§ 25-8-1. DEFINITIONS.

In this subchapter:

(1)

BARTON SPRINGS means the springs that comprise the Barton Springs complex associated with Barton Springs Pool, and includes Upper Barton, Old Mill, Eliza, and Parthenia springs.

(2)

BLUFF means a vertical change in elevation of more than 40 feet and an average gradient greater than 400 percent.

(3)

CANYON RIMROCK means a rock substrate that:

(a)

has a gradient that exceeds 60 percent for a vertical distance of at least four feet; and

(b)

is exposed for at least 50 feet horizontally along the rim of the canyon.

(4)

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT means all development other than open space and residential development.

(5)

CLUSTER HOUSING means a residential housing development that maximizes common open space by grouping housing units to minimize individual yards and has a maximum lot area of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet for detached residential development.

(6)

CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES means features that are of critical importance to the protection of environmental resources, and includes bluffs, canyon rimrocks, caves, faults and fractures, seeps, sinkholes, springs, and wetlands.

(7)

DIRECTOR, when used without a qualifier, means the director of the Planning and Development Review Department, or the director's designee.

(8)

EROSION HAZARD ZONE means an area where future stream channel erosion is predicted to result in damage to or loss of property, buildings, infrastructure, utilities, or other valued resources.

(9)

FAULTS AND FRACTURES means significant fissures or cracks in rock that may permit infiltration of surface water to underground cavities or channels.

(10)

FLOODPLAIN MODIFICATION means development that results in any vertical or horizontal change in the cross section of the 100-year floodplain calculated under fully developed conditions as prescribed by the Drainage Criteria Manual.

(11)

IMPERVIOUS COVER means the total area of any surface that prevents the infiltration of water into the ground, such as roads, parking areas, concrete, and buildings.

(12)

MULTI-USE TRAIL means a facility designated for the use of pedestrians, bicycles, and/or other non-motorized users and associated bridges.

(13)

OPEN SPACE means a public or private park, multi-use trail, golf cart path, the portions of a golf course left in a natural state, and an area intended for outdoor activities which does not significantly alter the existing natural vegetation, drainage patterns, or increase erosion. OPEN SPACE does not include parking lots.

(14)

OWNER includes a lessee.

(15)

POINT RECHARGE FEATURE means a cave, sinkhole, fault, joint, or other natural feature that lies over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and that may transmit a significant amount of surface water into the subsurface strata.

(16)

WATER QUALITY CONTROL means a structure, system, or feature that provides water quality benefits by treating stormwater run-off.

(17)

WETLAND means a transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water, and conforms to the Army Corps of Engineers' definition.

Source: Section 13-7-3; Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20131017-046; Ord. No. 20170615-102 , Pt. 5, 6-15-17.