2-23-16; AO No. 2015-138, § 5, 1-12-16; AO No. 2015-142(S-1), § 10, 6-21-16; AO No. 2016-3(S), § 18, 2-23-16; AO No. 2016-144(S), § 2, 1-1-17; AO No. 2017-55, § 14, 4-11-17; AO No. 2018-12, § 2, 2-27-18; AO No. 2018-67(S-1), § 9, 10-9-18; AO No. 2018-92, § 1, 10-23-18; AO No. 2017-75, § 4, 5-9-17; AO No. 2019-132, § 4, 12-3-19; AO No. 2020-38, §§ 11, 14, 5-28-20; AO No. 2021-89(S), §§ 8, 21, 2-15-22; AO No. 2022-36, § 5, 4-26-22; AO No. 2022-80(S), § 4, 11-22-22; AO No. 2023-50, § 4, 7-11-23, eff. 1-1-24; AO No. 2023-120, § 10, 12-5-23; AO No. 2025-38(S), § 2, 4-22-25)