Definitions, “S.”
Sanitarium.
A health station or retreat or other place where patients are housed and where medical or surgical treatment is given. “Sanitarium” shall not include mental institutions or places for the treatment of narcotic addicts. (See “medical services.”)
Satellite dish/antenna.
An antenna for the reception of data, television, and other telecommunications broadcast from orbiting satellites which is greater than one meter (39.37 inches) in diameter.
Schools – colleges and universities.
Includes community colleges, public or private colleges, universities, and professional schools granting associate arts degrees, certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees, and requiring for admission at least a high school diploma or equivalent general academic training.
Schools – K to twelve (12).
Public and private elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools serving kindergarten through twelfth-grade students, including denominational and sectarian, boarding schools, and military academies. Preschools and child day care are included under the definitions of “child day care facilities.”
Schools, specialized education, training and campus-affiliated housing.
Business, professional, secretarial schools, and vocational/trade schools offering specialized trade and commercial courses. Includes specialized non-degree-granting schools offering subjects including: art, ballet and other dance, drama, driver education, language, and music. Also includes seminaries and other facilities exclusively engaged in training for religious ministries; and establishments furnishing educational courses by mail. Facilities, institutions, and conference centers are included that offer specialized programs in personal growth and development (e.g., arts, communications, fitness, environmental awareness, and management). Also includes campus-affiliated housing, specifically designed by, or in conjunction with, a school, specialized education, or training facility for the purpose of providing housing to both attendees, staff, and/or instructors of the institution.
Screening.
Solid fencing, gates, walls, and/or
landscaping which provide a solid barrier and are installed and maintained architecturally compatible with the adjacent structure and/or existing surrounding conditions.
For purposes of this definition, screening shall not consist of bamboo type curtains, chain link (with or without slats), reflective surfaces, or similar transparent or semi-transparent materials.
Secondhand stores.
Retail establishments that sell used merchandise. Also see “pawn shop.”
Security brokers, dealers, and flotation companies.
Establishments primarily engaged in the purchase, sale, and brokerage of securities, and those generally known as investment bankers, primarily engaged in originating, underwriting, and distributing issues of securities.
Senior citizen assisted living facility.
A structure serving as a system of housing and limited care that is designed for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require care in a nursing home, and where the emphasis of the facility remains residential.
Separate ownership.
Ownership of a parcel of land by a person who does not own any of the land abutting such parcel.
Service station.
The same as “automobile service station.”
Setbacks.
The distance by which a structure or other development feature shall be separated from a lot line. In planned development projects, setbacks are determined during the project review process. On corner parcels, the shortest street frontage shall be the front yard. See also “yard.”
1.
Front yard.
The line which defines the depth of the required front yard. Such setback line shall be parallel with the right-of-way line or highway setback line when one has been established.
2.
Highway.
The same as “highway setback line.”
3.
Rear yard or side yard.
The line which defines the width or depth of the required rear or side yard. Such setback line shall be parallel with the property line, removed therefrom by the perpendicular distance prescribed for the yard in the district.
Shoe repair shops.
See “repair and maintenance – consumer products.”
Shoe stores.
See “retail stores, general merchandise.”
Shopping centers.
A group of commercial establishments, planned, generally constructed, and managed as a total entity with employee and customer parking provided on site under common control or shared under a reciprocal agreement. Shopping centers are further defined as regional (fifty (50) or more acres), community (fifteen (15) to forty-nine (49) acres), and neighborhood (up to ten (10) acres). For signs, commercial developments shall be classified as shopping centers rather than business centers when comprised of at least ten (10) businesses and containing a minimum floor area of twenty-five thousand (25,000) square feet.
Sign.
Any figure, character, outline, delineation, announcement, declaration, demonstration, illustration, emblem, words, numerals, or letters of attention-attracting displays or devices painted, illuminated, posted, or affixed on any surface or in a manner used to attract attention to the premises or to advertise or promote the interest of any person, activity, business, or enterprise when the same is placed so that it is clearly visible to the general public from an out-of-doors position; provided, however, noncommercial natural floral and plant displays shall not be considered signs in computing the number or area of signs permitted.
“Sign”
shall not include the official flags of the United States of America, the State, or the County, or official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public officer, or directional, warning, or information signs authorized by Federal, State, County, or municipal authority for public safety, or the official emblem or insignia of a government or public school.
Sign making.
See “business support services.”
Signs.
See Section 9.34.030 (Signs).
Single-family housing.
A structure designed for and/or occupied exclusively by one family. Also includes factory-built housing (manufactured housing) units (does not include mobile homes in a mobile home park), constructed in compliance with the California Building Code (CBC).
Single-room occupancy.
A residential property that includes multiple single-room dwelling units. Each unit is for occupancy by a single eligible individual. The unit need not, but may, contain food preparation or sanitary facilities, or both.
Site.
A parcel or adjoining parcels under single ownership or single control, considered a unit for the purposes of development or other use.
Site or parcel coverage.
The percentage of total site area occupied by structures. Structure/building coverage includes the primary structure, and all allowable accessory structures. Structure/building coverage is measured from exterior wall to exterior wall.
Site plan.
A plan, prepared to scale, showing accurately and with complete dimensioning all of the uses proposed for a specific parcel of land. See Chapter 56 of this title for requirements.
Site plan review.
The review of development projects in compliance with Chapter 56 of this title (Site Plan Review). The review shall determine if the proposed development is in full compliance with the General Plan, any applicable specific plan, applicable City guidelines, and the provisions and standards identified in this Development Code.
Slope.
A natural or artificial incline, as a hillside or terrace. Slope is usually expressed as a ratio. For example, a horizontal distance of one hundred feet (100') with a rise of fifty feet (50') would be expressed as a 2:1 slope. (Also see “grade” and “top and toe of slope.”)
Slot car/radio controlled racing.
Establishments providing indoor amusement and entertainment services for a fee or admission charge that contain customary facilities for slot car/radio controlled racing, including appropriate accommodations for spectators. May also include limited associated commercial operations (e.g., car equipment sales, food and/or beverage service, etc.).
Small day care homes.
See “child day care facilities.”
Snowmobile/jet skis sales.
Retail establishments selling and/or renting new and/or used snowmobiles, jet skis, quad runners, and directly related equipment. Includes parts sales and/or service repair shops only when part of a dealership selling new snowmobiles, jet skis, and related equipment on the same site.
Sober living home.
See “group housing – residential care home/facility” and Section 9.40.100, Group housing.
Soft drink fountains.
See “retail stores, general merchandise.”
Software manufacturing.
Establishments engaged in the design, development, engineering, packing, production, and testing of computer software products.
Solar access.
The airspace over a parcel that provides access for a solar energy system to absorb energy from the sun.
Sorority.
A building or structure housing a group of women associated for their common interests. Such group may eat, sleep, and otherwise use such facilities as are provided on the premises.
Specific plan.
As provided by Government Code Section 65450 et seq., a detailed plan for the systematic implementation of the General Plan for all or part of the area covered by the General Plan.
Sporting goods stores.
See “retail stores, general merchandise.”
Sports and recreational facilities.
Public and private indoor and/or outdoor facilities providing sports and recreational opportunities (e.g., basketball or tennis courts, batting cages, driving ranges, skate-board parks, sport fields, etc.). May also include limited associated commercial operations (e.g., sports equipment sales, food and/or beverage service, etc.). Sports arenas. Indoor and outdoor facilities for spectator oriented sports, and other public assembly facilities for concerts, events, and outdoor theater, which include: amphitheaters, arenas, fairgrounds, field houses, stadiums and coliseums, and facilities for other sports that are considered commercial, including rodeos.
Stables, commercial.
A structure for the keeping of horses, mules, or ponies which are rented, used, or boarded for compensation.
Stables, private.
An accessory structure for the keeping of horses or ponies for the use of occupants of the premises, in compliance with Section 9.40.040 (Animal keeping).
Stables, public.
A stable other than a private stable.
Stamp and coin brokers.
See “retail stores, general merchandise.”
Stand, temporary.
The same as “structure, temporary.”
Stations, fueling.
Retail establishments engaged in the business of selling gasoline and/or other motor vehicle fuels. May also provide retail sales (consuming less than four hundred (400) square feet of total floor area), but which is clearly secondary and incidental to the fuel sales. May be a standalone facility or part of a larger retail outlet (e.g., department store or supermarket). Does not include any vehicle maintenance and repair services, or other operations of a similar nature.
Stations, service.
Retail establishments engaged in the business of selling gasoline and/or other motor vehicle fuels. May also provide minor vehicle maintenance and repair services and/or retail sales (con-
suming less than four hundred (400) square feet of total floor area), all of which is clearly secondary and incidental to the fuel sales.
May also include: a fully enclosed automated self-service washing facility, accessory towing, and trailer rental services, but not the repair, sale, or storage of wrecked or abandoned motor vehicles, the rental of vehicle storage or parking spaces, or motor vehicle body, fender, painting, or other similar work.
Stone and cut stone products.
Manufacturing establishments primarily engaged in cutting, shaping, and finishing granite, marble, slate, and other stone for building and miscellaneous uses. Also includes establishments primarily engaged in buying or selling partly finished monuments and tombstones.
Storage, indoor.
The storage of various materials entirely within an enclosed structure, as the primary use of the structure. The storage of materials, supplies, and products clearly secondary and incidental to a primary use is not considered a land use separate from the primary or main use.
Storage, outdoor.
The storage of various materials outside of a structure, other than permanently installed fencing, either as an accessory or primary use, including feed and fuel yards, petroleum bulk plants, and transit storage.
Storage, self-service, personal storage facilities.
A structure or group of structures containing generally small, individual, compartmentalized stalls or lockers rented as individual storage spaces and characterized by low parking demand. Also known as “ministorage.”
Storage yards.
See “storage, outdoor.”
Story.
That portion of a structure included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it.
Story, one-half (1/2).
The same as “half-story.”
Street.
A public thoroughfare accepted by the City, which affords principal means of vehicular access to abutting property, including avenue, boulevard, drive, highway, lane, place, road, way, and any other vehicular thoroughfare except an alley. See “subdivision terms.”
Street centerline.
The center line of a street right-of-way as established by official surveys.
Street line.
The boundary line between the street right-of-way and abutting property.
Street, local.
Any street, dedicated as such, serving as the principal means of access to property which is not shown as a major or secondary highway or major traffic street on the General Plan of the City. Street side. That street bounding a corner or reversed corner lot and which street extends in the same general direction as the line determining the depth of the lot.
Structural alteration.
Any change in the supporting members of a building, such as in a bearing wall, column, beam or girder, floor or ceiling joint, roof rafter, roof diaphragm, foundation, pile, or retaining wall, or similar components. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires attachment to the ground or attachment to something located on the ground. For the purposes of this Development Code, the term “structure” includes “buildings.”
Structural clay and pottery products.
Manufacturing establishments primarily producing brick and structural clay products, including china plumbing fixtures, vitreous china articles, fine earthenware, porcelain electrical supplies and parts, and pipe. Artist/craftsman uses are included in “handcraft industries, small scale manufacturing.”
Structure.
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires attachment to the ground or attachment to something located on the ground. For the purpose of this Development Code, the term “structure” includes “buildings.”
Structure – temporary.
Shall mean a structure which is readily movable and used, or intended to be used, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) consecutive days, or a period consistent with an approved temporary use under Chapter 60 of this title, Temporary Use Permits.
Studios, art, dance, music, and photography.
Small scale facilities with one classroom/instruction space, typically accommodating one group of students at a time, in no more than one instructional space. These include facilities for: individual and group instruction and training in the arts; production rehearsal; photography, and the processing of photographs produced only by users of the studio facilities; martial arts training studios; gymnastics instruction, and gymnastics studios with no other fitness facilities or equipment; yoga; and pilates. Larger facilities (e.g., multi-classrooms) are included under the definition of “schools – specialized education and training.”
Subdivision terms used in Division 7 of this title (Subdivisions).
1.
Alley.
Shall mean any dedicated way intended for vehicular service to the rear or side of property served by a street.
2.
Arterial street.
Arterial streets are identified in the Circulation Element of the General Plan.
3.
Block.
A parcel of subdivided or unsubdivided land set apart and bounded by public streets.
4.
Cul-de-sac street.
A street having only one outlet for vehicular traffic and which is not intended to be extended or continued to serve future subdivisions on adjacent lands.
5.
Easement.
A space on a parcel of land, and so indicated on a subdivision map or in a deed restriction, reserved for and/or used for public utilities, and/or private or public purposes.
6.
Final map.
A map showing a subdivision for which a tentative and final map is required by State law (Government Code Section 66426), prepared in compliance with the provisions of this Development Code and the Subdivision Map Act and designed to be recorded with the County Recorder.
7.
Frontage street.
A minor street which is parallel to and adjacent to a major street, limited access highway, or freeway and which provides access to abutting properties while relieving them of the effects of heavy volumes of fast, through traffic.
8.
Freeway.
Shall mean a highway for through traffic, with full control of access, and generally with grade separations at intersections.
9.
Improvement plans.
The plans, profiles, cross sections, and specifications of all proposed improvements, including the information required by Chapters 110 (Subdivision Design and Improvement Requirements) and 112 (Improvement Plans, Installation, and Security) of this title.
10.
Major street.
An arterial or limited access expressway designated in the Circulation Element of the General Plan which, because of its design and location with respect to other streets and other sources of traffic, is used or designed to carry relatively heavy volumes of traffic through an urban area, or between urban areas, or as an approach to a highway or a freeway.
11.
Map Act.
See “Subdivision Map Act or Map Act.”
12.
Mini parks.
Generally one acre in size, centrally located within the quarter sections of residential subdivisions. See also “neighborhood parks.”
13.
Minor street.
A local street because of its design and location with respect to other streets is used primarily for access to the abutting properties. Minor street intersections within subdivisions shall generally be designed as “T” intersections. See also “frontage street.”
14.
Neighborhood parks.
An open space area of variable size, including lawn area, trees, shrubbery, walks, benches, playground area, and other related uses deemed appropriate by the review authority.
15.
Nonaccess strip.
A strip adjoining the property line within a street right-of-way, which is intended to prevent access to abutting properties from the street, and may be planted with trees or otherwise landscaped.
16.
Outlot.
(See definition “lot or parcel,” subsection 7, “outlot.”)
17.
Parcel.
See “lot or parcel.”
18.
Parcel map.
The subdivision map described by Map Act, Article 3, Chapter 2, which is required to complete a subdivision of four (4) or fewer lots.
19.
Pedestrian way.
A public way designed for use by pedestrians not intended either for use by motor vehicles nor located within a street right-of-way.
20.
Planting strip.
A strip located between the sidewalk and the property line, or between the curb and sidewalk within a street right-of-way (parkway), or between the pavement of a frontage street and the major street, limited access highway, or freeway it parallels and which is intended to be planted with trees or otherwise landscaped.
21.
Secondary street.
A street designated as a collector street in the Circulation Element of the General Plan which, because of its location with respect to other streets and other sources of traffic, is used or designed to carry moderately heavy volumes of traffic between portions of urban areas or between major streets.
22.
Soil.
The top layer of the earth’s surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with organic matter.
23.
Soils engineer (geotechnical engineer).
An engineer experienced and knowledgeable in the practice of soils (geotechnical) engineering.
24.
Soils engineering.
The application of the principles of soils mechanics in the investigation, evaluation, and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and the inspection or testing of the resulting construction.
25.
Standard specifications.
The “Standard Specifications of the City,” as may be amended from time to time.
26.
Storm drain system.
Publicly owned facilities operated by the City, or the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, by which storm water is collected and/or conveyed, including any curbs, gutters, inlets, municipal streets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, retention and detention basins, roads with drainage systems, and other drainage structures which are within the City.
27.
Storm water.
Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of water from rainstorm events.
28.
Stubbed street.
A street having only one outlet for vehicular traffic and which is intended to be extended or continued to serve future subdivisions on adjacent lands.
29.
Subdivision.
The division, by any subdivider, of any unit or portion of land shown on the latest equalized Fresno County assessment rolls as a unit or contiguous units, for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing, whether immediate or future. Property shall be considered as contiguous units, even if it is separated by roads, streets, utility easements, or railroad rights-of-way. Subdivision includes the following, as defined in Civil Code Section 1715: a condominium project, a community apartment project, or the conversion of five (5) or more existing dwelling units to a stock cooperative.
30.
Subdivision improvements.
Subdivision improvements include but are not limited to electric and gas lines, sanitary sewers, storm drainage facilities, streets, and water supply facilities.
31.
Subdivision Map Act or Map Act.
Division 2, Title 7 of the California Government Code, commencing with Section 66410 as presently constituted, and as it may be amended from time to time.
32.
Tentative map.
A map prepared for the purpose of showing the design and improvement of a proposed subdivision, including the existing conditions both in and around the subject property, and need not be based upon an accurate or detailed final map or survey.
33.
Vesting tentative map.
A map which meets the requirements of Map Act Section 66452, and if approved, expressly confers a vested right to proceed with the development in substantial compliance with the ordinances, policies, and standards in effect at the time the application for approval of the vesting tentative map is determined complete, in compliance with Map Act Section 66498.1.
Supermarkets.
Retail establishments, including groceries and grocery stores, having fifteen thousand (15,000) or more square feet of floor area, devoted principally to the sale of food.
Supply rentals (health, party, and sickroom).
Establishments engaged in the rental of health, party, and sickroom equipment and related supplies.
Supportive housing.
See Section 9.40.100, Group housing.
Surgical and medical instrument manufacturing.
Establishments engaged in manufacturing medical, ophthalmic, surgical, and veterinary instruments and apparatus (except electromedical, electrotherapeutic, and irradiation apparatus).
Surgical appliance and supply manufacturing.
Establishments engaged in manufacturing surgical appliances and supplies.
Swimming pools.
Shall mean any permanent structure containing water more than eighteen inches (18") deep intended for recreational purposes.
Swimming pools sales.
Retail establishments engaged in the sale, installation, and service of swimming pools, spas, and related equipment. May also include the sale, installation, and service of outdoor patio furniture and cooking and heating equipment. See also “outdoor retail sales and activities.”
Swimming schools.
Establishments offering specialized training in swimming, diving, and other water-related activities (e.g., scuba diving). May also include limited associated commercial operations (e.g., swimming clothing and equipment sales, food and/or beverage service, etc.).