§ 28.06.020. Definitions.

As used in this Chapter:

"Average Lot Depth" means the horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines measured along the median between the Side Lot Lines. For multiple-frontage lots, the average Lot Depth measured from each street shall be divided by the total number of streets to obtain one average depth for the lot.

"Berm(s)" means an earthen mound designed to provide visual interest, screen undesirable views and/or decrease noise.

"Board of Zoning Appeals" means the Wichita Board of Zoning Appeals.

"Conifer Tree" means an evergreen tree, usually of the pine, spruce or juniper genus, bearing cones and generally used for its screening qualities. For purposes of these regulations, a Conifer Tree shall be considered a shade tree if it is at least five (5) feet tall when planted and is one of the Evergreen Trees listed in the Kansas Forest Service's publication titled "Preferred Tree Species for South Central Kansas" and will obtain a mature height of twenty (20) feet or greater.

"Deciduous Trees" means trees and shrubs that shed their leaves annually.

"Evergreen" means trees and shrubs that do not shed their leaves annually.

"Ground Cover" means living Landscape Materials or low-growing plants, other than turf grasses, installed in such a manner so as to provide a continuous cover of the ground surface, and which upon maturity normally reach the average maximum height of not greater than twenty-four (24) inches.

"Landscape Materials" means living plants, such as trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, flowers and grasses. It may include such nonliving features as bark, wood chips, rock, brick, stone or similar materials (monolithic paving not included) and structural and/or decorative features such as fountains, pools, gazebos, walls, fences, benches, light fixtures, sculpture pieces, and earthen Berms, terraces and mounds.

"Landscaping" means the product of careful planning and installation using any combination of Landscape Materials subject to the limitations set out in this Chapter which results in the softening of building lines, the modification of environmental extremes, the definition of separate functional spaces and the presentation of a pleasing visual effect on the premises.

"Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD)" means the Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department.

"Mulch" means nonliving organic, inorganic or synthetic materials customarily used in landscape design and maintenance to retard soil erosion, retain moisture, insulate soil against temperature extremes, suppress weeds, deter soil compaction and provide visual interest.

"Ornamental Tree" means a Deciduous Tree possessing qualities such as flowers or fruit, attractive foliage, bark or shape, with a mature height generally under forty (40) feet. Trees listed in the Kansas Forest Service's publication titled "Preferred Tree Species for South Central Kansas" or the Wichita Landscape Ordinance Guidebook as small Deciduous Trees and medium Deciduous Trees will be classified as ornamental trees for purposes of this Chapter.

"Parking Lot" means an area not within a building or other structure where motor vehicles may be stored for the purpose of temporary, daily or overnight off-street parking. This definition shall include vehicle queuing or holding areas such as at car washes, drive-up windows, gasoline pumps, etc., but shall not include vehicle storage and display area for new and used vehicle sales lots or parking for one-family and two-family dwellings.

"Shade Tree" means usually a Deciduous Tree—rarely an Evergreen—planted primarily for its high crown of foliage or overhead canopy. Trees listed in the Kansas Forest Service's publication titled "Preferred Tree Species for South Central Kansas" or the Wichita Landscape Ordinance Guidebook as large Deciduous Trees and very large Deciduous Trees will be classified as Shade Trees for purposes of this Chapter.

"Shrub" or "Shrubbery" means a deciduous or evergreen woody plant smaller than a tree and larger than ground cover, consisting of multiple stems from the ground or small branches near the ground, which attains a height of twenty-four (24) inches or more.

"Site Specific" means that the plant material chosen to be used on a site is particularly well suited to withstand the physical growing conditions which are normal for that location.

"Street Frontage" means the length of the property abutting on one side of a street measured along the dividing line between the property and the street.

"Street Wall" means any building wall facing a street.

"Street Wall Line" means a line that extends from the building parallel to the Street Wall until it intersects a side or rear lot line or a wall line of another building.

"Street Yard" means the area of a lot which lies between the property line abutting a street and the Street Wall Line of the building. If a building has a rounded Street Wall or if the building is on an irregular-shaped lot, street wall lines extending parallel to the street wall from the points of the Street Wall closest to the side property lines shall be used to define the limits of the Street Yard.

"Unified Zoning Code (UZC)" means the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Zoning Code.

"Xeriscape" means water conservation through creative landscaping which applies the following seven principles:

(1)

Plan and design carefully;

(2)

Improve the soil water-holding capacity through use of soil amendments;

(3)

Use efficient irrigation methods and equipment;

(4)

Select Site-Specific, hardy plant materials, and then group all plants according to their sun and moisture needs;

(5)

Use turf grass appropriately in locations where it provides functional benefits;

(6)

Mulch;

(7)

Give appropriate and timely maintenance.

"Zoning

Lot" means a parcel of land that is designated by its owner or developer at the time of applying for an occupancy certificate as a tract, all of which is to be used, developed or built upon as a unit under single ownership. Such lot may consist of

(1)

A single lot of record; or

(2)

A portion of a lot of record; or

(3)

A combination of complete lots of record, complete lots and portions of lots of record, or portions of lots of record.

(Ord. No. 50-340 § 2, 10-11-16)