§ 10-7.516. Definitions.

(a)

Adjacent . Sharing a common property line or Downtown Zone line, even if separated by a street or alley. Properties that are separated by a street are considered adjacent even if they are located diagonally across an intersection.

(b)

Adjoining. Sharing a common boundary.

(c)

Architectural Feature. An accessory exterior building feature including awnings, roofs, windows, doors, cornices, canopies, eaves, chimneys, down spouts, bulkheads, or similar design elements.

(d)

Attic. An area above the top floor of a building that is typically residential in nature with a pitched roof, which is designed to house utilities and/or equipment and provide insulation.

(e)

Block Frontage. A frontage area running along one (1) street, between the nearest two (2) transecting streets.

(f)

Build-to Line. A linear plane paralleling the street property lines along which the building facade must be placed.

(g)

Building Placement in Setback Area. Percentage of the front building width to be placed along the street frontage within the setback area.

(h)

Co-Planer. Even with the surface of a building.

(i)

Downtown Modesto Historic Zoning Designation. The zoning in effect prior to September 3, 2010, for properties located in the Central Downtown and Transition Downtown Zones, and the zoning in effect prior to June 25, 2015 for properties located in the Urban General Downtown, Main Street Downtown, East Neighborhood Downtown, and Traditional Neighborhood Downtown, is as shown in Figure 7.5-1

(j)

Downtown Zone Sidewalk Sign. An A-frame sign designed in accordance with provisions approved by the City Council and administered by the Downtown Improvement District that is available to businesses in the Downtown Zone through the Downtown Improvement District.

(k)

Encroachment. Extension of building elements beyond the build-to line, minimum setback, minimum stepback, or right-of-way. The building elements are secondary building features including a porch, stoop, balcony, wall sign, and architectural features.

(l)

Façade. The plane of the building and its architectural elements facing the public street. The "face" of the building.

(m)

Floor to Ceiling Height. The net clear internal building space from finished floor to finished ceiling.

(n)

Frontage. The area between the facade of a building and the street property line.

(o)

Habitable Liner. A relatively shallow building area that is conditioned and intended for human activities (residence, office, etc.), which separates a parking structure from the public realm.

(p)

Historic Preservation Site. See Section 10-7.515(c).

(q)

Paseo. A 15-foot to 30-foot wide, open-air area for pedestrian passage between the public sidewalk and parking or other uses to the rear of property, which provides storefronts along one (1) or both sides.

(r)

Penthouse. An area above the top story of a building, which is used to store mechanical equipment, building utilities, etc. Penthouses are either well-integrated into the architecture of the building they serve or are set back from the building's edges and designed to be inconspicuous.

(s)

Plaza. An open air area greater than thirty (30) feet wide that is used for public meeting space or passive open space.

(t)

Setback. The minimum or maximum dimension from property line that a building, parking, or other development structure must be placed with the exception of specifically permitted encroachments to the minimum setback.

(u)

Setback Area. The area between the minimum and maximum setbacks along the street frontage.

(v)

Single Room Occupancies. Rooms that can be leased or rented for extended periods of time or as a primary residence without the provision of either separate or common food preparation and consumption facilities.

(w)

Stepback. The minimum dimension from property line that the tower element or upper levels of a building must be placed.

(x)

Story. A level within a building or structure measured from the finished floor to the finished floor above, or to the eave or base of the parapet in the case of the top floor, that is generally accessible and used by patrons of the building. Enclosures for mechanical equipment above the top floor, and attics in the case of a pitched roof, are not considered a building story for the purposes of this Code.

(y)

Streetscreen. A wall built along a line co-planer with the adjoining building's façade used to screen a parking area or other areas not otherwise screened by a building from the adjoining street.

(z)

Upper Deck. The highest level or "roof" of a parking structure.

(Ord. No. 3618-C.S., § 2(Exh. A), effective 6-25-15)