Duluth UDC (unnumbered, p.399: Definitions — L)

Land Development: 1. (verb) All activities associated with the conversion of land or the expansion or replacement of an existing use to any new use intended for human operation, occupancy or habitation, other than for agricultural purposes, devoted strictly to the cultivation of the land, dairying, or animal husbandry. Such activities include land disturbance (such as but not limited to, clearing, digging, grubbing, stripping, removal of vegetation, dredging, grading, excavating, transporting and filling of land) and the construction of improvements (such as, but not limited to, streets, driveways or parking areas, water or sewer mains, storm water drainage facilities, sidewalks) or other structures or impervious cover permanently placed on or in the property. 2. (noun) Where appropriate to the context, the term development also may be used to denote a specific subdivision or project that is a single entity or intended to be constructed as in interrelated whole, whether simultaneously or in phases. Land Development Activity. Those actions or activities that comprise, facilitate, or result in land development. Land Development Project. A discrete land development undertaking. Land Disturbance. Any activity that may result in soil erosion from water or wind and the movement of sediments into state waters or onto lands within the state, including, but not limited to, clearing, clearing and grubbing, dredging, grading, excavating, transporting, and filling of land, but not including agricultural practices. Includes the term “Land-Disturbing Activity.” Land Disturbance Activity. Those actions or activities that comprise, facilitate or result in land disturbance. Land Disturbance Permit. Any permit (other than a Building Permit) issued by the City of Duluth that authorizes clearing or grading activities on a site or portion of a site. Said permit may be Clearing, Clearing and Grubbing, Grading, or a Development Permit as defined and authorized under this Development Code. Landscape Materials. Any combination of living plant materials, nonliving materials (such as rocks, pebbles, wood chips, mulch and pavers) and decorative features such as sculpture, patterned walks, fountains, and pools. This definition includes synthetic landscaping materials that are visually indistinguishable from natural materials. Landscape Strip. Land area located within the boundary of a lot and required to be set aside and used for landscaping upon which only limited encroachments are authorized. Large canopy tree. A tree with a canopy that covers at least 1,600 square feet at maturity under urban conditions, with crown diameter of at least 45 feet. Large Water Supply Watershed. A watershed containing 100 square miles or more of land within the drainage basin upstream of a governmentally owned public drinking water supply intake. Larger Common Plan of Development or Sale. A contiguous area where multiple separate and distinct construction activities are occurring under one plan of development or sale. For the purposes of this paragraph, “plan” means an announcement; piece of documentation such as a sign, public notice or hearing, sales pitch, advertisement, drawing, permit application, zoning request, or computer design; or physical demarcation such as boundary signs, lot stakes, or surveyor markings, indicating that construction activities may occur on a specific plot. 398 | P a g e Article Fourteen. Interpretation and Definitions Lateral. A branch or twig growing from a parent branch or stem. Law. Includes any and all federal, state, or local laws, statutes, common laws, codes, rules, regulations, orders, or ordinances. Leader. A dominant upright stem, usually the main trunk. There can be several leaders in one tree. Leased Sign. An agreement by which a property owner conveys (usually for a specified rent), to other persons, permission to erect and maintain a sign upon their property. LED Sign. Any sign or portion thereof that uses light-emitting diode technology or other similar semiconductor technology to produce an illuminated image, picture, or message of any kind whether the image, picture, or message is moving or stationary. This type of sign includes any sign that uses LED technology of any kind, whether conventional (using discrete LEDs), surface-mounted (otherwise known as individually mounted LEDs), transmissive, organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), light-emitting polymer (LEP), organic electro polymer (OEL), or any other similar technology. An LED sign is considered to be a form of electronic changeable copy sign (see under “Sign, Changeable Copy”). Limb. Same as “branch” but larger and more prominent. Live crown ratio. The vertical extent of a tree’s live crown as compared to its total height and expressed as a fraction or percent. Local Issuing Authority (LIA). The Duluth City Council or its assigned or designated representative, which shall be responsible for administering this Development Code and has been certified pursuant to subsection (a) O.C.G.A. 12-7-8. Lot. A designated parcel, tract, or area of land established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, to be separately owned, used, developed, or built upon. 1. Corner Lot. A lot that occupies the interior angle of two street lines that make an angle of less than 135 degrees with each other. 2. Double Frontage Lot. A lot other than a corner lot abutting upon two or more streets. 3. Interior Lot. A lot having frontage on only one street. 4. Flag Lot. A lot having a street frontage and initial lot width notably less wide than the body of the lot (usually where the principal building is intended to be located), such that the lot appears to be a “flag” on a “pole” extending to the street frontage. Lot Area. The computed ground area bounded by the front, side, and rear lot lines. Lot Building Area. The area of a lot encompassed by front, sides, and rear yard setbacks or building line as required by the Development Code. Lot Coverage. The computed ground area that is covered by buildings, structures, accessory structures, driveways, parking areas, and any other impervious surface. Lot Depth. The mean horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line of a lot measured within the lot boundaries. 399 | P a g e Article Fourteen. Interpretation and Definitions Lot Line. The boundary dividing a given lot from the street or adjacent lots; the boundary defining the limit of ownership of a property. 1. Front Lot Line. Any boundary line of a lot that abuts a street. A lot adjacent to more than one street will have more than one front lot line. 2. Rear Lot Line. Any boundary line of a lot that does not intersect with a street right-of-way line and is not a front lot line. 3. Side Lot Line. Any boundary line of a lot that intersects with a street right-of-way line and is not a front lot line. Lot of Record. A lot or parcel whose existence, location, and dimensions have been recorded in the Office of the Clerk to Superior Court of Gwinnett County. Lot Width. The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured along the front principal building line. Lowest Floor. The lowest floor of the lowest enclosed area, including basement. An unfinished or flood resistant enclosure, used solely for parking of vehicles, building access, or storage, in an area other than a basement, is not considered a building's lowest floor, provided that such enclosure is not built so as to render the structure in violation of other provisions of this article.